Romans 15:14-21

                                                             Romans 15:14-21

I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”

Paul describes his ministry and the principles that guide him as a minister of the Gospel.  These are some of the basic foundational factors that direct the mission God is on in the world.  Satan is doing all he can to distract us from these truths and principles.  If we will allow these to guide us and inform our understanding, our lives will have eternal consequence.

THE PURPOSE OF THE MISSION: The previous passage makes clear that that purpose of God’s mission in the world is the glory of God.  One of the ways God demonstrates His glory is through the transformation of people.  The first chapters of Romans present man as sinful and wicked in every aspect of life.  However, in this passage Paul presents believers in Christ as full of goodness and knowledge and able to instruct one another.  God takes sinners, saves them through faith in Christ, indwells them with His Spirit, instructs them with His Word, and equips them to do ministry.  Miserable sinners become ministering saints through the power of the Gospel, and this brings glory to God.  This is the mission to which we are called.

 

THE PRIVILEGE OF THE MISSION:  Paul describes his ministry of taking the Gospel to the Gentiles as a grace that was given to Him.  Involvement in the mission of God is a privilege for which we should all be thankful.  Every man was created as a worshiper and is constantly worshiping something or someone.  Those who do not know God end up worshiping false gods and idols.  Idols demand sacrifices from their worshipers.  This causes men from all nations to do grotesque things like offer their children as sacrifices in an attempt to appease their false God.  This type of worship is not acceptable to God.  Paul describes his ministry as a priestly service that enlightens men from the darkness of idolatry so that in Christ their worship becomes acceptable to God.  There is no higher calling than to participate in the mission.  Unfortunately, many people look at the hardships missionaries face and become fearful, so they don’t consider it as an option for their lives and even go so far as to discourage their children from being involved is the mission.  We must, with Paul, consider missions as the highest privilege we or our kids could ever have.

 

THE POWER FOR THE MISSION:  The thought of going to far away countries, learning a new language and seeking to transform the idolatry of a group of people into worship that is acceptable to God can be overwhelming.  We feel unqualified and incapable of performing such tasks and we are exactly right.  None of us have the power to transform others or save others from sin.  We don’t even have the ability to do this for ourselves.  Paul says that the felt pride in what He had seen accomplished through his life and ministry.  However, makes it clear that the only boasting he could do was simply in what Christ had accomplished through him.  God does not require that we have great abilities, but that was simply be available for Him to use for His glory.  The power for the mission does not come from missionaries; it comes from the Spirit of God who inhabits and equips every believer in Christ.  

 

THE PRIORITY OF THE MISSION: Paul describes his two main priorities in ministry as announcing the Gospel and advancing the Gospel.  When we go to unreached people groups throughout the world, we will always find people living in poverty and misery.  Satan is at work in the world to try to cover the image of God in mankind as much as he can.  Satan wants to exterminate humanity from the earth and do all he can to prevent God’s mission to reconcile men to himself and conform them to the image of Christ.  This is why we see so much sickness, poverty, lack of education, and atrocities such as infanticide and abortion all over the world.  If we are not careful, we will spend all our time and effort striving to relieve the pain and suffering we see in humanity.  Paul understood that the only true and lasting solution to these problems was the Gospel.  We must not be distracted by merely prolonging or improving life but must proclaim the Gospel which grants us eternal life.  Paul also made it clear that his priority was to take the Gospel to those who had never heard it.  These unreached places are often dangerous and uncomfortable, so we fear going to them.  However, we must prioritize His mission above our own comfort or security.

 

APPLICATION: Live for the glory of God by proclaiming the life transforming Gospel of Jesus.  Don’t consider missions as a burden but as a privilege for us and our children.  Pray that God would give us the grace upon grace of participating and seeing our children participate in His mission.  Trust in the power of God to give the strength and abilities necessary to do the work of the ministry.  Prioritize the preaching of the Gospel to those who have never heard.