Reading through Romans

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening sentence

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory. You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.
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A reading from Romans: Romans 15:14-22 (NLT)

I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder. For by God’s grace, I am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.

My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.”

In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.
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Reflection: Romans 15:14-22 (John Stott, The Message of Romans: God’s Good News for the World)

Conclusion: The providence of God in the ministry of Paul (Romans 15:14–16:27)

Paul takes the Roman church into his confidence about the salient characteristics of his ministry… giving us insight into the outworking of God’s providence in his life and work.

His apostolic service (Romans 15:14–22)

Paul begins by… assuring them that he knows and appreciates their qualities — their kindness, extensive Christian knowledge and proven ability to teach and admonish one another. Paul has written to them 1. to remind them of the original message of the Gospel, calling them back to it; and 2. of his special vocation, by God’s grace alone, to be the apostle to the Gentiles, as follows:

1. Paul’s ministry was a priestly ministry (16–17)

Although Paul’s priestly ministry as apostle to the Gentiles was unique, the principle he enunciates has a vital contemporary application. All evangelists are priests, because they offer their converts to God. Indeed, it is this truth more than any other which effectively unites the church’s two major roles of worship and witness. It is when we worship God, glorying in his holy name, that we are driven out to proclaim his name to the world. And when through our witness people are brought to Christ, we then offer them to God. Further, they themselves join in his worship, until they too go out to witness. Thus worship leads to witness, and witness to worship. It is a perpetual cycle.

2. Paul’s ministry was a powerful ministry (18–19a)

Paul alludes to at least five features of his ministry: 1. Its objective is to lead the Gentiles to obey God; 2. He is Christ’s agent or instrument, Christ working ‘through’ him and Christ receiving the glory; 3. What Christ has accomplished has been by what Paul have said and done… words explain works, but works dramatize words; 4. Christ’s ministry through Paul was by the power of signs and miracles; and 5. Paul’s ministry was also through the power of the Spirit… including both physical miracles… and the power of the Word of God… in the minds, hearts, consciences and wills of the hearers. Every conversion is a power encounter, in which the Spirit through the gospel rescues and regenerates sinners.

3. Paul’s ministry was a pioneer ministry (19b–22)

Paul succinctly and modestly summarizes ten years of strenuous apostolic labor, including his three heroic missionary journeys…. Paul’s own calling and gift as apostle to the Gentiles were to pioneer the evangelization of the Gentile world, and then leave to others, especially to local, residential presbyters, the pastoral care of the churches…. On the one hand, because he was concentrating on pioneer evangelism elsewhere, he was not free to come to the Roman church. On the other hand, because the Roman church had not been founded by him, he did not feel at liberty to come and stay. Soon, however, as he is about to explain, he will visit them, since he will only be ‘passing through’ on his way to the unevangelized field of Spain.
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“I Will Go”

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Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen