14 But I myself am also convinced about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, having been filled with all knowledge and being able also to admonish one another. 15 But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me by God 16 for me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. 18 For I will not be bold to speak of anything except what Christ has brought about through me, leading to the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and all around as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And in this way I make it my ambition to proclaim the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but as it is written,
“They who had no declaration of Him shall see,
And they who have not heard shall understand.”
22 For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; 23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you 24 whenever I go to Spain—for I hope, passing through, to see you, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to serve the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to share with the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have completed this and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29 And I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.
30 Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; 32 so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find rest in your company. 33 Now may the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15: 14-33 LSB
Romans 15: 14-33
V. 14 That you yourselves are full of goodness - Paul is addressing the church at Rome and is convinced that their profession is real. The evidence of this is being filled with the knowledge of the Spirit and the ability to admonish one another in this.
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10Test and prove what pleases the Lord.… Ephesians 5: 8-10
…10on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony. 11To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith, 12so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.… 2 Thessalonians 1: 10-12
Vs. 15-16 As to remind you again - In the context of the whole letter and the push of the next verse where Paul says, "so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit." He has from the beginning of the letter reminded them of what sin is, what the life of the old man was, that life which should be now put to death in Christ. The same Christ you believed in to set you free from death, to put it in the shadows, is also able, through the power of His Spirit, to cleanse you from sin. All good ministers repeat themselves, first because there are those that are new, and second because there are those that they don't want to become cold and indifferent. He wants to see this through all the way to the end. It is too easy for all of us to be so caught up about earthly plans, about our weekends, about material things, and forget that we were called into a war, not a holiday.
Grace (5485) (charis) is "God's Riches At Christ's Expense." Remember that grace is not just unmerited favor, but it is the supernatural provision from God to enable us to live a supernatural life (with the enablement of the Spirit, called the "Spirit of Grace" - Heb 10:29). Here we see it is a gift and therefore is not something Paul merited (nor do we). Receive it by faith. Avoid the trap of trying to be "good enough" to earn it (you can't!). - Precept Austin
12Therefore I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body, 14because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.… 15And I will make every effort to ensure that after my departure, you will be able to recall these things at all times. 16For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.… 2 Peter 1: 12-16
15Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. 16And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. 17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.… Hebrews 13: 15-17
22Abstain from every form of evil. 23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.… 1 Thessalonians 5: 22-24
Vs. 17-19 What Christ has brought about through me - His boast is not in his own strength or cleverness, as Paul consistently makes clear, but in what Christ has done through him. He sees himself as a vessel of the Holy Spirit, and is certain that the work would have been fruitless otherwise. It is sad to see so many now that love numbers, love an overall good feeling. Paul is earnest for their sanctification and honest to what the world would consider a fault. We should not assume that the Spirit of God is moving where we see seats filled. Hearts must change, which will result in lives that are surrendered, sins that are left behind, and the glory, the honor, the boast in all this, that Christ is here. He is the reason for all of this, and what a joy, what an honor, what an underserved privilege to be a part of it.
…13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters. 14Like clouds and wind without rain is the man who boasts of gifts never given. 15Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.… Proverbs 25: 13-15
…3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5so that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2: 3-5
26From Attalia they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had just completed. 27When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28And they spent a long time there with the disciples.… Acts 14: 26-28
…8And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth. 9For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.… 1 Corinthians 15: 8-10
Vs. 20-24 For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you - The reason Paul gives is not of his own wish or desire. He wanted to meet with them, to be refreshed by their company, but his calling, his obedience is what has prevented them. He sites the OT in his reasoning, that God is fulfilling through him, His promise to reach the nations. He does not go where someone else has already been, but extends the reach further. He was not called as a standing shepherd but rather an apostle to the nations, a missionary.
…14Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness— 15so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard. Isaiah 52: 14-15
Vs. 25-29 And they are indebted to them - Some of the Gentile churches that were well off financially felt an obligation, not of being shamed, but rather that of the bond of familial love, to help out those who were being persecuted in Jerusalem. This would be Gentile believers giving to Jewish believers and in verse 27 we see that they were pleased to do so.
…27In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. (This happened under Claudius.) 29So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.…
Yes, they were pleased (eudokeo) to do so, and they are indebted (opheiletes) to them. - "Indeed, they gladly chose to give, recognizing that they owe them a debt. " They refers to the saints at Macedonia and Achaia (Ro 15:26+) They were not coerced or reluctant, but freely and gladly offered. Their giving flowed from a transformed heart, reflecting the principle that true generosity springs from joy in God’s grace (2 Corinthians 9:7). This was not mere charity but fellowship (koinonia), a sharing in the needs of others as an expression of unity in Christ (Romans 15:26).
The Gentile believers were pleased to give such a gift to the suffering Jewish believers in Judea. They did it voluntarily. They did it willingly, not out of compulsion. They gave according to the spirit with which Paul encouraged the Corinthians to give…
Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2Cor 9:7) (Comment: In fact the charitable giving which Paul is describing here in Romans 15 is the collection that we read about in 1Corinthians 16:1 and 2Corinthians 8 and 9)
And they are indebted (opheiletes) to them. - The Gentiles recognized that they had received immeasurable spiritual riches through Israel—the Scriptures, the covenants, the promises, and ultimately the Messiah Himself (Ro 9:4–5; Jn 4:22). In other words, their material giving was not merely generous; it was fitting, even obligatory. What is received in the realm of grace is to be expressed in the realm of generosity. The Gentiles were not repaying salvation as if grace could be earned, but they were acknowledging a real debt of gratitude by giving tangible support.
The statement also underscores the unity of the body of Christ. Jewish believers had been the channel of redemptive truth, and Gentile believers now become partners in provision, demonstrating that in Christ there is a mutual sharing of blessings (1 Corinthians 12:13). Thus giving becomes a visible expression of the gospel itself—grace received, grace returned in love.
Christian giving is both joyful and fitting, joyful because it flows from a heart transformed by grace, and fitting because it recognizes the real debt owed to those through whom God has bestowed spiritual riches (2 Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 6:6).
Paul makes it clear that the Gentiles had a moral obligation and debt to pay for they had received the gospel from Jewish believers. The heart touched by grace opens its hand. Spiritual riches call for material response.
J Vernon McGee puts it this way…Macedonia and Achaia were obligated to Jerusalem. Now some of the saints in Jerusalem were having financial difficulties, evidently because of persecution. Macedonia and Achaia could now pay a spiritual debt in the coin of the realm. This is foreign missions in reverse! It is the missionary church helping the home church. This very thing may take place in our nation, by the way, in the not too far distant future! (SEE Thru the Bible Vol. 43) - Precept Austin
Vs. 30-33 Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me - I would, if anywhere, whish that people remember me there, in their prayers, but then they would have to be praying people. Paul's plan is to come to them, but in going to Jerusalem he has to face another battle. He is going to have to face those in Jerusalem who are disobedient to the proclamation of the Lordship of Christ, those who have not believed, but often and seemingly everywhere, Paul has to confront false teachers of a great variety.
1At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so well that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. 2But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. 3So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who affirmed the message of His grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.… Acts 14: 1-3
27When the seven days were almost over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.…
…30The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut. 31While they were trying to kill him, the commander of the Roman regiment received a report that all Jerusalem was in turmoil. 32Immediately he took some soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.… Acts 21: 27-32
…30Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience, 31so they too have now disobeyed, in order that they too may now receive mercy through the mercy shown to you. 32For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone.… Romans 11: 30-32
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