Romans 15 - 'THE OFFERING UP OF THE GENTILES"

Pastor Carolyn Sissom (7532 views)

“THE OFFERING UP OF THE GENTILES”

Romans 15:16b

Preached by:  Pastor Carolyn Sissom

Sunday, October 31, 2010

 

Romans 15:16: ‘That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.”

 

Paul is nothing less than Christ’s agent to the Gentile world, and God’s priest to offer to Him a sacrifice consisting of Gentile converts won to the gospel and nurtured in the faith (Phil 2:17).  This is a specific application of the priesthood of all believers, whereby all Christian work is viewed as a sacrifice (17-21). 

 

“For 1400 years one nation was singled out by God as His chosen people.  While it was vaguely hinted in the Old Testament that Gentiles would one day praise God with the Jews, it was never dreamed that they would become ONE BODY IN CHRIST.  No one in their right mind would have ever suspected such a thing.  This was the second astonishing thing revealed to Paul.  He saw both the Jews and Gentiles as a unit making up the Body of Christ…” 

 

Romans 15:8-9 “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision (Servant of the Jews) for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers. And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, ‘For this cause I will confess to You among the Gentiles and sing to Your name’.” (Ps: 18:49; Ps. 117:1)

 

The Lord’s ministry was restricted to the Jews.  He came, as He said, to the “lost sheep of Israel.”  He has no direct ministry to the Gentiles (Matt. 15: 24-26).  Paul says He did this so that it might be clearly seen that God doesn’t forget His promises.  It was proof that when He promises something He does it.  He had promised to send a Messiah to Israel and He sent her Jesus.  When the Jews rejected their Messiah, then the prophecies concerning the Gentiles were then fulfilled.

 

However, it was not Jesus who dealt with the Gentiles.  It became the task of Paul and the other Apostles.  It was through their ministry that the Lord invited the Gentiles to partake of His finished work on the cross.

 

15:10:  And again He says,

 

“Rejoice you Gentiles with His people.” (Deut. 32:43)

 

15:11: And again,

 

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; and laud Him, all you people. (Ps. 117:1)

 

15:12: And again, Isaiah says,

 

“There shall be a root of Jesse, and He that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in Him shall the Gentiles trust.” (Isa. 11:10)

 

He wants the Jew and the Gentile to realize the place of the other in God’s Kingdom is not accidental, but has always been a part of God’s plan.  These verses confirm to the Jews that the Gentiles have a rightful place in the church.  They let the Gentiles know that they are indebted to the Jews for what they have inherited. (Salvation is from the Jews).   Thus the Jew can’t feel superior because he was first in God’s redemptive plan, and the Gentile can’t feel superior because he is free from all the hang-ups, traditions, offerings, temple worship and special days of the Jews.  The words Jew and Gentile now replace the words, weak and strong.  The Jew is weak because of his scruples in connection with the Law, and the Gentile is strong because of the Blood of Jesus which allows him to enjoy a greater liberty in the Lord.

 

15:13:  “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

 

Paul has now come to the end of his argument in this letter.  This verse is something of a benediction.  However, it contains a precious idea.  If Christians will believe what God has been saying through Paul and by Faith deny themselves for the sake of each other (in order to have a one-minded fellowship), then God will pour out a blessing of “Joy” and “Peace” upon them.  Now joy and peace are just the opposite of the pain and emotional distress that come when believers fuss with each other over mini-morals and issues. 

 

If they will bear each other (as burden) by faith, then God through the Holy Spirit will make them overflow with hope. 

 

May God, the source of our “Confidence” and “Patience”, grant that you would have but one mind between you in your care for one another; and thus be able to praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ with one mind and voice between you.

 

One mind does not mean complete unity on all points of doctrine.  It is necessary to have agreement on the basic doctrines; however, there is room for minor distinctions with the diversity of the gifts and callings within very diverse vessels and cultures.  This does not mean that we can sin or go off into false doctrines or heresy. 

 

When we are conscious of the Lord in our midst, we become disposed to do what will please Him.  In such an atmosphere, it doesn’t matter who has more revelation, truth, liberty, maturity, gifts or callings.  Our “one-mind” will result in exalting and praising the Lord.  When pleasing Him becomes the chief desire, our differences fade into the background.

 

In Paul’s day it was hard to believe that Gentiles could be in the Body of Christ.  This was a new idea.  That there would be such a thing was a mystery, truly hidden from men.  Until the Lord revealed it to the apostle Paul there was no way for anyone to see this fantastic truth in the Scriptures.  Once you hear it, of course, it is easy to go back to the Scriptures and see the references to it.  But until it was revealed to Paul, no one could fathom such a thing.  This was the second half of Jesus’ statement that no one understood…””You in me” (John 14:20)

 

15:4:  For whatsoever things were written long ago were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

 

Paul again affirms that every part of the Old Testament was written for our instruction and is not to be limited to the time in which it was written.  (2. Tim. 3:16) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

 

It doesn’t matter whether a man is a Jew or a Gentile; if he receives Christ he is baptized into the one body where all are equal.  This is why Paul went about saying, There is no difference…between Jew and Gentile.  His words were absolutely shocking to those who believed God created a great difference between the Jews and the rest of the nations. 

 

Eph. 2: 15-16: “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of two one new man, so making peace; And that He might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

 

Christians are citizens of Heaven, a heavenly people with a heavenly life and a heavenly future.  (Col. 1:13) “Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the Kingdom of His Dear Son.”

 

Paul now closes his main argument with Verse 13.  He now begins his epilogue.  He resumes the charm displayed in chapter One.  There he told his readers how he had been hearing good things about them all over the world (1:8).  He now tells them he knows they are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to admonish one another. (Vs. 15)

 

After setting forth some of the most profound truths ever entertained by the human mind, he says he realizes they already know these things.  Not only that, but they know them well enough to advise one another about them.  Here he speaks in true humility.

 

Paul pictures himself as an officiating priest whose task it is to present the Gentile world to God as an unblemished offering.  Paul would give them the gospel, then God would give the Holy Spirit to as many as believed.  Inasmuch as the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit, they were made holy.  Thus, between Paul’s preaching and the Spirit’s sanctifying work, God received a holy offering.

 

15: 17-19: “I’m sure you’ll understand what I mean when I say I have a right to boast of the things Christ Jesus has done through me in bringing the Gentiles to God.  Of course, when I boast, I limit myself of the things Christ has done, speaking only of what He has accomplished through me.  He has won the Gentiles with my words and deeds, backing them with signs and wonders performed in the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result I have been able to do a thorough job of preaching the gospel of Christ in a wide sweep from Jerusalem to Illyricum. (paraphrased text by: C.S. Lovett).

 

While Paul’s preaching was accompanied by signs and wonders, his ministry was very different from that of Moses.  The old Law giver operated in a grand fashion.  He displayed God’s power before the nations of the world, crushing the most powerful of them all---Egypt.  There was something outwardly majestic about Moses as he led the nation of Israel in one continuous miracle for 40-years.  His credentials were a pillar of cloud and fire.  Those who opposed him were supernaturally destroyed.  On one occasion, the earth opened and swallowed thousands of them.  But it was not like that with Paul.  Instead of fame, he bore the shame and rejection of his Master.  He was despised by many wherever he went, even stoned on occasions.

 

 Yet the miracles which attended his work were not slight.  A prison was opened for him at Philippi.  A magician became blind on his command.  A dead youth was restored to life when he touched him.  But those were not Paul’s credentials.  His greatest miracles were transformed Gentiles.  He spoke and God worked in men’s hearts and they became sons of God.  his biggest miracle was changing sinners into saints and getting them to grow in the likeness of Christ.  so great was the effect of this miracle that he kindled spiritual bonfires wherever he went.

 

Rom 15: 20-21:  “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, less I should build upon another man’s foundation; But as it is written, ‘To whom He was not spoken of, they shall see and they that have not heard shall understand’ (Isa. 52:15)

 

He does not want to take any credit for other people’s work, like some “superlative apostles’ he has come across (2 Cor. 10:13; 11:4­)

 

Rom. 15: 22-24: “This of course, is the reason why I haven’t been able to come and visit you.  The unfinished work in these parts simply prevented my getting there.  But now that my presence here is no longer needed, and after many years of longing, it seems I will be able to come and see you at last.  When I set out for Spain, I will definitely stop off at Rome and spend some time with you.  After my desire for you has been somewhat satisfied, you can help me on toward my objective.” (paraphrased text by: C. S. Lovett)

 

Paul’s objective was to do pioneer work in Spain, as there were already Christians in Italy.  But he would call at Rome on the way, and indeed sought their commendation and backing in the Spanish mission.  Such is the force of “to have you assist me on my journey”.  Rome was to be his base of operations. 

 

Before setting out for the west the apostle had an errand; he must first take to Jerusalem the proceeds of a collection for the poor in the church there.  James, Peter and John had asked Paul to remember the poor in this way in return for their recognizing his missionary work among the Gentiles (Gal. 2:10). 

 

To Paul’s mind the only thing standing between him and his proposed visit to Rome was this errand to Jerusalem.  However, his relationship with the church in Jerusalem had deteriorated.  Would the Jerusalem church accept his gesture of unity and fellowship?  In their eyes Paul had let down the Christian cause badly by unscriptural policies (Ac. 21).  Could they have fellowship with such a brother?  Was not the money he brought a bribe to get them to condone his misdemeanors?

 

In fact they accepted the money, but demanded proof of Paul’s’ orthodoxy.  James in embarrassment had to give way to the pressure of “myriads” and make Paul submit to a test of soundness.  Amid all those thoughts of danger and disunity Paul turns to the God of peace and as he commits his readers to Him, no doubt he also casts himself upon Him.

 

Rom. 15: 30-31: “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; That I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.  Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”

 

He asked first for their prayers that he might be delivered from the unbelieving Jews who were always his bitterest enemies.  As Paul traveled through Asia and Greece, they tried to kill him a number of times.  They hated him for his stand against Judaism and the law.  He had his hands full.  The Christians Jews in Jerusalem were still bound in the traditions and the Jews hated him. ( Acts 21)

 

It was to a spiritual battle that he was requesting prayer, not spiritual chitchat.  When it comes to battling in the Spirit, there is nothing equal to the power of a group of Christians who are of one mind and heart concentrating on a single target in prayer.

 

In this chapter, Paul has referred to God as the source of our “patience”, “hope” and “peace”. 

 

This evening, I will close out the teaching on the book of Romans with “Salute one another with a holy kiss.”

 

I pray all have enjoyed this study as I have.  When studying and preaching, I feed myself and I am the one most blessed to have the privilege to handle the Word of God in all meekness seeking the Lord sermon after sermon that I am able to preach  “in season”.

 

Preached by:  Pastor Carolyn Sissom

www.eastgateministries.com

Scripture from K.J.V. unless otherwise noted.  Text from F.F. Bruce Bible Commentary, Leslie C. Allen, and Lovett’s Lights on Romans by C. S. Lovett.  Comments and conclusions are my own as led by the Holy Spirit and not meant to reflect the views of those from whom I have gleaned.

 

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