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Today: [Romans 15:] Paul’s First Closing of the Epistle to the Romans: In Romans 15 Paul attempts to sum up his letter (with one chapter however yet to be written). He gives the strongest appeal to Gentile believers to be patient with the Judaizers and legalists who believe in “Christ plus-“ their good works as the basis of an approach to God and capitulates finally to accepting the scope of his ministry as being to the Gentiles and not to his kinsmen the Jews.
[Rom 15:1-14 KJV] 1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let every one of us please [his] neighbour for [his] good to edification. 3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. 4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises [made] unto the fathers: 9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for [his] mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. 10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. 11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. 12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
In chapter 14 Paul urges those who are strong in Christ to support in every way possible those who are weak. Now we might think of the weak believer as one who struggles with the sins of the flesh or temptations of the world. On the other hand, Paul’s presentation of the weak believer encompasses those who perceive their connection to God to be arbitrated by a legalistic and performance oriented approach. In verse 1 Paul speaks of this legalistic, moralizing approach to God as the “infirmities” of the weak, however even if their strident legalism is seen as a weakness from heaven’s point of view, we are still not licensed to please ourselves or our flesh whether it offends them or not. What is to be our attitude toward one another? In chapter 14 Paul stressed that we were not to bend over backward to the point of paralysis of our lives over potential offenses by legalistic believers? Yet in verse 2 urges us to live our lives pleasingly before our neighbors to lift them out of deficient thinking regarding weakness and legalism. As Jesus Himself did not please Himself, we are to bear the reproaches of legalizers and moralistic believers. We are to exercise patience because our small-minded, legalistic, moralizing believers who have abandoned all reason and given themselves over to sectarianism and elitist thinking will surely not demonstrate any tolerance whatsoever. We must who are anchored in the reality and liberty that is found in Christ must set the tone of deference, love, and kindliness toward those who will show certainly none of those qualities toward us. We are exercise all patience (v. 5) and find the grace to be like-minded toward one another. This is not, however, to be confused with the tepid conclusion of opposing parties “let us agree where we agree and let the rest go…” for if we leave our compatriots in Christ languishing in their elitist, narrow-minded thinking, we condemn them to be estranged from Christ. The stakes could not be higher.
In verse 8-9 Paul reminds us that Jesus was the minister of salvation to the circumcision first and then to the Gentile. The sad fact that the Jews clung to their legalistic religion to the extent of crucifying Jesus does not cheapen the condescension of Christ to come first to those who would take His life. Our praise as Gentile believers is that from the root of Judaism Jesus sprang to give us liberty and salvation that they know nothing of. Shall we condemn them or look down on them? No, we appreciate that God chose them, the entire human race even though they did not accept Him.
[Romans 15:15-33 KJV]
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, 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. 17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: 21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. 22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; 24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your [company]. 25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. 28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. 29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in [your] prayers to God for me; 31 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; 32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. 33 Now the God of peace [be] with you all. Amen.
In verse 15 Paul speaks of his boldness toward the Romans. In writing this letter, he has cast off all restraint and spoken with a clarity of thought that refused to take into account that his words were controversial or might even be held against him or used to the harm of those with poor judgment. He rejoices that the Gentiles to whom his primary calling was connected are accepted by the gospel of God, not because of a pseudo-Jewish religious approach but by the sanctifying power of the indwelling of the Holy Ghost made possible by the shedding of the blood of Christ in behalf of the nations of the world. What is Paul saying? He is working out in his own mind that now His calling is entirely and broadly focused upon the Gentile nations as God has proclaimed and instructed over and over again. Paul is surrendering his heart for the Jews and finally and fully embracing his call to the Gentiles.
In verse 24 Paul expresses the leading of the Holy Ghost to travel into Spain, and by some extra-biblical accounts, he accomplished this task, only to finally come to Rome anticipating and facing his own death by beheading at the hands of the despot Nero. He veritably begs for the prayers of the saints in v. 30 as he often does. We might lament the weakness of our Christian leaders today, but if they are weak, it is a reflection of our own tepid and uninterested prayers in their behalf, as Paul knows only too well. He concludes the passage we mark as the end of the chapter with a blessing and amen, but there is one final chapter of Romans yet to consider.
