Paul's heart of the mission

14 And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and 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 from God,

What was Paul convinced of concerning the Roman Christians (v.14)?

What was given to Paul from God (v.15)?

Paul’s mission of grace was received by grace (see Gal1:14-17).

Paul of Tarsus, set apart to be apostle to the Gentiles-have everyone turn to (Gal1:14-17);

Gal1:14-17 “14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions. 15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.”

It was God’s grace that saved him

It’s was God’s grace that called him to his mission as an apostle to the Gentiles

Even though he considered himself the least of them (consider 1Cor15:9-11) he labored hard.

Paul was reminding them, He was convinced they were good, he was reminding them they were good, and to do the good because of the grace in them, they grace they received. The same grace that saved him, the grace from God. the Grace he boldly wrote to them about on some points, and is reminding them about again.

Are there times when you have reminded your children, maybe even adult children of important things time and time again? If so, why do you do it?

Paul’s mission was centered in the gospel

Romans 15:16 NASB95

16 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, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Paul called by God, set apart by God, to be what according to (v.16) to whom?

He is to be a priest, ministering to the Gentiles.

So that his labor (ministering) may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit

We should consider if we are a living sanctified sacrifice to the Lord (1Pt2:5)

1 Peter 2:5 NASB95

5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

How can we offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ?

Paul had a heart that was centered in the mission because of the grace of God was received by him that set him apart. He was reminding the Roman Christians this of the power of God that is in the gospel, just as He did in the beginning

What is the power of the gospel? (Rom1:16-17)

Romans 1:16–17 NASB95

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Paul’s mission was for God’s glory

Romans 15:17 NASB95

17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.

We may boast of many things, our kids, grand-kids, maybe our own accomplishments in life.

Paul was determined to remember nothing, to leave all things behind (Php3:13)

Php3:13 “13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,”

Paul only wanted to boast in the Lord (1Cor1:31; 2Cor10:17) - What is your banner?

1 Corinthians 1:31 NASB95

31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

and then

2 Corinthians 10:17 NASB95

17 But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord.

So again, what is your banner, what is a banner?

Paul’s mission by God’s power

Romans 15:18 NASB95

18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,

Romans 15:19 NASB95

19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

We know what Paul did not presume, so what can we presume Paul did (v.18)?

By what Power did this happen (v.19)?

What did Paul accomplish (v.19)?

The things done under the power, signs, wonders of the Holy Spirit were to prove the gospel message to the gentiles to bring the obedience of the Gentiles and that the gospel could save anyone.

Can the gospel save anyone today? Was that Paul’s belief, Paul’s theme of book of Roman’s (consider Rom1:16)

The word has the power to save, it has the power to transform (Rom12:2); the power to conform (Rom8:29).

Paul’s heart for the mission was shared in word and deed. (expand on this)

How can we share our heart today?

Paul’s mission according to God’s plan

Romans 15:20 NASB95

20 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation;

Romans 15:21–22 NASB95

21 but as it is written, “They who had no news 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;

Romans 15:23–24 NASB95

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 to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while—

What was Paul’s aspiration (v.20) and backed up with (v.21)?

What was Paul’s longing (vv.22-23)?

What was Paul’s plan (v.24)?

Paul was was going to Jerusalem (v.19) in a round about way via Illyricum (that is about 1400 mile journey) think about the travel means at the time. Consider this.

Have everyone turn to

2Cor11:26-27 “26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.”

Paul had been hindered for there was much work to do in spreading the gospel still in Macedonia. Before going to Rome.

Paul then roughly speaks from Isa52:15

Isaiah 52:15 NKJV

15 So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider.

He did not want to build on anyone else’s foundation. He wanted to go where no other man had gone before, and I’m not talking about some Star Trek episode.

He had preached everywhere, had no where else to preach for had been there for years (v.23) now it was time to move on. He had established churches, trained preachers, encouraged the brethren, corrected where needed so that the work would carry on even in his absence.

Scripture does tell us he made it to Rome (Act18:11) but there is no evidence he made it to Spain. There is outside writing that he may have, but nothing within scripture that he did.

What is your mission, do you know your mission? Are you on your mission path?

The challenge today is pray and write our your mission statement. It is between you and God, no one else needs to know it. You can share it, but you don’t have to.

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