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Paul’s Missionary Heart & Missionary Vision
Romans 15:14-33
Considering Paul’s missionary work and his future plans reminds us of the urgent need for the Gospel to be proclaimed where Christ is not yet known. As we consider this specific moment, our passion should be rekindled and we’re reminded that each of our stories point back to missionary work – our stories are missionary stories. Additionally, we see a compelling picture of churches all over the map working together for the glory of God and the spread of the Gospel.
Romans 15:14-21 (ESV) –
“I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”
1. Paul deeply desired to see – the Gospel spread, people saved, lives transformed and local churches planted.
The need for the Gospel to be proclaimed is urgent. Our default condition is spiritually dead.
Romans 15:14 (ESV) –
“I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.”
Romans 15:15 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God…”
Romans 1:18 (ESV) –
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”
Romans 3:10-11 (ESV) –
“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.”
Romans 3:23 (ESV) –
“...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...”
Romans 6:23 (ESV) –
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The only fitting response to the grace of God is living for the glory of God!
We need to be reminded of the Gospel all the time. We all need bold reminders of the horror of our sin and the wonder of grace. Being reminded of the Gospel is essential for our survival.
Acts 9:15 (ESV, emphasis mine) –
“Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”
Paul was called by God to proclaim Christ to the Gentile populations of the Mediterranean and he wrote to the church in Rome as God’s chosen instrument to carry the life-saving, life-giving, life-transforming message of the Gospel to the Gentiles.
Ask – Can I feel the passion and urgency? Am I passionate about seeing the Gospel spread? We ought to long for the Gospel to advance in power where the name of Jesus is not yet known.
Romans 15:18 (ESV) –
“For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me…”
Romans 15:19-21 (ESV) –
“…from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation…”
Churches had been established at key locations in the 1,400-mile span from Jerusalem around to Illyricum.
Romans 10:13-15 (ESV) –
“ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Matthew 24:14 (ESV) –
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) –
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus has given His Church the responsibility of carrying the Gospel to our immediate communities and beyond them to all the peoples of the world.
Ask – Do I long for Christ to be known and worshiped where He is not yet named? How has gazing on Paul’s missionary passion affected me? Do I have a deep concern for the lost? Do I have a passion for the unfinished missionary task? Is God calling me to go as a missionary?
Romans 15:22-33 (ESV) –
“This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”
2. Paul’s missionary vision involved the partnership of churches in Macedonia and Achaia, Jerusalem and Rome. His missionary vision looked outward all the way to the end of the known world, to Spain.
Romans 1:13-15 (ESV) –
“I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”
Paul’s plans to visit Rome are at the beginning and end of the letter. Paul explains his hope to visit Rome as part of his plan to preach in Spain.
Paul was captured by the urgent need of proclaiming the Gospel! Ask – Am I? Remember there is no hope apart from the proclamation of the Gospel. To be saved people must hear the Gospel and respond in repentance and belief!
Romans 15:24 (ESV) –
“ I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.”
Paul explained that his plan to visit Rome was part of his plans for Spain and requests their assistance, a new homebase and continued support through prayer.
This is a picture of local churches partnering together for frontier missions and in ministries of compassion and relief. Can you see this picture of church partnership? Paul asked the Roman church to help him reach Spain and these verses paint a picture of the importance of ministries of compassion and mercy.
Paul asks for prayer that he will be delivered from unbelievers in Judea (for protection) and that the offering would be accepted.
His plans changed when he was imprisoned in Jerusalem and then Caesarea. Later after appealing to Caesar, he was sent to Rome but shipwrecked on Malta. It wasn’t until years later that he arrived in Rome as a prisoner, not his original plan.
Considering this ought to stretch our thinking and attitudes. If God calls some of us, we ought to be willing to go. If God calls someone close to us, we ought to send.
Considering Paul’s missionary work and his future plans reminds us of the urgent need for the Gospel to be proclaimed where Christ is not yet known. As we consider this specific moment, our passion should be rekindled and we’re reminded that each of our stories point back to missionary work – our stories are missionary stories. Additionally, we see a compelling picture of churches all over the map working together for the glory of God and the spread of the Gospel.