COMPLETING THE TASK ROMANS 15:14-21 ROMANS SERIES #52

THE LAST OF THE LETTER  Doctrine and application – accomplished!  Now the conclusion – filled with teaching – much teaching – of course!  It includes:  Comments about Paul’s ministry  His plans for future service  Personal greetings  A Concluding prayer

TODAY: ROMANS 15:14-21  14 ¶ Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,  16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.  17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.  20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation, 21 but as it is written: "To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand."

 Today we will learn more about Paul’s ministry, and ours.  Partner, Priest, Preacher, Pioneer  Complete the task!

1. THE PRAISE OF A PARTNER – VS. 14,15  14 ¶ Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,  The First Praise – Full of Goodness  The Work of the Holy Spirit and the result of obedience - Gal. 5:22,23; Eph. 2:10  Evidence of a spiritual transformation - Col. 1:3-6  The Second Praise – Filled with knowledge  Deep knowledge of God’s truth in the Gospel of Jesus Christ – Col 2:2,3  They knew God and His truth, and were committed by the Holy Spirit power to living holy lives.  The Third Praise – Able to admonish one another  Spiritual counseling of one another –encouraging, warning, advising  Col. 3:12-17; II Tim. 3:16.

THE BOLD AND THE OLD  Paul was known for his boldness and courage.  Some of his letters were full of rebukes and reprimands, but not Romans.  Romans does contain serious cautions.  Consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God…  Don’t let sin reign in our body by obeying its lusts…  Don’t think more highly of yourselves than you ought…  Be subject to the higher powers… pay taxes and customs…respect …  Paul believed in reminding the saints of the old over and over again. He reminded Timothy and Titus to “remind” also.  Peter believed this also – II Pet. 1:12; 3:1

2. THE PARTICIPATION OF A PRIEST – VS. 16  16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus is our High Priest – Heb. 2:17; 3:1  We are priests I Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6; Rev. 20:6  Priests in position – direct access because of Christ  Priests in practice – our service of worship – Romans 12:1,2; Heb. 13:15,16  Priests in prize – souls! Phil. 4:1; I Thess 2:19

3. THE PROCLAMATION OF A PREACHER – VS  17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.  Are you a faithful proclaimer of the Gospel of God’s Grace? 5 Marks of a faithful “gospel giver.”  Humble  Preaches obedience - check out the commands of the N.T.  Has personal integrity - the message and the life match!  Has God’s approval – the spiritual transformation of souls  Persistent - completes the task

4. THE PROGRAM OF A PIONEER - VS. 20,21  20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation, 21 but as it is written: "To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand."  Paul was a Church Planter.  He was a frontier missionary.  Around the world from Mankato – Acts 1:8 There is even frontier missions IN Mankato.  Our missions program is Local Church Centered  That’s God’s program for missions.  That’s God’s program for your life too.  Generation after generation here in Mankato  That’s building on another man’s foundation – that’s good.  Some are bored with that. Some fail to see their responsibility in preserving a work here.

 God bless you as you grow in these tasks – the tasks of:  Partner, Priest, Preacher, and Pioneer  Complete the task!