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

2. 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

3. 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 -- 19 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."

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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 3. THE PROCLAMATION OF A PREACHER – VS. 17-19  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 -- 19 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

9. 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.

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