Romans Part 47 – Romans 15:18-26
Verse 18-20
• “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not wrought by me” – Paul only did not write about others ministries and his boasting was secondary to the grace and gospel he preached - 2Cor 10:12-18.
• “to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed” – Obedient to the gospel – Rom 1:5, 2Thess 1:8.
• “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the Spirit of God” – The Spirit in Paul was evidence of his apostleship – Gal 2:8, Acts 15:12, 19:11-12.
• “From Jerusalem to Illyricum” – Paul was not sent to Jerusalem but away from Jerusalem – Acts 22:17-21. Illyricum is very far Northwest of Jerusalem. Compare Acts 8:1.
• “I have fully preached the gospel of Christ” - Notice it’s not the “gospel of God” here. Vs 16
• “Yeah, so have I strived to preached the gospel, not where Christ was named” - Where was Christ named? Israel. Paul’s aspiration was to preach the gospel outside of Israel.
• “lest I should build upon another mans foundation” – Who is the other man? Matt 16:17-19, Gal 2:7-8 – Apostles lay foundations – 2Cor 11:5, 12:11-12
• Paul said he didn’t want to build upon another mans foundation. Many say this is because he was a missionary and wanted to preach to those who hadn’t heard the gospel yet. This is partly true but Paul was more than a missionary. He was a Apostle and he didn’t want to build on another foundation because was supposed to lay the foundation of the Mystery of Christ and the dispensation of grace – 1Cor 3:10-11, Rom 16:25, Eph 3:1-5.
Verse 21-24
• “As it is written” – Isaiah 52:15 – A prophecy of Gentiles, not the Body of Christ. The chapter is about the end times when Christ sits on His throne – See Isaiah 52:1 – Same principal here as the prophecies Paul quoted earlier in this chapter.
• “vs 22” – Hindered because of his desire to preach the gospel, he stayed busy in ministry.
• “But now having no more place in these parts” – Paul had now been through Asia Minor and is now ready to press on to Rome and Spain.
• “having a great desire these many years to come unto you” – Rom 1:10-11, Acts 19:21.
• “vs 24” – Paul desired to see them that he might be refreshed by them – vs 32, Rom 1:12. He also hoped that they would help in his ministry beyond them – Acts 20:38, 21:5, 1Cor 16:6, 2Cor 1:16.
Verse 25-26
• “vs 25” – Act 19:21. The ministry here is to give them money – 1Cor 16:1-4, Act 24:17.
• “For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make certain contribution” – 2Cor 8:1-4, 9:1-7.
• “For the poor saints which are at Jerusalem” – This is the little flock in Acts 2 that Peter and the 12 ministered to.
• Why were they poor? – They sold all that they had in expectation of the kingdom – Acts 2:44-46, 4:32-37. There was also a dearth – Act 11:28-30, Gal 2:10.
• Why did they sell all they had – Because Jesus taught them to - Luke 12:22-34, Matt 19:21,27-28. Matt 28:19-20. If you are expecting the kingdom then you don’t need possession here on earth.
• But why were they poor if God promised he would provide? And if the church started in Acts 2 why don’t we sell all that we have today? – Because God has changed what he is doing. This happened when the Jews rejected the kingdom and didn’t repent – Acts 3:19-21, Acts 7:55-60
• God saved Saul and gave him a new ministry – 1Tim 1:15-16, 1Tim 1:11, Gal 1:11-12, Eph 3:1-5, Col 1:25-27, 1Cor 3:10-11.
• The Jews in Jerusalem were right to sell all that they had in obedience to Christ in expectation of the kingdom. Because Israel rejected and God changed what he was doing Paul was right to collect money to help the poor saints in Jerusalem. Today it would be wrong for us to sell all, and have all things common, we are taught to work and provide for our own – 2Thess 3:10-12, 1Tim 5:8, 1Thess 4:11-12.
