[We are
continuing with our brief study of the book of Romans; and are into the second
sermon wherein Romans 1:8-15 is tendered under 3 heads: (1) A note of
Thanksgiving (v. 8); (2) A note of Prayer (v. 9-10); and (3) A note of Longing
(v. 11-15). In this final instalment we must
consider Paul’s longing on behalf of the Romans.]
a. Mutual Faith &
Comfort
11 For I long to see you,
that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be
established;…
Notice
why he desired greatly to visit the Romans. He did not want to visit them
out of curiosity. He wanted to visit them in order to impart some spiritual
gifts to them that they might be established or strengthened. The church in
Rome was a flourishing church, but there is no doubt they needed further
strengthening.
Now, what does it mean by imparting
some spiritual gifts? Some suppose that Paul was speaking about laying on of
hands, and giving some special gifts like the ability to heal and speak
in tongues. But this does not fit the context. We believe, rather, that the
spiritual gift that Paul desired to impart to the Romans was to come by way of preaching and teaching. What better way
is there to establish and strengthen a church than by preaching and teaching?
So Paul declares in verse 15: “…as much as in me is, I am ready to preach
the gospel to you that are at Rome also.”
Paul’s desire to impart some
spiritual gifts is exactly the same as his desire to preach the Gospel in Rome.
But why did he want to preach the
Gospel to them? Why did he want them to be established? He explains:
“12 That is, that I may
be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Paul
was very clear, and he spoke without any hint of embarrassment. One of the
reasons for his keen desire to visit the Romans was mutual encouragement and comfort.
We have already seen how Paul sought
to encourage the Romans (1) by telling them how he thanks God for them and (2)
by assuring them of his prayers for them. Here, we see his desire expressed in
clear.
He wanted to encourage them and he desired encouragement from them. He
would encourage them by his faith and his sermons. And he desired to be
encouraged by them by their obedience to the faith and by their fruitfulness.
Look at v. 13! He desired greatly to go to Rome that he “might have some
fruit among [them] also.”
Professing believers who remain
disobedient and barren are the greatest source of grief to faithful ministers.
But on the other, fruitful and obedient Christians are a source of great joy
and encouragement to them. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children
walk in truth,” says the apostle John (3 Jn 4).
Paul did not hide the fact
that he needed and desired encouragement too. Yes, ministers of the Gospel need
encouragement too. Some time ago, an unbelieving man was talking to me about
the work of pastors. He said, you must have the worst job. Everyone’s problem
is your problem, but your problem is no one else’s problem. I told him that is
not true,—for we can cast our anxieties upon the Lord.
But
is it not true that we often forget that ministers of the gospel need
encouragement too. Just the other day, I heard it from a fellow minister, as I
heard from numerous other ministers (over and over again): a pastor’s job is a
lonely one.
Now, then let us pray for
the ministers of Christ we know, and let us seek to encourage them as much as
we can. But especially let us encourage them by way of fruitfulness and
obedience in our Christian lives.
b. Gospel Debt
But
of course, let us not forget the fact that mutual encouragement is just one of
the benefits of the ministry. And it must never be over-emphasised. The primary
goal of the ministry is rather the glory of God through the salvation of
sinners and saints.
Listen to how the apostle
puts it:
13 Now
I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come
unto you, (but was let [i.e. prevented] hitherto,) that I might have some fruit
among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians;
both to the wise, and to the unwise. 15 So, as much as in me is, I
am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Paul had a paramount
purpose in life. This chief purpose in life and ministry was to serve Christ
his King and to make Him known through the preaching of the Gospel. He
considered himself a debtor of the
Gospel to the Greek and to the barbarians, i.e. to the cultured and to the
uncultured; to the wise and to the unwise.
·
He was a debtor because he persecuted the church and yet was
purchased with the precious blood of Christ.
·
He was a debtor because of the tremendous amount of talents
that the Lord his Master entrusted to His stewardship.
·
He was a debtor too because he was appointed an apostle by
the King of kings.
Paul was a debtor to the
Gospel. He was ready to go to Rome primarily to pay his gospel debt, not
because it would bring him most pleasure.
We live in a hedonistic
society. Men are lovers of themselves rather than lovers of God. Man’s chief
has become the pursuit of pleasure rather than the glory of God. But here we
have a great counter-example in the apostle Paul.
He had desired greatly to
go to the Romans. That would bring him great pleasure. But he did not go
because he “was let hitherto,” i.e. he was prevented by providence thus far. If
nothing had prevented him, Paul would have already visited the Romans. But what
was it that prevented him? It was no doubt the care of other
churches which were more pressing!
When
Paul wrote this letter, he was probably in Cenchrea of Corinth (Rom 16:1). We
see from Acts 20, that this was at the last leg of his third missionary
journey. He was in the area for about three months (Acts 20:3). And then he
made his way back to Jerusalem with gifts from Macedonia and Achaia for the
poor. Paul mentions this trip to Jerusalem in chapter 15, verses 25-26.
Paul could not visit the Romans
because he had other priorities. There were things more needful for him to do.
He did not choose to do that which was most pleasant or he would have gone to
the Romans. He did that which was most needful, which was to preach the Gospel
in Corinth and also to provide for the deeply suffering saints in Jerusalem.
c. Mutual Encouragement
Here again is a lesson for
us to learn from this great servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not belong
to ourselves. We belong to our Maker and we have been redeemed by the precious
blood of our Lord. Let us therefore not live for ourselves and for our own
pleasure. Let us rather live for Christ. Let us not merely consult with our
inclination when deciding what to do with our time. Let us rather consider what
is most needful in the kingdom of Christ.
Let us, for example,
consider how we may provoke one another to faith and good works. Let us
consider how we may encourage one other. It is not wrong to seek our own
encouragement. Paul demonstrated that. But let us first seek to encourage
others, — in honour preferring one another. When we encourage others,
we will be encouraged in return. It is always more blessed to give than to
receive.
Conclusion
We learned many precious
lessons from these personal words of introduction by the apostle Paul. But we
are a forgetful people. Therefore, if you forget everything, let me urge you to
remember these three points from this passage.
1. First, let us remember to live as
debtors of the Gospel. Only if we live as debtors for Christ will we be known
for our faith and not merely for our knowledge or orthodoxy. And only if we
live as debtors for Christ will the sweetness of Christ be experienced and
spoken about by those who meet us. Let us study how to live as debtors for
Christ by considering the example of the apostle Paul.
2. Secondly, let us learn to pray for one another. Let us
learn to be consistent and discipline in our prayers for one another. Let us
learn to be specific in our requests and yet let us learn to submit to the sovereign
will and providence of God.
Children,
this message is for you too. Do you pray for one another? Do you pray for your
mummy and daddy? Do you know that you can encourage your mummy and daddy by
praying for them and then telling them that you are praying for them?
3. Thirdly, let us seek to encourage one another in every way
possible. Let us do all we can to encourage one another! Let us learn from Paul
the need for mutual encouragement, and let us be encouraged to seek one
another’s comfort. Amen.
─JJ Lim
