BY THE WILL OF GOD (Romans 15:22-33)
INTRODUCTION:
As we near the end of our study of the book of Romans Paul becomes more personal in what he writes to the church in Rome. Remember the major portion of Romans was written by Paul to establish himself with the church in Rome doctrinally. Now as he begins to bring his letter to them to a close, he seeks to establish himself with them in a personal way and he does this by again revealing to them his heart’s desire to minister to them and to have them minister to him thus having mutual fellowship and refreshing one another in the faith.
In this final section of chapter 15 Paul gives his readers more information about his ministry, especially his plans and hopes for future service for the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul does this in more general terms than specific but in doing so, in opening up to a group of believers that for the most part he has never met and who lived in a place where he had never been, he does provide us with principles that we all need to learn and especially with one principle that had guided his whole life as a Christian, it was this principle that became the foundation for Paul’s life and directed everything that Paul thought, said, wrote, or did. He states what this basic principle is near the end of the chapter, in verse 32 he declares that his life’s foundation and guidance in everything is “…by the will of God.” (Romans 15:32b, NASB95)[1] Though this truth of living his life by the will of God is not explicitly stated until the end of the chapter it is certainly implied in all that Paul writes. He first writes of his future plans, subject to the will of God, then he writes of his present plans, also subject to the will of God and finally he asks the church in Rome to pray for him and he gives them three specific requests that he desires to be answered according to God’s will and purpose for his life. Let’s pray and then get into our passage for this morning.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles this morning to Romans 15:22-33, our passage for today. Please stand, if you are able, in honor of the reading of God’s Word.
Romans 15:22-33,
“For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while— but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” (Romans 15:22–33, NASB95)[2]
PAUL’S FUTURE PLAN (Romans 15:22-24)
Paul begins this new section by laying out for the church in Rome his future plans. He begins by writing, “For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you;” (Romans 15:22, NASB95)[3] The phrase “for this reason” refers back to what he has just written, where he had just been explaining to them the ministry to which God had called him, to be an apostle of Christ to the Gentiles, set apart for the Gospel of God. A role which Paul took very seriously and which he fulfilled by being a priest, a preacher, and a pioneer missionary. This calling from God had been extensive as he took the Gospel from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum covering much of the Roman empire going to those who had no news of Him so that they might see and so that those who had not heard would understand. Because Paul was faithful to this calling from the Lord to be the apostle to the Gentiles he says this prevented from coming to the church in Rome. The word that is translated “prevented” might also be translated “hindered” and is a Greek word that means to impede one’s way, to prevent someone from going somewhere. The way that it is used here in the Greek means that it was a continuous action that was caused from something outside of Paul’s control. In other words, because of God’s will, His plan and control in Paul’s life, Paul was providentially and continually prevented from coming to the church in Rome. Paul had to finish what God had called him to do. God in His sovereign control moves the natural course of events to fulfill his purpose. This can be done in a miraculous way such as when He parted the Red Sea so that Israel could pass and then brought it crashing down on the Egyptian army when they tried to follow, completely destroying them. Most often God’s providence goes unnoticed by us as He controls men and events in indirect ways that go unnoticed by man. God’s providence was a crucial element in achieving the spread of the Gospel through the ministry of the apostle Paul.
One example of God’s sovereign control over the events of Paul’s life happened during his second missionary journey which began in Acts 15. Paul and Silas wanted to go into Bithynia, but we read in Acts 16:7, “and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;” (Acts 16:7, NASB95)[4] Shortly after that Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia calling to them to come and help them. They went into Macedonia and reaped a great harvest of souls among the Gentiles. God made His sovereign will clear to Paul preventing from going one place, then showing through a vision where he was to go.
The Old Testament speaks of God’s providence in our lives. In Proverbs 16:9 we read, “The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9, NASB95)[5] and then in Proverbs 21:1 we read, “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1, NASB95)[6] Because of God’s providential control in Paul’s life he was able to faithfully fulfill God’s calling in his life, but this had prevented Paul from visiting the church in Rome up to this time.
But now that Paul’s ministry was finished in this place, he began to make plans for future ministry and that plan included a visit to the church in Rome. Paul understood that as a good steward of the time that God gave him that it was important to plan for the future. This planning again was subject to God’s will and His providence. Just as Paul and Silas had carefully planned to go into Bithynia, they recognized when that way was shut to them and they willingly submitted to the Lord’s guidance and control which led them into Macedonia. Paul wrote, “…but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while—” (Romans 15:23–24, NASB95)[7] Paul had finished what God had called him to do in those regions, not that there was no longer any work to be done, but he had established churches and left a faithful witness in the regions where he had preached the Gospel, the work was now committed to those who lived in those regions. Because of this Paul makes plans to go to Spain, another part of the Roman empire, the far western side of the empire, again Paul was planning to go to an area where the Gospel had not been preached.
Paul’s plan included a stop in Rome on his way to Spain. He had already told the church in Rome in the beginning of his letter that he wanted to come to see them. He had written in Romans 1:11-12, “For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:11–12, NASB95)[8] His desire was that they might have fellowship together and mutually encourage one another in the faith. Now here in chapter 15 he gives another reason that he wants to come to them, so that he might be helped by them on his way to Spain. This phrase “helped by them” is used in the New Testament to refer to the custom in the early church of providing an escort and any supplies needed for someone being sent out to minister in a distant place. So as a missionary, Paul is asking the church in Rome to support his ministry to Spain, but not until he has enjoyed their company for a while.
Paul made his plans to visit them and then to continue onto Spain and bring the Gospel to that unreached region. These were his plans, but he understood that this was all subject to God’s will and his making of plans in no way compromised his greater desire to fully and faithfully obey God’s will. Paul had a desire to visit Rome and it was a strong desire that he had had for some time, but his desire to do God’s will was stronger still. Paul possessed the needed self-discipline and dedication to fulfill what God asked him to do, even if that required him to set aside his personal desires and dreams waiting on the Lord to bring them to pass if the Lord so desired.
PAUL’S PRESENT PLAN (Romans 15:25-29)
Paul now begins to explain to the church in Rome his plan at the present, that had to be fulfilled before he could come to them on his way to Spain. Paul had a present ministry that he had to see through to the end. This present ministry that had to be finished before he visited Rome on his way to Spain was in the opposite direction from Rome and Spain, about 1000 miles in the opposite direction. Paul had to return to Jerusalem in order to serve and minister to the saints there. Paul writes, “…but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.” (Romans 15:25–29, NASB95)[9]
Paul was called to be the apostle to the Gentiles, this journey seems to go against his calling to preach the Gospel where the name of Christ is not known. The church began in Jerusalem, more apostles had ministered to this church than any other. This is a ministry of love, compassion and concern for Paul’s own kinsman, the Jews, given to him by the Lord. At the time that Paul was writing this letter, the church in Jerusalem was not only suffering great persecution but also great poverty. There was a famine affecting Israel at this time. Because of persecution from the unbelieving Jews, many Jewish Christian men lost their jobs or worse were arrested and thrown into prison for their faith which only made the famine and the poverty worse for their families. Because of this great need Paul had made an appeal to the churches in Macedonia and Achaia and even out of their poverty they were pleased to give, and a collection had been taken for the church in Jerusalem and Paul was taking it to them. Paul said that these mainly Gentile churches in Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to do this, to help out the mainly Jewish church in Jerusalem. Paul goes onto say that the Gentile churches are indebted to the Jewish Christians because they share in the spiritual things with them. Because they share in the spiritual things, salvation, justification, sanctification Paul writes that the Gentiles should share with the Jewish Christians material things. Paul sees this gift from the Gentile churches as a goodwill gesture to those in the church of Jerusalem that the Gentiles truly are saved and living out the Christian life as they desire to help their brothers and sisters who are hurting. Paul wants this act to bring the Jewish Christian community and the Gentile Christian community together into one family. He would write about this truth in prison in his letter to the Ephesians which was our Scripture reading this morning. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:11-16, “Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called ‘Uncircumcision’ by the so-called ‘Circumcision,’ which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” (Ephesians 2:11–16, NASB95)[10] Paul sees this gift as one way in which that enmity that existed between Jew and Gentile can be shown that it has been put to death and the two are one man.
Paul writes that he must finish this, he must put his seal on this fruit of theirs. In other words, Paul is saying that he is thrilled with the generous gift that he and the delegation from the Gentile churches were bringing to Jerusalem. It truly was fruit borne out of love for the brethren, the Gentile brethren for their hurting Jewish brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul in putting his seal on this gift confirms that both as a Jew and as an apostle, the Gentiles acted in genuine love and gratitude for their Jewish family by collecting this contribution for the Jerusalem church, to help the saints who were suffering.
Paul then says that when this ministry to the suffering saints in Jerusalem is complete, he plans to come to them on his way to Spain. Paul writing of this gift of love said in 2 Corinthians 9:12-14, “For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.” (2 Corinthians 9:12–14, NASB95)[11] This gift of love was received by the Jerusalem saints in just the way that Paul had hoped, with gratitude for their Gentile brothers and sisters in Christ.
Paul finishes this section on his present plans by saying that he knows when he comes to them in Rome, he will come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ. Paul speaks with assurance and confidence when he says he will come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ. Paul was fully assured that nothing in this world could take away the spiritual blessing of Christ. This was not to say that there might be physical struggles along the way, but nothing in this world could separate him from the fulness of the blessing of Christ. He had already proclaimed to the saints in Rome in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39, NASB95)[12] Not only could nothing separate Paul from the fulness of Christ’s love and blessing, but he would impart a spiritual blessing of Christ on the Roman believers as they fellowshipped together and encouraged one another in the faith. He would impart a blessing to them, and they in turn would impart a blessing to him, thus they would both be mutually encouraged and refreshed in the Spirit.
PAUL’S PRAYER REQUESTS (Romans 15:30-33)
Paul begins to wrap up this chapter by urging the saints in Rome to be in prayer for him. He writes, “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.” (Romans 15:30–32, NASB95)[13] Paul feels the urgency of his upcoming trip to Jerusalem, and he pleads with the believers in Rome to pray for him, his urging is by or on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ, in other words, Paul is saying because of our bond in the Lord Jesus Christ and on behalf of Him, so that he might be glorified in what He has set before me to do, pray for me. But not only for this reason but also by the love of the Spirit. As believers when we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit at the moment of our salvation, He pours into our hearts the love of God. That love then overflows in love for God and for those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul is saying pray for me not only to bring glory to Christ but also because of your love for me by the Spirit because I am a brother in Christ.
Paul urges them to strive with him in prayer to God for him. This word translated “strive” is the Greek word from which we get our English word “agonize” a word that means to struggle or fight. Paul recognized that prayer is often a battle, not a battle with God but a battle with our old self. Prayer is always in some way or another a struggle against sin and evil. When Jesus asked the disciples to pray with Him in the garden just before His arrest Matthew writes, “And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’” (Matthew 26:40–41, NASB95)[14] Have you ever wondered why it is hard to pray, why when you are praying your mind wanders? Because we are in a struggle and we must agonize to pray, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
After urging them to agonize in prayer with him to God for him, Paul gives them three requests to bring before the Lord. First, that he may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea. Paul knew that when he returned to Jerusalem there were those who were opposed to him and his ministry. This word translated “disobedient” is a word that means obstinate and unable to persuade. Paul is referring to those Jews who refused to believe the Gospel, who refused to recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah, they were therefore disobedient in that they rejected God’s Son, their Messiah. Paul knew these Jews wanted him dead and so he requests that they pray that he be delivered from them. God did deliver Paul from them by bringing Roman soldiers to take him away from the angry crowd that would have surely killed him otherwise.
Second, he requested that they pray that his service for Jerusalem would prove acceptable to the saints. This request was that his ministry to the saints in Jerusalem would benefit them and be a blessing. This request most likely refers to the gift being brought from the Gentile churches in Macedonia and Achaia, he does not want this contribution to offend the Jewish believers in Jerusalem, but rather that it would be acceptable to them and they would receive it with loving gratitude for what it was, a gesture of brotherly love and concern for them on behalf of the Gentile churches. This request was also answered. Luke records in Acts 21:17, “After we arrived in Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.” (Acts 21:17, NASB95)[15]
Paul’s third request was that he might come to the saints in Rome in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in their company. This by far is Paul’s most personal prayer request, he ask that they might pray that at last he could come to them, that the way would be clear, and it would be the Lord’s will that his long-anticipated desire would at last come to pass. He hoped and asked that they pray that his coming would be in joy anticipating what the Lord had in store for him and looking forward to finding refreshing rest in their company, sweet fellowship with believers who could encourage him and he in turn could encourage them.
Notice that Paul finally voices what has been implied through this whole passage that these requests be fulfilled by the will of God. Paul’s only concern in all of this was that he would be fully in God’s will, that he would be obedient to God’s guidance and direction. The Lord did answer each of these requests, but maybe not how Paul anticipated. He was delivered from the disobedient by a band of Roman soldiers who rescued him from their hands and took him into custody. The church in Jerusalem did receive them warmly and welcomed the contribution for the saints. Paul did make it to Rome, not as quickly as he thought, but he did arrive and was met by members of the church. We do not know if Paul ever made it to Spain. Some believe he was released for a time and went into Spain with the Gospel. Nothing of a journey into Spain is recorded for us in Scripture. Even coming to Rome as a prisoner Paul was able to come with joy knowing that God would even use his chains for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul ends this chapter with a short benediction. He writes in verse 33, “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” (Romans 15:33, NASB95)[16] In this chapter alone Paul has spoken of “the God who gives perseverance and encouragement” and “the God of hope.” Now he asks that “the God of peace be with you all.” This all refers to the saints in Rome. God is the only source of true peace, that peace that surpasses all comprehension that Paul speaks of in Philippians 4:7. From our Scripture reading this morning, Paul wrote, “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,” (Ephesians 2:14–15, NASB95)[17] Paul prayed this benediction as a man who intimately knew the God of peace and who lived in the peace that God gives to those who faithfully abide in His will. Even when all the world around him was in turmoil and his own circumstances looked bleak, Paul would be at peace abiding in the will of the God of peace.
CONCLUSION:
Paul shows us what a man who lived by the will of God is like. Living by God’s will did not stop him from planning for the future. The plans that Paul made were always held in an open hand before God, because more than anything Paul wanted to be obedient to the will of God.
Paul also never allowed his plans to get in the way or interfere with work that God had given him to do, he knew his plans came only after he completed the task before him.
Paul also prayed for his plans, that they might be realized if they fit into God’s will, then he rested in God’s peace to see what God would do and how God would use him.
It is this kind of life lived in the will of God that allowed Paul to say near the end of his life, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7–8, NASB95)[18]
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[9]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[10]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[11]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[12]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[13]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[14]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[15]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[16]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[17]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.
[18]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995.