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Home , Romans 15

Phone Call Class Notes FOR THE LESSON ON SUNDAY, May 31, 2020

ROMANS 15 NOTES* (based on NASB) “Reach” Romans 15:14-21; 30-31 (BACKGROUND TEXT: Romans 15:14-16:27)

INTRODUCTION: • Romans among the Letters of Paul. o Romans begins a set of twelve letters written by Paul in the . Great men of God through the centuries have feasted on the riches of the Book of Romans. Martin Luther once said, “This Epistle is really the chief part of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel, and is worthy not only that every Christian should know it word for word, by heart, but occupy himself with it every day, as the daily bread of the soul. It can never be read or pondered too much, and the more it is dealt with the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes.” o Romans was probably written from , possibly from the city of Corinth about 57 AD during the latter part of Paul’s third missionary journey. Ancient Corinth was a city state located on an isthmus that joins the Peloponnesian peninsula to the mainland of Greece, about 3½ miles southwest of the modern city of Corinth. o Paul seeks to resolve a “human problem” in the letter to the Romans. Certainly, this deals with problems between the Gentile and the Jew, but far more than that. He digs deep into the basic problem of sinful mankind. Then, he even digs into the difficulties faced by the immature Christian, and he exposes the profound hope that God brings to all people. o Paul states the major theme of Romans clearly in chapter 1, verse 16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. • Background for Romans o The city of Rome in Paul’s time was nothing less than astonishing. One of the features was the water supply which came through large aqueducts. These aqueducts brought water by gravity alone over bridgework and other structures, supplying water to public baths, latrines, fountains, and private households. o The plumbing system of ancient Rome was considered to be an architectural marvel. The Romans had large sewage systems that carried away wastewater from baths, latrines, and even households. The large piping structures rival that in modern cities. However, sanitation was not up to modern standards. o Rome also had libraries and monuments built up in the city. The Bibliotheca Ulpia or Ulpian Library was created by Emperor Trajan in 114 AD. It was considered the greatest library of the ancient world outside of Alexandria, Egypt. o Rome was the home of the famous Circus Maximus, the largest racecourse in the history of the world. It could seat as many as 150,000 people as spectators. It was over 2,000 feet long and nearly 400 feet wide. It was used for chariot races and other contests and festivals. o One of the greatest structures of ancient Rome was the Colosseum. It was the most popular tourist attraction in the world in 2018. Its construction began shortly after the death of the Apostle Paul and was completed about 80 AD. It held 50,000 to 80,000 spectators. It was used mostly for gladiatorial combat, but for other spectacles as well. • General Outline of Romans: o The Sinfulness of All Mankind (1-3) o The Justification of the Believer (4-5) o The Sanctification of the Believer (6-8) o The Purpose of God’s People in History (9-11) o The Practice of the Righteous Life (12-15) o Closing Greetings (16) • The Background for the Lesson: o In going through Romans we have learned that Paul launched into the depravity of sinful mankind. However, those who believe, like , are credited with righteousness and have peace and are reconciled to God. The baptized believer begins to walk in the Spirit as an adopted son of God, and Paul enjoins them to be a living sacrifice respecting our authorities and showing love and kindness to all o In our lesson last week we learned how Paul told us we are to never pass judgment against those who take different attitudes about customs and observations but to remember that we will all give account to God. o In today’s lesson, Paul concludes his letter to the Romans, urging them to share the gospel with all people, and speaking of the power of Christ and to pray for his deliverance from his enemies in .

FULFILL YOUR CALLING (Romans 15:14-16)

Verse 14: • And concerning you, my brethren – Paul calls the Romans his brothers (brothers and sisters) knowing that they were true believers in . • I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness – He had absolute confidence that their character in Christ was established so that they were full of the good desire to bless others. • Filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another – Paul was also confident that they were filled with the understanding of Christian life and growth they needed to be able to strengthen each other, warning against straying in their faith. Verse 15: • But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again – Paul knew that some of the truths of the faith needed to be strongly affirmed so that his readers would be reminded and convinced that they should remain faithful. • Because of the grace that was given me from God – He knew that God had already brought him so much understanding through his trials and experience and it was grace that God used to help him to be able to teach others. Verse 16: • To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles – This grace enabled Paul to become a “minister” or public servant of Christ to take the Gospel to the Gentiles, or all the lost non-Jewish peoples of the world. • Ministering as a priest the gospel of God – He was performing the function of priest, that is, someone who would be a go-between person between the lost people of the world and God, by being a means to help people be reconciled to God. • So that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit – Paul knew that God loved people and God wanted people to come to Him. Paul was bringing people to God in a way that they could be presented as an acceptable offering, having been cleansed and purified by the Holy Spirit.

BOAST ABOUT JESUS (Romans 15:17-19)

Verse 17: • Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God – After a life filled with drudgery and turmoil, having been distressed and discouraged, Paul was saying he had truly found something wonderful to rejoice in and brag about, and it was nothing less than Jesus Christ Himself. Verse 18: • For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me – Paul could say he could speak much and say many good things that were done, but he would say, “I had nothing to do with it! I didn’t have the ability!” On the other hand, he would say, “Christ accomplished amazing miracles to make it happen!” • Resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed – Miraculously, it was Gentiles who were coming to know the great God of the universe, with proof of their faith being demonstrated through their words and their actions. Verse 19: • In the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit – Paul continued in explaining that God made it all happen because He worked miracles at Paul’s own hands, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to prove the gospel to the lost world. • So that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ – Paul was sharing that he had travelled through the eastern part of the Roman empire carrying the gospel, starting in and coming around as far as Illyricum. Illyricum was a Roman province northwest of Macedonia. We do not have any record in Acts of Paul having gone there, but the wording may refer to having gone as far as the border of Illyricum.

SEEK THE LOST (Romans 15:20-21)

Verse 20: • And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man's foundation – Paul said, “This is the way I intended to preach! Not where the gospel was already preached.” Paul was saying that where a work had already been started, God would use someone else to see it through, but he knew God had called him to be a first witness to an unreached group of people. Verse 21: • But as it is written, "THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE, AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND." – A quote from 52:15. Paul quoted the prophet in saying that God was seeking for people to come to know Him who had never seen or heard, but they would brought to sight and understanding of His love.

Intermediate passages in the background text:

Romans 15:22-29 – Paul explains that he has been prevented thus far from coming to Rome but hopes to do so on his way to Spain. He is currently on his way back to Jerusalem to deliver financial aid from the churches of Macedonia and Achaia to the poor believers there in Judea.

PARTNER WITH OTHERS (Romans 15:30-33)

Verse 30: • Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit – Paul indicates that there are two Forces at work in his urgent plea to the Romans: the presence of the Person of Jesus, and the power of the love that comes from the Holy Spirit. • To strive together with me in your prayers to God for me – Paul is telling us that praying can require striving, or working hard, in order to make spiritual contact with God in urging Him to meet needs. Paul was saying, “I need this help! And I need you to pray with me for it!” The word “strive” comes from the Greek word agonizō from which we get the word “agonize.” Verse 31: • That I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea – The “disobedient” in Judea were the Jews who disobeyed the gospel. They took an attitude of rage and anger against Paul, accusing him of contradicting their religious views. Paul knew that they would put him to death if possible. • And that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints – Paul hoped to gain peaceful relations with the Jewish Christians through the gift of money he was bringing from the sacrifice of those in Macedonia and Achaia. Verse 32: • So that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company – Paul knew that peaceful relations with the Jews in Judea would be something profoundly joyful for him. He hoped to complete his joy by arriving in Rome to take refreshment and rest among the Christians there. Verse 33: • Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen – Paul now concludes the body of his letter. The entire 16th chapter is devoted to his closing. Paul concludes with a prayer for peace upon all of the Romans, a peace far greater than the pax Romana, or Roman peace, which was supposedly established through the conquest of all lands.

Succeeding passages in the background text:

Romans 16:1-16 – Paul greets many acquaintances and friends that he knows are in Rome. :17-27 – He warns the people to watch out for false teachers, sends greetings from those with him, and closes the letter with praise to God.

* The following study are sometimes used to obtain information for these notes:

The NIV Study Bible, Revised. Kenneth L. Barker, editor. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1985. ESV Study Bible, . Wheaton: Crossway Bibles, 2008. HCSB Study Bible, Holman Christian Standard Bible. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2010. NIV Zondervan Study Bible, D. A. Carson, editor. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016.