Romans 15:14-33 Paul's Ministry to the Gentiles

“…because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Rom 15:15b-16

Nice clothes, well-groomed, funny and articulate, animated, entertaining…I’m describing my observation of television ministers of the gospel. I wonder at times what motivates many of them, both Pentecostal and conservative….are they pure in heart and motives? I’m not trying to be judgmental…I’m trying to expand the box that I tend to put God in…but these are honest questions that I wrestle with. Would Paul have been a big hit on TV? In the last half of Romans 15 Paul describes his ministry to Gentiles. He describes his motivation and he describes the Roman believers place in his ministry. Let me expound.

Paul viewed his ministry to the Gentiles as a “priestly duty…so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” V.15b-16 Paul saw himself as a priest. A Jewish priest had the function of offering sacrifices pleasing to God. Paul viewed the Gentiles as the sacrifice he offered. Sacrifices can be of varying quality. The prophet Malachi rebuked the Jewish priests for sacrificing blind, crippled and diseased animals. He said they would not even offer such decrepit sacrifices to their governor. How would that honor a governor? Mal 1:7-8 Paul wanted the sacrifices he offered to be of the highest quality and bring the greatest honor and pleasure to God.

High quality sacrifices that bring the optimum glory and pleasure to God are:
1. Full of goodness v.14
2. Complete in knowledge v.14
3. Competent to instruct others v.14
4. Willing to give money to the ministry v.23-28
5. Willing to join with those struggling to spread the gospel by praying for them v.30-32

What were the tools of Paul’s ministry? His tools went beyond intellectual appeal, though the book of Romans is intellectually appealing. It went beyond persuasive words to the power of signs and miracles and the power of the Holy Spirit. V.19 I don’t know of anywhere in Scriptures that says these tools are now obsolete.

Ponder and consider…are you a high quality sacrifice? Are you performing a priestly duty that brings honor and praise to God? Don’t get on a guilt trip…there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Comprehend with great joy the gospel and share it with others!