WHERE CHRIST WAS NOT KNOWN

Romans 15:14-33 / Keywords 15:20

It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation.

Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

15:14 I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another. 15 Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. He gave me 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.

17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. 18 I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— 19 by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. 20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. 21 Rather, as it is written:

“Those who were not told about him will see,

    and those who have not heard will understand.”[g]

22 This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.

Paul’s Plan to Visit Rome

23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to visit you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to see you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. 25 Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the Lord’s people there. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

30 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. 31 Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, 32 so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. 33 The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Footnotes

g. Romans 15:21 Isaiah 52:15 (see Septuagint)

 

1. Paul acknowledged himself as a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. Paul realized that his role was to be like a priest proclaiming the gospel of God to the Gentiles. In fact, this letter’s audience was likely the congregation of Gentile Romans since the letter was written to the church in Rome.

 

2. Paul is proclaiming only what Jesus had done through him to accomplish God’s will of bringing Gentiles to Christ. Paul confidently proclaims that he had preached the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem to Illyricum. Paul says it has always been his ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known.

 

3. God’s will is the same for us. Are we actively preaching the gospel where Christ is not known? Jesus said the harvest is plentiful (Mat 9:37). There are many who are waiting to hear our gospel message. Whether they accept it or not, they are all in need of the saving grace of Jesus in their lives. We should learn from Paul. We should actively go to our campuses, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, and our families and let them hear the gospel message where Christ is not known.

 

Prayer Father, please help us to preach your gospel message where Christ is not known.

One Word Preach the gospel where Christ is not known