Closing The Epistle (Part 1)

As the apostle Paul begins to draw his epistle to the Romans to a close his closing remarks reiterate his purpose in writing to them at all. Let us read what Paul writes, and then we will discuss it. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience--by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God--so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, but as it is written, "Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand."

This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you. I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. May the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:13-33

Paul here let’s the church at Rome know that he has written all this to them not because he thinks that they are not capable of studying the Word, and of teaching the Word. Rather he wrote to them very boldly as a way of reminder. This is Paul’s ministry to them, to encourage them to walk properly as saints that are called by God to live holy and pleasing lives in the sight of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul has written some hard truths to them, challenging their very faith, never once apologizing. I too have written and expounded upon these truths to you. I have done these things for the very same reasons that Paul has. I love each of you that have read these words, and I want to remind you of conduct and a life that is holy in the sight of God. Simply put Paul wrote, and I write, because we all need reminders. As I have encouraged you by these words, I ask that you encourage me in the same manner. I know that you are all very capable men and women at reading the word, studying to show yourselves approved, and that many of you are gifted in the area of teaching. I pray that my service in the study of this epistle has been as encouraging for you as it has been for me. May our Lord and Savior continue to bless us all.

Tomorrow will be the final lesson on the book of Romans. Make sure you hang with me for one more day.