In this insightful episode, we delve into the concluding parts of Paul’s letter to the Romans, exploring the intricate relationships and personal greetings that reveal much about early Christian communities. Paul, hindered from his long-desired visit to Rome, outlines his missionary work in Illyricum and his ultimate goal of reaching Spain. This episode examines the historical and emotional contexts that influenced his message and mission.
So Paul is winding up his letter now, his letter to the Romans. And it might be curious to you that he seems to end the letter in verse 33 of chapter 15. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. And then there’s another chapter, and it seems as though he couldn’t let go and couldn’t finish off. But some theorize that Paul actually did end his letter in chapter 15, verse 33, and wanted it to be a more generic letter for everybody, even though he had written it to Rome. And then he added chapter 16 as an appendage to greet people in Rome whom he knew personally. So maybe chapter 16 is an appendage, as I say, with personal greetings to various friends whom he had met and knew, and the ending is chapter 15. But however, in the ending part, he becomes much more personal to those people in Rome, to those he doesn’t know, as well as some that he does know in Rome. And he says, for this reason, I have been much hindered from coming to you. Well, for which reason? Well, from the reason that he’s been preaching in Illyricum. Illyricum is modern-day Albania and Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro and Serbia. Those areas just northwest, shall we say, of Greece and opposite the sea there on the other side of Italy. And it was there that he preached the gospel and spread the news where he said, and so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation. And the reason for all that is why he has been much hindered from coming to you, coming to the people in Rome. So let’s read this more personable part. But now, no longer having a place in these parts. I wonder how he knew that. How did he know he no longer had a place in those parts? Paul was a very persistent man. You might have thought that he would just keep hammering away and preach to those even who resisted him. But apparently the Holy Spirit must have given him indication that he’s done all he can to He’s preached, and those who have accepted Christ have accepted him, and those who have rejected him, well, it’s time to move on. But now, no longer having a place in these parts and having a great desire, these many years to come to you, my goodness, look at that. He has longed to go to Rome to meet the people there for many years. So I’m having a great desire these many years to come to you whenever I journey to Spain. So that was his intention then. He was going to go to Jerusalem and then go to, had come away from those parts in modern Serbia, as I say, and Albania. And then he was going to go on to Spain. and on the way he would drop in on Rome. But now, no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you, for I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. Now, what’s the help he’s talking about? Well, remember, Paul is an itinerant minister. He’s a missionary, and he’s got to travel and live and find places to sleep and eat. And so he’s hoping that he will get hope from people in Rome, while also giving them the blessings that he wants to. But now I am going to Jerusalem. to minister to the saints. So there’s that time first that he goes to Jerusalem. How is he going to minister to the saints? Well, of course, sharing the gospel, but also receiving help from them, but also giving help to them, because he has collected money in Macedonia, in Greece. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia, to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles, if the nations have been partakers of their spiritual things, that is, the spiritual things of the Jewish people who brought to the world the Messiah, Jesus, then it is their duty also to minister to them in material things. Think of this for a bit. This is not an exchange of money through the banking system. It’s not sharing a check or two here and there. This is Paul collecting coins, collecting money, silver, gold, or whatever currency he was working in, and putting it in bags and sacks and carrying it on a cart. Now, think of that. That’s extremely risky. because there were robbers all over the place. And so Paul would need, as this horse-drawn cart is moving along the dangerous roads and backwards, he would need support on his way, armed support, no doubt, to prevent that money from being stolen by thieves. What a tremendous, vivid reality that is when we think of these men preaching the gospel and what risks they took. But how thoughtful of the Christians, though, in Macedonia to want to care for the poor Christians in Jerusalem. So he says, therefore, when I have performed this, that is, when I have brought these means to the people, the poor in Jerusalem, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. And, of course, he’s hoping to collect money in Rome to go on his journey to Spain also, but more importantly, to share the gospel to make sure they’ve got the good news right, that they really understand who Christ was and what he did on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for them and all mankind, and how he is the righteousness of God that gives us access to the Father and the throne room of God himself. I know that when I come to you, he says, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the good news, the gospel of Christ. Paul is so confident that he has such good news and blessing to share. Not simply good news in the sense of information, but good news that is carried to them by the Holy Spirit so that it truly refreshes their spirit and gives them new joy in Jesus Christ. Now he says, I beg you, brethren, This is verse 30 of chapter 15. I beg you that through the love of the Spirit that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me. Well, what does he want them to pray for him about? That I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe. Now, you notice here again the seriousness of belief. Those who believe in Jesus would protect Paul, keep him safe, see him as a wonderful brother in the Lord who loved them and they loved him. But those who did not believe, many of them did not simply not believe, They were out for blood. They were ready to kill him because they thought that he was undermining the Jewish faith and the customs of Israel and the customs of the Jewish nation and undermining the law of God. And they thought he would simply, if he were allowed to spread his message, he would bring down the Jewish nations. That’s what they feared. and so they were out to kill Paul. These were dramatic days, let me tell you, and such days will come again, where believers will be in danger of being assassinated by unbelievers, and they will have to stand for their faith, and the more they do, the more the gospel will spread. It will not diminish, it will spread by the blood of the martyrs, and the the more it spreads, it spreads to those who were enemies. You see, because the enemies will see how much the Christians love the Lord and are willing to let go of their lives, and they will be struck by the utter curiousness and fearfulness of that, and will want to be believers also, many of them. So he’s asking the people in Rome to pray for him. Strive together with me in prayers. Prayer is a striving in some ways. Sometimes prayer is peaceful. But sometimes when we’re praying for someone else who’s in dire distress, there’s a certain striving. But it is a striving of faith, not a striving of doubt. We lift our heart up to God and wrestle, as it were, in our prayers and pray for those in need. That I may be delivered, that’s the prayer he’s asking them to make, from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints. That I may come to you with joy by the will of God and may be refreshed together with you. You see how Paul sees everything that goes on in his life under the providence of God. That’s what keeps him going. This is not an iffy ministry that he is involved in. This is a ministry under the almighty authority of God himself, who has appointed Paul to be one sent, to be an apostle. And therefore, no one can kill Paul unless God gives permission to do so. Paul is safe as if he were immortal until his work is done. That’s how we all ought to feel. Nobody can kill us. Nobody can work against us unless God so chooses. There is a barrier between us and Satan, and it is the protection of angels and the Holy Spirit. It is wonderful. When you think of it, you go to bed at night and you say, what time I am afraid I will trust in you. I’ve forgotten where that verse is, but I often say it to myself and to the Lord. It is a wonderful verse. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him and delivereth them. So we have angels as our companions. We have the Holy Spirit as our guardian. We have the sword of the Spirit, the helmet of salvation. We have the gospel of peace. We are armed in an amazing spiritual way, just as Paul was, that I may come to you. He’s looking forward to coming to them with joy. by the will of God, that he may be refreshed by them and that they may be refreshed by him. And thus he says in verse 33, a seeming ending to the book of Romans, now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. See, this is something that Paul, a phrase that Paul has used often, the God of peace. The God of our salvation is not a killer. He’s not endlessly angry and violent. Yes, there is wrath in the Lord, but it’s wrath motivated by love to bring people to him. He is a God of peace. He wants peace throughout the world, the peace that passes all understanding and comes through Jesus Christ, our Savior. You can embrace that peace today. Thank you for joining me today. My throat’s a little raspy, excuse me. But anyway, this is a broadcast called How It Happens, and this is your host, Colin Cook. You can hear this program any time of the day or night, and lots of archives too, online, by going to faithquestradio.com, by going to, I’m sorry, going to soundcloud.com slash faithquest, or podbean, faithquest at podbean.com, and a key in how it happens when you get there. So, here we go. I’m asking you again, if you can help with a donation, please send it to FaithQuest, P.O. Box 366, Littleton, Colorado, 80160, or online at faithquestradio.com. This is listener-supported radio. Thank you so much. See you next time. Cheerio, and God bless.
In this insightful episode, we delve into the concluding parts of Paul’s letter to the Romans, exploring the intricate relationships and personal greetings that reveal much about early Christian communities. Paul, hindered from his long-desired visit to Rome, outlines his missionary work in Illyricum and his ultimate goal of reaching Spain. This episode examines the historical and emotional contexts that influenced his message and mission.
