Chapter 12-15 Part 4               May 16, 2021

In V15:1-10 Paul makes it clear gentile Christians and Jewish Christians should receive one another as brothers and sister in Christ. And with one mind and one voice glorify, praise and laud God together.

In V15:13 Paul begins his closing remarks for his letter to Christians in Rome by praying that the Holy Ghost fill them with peace and joy, and abound in hope. V15:4 Hope come

**Biblical Hope is earnest expectation      

·        Romans 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

·        Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

·        Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

·        V15:4 Hope comes through knowing the scriptures.

Beginning with V14 Paul wants them to know why he had delayed going to Rome. (V1:8-14), see V15:22

·        V14-17 They are filled with goodness and knowledge and are able to do all his has taught in his epistle to them; so he has written more boldly because they would understand his being the apostle to the Gentiles (Ro 11:13) through the grace and sanctification of the Hoy Ghost.

V17  Therefore: since they understand his sanctified ministry to the Gentiles he will glory only in Jesus Christ and the things that pertain to God. Why For 18 V18

V18 For (adds to V17): He will make the Gentiles obedient only to what Jesus Christ has revealed to him, and nothing more. The things that pertain to God are only what God has revealed. 

V19-21 In Jerusalem and cities around it Paul has fully preached the Gospel. He is fulfilling the prophesy of Isaiah 52:15

Paul avoided areas where the gospel had not preached by another man. He Paul could have went into those areas and overshadowed those doing the work. He did not want to seal others' blessings.

V22-29 Paul delayed his journey to Rome because the Holy Spirit lead him to more pressing matters

·        Taking money collected for the poor saint in Jerusalem

·        Take the Gospel to lost Gentiles

·        Paul wanted his journey to Rome to be on God's timetable not hid own so it would be fully blessed.

V31-32 Paul asks for prayer

·        Safe keeping from those in Israel who hate him

·        His journey to Rome be a time of joy and refreshing

V33 Seems to end the epistle to the Christians in Rome, but there is a P.S.

Chapter 16 is Paul's P.S.

Paul's remembered his fellowlabourers and fellowsoldiers and he wanted the churches in Rome to do the same.

In chapter 16 he listed his honor roll of men and women who have joined him is serving the Lord and often uplifted his spirit and even were willing to die for Paul.

Who is on your list?

In V17-18 Paul warns these churches to beware of those who want to destroy the peace and harmony that is to be within the churches.

·        Remember Chapter 15:5-6 and 1Corinthians 1:10

·        There are those who want to destroy the churches of the Living God. Most are outside the church but there are some who hide  within the church.

·        These are to be marked and made know the members of the church especially for the weak in the flesh.

V19 For: Why mark the trouble makers, because of their reputation throughout the world (1:8). Christians must study and learn about that which is good but not to dwell and gain to much knowledge of the evil.

There is a difference in knowing what is evil and knowing the evil personally. 

·        2Corinthians 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

V25-26 the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

·        1Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery . . .which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

·        Colossians 1:26-27 .  .  .which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

·        1Thimothy 3:16 . . . the mystery of godliness

·        V26 The commandment of God: everyone that is obedient to faith of the preaching of the gospel and Jesus Christ are established in Christ and have Christ in them and they have the hope of glory.

·        Paul's ministry was to make this mystery clear to all the nations of the world . . . according to the scriptures of the prophets.

V27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.