Unto All Nations (Romans 15)
We are to take the truth to all nations.
1. Having godly love for others, we are not to allow the weaknesses of others to become a wall of alienation. (Mt 22:35-40, 1Co 9:19-23, 1Th 5:14,15)
2. Exhibiting godly love toward others, we are to encourage spiritual perception in those around us. (Mt 7:12, 1Co 10:32,33, Rev 3:18)
3. Christ is the ultimate example of a life of service, sacrifice, and suffering for the good of others. (Mt 20:28, Jn 1:29, Gal 2:20, Mt 26:26-28, Mt 27:25-51, Rev 5:9-13)
4. The Bible is the only valid textbook of life, given by God for His people. (Ps 119:105, Mt 4:4, Jn 17:17, Eph 5:25,26, 1Th 2:13, Heb 4:12, 1Pe 1:23)
The Bible shows us that God is holy. (Lev 11:45, Lev 20:26, Rev 15:4)
The Bible shows us that God is just. (Dt 32:4, Rev 15:3)
The Bible shows us that God is merciful. (Ex 34:6,7, Dt 4:31, Lk 6:36)
The Bible shows us that God is gracious. (Ex 22:27, Ps 86:15, Ps 116:5)
The Bible shows us that God is longsuffering. (Ex 34:6, 1Ti 1:16, 2Pe 3:9)
The Bible shows us that God is wise. (Isa 55:8-11, Ro 11:33, Col 2:2,3, Jas 1:5, Jas 3:17)
The Bible shows us that Jesus is the Creator. (Ge 1:1,26, Jn 1:1-3,14-17, Col 1:13-16, Heb 1:1,2)
The Bible shows us that Jesus is the Saviour. (Mt 1:21, Lk 2:11, Ac 5:31, 2Pe 1:11, 1Jn 4:14)
The Bible shows us that Jesus is the Lord. (Lk 2:11, Jn 13:13, Ro 10:9-12, Php 2:11, 2Pe 1:11, Rev 17:14, Rev 19:16)
The Bible shows us that Jesus is our Righteousness. (Jer 23:6, Jn 15:4,5, Ro 5:17-19, 2Co 5:21, Php 1:11, Php 3:8,9)
The Bible shows us that God is love. (1Jn 4:8, Jer 29:11, Mt 5:43-48, Jn 3:16, Ro 5:10, Lk 6:35, Isa 11:9, Isa 65:25)
The Bible shows us that God changes lives. (Jn 3:1-8, Ro 8:29, 2Co 3:18, 2Co 5:17, Col 1:21, Heb 12:1, 1Pe 1:22,23)
The Bible shows us the forgiveness of God, which gives us hope for the past. (Ps 103:12, Isa 1:18, Isa 38:17, Isa 43:25, Isa 55:7, Eze 18:21-23, Mic 7:19,20, Ac 10:15, Ro 8:1,33,34, Heb 8:12, 1Jn 1:7,9)
The Bible shows us that God does not change, which gives us hope for the present. (Ps 89:34, Mal 3:6, Heb 13:8)
The Bible shows us the future paradise of Heaven, which gives us hope for the future. (Isa 11:6-9, Isa 51:3, Isa 55:12,13 compare Ge 3:17-19, Isa 60:18,19, Eze 34:23-31, Mic 4:1-5, Ac 3:19-21, Rev 7:16,17, Rev 21:4,5)
The Bible shows us the heart of Jesus, Who is the Example to follow. (Mt 4:17-19, Mt 9:9, Mt 16:24, Mk 10:19-25, Lk 9:59-62, Jn 10:27, Jn 12:26, Jn 21:17-19, 1Jn 2:6)
5. Those in the fold must patiently seek unity of thinking by mutually aligning with Christ and His word. (Jn 17:17-21, 1Co 2:16)
6. To be fruitful, we must unify our thinking according to the Bible and correctly teach its doctrines. (Mt 15:9, Mt 28:19,20, Ro 10:14,15, Eph 4:13-15, 1Ti 4:1, 1Ti 4:13, 2Ti 4:2-5, Tit 1:9, Tit 2:1)
7. All walls of separation must be removed to allow the gospel of Christ to freely advance. (Isa 40:3-5, Lk 3:4-6)
8. Jesus personally brought the truth of God to its original intended light bearers--the Jews. (Isa 62:1,2)
9-12. In the sense of God's universal invitation to salvation, the Gentiles represent all nations and all people. (Jer 16:19-21, Ro 3:29, Ro 11:25,26, 1Co 12:13, Gal 3:28, Rev 7:9,10)
13. Our beliefs transform our outlook. (2Co 4:18, Php 3:20, 2Pe 3:10-14)
Our beliefs bring joy. (Ps 51:10-12, Jn 15:11, Jn 16:24, Ac 13:50-52, Gal 5:22, Jas 1:2,3, 1Pe 1:5-8, 1Jn 1:3,4)
Our beliefs bring peace. (Isa 9:6, Mt 3:16, Lk 2:13,14, Jn 20:20-22, Php 4:7, Col 3:15, 2Pe 1:2)
Our beliefs bring hope. (Ps 71:14, Jer 17:7, La 3:22-26, Ro 8:24,25, 1Co 13:13, 1Th 5:8)
Our greatest joy comes from sharing our hope with others. (1Th 2:19,20, 1Pe 3:15, 3Jn 1:4)
14. Paul does not want his instruction and corrective advise to be felt as a judgment that the church is incompetent in these matters.
He assures them that he trusts in their goodness and knowledge. (compare Ps 23:1-6 and Jn 14:26)
Knowledge that is fruitful must be tempered with goodness. (1Co 8:1-3, Col 1:9,10)
He assures them that he has confidence in their ability for self-government.
15. Paul's bold reminders of what they already know are to be viewed in their proper light as a ministry of God.
16. Paul has a special appointment as the primary missionary to the Gentiles. (Ac 9:15-17)
As the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, Paul assists the Gentiles to gain a complete realization of the good news of life through Jesus.
However, it is only through union with the Spirit of Christ that the Gentiles experience genuine transformation. (Ro 8:9-11, Jn 17:20-23)
17. As in Paul's life, glory in our life occurs only through Jesus and only when we live out God's will. (1Co 1:31, 1Co 9:16, Gal 6:14, 1Th 2:19,20)
18. Paul is cautious to only speak what he has received from Christ. (compare Jn 16:13-15)
Jesus wants us to obey God's will in both what we say and what we do. (Jer 31:33, Jn 14:15,21,23, Heb 8:10, Heb 10:15,16, 1Jn 2:1-4, 1Jn 5:1-3, Rev 12:17, Rev 14:12, Rev 22:12-14)
19. We are to preach the full truth in the power of the Spirit, not diluted by tradition, comfort, or flattery. (compare Mk 7:6-9, Col 2:8, 2Ti 4:3-5)
20,21. God's messengers desire to shine His Light unto all nations, leaving no region in the dark. (Ex 25:31-37, Lev 24:1-4, Ps 18:28, Zec 4:1-6,11-14, Mt 5:14,15, Mt 24:14, Mt 28:19, Rev 1:13,20, Rev 2:1-5, Rev 11:1-4 the two witnesses are the Bible's old and new testaments)
22. The forces of evil ruthlessly oppose any weakening of their dark strongholds. (Da 10:12,13, Eph 6:12, 2Th 2:2-4)
23. After the foundation is laid in one region, we are to advance into another. (Mt 24:14, Mt 28:19)
24. Sharing God's longsuffering desire for the lost, Paul plans only a brief visit in Rome before he departs into new harvest fields.
Paul hopes the church at Rome will provide resources to support his missionary journey to Spain.
In like manner, we are to provide personal and material support for the worldwide spread of the gospel. (Mal 3:10, Lk 6:38, Ro 10:13-15, 2Co 9:6,7)
25-27. Along with the gospel truth, God's people are to exercise compassion, love, and material aid. (Isa 58:6-11, Mt 5:16, Mt 25:31-46, Lk 10:30-37, 2Co 8:1-4,12-14, Jas 2:14-17)
28. Paul again indicates that his trip to Rome is a temporary visit along his primary missionary path. (compare Ac 1:8 and Jn 15:26)
29. When Paul finally arrived at Rome (as a prisoner), it was indeed in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ, but certainly not as he originally envisioned. (Ps 66:10-12, Isa 48:10, Mt 5:10-12, Ac 28:16,30,31, Php 1:12-14, 2Ti 1:8, 2Ti 3:12, 1Pe 4:12-16)
30-32. Prayer is needed that the Truth be lifted up. (Mt 9:37,38, Eph 6:11-18, Jas 5:16)
33. Rather than through coercion and fear, the Truth is spread in love and peace. (Mt 11:28, Jn 3:16, Jn 12:32,33, Heb 13:20,21, Rev 22:17)