The minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles

We move now to the closing remarks of the book. Here, Paul commends the believers for: their goodness, in manifesting the fruits of the Spirit, their knowledge of spiritual truth, and their use of that spiritual truth in admonishing one another.

Paul employs one aspect of admonition - ‘as putting you in mind’, v. 15. There is validity in reminding the saints of what they already know, and we should not despise ministry on a well-known subject. The apostle’s desire was to see the Gentiles saved, and their lives devoted to the service of the Lord. The language of verse 16 is priestly and sacrificial, linking with Paul’s opening words to this section of the book, ‘ye present your bodies a living sacrifice’, 12. 1. Such a sacrifice, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, will be acceptable.

Conscious of what had already been wrought amongst the Gentiles, Paul is quick to acknowledge that such fruit was as a consequence of the work of Christ in him, ‘which Christ hath . . . wrought by me’, v. 18. Those ‘signs’ accompanying the spread of the gospel he attributes to ‘the power of the Spirit of God’, v. 19. Here is a picture of Paul’s ministry - ‘I strived to preach the gospel’, v. 20. So far, he had reached almost unto Illyricium. He now proposes to go further, to Rome and beyond into Spain.

Feeling that the mission in his present location is complete, his desire is to come first to Rome, v. 23. He tells the Romans what he plans to do, leaving the timing as well as the destination to God, ‘Whensoever I take my journey’, v. 24. However, there is a more immediate task to fulfil. He had a gift to deliver to the saints in Jerusalem, v. 25. The Macedonian believers, together with those in Achaia, had made a contribution to the needy saints in Jerusalem. The importance of the gift necessitated Paul’s own involvement: it was convincing evidence of the faith of the Gentiles who had sent it. Such a mission was crucial for the development of the infant church, bringing, as it did, Jew and Gentile, together. Finally, he sought their prayers that the work of God might flourish. What a lesson! Do we have the same passion for the lost, and prayerful care for the saints?