Romans 15:14-21 (HCSB) My
brothers, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness,
filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. Nevertheless, I
have written to remind you more boldly on some points because of the grace
given me by God to be a minister of
Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of God’s good news. My
purpose is that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by
the Holy Spirit. Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding
what pertains to God. For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has
accomplished through me to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed, by the power of miraculous signs and wonders,
and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the good
news about the Messiah from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. My aim
is to evangelize where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on
someone else’s foundation, but, as it is written: Those who were not told about
Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.
The apostle begins winding down his letter to the church in
Rome. Having prayed for the God of hope and His Spirit to be their joy and hope
so as not to be overwhelmed by the wicked age in which they lived, he now
assures them that he is certain they are maturing in Christ – able to teach one
another. As he made note of in Ephesians
4, this is one of the major areas of responsibilities in the local church. That
passage tells us God personally gave men with certain gifts to train the saints
for ministry, growing and maturing in Christ so we won’t be tossed about by
human cunning and deceit. The author of Hebrews made the same point in chapter
of that letter, telling those saints they should have been teachers. But they
were lazy and not ready or able to teach. Teaching is not given only to the men
who serve in church offices – it is a responsibility for every child of God.
Parents are to teach their children the things of God. We are to teach one
another – and learn from one another.
But Paul indicates that he thinks the Romans need a wake-up
call, a reminded of things he has already taught them; much as Peter did: 2
Peter 1:12 (HCSB) Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even
though you know them and are established in the truth you have. We’ve learned
about the call to humility in this letter and we cannot learn from one another
if we think we have all the answers, have arrived at full maturity. As he brings
this letter to its conclusion, he wants both Jew and Gentile saints in Rome to
know God has called Gentiles into His kingdom. He nails the coffin shut on
boasting in our own works by saying he has reason to boast ONLY in Christ Jesus
and what He had accomplished through the apostle to make the Gentiles obedient
in word and deed.
There are some professing Christians who believe obedience
is not required, that they should “let go and let God.” The Bible is full of
exhortations for Christians to be active in obedience – deed and word. Hebrews
12:12-13 Therefore strengthen your tired
hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what
is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead. Galatians 6:9-10 So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper
time if we don’t give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for
the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 Don’t you know that
the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such
a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in
everything. However, they do it to receive a crown that will fade away, but we
a crown that will never fade away. We must be teaching one another and
walking so that the name of our God is not profaned by lazy, indolent people
who should be shining like a bright light on hill so everyone can see our good
works and praise our Father Who is in heaven.