Romans 15:8-21 Sermon Notes

Enduring people. Encouraged people. Harmonious people. God-Glorifying people. Resilient.

Romans 15:8–9 (ESV) Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles 8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “THEREFORE I WILL PRAISE YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND SING TO YOUR NAME.”

Laud Him! Sing!
Connecting with the previous thought – Jesus willing to take on reproach for Gods sake and for theirs as His mission from God. If for their sake, then we also should seek unity over our diversity.
Quoted from Psalm 18. Jesus had a heart for the gentiles. He wanted them included in His promises.
Paul is explaining that the Roman church needed to align their desires to match Christ’s. Jews and Gentiles, coming together to glorify God together.
Became a servant to the circumcised… in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
Such an interesting thought, when you think about it. (Promises to Jews fulfilled = Truthful)
V9 Witnessing God’s faithfulness to one, produces praise from another. (Outside of Covenant = Graceful)
2 Samuel 22:47–51 (ESV) Psalm 18:49 (ESV) 47 “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation, 48 the God who gave me vengeance and brought down peoples under me, 49 who brought me out from my enemies; you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from men of violence. 50 “For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to your name. 51 Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.”

Romans 15:10–12 (ESV) 10 And again it says, “REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE.” 11 And again, “PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES EXTOL HIM.” 12 And again Isaiah says, “THE ROOT OF JESSE WILL COME, EVEN HE WHO ARISES TO RULE THE GENTILES; IN HIM WILL THE GENTILES HOPE.”

David was a man who saw this. This wasn’t hidden too hard, really. But the Psalms illustrate David’s heart.
V 10 - Deuteronomy 32:43 (ESV) 43 “Rejoice with him, O heavens(LXX) (Nations, go-ee go-ee גֹּי גּוֹי); bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries. He repays those who hate him and cleanses his people’s land.”
V11 - Psalm 117:1–2 (ESV) Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! 2 For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
V12 Root of Jesse - Isaiah 11:1–5 (ESV) There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
It amazes me that Jesus would tie himself to someone like David. But here it is, as Isaiah prophesied.
God’s people are flawed. Wayward. Loved. You too, are “deeply flawed and greatly loved”. (Dave Dodge)
Revelation 5:5 (ESV) 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Revelation 22:16–17 (ESV) 16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” 17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
Rule the Gentiles – in two contexts.
In Him the Gentiles will HOPE – shows what kind of rule this root of Jesse will have.

Romans 15:13 (ESV) 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Another Prayer!
Hope
Fill you with ALL JOY
And Peace (in believing)
POWER
ABOUND – in Hope.

Romans 15:14 (ESV) Paul the Minister to the Gentiles 14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

Filled with knowledge and able to instruct one another
I love to see a whole church of mature believers able to instruct one another.
It’s a delight to see. Look around.
Wisdom = shared.
Fellowship Alliance. 75% pastors and missionaries. Perhaps preparing us for the demographics of Englewood.
Exactly dove-tailing with next statement:

Romans 15:15–16 (ESV) 15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote boldly, he says, and he did. Lesson for you Christian! Don’t be shy with the Gospel.
Paul wrote by way of reminder.
I use notes for this reason. Most of what I might say you already know. Please know that my job most of the time I to remind you of what you already know.
You’ve not forgotten, but you may need a fresh reminder.
Ask Brenda how often she helps me by way of reminder.
This was a good church. These were good people. Most churches needed rebuke, they really didn’t.
Priestly. (2 Peter, Exodus, Kingdom of Priests) this is all of us, and for Paul here intentional.
Offering up gentiles unto God.
That’s us folks. I wonder what am I offering? That’s something we might want to consider for the table.
The offering had to be made holy. That’s us
You’ve been made holy.
John Lennox had a tremendous analogy about what happens with a bride. Really amazing.
Now: We are betrothed to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2). 2 Corinthians 11:2 (ESV) 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
Future: We will be married to Him at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). Revelation 19:7–8 (ESV) 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
Our calling: To remain faithful and pure, awaiting our Bridegroom (Ephesians 5:25–27).
Sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Do not call unclean what God has made holy)
1 John 3:2–3 (ESV) 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Romans 15:17 (ESV) 17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God.

Proud! What a word.
God looked at HIS work and enjoyed it. Very Good.
Anything God does, we should look and admire. Rejoicing and praising.
Paul the priest, Paul the preacher.
2 Corinthians 10:17 (ESV) 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
– Boast in the Lord. Glory in Him and what he has done.
Laud - 2 Corinthians 10:13–17 (ESV) 13 But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you. For we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. 15 We do not boast beyond limit in the labors of others. But our hope is that as your faith increases, our area of influence among you may be greatly enlarged, 16 so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s area of influence. 17 “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
It’s a command.
One plants and another waters, but he gives the increase.
Check out Phil 3, 1 Tim 1, Rom 7, 2 Cor 12.
Paul was not afraid to admit – and even glory in that he himself was weak, God made strong.
One of the most spectacular sermons was on this.
Boasting was always in Christ, for Paul, what Jesus did through Paul.
Not taking credit, but eager to boast. Remember to laud.
No brush has ever taken credit for painting a masterpiece. No guitar for a song.
You say, “I got a lot out of that sermon…” I don’t take credit for it.
It hits home for us who speak.
I got a lot from that sermon… great! It wasn’t me, I can promise you that.
Lesson: In your effort to stay humble do not throw shade on what God might be doing.
Laud Him. Crown Him. Praise … the Lord! Like actually do it.
I’ve learned from many a flawed saints.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV) 13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
Not the Word of men… that’s the point. We men, have nothing to offer you.

Romans 15:18–21 (ESV) 18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but as it is written, “THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN TOLD OF HIM WILL SEE, AND THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD WILL UNDERSTAND.”

He is only speaking from what he was able to see in his own ministry.
This fact, requires humility. I have no idea how to measure this for me.
I hope you are getting more than what we bring you on Sundays.
I hope that we’re not the only source of Gods Word to you.
Unfortunately we have to be careful, but we’re not supposed to be limited. Remember that they were all able to instruct in this church.
2 Cor 10, we don’t boast beyond what we had a hand in that the Lord commends only.
Principal of an eyewitness.
V 18 By word and deed, meaning authenticity.
That’s what we want, right?
V19 I have fulfilled the ministry of the Gospel of Christ. Whoa. What a statement.
Question: What do I have, you have, and we have left to fulfill in our ministry of the gospel of Chris?
Ambition! It’s not limited to your own ability. Strive for His.
V20 Not where Christ has already been named.
We are so commented to laying foundation after foundation. Relaying and relaying.
What about the ones who have no foundation?
Never been told? Never heard?
Isaiah 52:15 (ESV) 15 so shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.
This is the difference form an apostle vs pastor vs evangelist vs missionary.
After assessing Englewood I expected to be called as an evangelist. It’s technically my training.
It seems I’ve been called as a pastor.
I think it might be you who are called as evangelists.
They will see. They will understand.
The gentiles are being brought in, do you see that?
It’s happening,
Are you a part of that work?
Let’s do it – Christ is willing. Christ can accomplish.
What do we need to trim, be willing to do, in surrender?