28th November 2023

28th November 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Romans 15v14-16)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


I often hear that modern parents can't believe that their little ones can ever be guilty of bad behaviour. The teacher at a local school sends a letter home outlining little Johnny's shocking attitude, only to have a parent spitting fire the very next morning in defence of their "little angel". Regardless of whether this is true or not, Paul certainly doesn't fit the mould of a modern parent.


The Apostle unquestionably loved the Romans and was prepared to tell them that he was "satisfied" about them (v14). As far as Paul was concerned they were "full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another." (v14b). That's a resounding note of praise for any church. The Romans obviously loved one another and their love of the Lord flowed into a life of good deeds. Furthermore, they were a well taught fellowship who had "all knowledge" (v14b). This doesn't mean that they knew everything possible to know, instead they knew Christ, His Gospel and loved His Word.


You might say that the Romans were a theologically minded church but theology that only impacts the mind is half-baked. Good theology should always impact your life and in the case of the Romans, they took their knowledge and instructed one another in the ways of the Lord. They were an active, kind, loving, well taught and teaching church.


Even so, there is no perfect church and Paul reminded the Romans that on "some points" he had to speak very boldly to them (v15). In other words, the Apostle may have loved the Romans but at times that love showed itself in necessary correction. It is not unloving to tell your child to behave in school, just as it is not unloving to seek to address difficulties in a local fellowship.


At this point a grumpy Roman might be tempted to ask "who does Paul think he is?" It is incredibly unlikely that Paul started the Roman church and so some might wonder what gave him the right to speak boldly? In four words...he was an Apostle.


Paul knew that it was by the grace of God (v15b) that he had been called to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles (v16a). The Apostle had at one time been an opponent of the Gospel and a persecutor of the church, but Christ had opened Paul's eyes and sent him to take the good news to the nations.


The imagery Paul used to describe his ministry would have been incredibly familiar to the ethnic Jews converted to Christ in Rome. Just as the priests of the Old Testament took the sacrifice to the altar, Paul described himself as being in the "priestly service of the Gospel of God" (v16b). He wasn't reintroducing the priesthood to the Christian church instead he sought to describe his role in redemptive history.


Paul took the Gospel to the Gentiles mirroring the promise of God which said "And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the LORD," (Isaiah 66v20) As we have already seen in this chapter, the salvation of the Gentiles was always part of God's plan. Paul like a priest of old pointed the Gentiles to Christ in order to bring many to salvation, sanctification and glory. In this manner, the Gentiles would be like an acceptable sacrifice to God washed clean by the blood of the Lamb.


Paul in his apostolic role had every right to rejoice over and rebuke the Romans as necessary. I hope we are satisfied with this. You may not be aware but your church is apostolic in the sense that it believes apostolic teaching. We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets and so what Christ's messengers once said is still of great importance to the modern church.


This Sunday you will hear God's voice as the Scriptures are read and you will be blessed as the Scriptures are preached. This is God's simple but wonderful plan to convert sinners and to see them sanctified. Sometimes the Lord encourages us and sometimes He rebukes us but He always seeks to grow us. Brothers and sisters, may we be "full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another." but may we also with maturity receive difficult teaching when it comes. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q1 What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
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