Calvary Road Baptist Church

“PREPARING A CHURCH FOR MISSIONS” Part 2

Romans 

How would you like it if someone you’d never met decided to contact you and tell you that he was really looking forward to meeting you, was really looking forward to getting money from you, and was looking forward to letting you do everything you could to help him get to where he wanted to go?

Does that sound a great deal like a second cousin who wants to pass through the L. A. area on his way to Sacramento to see the second cousin he likes and would like to spend the weekend at your house so he can go to Disneyland and so you can feed him? Or does that sound an awful lot like every missionary that has ever come through our Church?

If what I’ve just described sounds like some relative that immediately comes to mind, I’m terribly sorry for you. If what I’ve just described sounds a great deal like any number of missionaries that you’ve seen come through our Church, there’s a reason for it.

Picture the Apostle Paul in the Greek port city of Cenchrea, waiting for word from the ship’s captain that the boat has been loaded and will sail with the next tide. He sits at a table, dictating words to a man named Tertius, a former slave whose only name on this side of heaven is the Latin word “Three.” Though nothing more than a number to his master, “Three” is being used by God to be the stenographer for the Apostle Paul as he dictates this letter to the Romans, Romans 16.22: 

“I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.” 

Another curious note about this picture of Paul waiting for his boat to sail is the woman standing by. Her name is Phebe. She is the woman from this port city Church chosen by Paul to hand carry what may be the most important New Testament document to its destination. Romans 16.1-2: 

1  I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

2  That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. 

Though he writes to the Romans, Paul is on his way to Jerusalem to deliver a crucial love gift from the Gentile Christians in the Greek-speaking regions to their Jewish brothers in Christ, to alleviate the terrible suffering that has come upon them as the result of a great famine in the region. Romans 15.25-26: 

25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 

Won’t that unexpected love offering save starving believers’ lives and warm the hearts of Jewish Christians toward the Gentile believers they had been somewhat cool toward, even though they shared Christ as their Savior and their kinship as members of the family of God? With that background information established, let us turn to Romans chapter one and see how Paul unfolds God’s plan for giving, not to the preacher, but the Church members, a vision for missions. 

First, PAUL WRITES TO THEM OF A DESTINATION (l.8-13) 

8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

10 Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. 

Please notice that in four of the verses we have read, Paul refers to his desire and intention to visit Rome’s believers.

In verse 10, Paul mentions that he had often asked God to visit the believers in Rome.

In verse 11, he tells them that he longs to see them and wants to give them a spiritual gift.

In verse 12, he indicates that he expects to be comforted by them, as he comforts them, and that their mutual faith will be good for each other.

Then, in verse 13, he points out that he purposed to visit them on several occasions but that he was prevented for one reason or another. However, he wants to come so that he might have fruit among them as among other Gentiles. 

Second, PAUL WRITES TO THEM OF A DESIRE 

Please note that just as I indicated that traveling to Rome was “a destination” of Paul’s, also note that this second point concerns “a desire.” And what is Paul’s desire? Again, in verses 8-13, we see three features connected to Paul’s desire:

First, Paul wants to give to the Romans, verse 11: 

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.” 

Just as with any visiting missionary, Paul has a desire to impart unto them some spiritual gift. He wants to give them something. He wants to minister to them. He wants to strengthen them in the faith.

But notice his second feature. Paul also wants to give and to get from the Romans, verse 12: 

“That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” 

Hey, when he writes about being “comforted together” and about “mutual faith,” he’s talking about “I’ll do something for you, and you can do something for me.” So, he does want to give to them. But he also wants to get from them. Is Paul upfront with these people? Yes. Is he dishonest or unethical with them? No. And is there anything about what he has written thus far that appears to be in any way unspiritual? No.

Now for the final feature of this desire of Paul’s, verse 13: 

“Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.” 

The essence of what Paul has written up to this point is this: Folks, I plan on giving to you. I also plan on giving to you and getting from you. Finally, I’m coming so that I can get something from you. What Paul wants is identified as fruit. The question is, what is the fruit that Paul wants?

Most people’s minds immediately run to Galatians chapter 5 (the fruit of the Spirit) or John chapter 15 (fruit from the Lord’s vine allegory, converts) at the mention of fruit in the Bible. But we need to understand that the fruit that Paul refers to here is not the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5, nor is it disciples for the Lord who are described as fruit in John 15. This passage doesn’t refer to the fruit of the Spirit. Paul would not need to go to Rome to obtain the fruit of the Spirit.

But what about fruit referring to converts? There are several reasons to think not. Turn to Romans 15.20: 

“Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation.” 

This verse reveals Paul’s commitment to a pioneering ministry, a groundbreaking ministry. He did not seek converts where the Gospel had already been preached. His ministry was to go to unreached regions.

Now look to Romans 15.28: 

“When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.” 

Here we see the word “fruit” specifically to describe the love gift from the Gentile Churches to the Jerusalem Christians. The “fruit” in this verse is, in a word, money.

So, Paul did not want to go to Rome so he could win folks to Christ there. They were capable of evangelizing their region themselves. And he could have reached lost folks for Christ elsewhere. No, the reason he wanted to go to Rome was to get from them ... money. The Gospel ministry does, after all, need to be financed. 

THE THIRD THING PAUL WRITES TO THEM ABOUT IS THEIR DEBT (1.14-15) 

14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 

Indicating that he was ready to preach the Gospel in Rome is not saying that he did preach the Gospel in Rome. Want to know why Paul wanted to come to Rome? Want to understand why Rome was a destination? Want to know why he wanted to strengthen them in the faith so they could and would give him money? He had a debt to pay.

Understand, his debt is to both Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the unwise. Paul is so committed to paying his obligation to tell men of Christ that he will even go through Rome on his way to Spain to preach the Gospel ... if it will help him accomplish his goal of paying off his debt.

How will preaching the Gospel help Paul achieve his goal of paying off his debt, to discharge his moral obligation to tell lost men of Christ? Understand that the Gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But it is not only that. The Gospel encompasses God’s entire plan of redemption, from the promise God made in the Garden of Eden to the covenant He established with Abraham and completely fulfilled following the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ when the Savior comes again. Thus, it is possible and so necessary for a sinner to focus his attention on Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It is good news to every sinner that Christ is such a Savior. But the scope of the Gospel is so much broader than the essentials that are crucial for a sinner to know to trust the Savior.

Though not explicitly stated at this point, what is implied is that what is Paul’s duty, obligation, and responsibility (his debt, if you will), is also their duty, obligation, and responsibility. Just as Paul has a moral obligation to declare the unsearchable riches of Christ, so do the Christians he is writing to. And so do the Christians I am preaching to. 

SO PAUL, AND THIS IS POINT NUMBER FOUR, NEXT WRITES ABOUT GOD’S DESIGN 

It is this aspect of Paul’s letter that he devotes most of his content to. Paul writes to the Romans not to win them to Christ, but so they will understand how their individual Christian lives fit into God’s grand design. Let me give you an overview of this letter to the Romans to show you what Paul accomplishes quickly:

In Romans chapters 1 through 3, Paul shows humanity’s (which is to say every person’s) need for justification in the sight of God. You might wonder, “If those people were already Christians, they should already know that unsaved people need to be saved from their sins. Paul shouldn’t have to tell them that.” While that certainly is true, how many people think certain things apply to them, but not everyone else? “Sure. I know that I’m a sinner who needed to be saved. But who am I to say that everyone is a sinner in need of salvation?” In Romans 1 through 3, Paul shows, conclusively, that everyone needs to be saved. Everyone needs to be justified in the sight of God. All have sinned and come short of God’s glory.

Having shown his readers that, Paul moves on to show them the nature of justification in chapters 4 through 8. Understand that there exist two plans of salvation. The first is the plan whereby someone tries to be good enough to merit God’s favor and be rewarded with salvation. Then, the plan recognizes that each person is incapable of being or doing anything good enough to merit salvation from God. If salvation is to be received, it has to be given as an undeserved gift. Of these two plans of salvation, the latter, of course, is God’s plan. The former plan is favored by religionists who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. As well, that is the approach advanced by the evil spirits promoting their doctrines of demons. The certain destiny of those who embrace this approach is the lake of fire. What Paul accomplishes in chapters 4 through 8 is a description of God’s plan of salvation, which features justification by faith. A description of the believer’s relationship to sin after he places his faith and trust in Jesus Christ, having a redeemed soul ready for heaven, but still having an unredeemed body that is, however, guaranteed the glory of the resurrection.

Of course, the Jewish believers among his readers wondered about the nation of Israel. Since salvation is not the result of any attempt at obeying the Law given to Israel, and since Church era believers are not obligated to submit to the Law, what about Israel? Their question was a valid one. Recognizing the concern Jewish believers would have for their kinsmen according to the flesh, and being concerned himself that God is properly shown to be a covenant-keeping God Who is true to His Word, Paul shows that God has not forgotten Israel, in Romans chapters 9 through 11. Expressing his own heartfelt desire for Israel’s national deliverance, Paul informs his readers that although Israel is at present set off to one side of God’s plan of redemption, they will be at the very focus of God’s dealings again in the future. But for now, their blindness to the reality of Christ being the Jewish Messiah and the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to their people will continue until a future time. At that future time, Paul writes, “all Israel shall be saved.”[1]

Having dealt with the sinfulness of all humanity, the salvation of sinners, and the situation regarding Israel, chapters 12 through 16 of Romans is an application of earlier doctrinal truths to daily living. 

AND WHY DOES PAUL SPEND SO MUCH SPACE ADDRESSING THE DOCTRINAL ISSUE, DEALING WITH GOD’S DESIGN? POINT NUMBER FIVE IS THE DESTINATION. 

Paul begins to wrap it up in Romans chapter 15, as he reveals to his readers a key ingredient in his letter. To this point, the Romans know a destination of Paul. The city of Rome. Now, with a solid doctrinal footing underneath them, Paul reveals the destination. Notice the three destinations he provides in this 15th chapter of Romans.

His immediate destination is, of course, Jerusalem, 15.25: 

“But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.” 

His intermediate destination is, we have already found out, the city of Rome. But what is his ultimate destination? What is the destination of Paul, 15.24-28? 

24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.

25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. 

“Oh. So you want to visit us ... on your way to Spain. Is that it? You really love us. You really want to spend time with us ... so you can get money from us to go to Spain?” Do you see why Paul spent so much time developing a solid doctrinal footing before he told them what his ultimate destination was? If they had been as ignorant as they were before they received his letter, if they had not seen God’s grand design for reaching sinful members of the human race with the truth, if they had not been thoroughly convinced of the entire human race’s profound spiritual need, they might have been offended by what Paul proposed to them. 

BUT NOW, POINT NUMBER SIX, THEY CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND AND EVEN SHARE WITH HIM IN, NOT A DESIRE, BUT THE DESIRE OF HIS HEART 

His immediate desire is to get the fruit, the money, to Jerusalem. That money will help those Jewish believers and strongly motivate them to be more accepting of us Gentile believers.

After that, Paul’s intermediate desire is to get to Spain with as much financial backing as he can secure. Why would Paul want to do that? Romans 15.23: 

“But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you.” 

The Eastern Mediterranean was already aggressively evangelized. Paul, a groundbreaking Church planter, is compelled to go where the Gospel has not been preached before. And that’s in the Western Mediterranean. That’s in Spain. But with travel and technology being what it was in Paul’s day, he could not use his present support system, based as it was in the Churches in such places as Antioch and Ephesus and Philippi, to supply him with finances at the edge of the known world. So, he wants the Romans to work with him, them doing the praying and the financing, him doing the preaching and the Church planting, and to be his Western Mediterranean base of support.

But that is just his intermediate desire. His ultimate desire, the desire, if you will, is to reach the people living in Spain for Christ. 

As important as missions is, it amazes me that more Christians have not recognized that Paul’s letter to the Romans is a missionary letter. It was written by a missionary to Church members who were not missions-minded Church members, to prepare them and to persuade them to join with him in reaching the lost living somewhere else, in Spain, for Christ.

History tells us that the Romans were persuaded. God used Paul to convince them that all people are sinners, that sin does condemn sinners to eternal damnation, and that only the Gospel he preached would rescue the perishing. So, they stood with him and allowed him to use their city of Rome as his base of operations to reach into Spain with the Gospel.

But more than that, they gave. They gave money. Paul received “fruit” from them to finance his Gospel penetration into Spain. And it may very well be that the sketchy records of Gospel preaching missionaries who reached out as far as England and Ireland, as early as the second century, were the result of the Romans responding to this letter written to them and being ready to support Paul when he arrived in Rome.

I pray that we respond to Paul’s letter to the Romans in the same way. I pray that we will realize the role that God has assigned for us in planting Gospel preaching Churches and seeing folks saved.

We currently have 16 missions projects ourselves. Back in the early 1990s our Church supported 21 missions projects. I would like for us to further recover and to add another missions project. I will introduce him to you next week.

In order to add yet another missions project, our missions giving needs to not only remain steady. We need for some families to add $5.00 per week to their missions giving, so we can add one more missions project.

Not only do we need for newer members to begin to faithfully give to missions above their tithe, but we need longtime members who do not yet support their own Church to begin giving on a weekly basis to our Church, and eventually beginning to give to missions.

So, let’s make a fresh start giving to missions. Take a look at your missions giving in light of my message this morning and in light of what I’ve set before you this evening. See if you can join with others so we can add one more, bringing our total to 17.

I urge those of you who give to missions to prayerfully consider giving a bit more ... even if it’s only $5.00 more per week. And those of you who do not give to missions ... give something. Give anything, but choose to do so regularly, weekly. To lead the way, my wife and I are going to increase our missions giving. So, I am asking you to do what we are doing.

Because the entire letter to the Romans was written to answer one question. What are you going to do? And if you are willing to do more, if God so leads, great.

As we have studied Paul’s letter to the Romans, let’s take to heart the fact that this lost world has a profound need. And it’s through our lives that God has ordained that the message they need is be presented here at home and prayerfully financed abroad.

Our ushers have already given each one of you something to look at. In the appropriate place, please consider filling in your name. If you will pray about giving to our missions program or to increase your present level of giving, just place that paper in the offering basket next Sunday night.

To avoid any embarrassment for those of you who choose not to give to our missions program, I’d like you to place the blank form in the offering basket at the same time. When that’s done, the ushers will bring the baskets to me.

I’m of the opinion that if you affix your name to a commitment you will really mean it. If you will but pray about it, I’m satisfied that God will meet our need at the level He wants us to operate at. That will happen next Sunday night.

__________

[1] Romans 11.26

Would you like to contact Dr. Waldrip about this sermon? Please contact him by clicking on the link below. Please do not change the subject within your email message. Thank you.

Pastor@CalvaryRoadBaptist.Church