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A Brief Exposition of Romans (Paul’s Doctrine Of Service) Part 4
It is possibly nowhere else within the book of Romans a more overt teaching as Paul then speaks of the practically applied principle of loving one’s neighbor than his discourse to the Jews here. Paul brings to bear the testimony of Christ who though a servant to the Jews ministered to the Gentiles to show the mercy of God. The foundation upon which this assertion is based are four Old Testament quotations of God’s relationship to the nation of Israel and the Gentile nations in the operation of His redemptive decrees. In essence Paul says that the gospel has gone out to the Gentile nations and the call to rejoice over what God has done stands as a testimony of the sovereignty of God but that the concluding result is that the Jews will be brought into this gospel understanding. Summarily Paul’s prayer is that the “God of hope” will fill the Jews not with bitterness and resentment as they are now filled, but with joy and hope in “believing” (πιστεύειν, present active infinitive) and the power of the Holy Spirit “abounding” (περισσεύειν, present active infinitive) in salvation. These two components of the gospel message seem to be applied as an acquired state of reality as is the case for anyone regenerated by the Holy Spirit but here specifically applied as a future hope to the Jews. The hope that Paul brings is certainly not mislaid. Paul says, “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.” Whether Paul is here speaking to the Jews of the Roman Church only or to the Jews and Gentiles together does not move against the point that for Paul, it seems that he is commending the Church in Rome of demonstrating the principle of service leading to salvation. Though Paul has spoken a word of correction on some points, that word was given to preserve the true application of the Gospel; an application that calls every believer to mutually edify other believers. It seems for Paul, that the edification of believers is most obviously seen in the salvation of the Gentiles. The Gospel message has gone out to those who did not know of its existence and who have now believed and given themselves to the reality of the Gospel truth. In this way, faith is neither academic nor theoretical; rather it is a living faith. The transformed life brought about by the imputation of Christ’s righteousness through the preaching of the Gospel is the ultimate expression of service to the body of believers. As Paul begins to bring this section of text to a conclusion, he returns to a thought upon which the letter to the Romans was opened; his desire to be among the saints in Rome. Paul however adds one additional caveat to his expression, namely there is nowhere else for him to proclaim the Gospel message. Paul views his ministry as accomplishing what he had been ordained for. Paul seems his task being completed or at least completed up unto that point. All that is left for Paul is to embark upon missionary work in areas of the world in which he has never set foot and this in part includes Rome. Paul’s admonitions specifically call the believers in Rome to pray for his accomplished travel to these environs and to the boundaries of Christendom beyond Rome in Spain. It is Paul’s expressed desire to actively carry the Gospel message to still others who have never heard the name of Christ as opposed to just stopping to take ease for the balance of his life. In this way, Paul gives to those who read him the continued admonition and encouragement to never cease is serving the saints; both those who have already been saved and those who as of this point in time have not.
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