The Goal of Gospel Ministry (Romans 1:7-15)
People today have such a tendency to throw around words without defining them. That’s even true in the church, where everything should be based on the words of the Bible, the book to us from God. One of the words that gets quite abused by lack of definition is faith.
What is faith? Faith can be broken up into two parts. First, faith is intellectual assent to truth. It is an affirmation that something is real. Second, faith is trust in that object that we affirm is true. You are all sitting on pews or in chairs. Before you sat down, you consciously or unconsciously exercised faith by affirming in your mind that that object is a pew or a chair and that its purpose is for sitting. Then you exercised faith in the pew or chair by sitting down in it. You believed into the chair. Or the pew.
We exercise such faith all the time. And we place our faith in things we can’t always see. When we drive down a highway late at night, we can only see the part of the highway directly in front of us. But we believe in our minds that the highway stretches out for miles in front and behind us. We believe that the builders of the highway didn’t just stop building the highway and it’s just suddenly going to run out on us. We believe that there is NOT going to be a sudden sharp corner, because the engineers who designed the highway were smart enough to take into account that we would be going 70 mph. That’s the first part. The intellectual part. We believe it to be true. You could even say, in biblical terms we HOPE it to be true. Hope has the idea of expecting what you believe to happen. So then, you move onto the second part of faith and you actually drive your car down the highway, despite the fact that you can’t see very far in front of you. That is faith.
That’s why the Bible defines faith in Hebrews 11:1 this way: “now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” When you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, you believed that God sent His Son into the world to shed His blood for the remission of sins, be raised again as a testimony to the validity of that forgiveness, and ascend into heaven as the triumphant Lord of all, soon to return and gather all those who believe in Him to Himself and reign forever as the King of Kings. You affirmed this intellectually. You began to hope (expect) Christ’s promises to come true. You suddenly had a strong conviction about things you can’t see–that these things are true! And you started to trust that Jesus has forgiven your sins, that He is faithful and just to wipe away your transgressions when you confess them to Him, that He has sent His Spirit to indwell you, that you have His strength to overcome sin, that you are loved with incomprehensible love, that you are kept by Jesus until the final day, and that you have an inheritance in heaven waiting for you when Jesus returns.
That kind of faith is beautiful. Faith is as beautiful as the evening sky at sunset. Faith is as precious as the sound of a newborn baby’s cry. Faith is as exciting as sitting on the bow of a boat feeling wind and water on your face. That’s the beauty of Christian faith, because it is a beautiful, precious, exciting miracle of God.
That’s the beauty of the faith that the Roman church had. That’s the same beauty of faith that we have 2,000 years later. And Paul wants us to glorify God for our faith, because our faith is a precious and exciting gift from God to us. Ephesians 2:8 - By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Philippians 1:29 - For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Your faith is a gift from God granted to you for Christ’s sake.
That’s where Paul starts in verse 7. We didn’t get there last time we were in Romans. It was supposed to be the fourth truth about the Gospel: that God calls His saints. ‘Saint’ is another word that is often thrown around without a proper definition. In the Bible, a saint is a believer. It literally means “holy one.” Every Christian is a saint. Friend, if you believe in Jesus, you are a saint. So here’s the final truth about the Gospel. Last time, we saw that the gospel contains God’s promise, concerns God’s son, was circulated by God’s apostles, and finally, the gospel calls God’s saints.
After a lengthy introduction, Paul finally addresses the letter to his readers: 7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints. The church is made up of people whom God loves and calls to Himself to be holy (saints) unto Him. He called us to faith. That teaching is all over the Bible. Jesus said that “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44). “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Paul will open up this teaching quite a bit more in Romans 8 and 9. Rom 8:30 - “these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified.” Salvation starts with God, so that all the glory redounds to Him in every way.
That’s why faith in Christ is so beautiful. It is a miracle. It is a work of God literally raising a soul from the dead. Until that moment of rebirth, we were dead in sin. That means we were in love with sin. We were clinging to all kinds of depraved, worldly things, believing that they would fill the void and bring happiness and satisfaction. What we knew about God and Christ was loathsome. It was boring and uninteresting. Then, suddenly, we heard the gospel again (faith comes by hearing) and God called us into His wonderful light and gifted us faith. At that moment, we looked at our sins and we were repulsed by them. We threw them from us and looked to God and Christ and threw our arms around them. That’s why faith is beautiful. It’s amazing! Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see!
And God’s grace doesn’t stop there. Now, we have the Spirit’s ministry to us through the Word of God. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul expected that through this letter, all of us who read it will experience a fuller measure of grace and peace from God and Christ, compelling and empowering us to go and herald the gospel.
Now that Paul is finished with the introduction to the letter, he is still thinking about the beautiful faith of the Roman believers. So he writes…
8 First, I thank my God. It might be better to translate it “I am thanking my God.” It is ongoing. This is incessant thanksgiving to his God. Notice from where his access to the throne room of God comes: it comes through Jesus Christ. And his thanksgiving is for all of you. Not just some of you. Not just for the elders. Not just for the deacons. He is constantly giving thanks for every single one of them. He’s never been to this church. He probably doesn’t know most of them. But he’s heard about them, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. Their faith is so wonderful, so beautiful, that everyone who hears about it rejoices and shares the news.
Friend, when was the last time you prayed through the church directory and just gave God praise for every believer on the list? Each one is an astounding miracle of God.
Also, is our faith so strong and so evident that it is the talk of the town? Honestly, that’s quite a way for a church to be known. Not, “yeah, I know that church. They have a beautiful building.” It’s true. Our building is beautiful. But the faith of the people is way more beautiful than that! Next time you wonder about a church, think about that. What is the faith of the people like? Is their faith being fed by faithful preaching? Is it being strengthened by godly fellowship? Is it growing in steadfast hope? That is a church worth talking about.
Paul is thankful for the Roman church, because of its beautiful faith.
Now, he wants to assure them: his thanksgiving is not just an empty platitude. He brings God in to testify: 9 For God is my witness. God is his witness. God is also his master: whom I serve. He says that he serves God with [his] spirit. This word ‘serve’ is sometimes translated as ‘worship.’ Or more correct, the service toward God out of worship. He serves God in his spirit. ‘Spirit’ refers to that inner, invisible person. Jesus said that the Father is looking for those who worship in spirit and truth. Paul here testifies that he worships God through his service in his spirit as well as in the truth–the gospel of his Son. His life is dedicated to gospel service. Gospel ministry.
Our lives also should be dedicated to gospel service. You don’t have to be a pastor to be a minister. The truth is, we are all ministers of the gospel. Some of us minister from the pulpit. Others minister from Sunday School lecterns. All of us should be ministering in our homes and at the workplace and wherever we go. Our lives, like Paul’s should be dedicated to gospel ministry.
That’s what this spiritual service of worship in spirit and truth looks like. It seeks every opportunity to serve others with the gospel. Notice: For God is my witness [concerning my constant thanksgiving for you] that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers. Paul attests to the Roman church that he is incessantly praying for them. That’s why he could say earlier, I am thanking my God. There is incessant thanksgiving in prayer. That thanksgiving then gives way to incessant request. Always in my prayers asking. Paul here demonstrates what unceasing prayer looks like. It is a constant series of prayers, some short and some long. Whenever he thinks about the church in Rome, he gives thanks and he makes request. What is the request he so desperately longs for? Gospel opportunity. He says: that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. He has heard of their beautiful, miraculous faith. He’s thankful for their faith. And he desperately desires an opportunity to do something beneficial for their faith.
It would be like asking why a doctor makes a house call. “Because my service needed!” he would reply.
Or better yet, like sailors to the mythical call of the siren, “their faith is so irresistibly enchanting, I have to be near it.”
That’s the pattern that you and I need to follow. We should be amazed at one another’s faith. We should go to God constantly in prayer pouring out thanksgiving for one another’s faith. And then our minds will be turned to increasing and strengthening one another’s faith, so then we start asking God to send us and give us some opportunity to serve that person with the gospel.
MAIN POINT: Why? Three goals of gospel ministry.
A SERVANT OF GOD SEEKS TO REINFORCE FAITH
11 For I long to see you. He wants to be there. Until then, a letter will have to do. But a letter is not the same as presence. That’s why John ends 2 and 3 John this way: “Though I have many things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, so that your joy may be made full.” The letters in the Bible are great treasures to the church, and I can’t imagine how much the apostles are rejoicing in heaven over all the ways that God is using these letters. But they always recognized the benefit of being present.
We understand this, don’t we? I can’t tell you how often I wish Paul were right here. I have a thousand questions. “Paul, what exactly were you depicting with the olive tree metaphor in Romans 11? Settle the Arminian/Calvinist debate once-and-for all. And the baptism debate. And the end-times debate. And the free-grace debate. And the justification debate.” How useful it would be to have the apostles PRESENT with us.
Which would you prefer? To read an R.C. Sproul book or to have him present right here? To watch a service online or to be here in person? There’s a time when watching online is the only recourse. If we’re sick or travelling or snowed in. But it pales in comparison with being present and worshiping with the faithful. Which would you prefer? To have a phone call with a good Christian friend or be there with them? There is just something powerful about being with other believers. And that’s what Paul is getting at.
And he puts his finger on why that is. Because faith is such a beautiful thing that its just wonderful to be around.
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you. As an apostle, that may have been some kind of apostolic gift. But I think it more likely that he means to impart to them teaching and wisdom and understanding and a godly example and encouragement and even discipline. This gift will result in their spiritual strength. Whatever he finds deficient in their life or understanding will be corrected. And their joy will be full. And that’s not JUST for them. This kind of gospel presence and ministry is mutually beneficial. He quickly adds, 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. In seeking to reinforce their faith, his own faith will be encouraged by theirs and theirs by his.
The effect of this is like putting two smoldering logs together. Alone, they’re cooling off rapidly, but put them together, and WHOOSH!
That is the first goal of gospel ministry. To stoke the fire of faith. To reinforce and strengthen it.
Closely related to the first goal,
A SERVANT OF GOD SEEKS TO REAP FRUIT
The fruits of Christian faith are wonderful. I think apple trees are quite beautiful. But what makes apple trees incredible? Apples! 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. What makes Christian faith even more incredible? Fruit! The fruit of love and hope. Contentment. Service. Humility. Praise. Evangelism. That’s something that amazing about apple trees AND faith. They reproduce! So Paul was ready to get to Rome and see what the fishing was like! He’s saying, “I can’t wait to get there. I’ve tried, but I’ve been prevented. But when I do get there, we’re going to throw out some hooks. Get the nets ready, because we’re going to preach. Everywhere. To anyone who will listen. And we’ll see if we can’t catch something.” Or to go back to apple trees, we’ll see how many apple trees we can plant and water together and see if God causes some growth! How beautiful it is to see faith reproduce!
Gospel servants seek to reap harvests of fruit from old and new trees.
That leads us right into his next goal. Very closely related.
A SERVANT OF GOD SEEKS TO REACH EVERYWHERE
This is about attitude. There is a childlike eagerness to the servant of God about the ministry. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel–Paul said to you also who are in Rome–we say to all who are in Concordia. Cloud County. Belleville. Republic County. Northern Kansas. Wherever the Lord directs my steps.
Paul said, “I am eager to preach the gospel.” Is that how you would describe yourself? I’m eager to do it? I can’t wait to do it? It’s all I’ve been thinking about?
Are you eager? It’s easy to be eager to preach the gospel from the pulpit. Or from the Sunday School lectern. Or at home to my family. What about over the fence to a neighbor? On the street corner to passing traffic? On Facebook? In a letter to a family member that’s hostile to the gospel?
What would happen if we started inviting some of the neighborhood to our family devotions? What would happen if we invited some of coworkers to read the gospel of Mark with us? What would happen if we relentlessly and winsomely pursued someone with the gospel? What would happen if we lived with such joy and contentment that the world took notice? What if we were vocal about our faith, giving praise to God and offering to pray for others, mid-conversation so that the world couldn’t help but take notice. And, who knows, maybe the Lord will cause our faith to catch fire in someone’s heart!
IN CONCLUSION, faith is a beautiful thing that, like coal, requires the heat of other coal to stay red hot. And, like a rose bush, it requires care and maintenance. And, we pray with thankfulness and childlike eagerness that we may have opportunity to minister to one another’s faith. That’s what servants of God do in service to God in spirit and truth. May we step forward like Isaiah and cry out, “Here I am! Send me!” And may the Lord be pleased to bless our ministry to one another and make us strong in the faith and red hot, bearing much fruit and reproducing. I am eager for God to do this in our church and in the churches and in our community. May we see time and time again the precious and exciting beauty of faith.
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