To Iberia and Beyond
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The Apostle Paul had little to do with the church/churches in Rome. The church had been started on the Day of Pentecost as both Jews and proselytes had been in Jerusalem on that day. “ And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:8-11).
From those first believers returning from Jerusalem to Rome the church in the capital of the world began and grew. Disciples and associates of Paul would help grow and strengthen the church. The Apostle Paul has heard some great things about the church those closest to it and he encourages them to continue in goodness/righteousness, knowledge, admonishing one another. The Apostle Paul had been spreading the Gospel, making disciples, and starting churches on the Eastern part of the Roman Empire. Now he has a passion and a calling to go west! He wants to tell the Gospel to those whom Christ had not been announced and those who had not heard. He has plans to go to Spain as he continues in his letter to the church in Rome.
Verses 22-24
Verses 22-24
For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
The Apostle Paul’s ministry had been centralized on the Eastern part of the Roman Empire (maps of Paul’s first 3 Missionary Journeys). He traveled mostly through modern day Turkey and Greece sharing the good news of Jesus Christ to Jews and Gentiles and helping to establish local churches. Remember this letter is being written toward the conclusion of his third missionary journey, we will see more of that as we continue in these final verses of chapter 15. It had been around 2 decades or a bit more in this ministry. The Holy Spirit’s leading had kept him a certain part of the Roman Empire, but now the task of planting churches in this area had reached where he felt God leading him west. Not all barriers are from the devil.
Look at Acts 16.
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
The Apostle Paul had a desire to come to meet the believers in Rome for many years, but it was not the right timing, now he felt it was the right time.
Waiting on the Lord’s providence does not preclude personal planning.
The Apostle Paul was planning a trip to the Iberian peninsula (Spain) and was going to make the trip to Spain through Rome.
Many scholars believe that the Old Testament location of Tarshish is Spain (where Jonah was going) though other places are possible.
The southwest coast of the Iberian Peninsula—Cádiz, Spain—is a possible location for ancient Tarshish. Cádiz was noted in the ancient world for its extensive metal exports of iron, copper, lead, gold, bronze, and silver, as well as quality woods, limestone, agricultural produce, and livestock. It had been a Tyrian trading port and remained allied with Phoenician traders through the fall of the city of Carthage
The Apostle Paul’s desire was to see the believers in the established church in Rome and to fellowship with them and also “be helped on his way to Spain.”
It was always used of the custom in the early church of furnishing an escort, as well as supplies, for someone being sent out to minister in a distant field. After returning to the church in Antioch, which had originally commissioned and sent them out
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
The region of Spain had been in Roman control for at least 2 centuries, but it had only recently (in Paul’s lifetime been organized). It was primarily Gentile and barbarian. In many eyes it was “the ends of the earth” yet even more areas (like modern England were also being conquered by Rome.
Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
Fulfill prophecy
I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles.
The Letter to the Romans (Second Edition) 2. Looking Ahead: Jerusalem, Rome, and Spain (15:22–29)
I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.” Paul may have identified “Tarshish” with Tarsus, where he began substantial preaching, and “the distant islands” (or “coastlands”) with Spain.
It is not known if he would reach Spain, but he was planning on going to this new region far west on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean to proclaim the Gospel
1 Clement 5:5-7 (Talking about the Apostle Paul)—believed to be Clement mentioned by Paul in Philippians. He would be called Clement of Rome (Early church father. he might have been second or fourth bishop of Rome). Many Romans believe he was the bishop after Peter.
5 Through jealousy and strife Paul showed the way to the prize of endurance; 6 seven times he was in bonds, he was exiled, he was stoned, he was a herald both in the East and in the West, he gained the noble fame of his faith, 7 he taught righteousness to all the world, and when he had reached the limits of the West he gave his testimony before the rulers, and thus passed from the world and was taken up into the Holy Place,—the greatest example of endurance. (1 Clement 5:5-7)
And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
But before he can make that trip to Rome and fellowship and Spain to continue to proclaim the Gospel he needs to go back to Jerusalem.
Verses 25-27
Verses 25-27
But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.
Paul is on his journey back to Jerusalem and most likely in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) or Greece as he writes this.
The Apostle Paul had shared the need of the church in Jerusalem where the church started and the churches in Macedonia and Achaia (see map)— like Corinth, Thessalonica, Philippi, Berea took up a collection.
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
During this period there still was considerable animosity and distrust between Jewish and Gentile believers. The contribution from the primarily Gentile churches of Macedonia and Achaia, who, for the most part, were also poor, was a powerful gesture of love and reconciliation to the impoverished saints in Jerusalem, who were primarily Jewish. Paul was committed to taking that offering, along with representatives of the Gentile churches who gave it, in order to promote harmony in the Body of Christ.
The word translated contribution is koinonia (fellowship, communion, partnership). The bound between brother and sister in Christ from one part of the world to another. Both were financially poor, but through some material gifts (donations) Paul was strengthening their spiritual bound.
They were pleased to do so.
Many people shall come and say,
“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
They are thankful for what God has done in their lives through the salvation that came from the seed of David, Jesus Christ.
Verses 28-29
Verses 28-29
Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
When Paul had done this duty and being the messenger of this. As a Jewish believer and as an Apostle along with being an eyewitness of what Christ is doing in these churches, Paul can seal and give testimony of what is happening in the Gentile world. He can bring greetings from the churches in the area of modern Greece back to the believers in Jerusalem that will never meet these brothers and sisters until they reach glory.
God's Smuggler 8. The Cup of Suffering
“Would you come and speak to us?” he asked.
“Is that possible? Can I preach here?”
“I did not say ‘preach.’ You can’t preach, but you can bring us ‘greetings’ from Holland. And”—my friend smiled—“if you wish, you could bring us ‘greetings’ from the Lord.”
Paul would seal it (certified)- endorse the churches.
When I went to Papua New Guinea in 2005 I was bringing greetings from the churches and believers that were sending me. When I returned I brought greetings from the churches I had been apart of in PNG. Even though you may never meet those brothers and sisters you have my seal of their testimony.
It was truly a blessing for Paul to serve Christ even after everything he had been through and everything that was upcoming. It was still a fullness of the blessing of the good news of Christ!
Verses 30-33
Verses 30-33
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
These last verses show Paul putting himself out there to the believers that they lift him up in prayer. In the book of Acts 20-21 we see hints that there is a storm brewing when he gets back to Jerusalem. He wants this journey bathed in prayer. Strive together (struggle/fight) intercession prayer, agonize together for him. Same word used in John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
Prayer is often a battle. Sometimes the “opponent” is our old self, which continues to wage “war against the law of [our] mind, and [makes us] a prisoner of the law of sin which is in [our] members” (Rom. 7:23). Prayer is always, in one way or another, a struggle against sin and evil,
Paul is going into battle in Judea and Jerusalem, but not in the way we think. He wants his report and his ministry to be heard and seen.
And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
He is going to finish this task and Lord willing after that he will be able to go to Rome and that they will all be refreshed together.
He concludes with a benediction.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The Apostle Paul lived by the Spirit’s leading, but also looked to the future of where God was leading him.
Ministry of the church
Missions
Our own life. Live each day, but also plan for the future and as we are going let the LORD lead.