Romans 16. 25,26,27 25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel,
the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of
the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known
through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all
the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only
wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. – St. Paul
There was no mistaking it, Paul was a legend in his own
time. Although he’d never been to Rome at this point, he was well known by many
there, and he knew many there. Some had served with him in church-planting,
some had ministered to his needs, some had even spent time in prison with him.
So, it wasn’t like no one knew him, or of him, when his epistle showed up.
Paul had an opportunity to share his heart, and his
gospel with them from afar because at this point in his ministry he just hadn’t
made it to Rome yet. He would someday, and someday, he would testify before the
madman, Emperor Nero. And someday, he would be a martyr for the cause of
Christ. But all of that at this point was yet; for now, it was just a letter to
a group of believers from a man of renown.
I’ve read scholars and others sort of castigate Paul for
writing this letter as if he attempted to barge in on their party; kind of
like: who is this guy and who does he
think he is? For one thing, Paul wasn’t an unknown; and for another, Paul
loved and cared about God’s people who’d placed their faith in Jesus Christ,
wherever they were. Paul loved the Church.
Granted, there we some in Rome at that time who didn’t
know Paul, but I don’t think there were many who hadn’t heard of him. I think there were those who wanted to know him but
circumstances and situations had prevented him from coming to Rome. Paul wrote
to them to reassure them and encourage them.
As I thought about reading this chapter in Romans today,
I thought about Paul’s relationship with the Roman church. He loved them and
wanted to see them, and he didn’t want to just show us as if: here I am. I suppose one could do that,
but most would want to know: And…? So,
Paul wrote to them and introduced himself to them, and shared his gospel with
them. Some of the greatest theology in all of Scripture is found in the Epistle
to the Romans.
And so, Paul blessed them in his benediction: Now to him who is able to establish you in
accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in
keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now
revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the
eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes
from faith— to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
He called it My
Gospel not because he came up with it, but it owned him and Paul owned it. The truth is the truth no
matter whether we believe it or not. Paul knew it, believed it and owned it because
it became his own. It was his passion and his gift to those caught up in
darkness and death. And it persists to this day. Paul’s Gospel is our Gospel
and we’re to own it the same way.
Father, may I
proclaim Paul’s gospel as my Gospel, because it is Your Gospel; and by it
others are set free! Amen.
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