Romans Chapter 15: The Offering of the Gentiles.
We then who are strong ought to bare with the scrupulous of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each one please his neighbour for his good, leading to edification [build up].
So bare with the misgiving of the weak and do not seek your own pleasure. But seek the means by which your brother is to be built up and is made able to stand. Even Christ did not please Himself: “The reproach of those who reproached You fell on Me.” Psalm 69:9
What Christ endured He endured on the account of His Father. He came to make Him known and to glorify Him. And to accomplish the work He has given Him, on account of which He suffered, insult and reproach even death. You also, to the degree you stand for Christ you also will bare the reproach of those who reproach Him.
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
As in 1 Corinthians 10, states those things are written as an example for us and admonition that we ought not to do as they have done. These are also recorded for our edification and as an example for us to emulate.
..may God grant you to be like minded towards one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the the mind that was in Jesus Christ? [according to Christ Jesus]
fulfil my joy being like minded, having the same love being of one accord of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each one of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,.. He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death. Philippians 2:2-6,8
That you also be like-minded towards one another [according to Christ]. That you may have the same heart and approach to one another, as Jesus did to His Father. That Jesus did not seek His own interests or grasp at what is His, though He is as every bit God but made Himself a servant and became obedient to death. Therefore you should also bare with one another, even as to bare reproach for one another, as Paul encourages Timothy not to be ashamed of his chains. That we have the same care and consideration towards one another, not to seek our own, or parade ourselves over another but as servants of Christ, seek the means by which another is to be built up. That we may all stand in the unity of faith, that we may all grow to the same level. “that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify God”
till we come to the unit of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to perfect man, to measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; Ephesians 4:13
therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received you, to the glory of God.
That is without no conditions but with abundance of mercy and grace. Bearing with our failing and being nurturing.
Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.
That is He might bring salvation to Jews and Gentiles: “Rejoice, O Gentiles with His people!”
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Which is the essence of the kingdom of God: “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
The reason for the epistle.
Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, abel to admonish one another. Nevertheless I have written more boldly to you in some points, as reminding you;
As something that is laid upon his heart to point out to them. That it is his responsibility, because of the grace God has given him, to be a minister of Christ to the Gentiles: —it falls under his remit to announce those things God has revelled to him, for the perfecting of the Gentiles that the offering [worship] of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. That he is able to boldly say “For, I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” Acts 20:27
The bold points he is referring to, is the perspective in which the Jews were held by the population in general and the gentile Christians. Acts 18:1-2 records Priscilla and Aquila, were among the Jews, commanded to leave Rome by Claudius. These two with whom Paul laboured for the gospel and to earn his own leaving, would have given him first hand account of the church in Rome. In no other letter to gentiles did Paul labour to make his point about the Jews and how it is all interwoven and the vital aspect held by them. That his aim in the presentation of this comprehensive gospel, is to address the issue of separation between Jew and Gentiles, which seems to have crept in. Therefore he works hard to present a balanced view from the fall of man, to the law and redemption giving insight to the role and condition of Israel. And what their final inclusion into their own olive tree would mean. And extension of curtesy to one another in matters of conduct.
Therefore, I have reason to glory in Christ in the things that pertain to God. For I will not speak of those things which Christ has not worked through me, to bring the Gentiles to obedience. [by word, deed, mighty signs and wonders and by the Spirit of God.]
Paul is saying, my reason for joy is this, the things God has worked through me in bringing the gentiles to obedience, to which this letter to you Romans is one. That God was worked through me in word that your offering to God may be perfected.
from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And So I have made it my aim to preach the gospel where Christ is not named.
The aim of Paul is to preach where Christ is not named. That his main purpose and ministry has been to plant, as he says “According to the grace of God given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid a foundation and another builds on it. 1 Corinthians 3:10 He wanted to be the one to lay the foundation, to such extent he took care not to build on another mans foundation. Having grounds for his pursuit in prophecy of Isaiah, “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; and those who have not heard shall understand.”
Romans were introduced to Christ by another minister of God, as such He did not venture to Rome, rather seeking places where Christ is not named, though he greatly desired to do so. However, now that he has accomplished his task in fully preaching the gospel within the regions round about him. He is making plans to go to Spain by the way of Rome; his goal still being to continue preaching the gospel of Christ where Christ is not named.
The letter to Romans was written while he was in Macedonia [his host being Gaius of Derbe, Macedonian who also traveled with him.] Paul has already purposed in his heart by the Holy Spirit to venture towards Rome while he was in Ephesus. Perhaps the prompt for writing the letter, in expectation of this journey. As recorded in Acts: When this things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” Acts 19:21
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 to minister to them in materiel things.
Now that he has the gifts for the poor, he makes it known that spiritual benefit is as much quantifiable as anything in the world and as such deserves an equal remuneration in martial thing. That those who benefit by it ought to render material things in return.
Now I beg you brethren through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirt, that you strive together with 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.
Paul makes a request for prayers, he is expectant of what awaited him there. Acts records Paul’s testimony: “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 tribulation await me.” Acts 20:22-24 None the less he still hopped and prayed for deliverance that he may continue in his ministry.
Paul does not, make his venture to Rome in the manner he has hopped or continue his ministry on to Spain. Chains did await him in Jerusalem and was delivered to Gentiles. Though he did come to Rome, few years later he came there as a prisoner, and continued to minister the things of God under guard.
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen
Bread Bait. 
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