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Sermon Notes of
Rev Dr Ivor J.W.Oakley (Strandtown Baptist Church 15-01-1978)
Having begun the chapter describing the call he received,
the Gospel he was called to preach, and the readers to whom he preached, Paul
reveals more of himself, his desire to visit the Roman church, his attitude to
God’s will in his travels, and his anxiety to reach others with the Gospel.
After about 1900 years the warm affection of this passage
still breathes through it, and we can feel Paul’s great heart throbbing with
love for Christians he had never seen. Here was the problem for Paul. He had
never been in Rome, and had had no share in the founding of the Roman church
(and neither had Peter). Perhaps they were a bit suspicious of him. How was he
to introduce himself as an apostle to Gentiles? How could he disarm their
suspicions? He had to make them feel he was not there to intrude or interfere.
He had to get alongside them to get rid of barriers of strangeness and
suspicion.
Naturally, as one especially
commissioned to labour in Gentile lands, he was especially interested in the
church in the greatest city of the Roman Empire. He was anxious to do what he
could to help the work forward and to strengthen the faith of the young
Christians, and put their Christian witness on stronger foundations. Also, he
planned to visit Rome soon, so he needed to ensure a good relationship with his
readers.
Therefore, in wisdom and love, he began with a
compliment. He told them he was grateful to God for their faith about which the
whole world knew. There are some people whose tongues are tuned to appreciation,
and others to criticism. Some look for virtues, others for faults. It was said
of Thomas Hardy that if he went into a country field he would always see, not
the wild flowers, but the dung heap in the corner. The fact is that we always
get more people by appreciation than by criticism.
There were two early Iona missionaries to the Saxons. The
first, in 630AD, returned speaking of the stubborn and barbarous disposition of
the English. Then Aiden went in 635AD. Before going he said “I think brother
you have been too severe for these ignorant hearers. You should have led them on
gently”. It was Aiden’s gentleness that won Northumbria, whose people were
repelled by the critical severity of his brother monk.
Although Paul did not know these
people, he prayed constantly to God for them (and also the Colossians). His love
was also shown in his longing, intense yearning: I long to see you, that I
may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established (1:11).
The Greek word used for “spiritual gift” Carisma
can be translated miraculous gift, but the context suggests instruction
to strengthen faith and expand faith more effectively and perfectly, so that
they may be more mature and have a firmer grasp of Jesus Christ, His love and
His power.
This affection is very moving,
and such affection should characterise the Christian worker and preacher.
Alexander MacLaren was once away from his congregation for some while (in
Australia). He did not think it was good to profess affection for his
congregation normally, but felt he must do so at that time. Hence his delight at
seeing them again, and reuniting the bonds. Mutual affection between pulpit and
pew is something to thank God for, to be encouraged and deepened. “Unless
there is this manly, honest, though often silent, Christian affection, the
sooner you and I part, the better”. The preacher can do no good for his
congregation if there is no love in his heart. No congregation will ever listen
and profit if they are listening with carping criticism or stolid indifference.
There must be a real, though usually concealed, mutual affection and regard –
main thing binding the nonconformist preacher to his congregation.
And note also his humility
before these people. The great apostle of the gentiles, the channel of God’s
gift to them, in his turn seeks to receive help from them “That I may be
comforted (the Greek here sumparaklhqhnai
means “strengthened”) and encouraged among you because of your faith” (1:12).
Their help would banish his depression and give him renewed courage. He had as
much to receive as to give.
We all have much to learn from
one another, pew from pulpit and vice versa. Students have much to learn from
the experience of those instructing them and from constructive criticism.
Nothing to learn from empty flattery – only way to ruin! React to one another.
The spirit and attitude we create for one another either builds us up or lowers
the spiritual temperature and mars spiritual life. The pew’s strength and
weakness is due in part to the pulpit. The pulpit’s strength and weakness is
due in part to the pew.
Let us be helpers one of
another, encourage one another and strengthen one another in the warfare and
work to which we are called and consecrated. We both need to be a blessing, and
to obtain a blessing, to both give and to get.
Presence, and attitude and words can impart strength and encouragement to all. Calvin said “In the Christian church no one is so poor as not to be able to confer on us some important benefit; but our pride hinders us from reaping these mutual advantages”. Let’s make the most of fellowship with our own fellow Christians.
Paul had never seen these people, though he often planned to see them but was hindered so far. Now he is longing to see them again, and he has committed the matter to the Lord, praying that he might get there in God’s will. Making request I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you (1:10). He had a strong desire, which he expressed to the Lord, but everything was subject to God’s will. All plans and all prayers were under this great qualification. In the end, all was dependent on what God wanted, and Paul was gladly willing to accept that.
Earlier in the chapter Paul described himself as a bondslave of Jesus Christ, belonging wholly to his master. The outworking of this is that prayers and plans are under the Lord’s direction. This is underlined in Scripture:
“For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother”. (Matthew 12:50)
Jesus said “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me”. (John 4:34)
Jesus wished the cup to be removed from him, but “thy will be done”. (Matthew 26:42)
Slaves were instructed to “do the will of God from the heart”. (Ephesians 6:6.)
“If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that”. (James 4:15.)
Ultimately it was in God’s will to enable Paul to go to Rome, but in circumstances he did not anticipate – as a prisoner appealing to Caesar. God’s will is often unexpected and strange. At the end of our lives, and often before, we shall see its wisdom and marvel at it. Only as we are subject to it does life make sense. Holidays, careers, choices, friends are in his hands. Times are in God’s hands. All our ways are at his disposal. “In his will is our peace” Dante.
“I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise
and to the unwise” (1:14). “Greeks” does not merely apply to natives
of Greece, but to all who knew the culture and outlook of Greece. A barbarian
meant a man who says “bar bar” ie. who speaks with uncouth tongue, in
contrast to the beautiful language of Greece. Paul is saying here that he is a
debtor to the wise and the simple, the cultured and the uncultured, the educated
and the uneducated. He owed the Gospel to everyone. His message was for the
whole world. John Wesley said “The world is my parish”. We owe the Gospel to
others. We share common humanity with the rest of the world even though there
are many differences. We share the same air, the same light, the same food and
drink, we have similar outlooks, abilities, hopes, fears, actions and reactions,
common possession of the image of God, common sin, common bondage and guilt and
liability to bondage. We are from the same human family, and we therefore desire
to impart to our fellows what we have. We are our brothers’ keeper.
The Gospel has brought us the
experience of Salvation. Christ has drawn us to himself that through us he might
draw others, to increase the flock that gathers around the one Saviour. It is
the day of good tidings (2 Kings 7:9), and we must not hold our peace. We
have a responsibility to get the Gospel out to everyone regardless of colour or
race, to tell him of his need, the danger he is in, and the way of release.
Obligation receives additional weight because proved adaptation of Gospel to all
sorts and conditions of men. Alone of all religions of the world, our Gospel is
capable of reaching and changing and influencing for good every tongue and race
and every stage of civilization. Essentially a worldwide religion. There is yet
to be found a race incapable of receiving the Gospel and beyond need of it.
We must pay our debts, owe no
man anything, but instead, discharge debt to the whole world by service, gifts
and prayers. We are not at liberty to choose whether we should do our part in
making Christ known. We are in debt. We have no special merit, no worth over and
above our duty. We are in debt. This sense of obligation is at the root of all
genuine service. The man who says “I am a debtor” does his utmost and best
work for Christ. Therefore Paul desires to be ready to preach the Gospel also to
the Christians in Rome.
At the outbreak of the Indian
Mutiny, Sir Colin Campbell, later Lord Clyde, was asked how long it would take
him to get ready to start for India. “I am ready now” was his reply.
“I am a Debtor” and “I am ready” are at the very heart of all true work of God. Pay all debts and be in readiness for the master’s call. Hudson Taylor said “Every day 33,000 and every month 1,000,000 subjects of Chinese Empire pass into eternity without having heard the Gospel” Those figures are very out of date.
·
Paul was
longing to be with the Christians in Rome.
· He also wanted to be in God’s will above all else.
· He felt in debt to give the Gospel to others.
