Okay, now, looking back at Romans
chapter 15, the Apostle Paul, we know from reading the last
few verses of this chapter, had a great longing desire in his
heart to meet those people there in Rome. Notice, if you will,
at verse 23, but now having no more place in these parts, and
having a great desire these many years to come to you." Now he
was blessed of God, inspired of God. These words that he pens
are the words that God gave him for those people and for us.
And he greatly desired to meet those people and to fellowship
with those people, but most certainly he wanted to personally minister
the gospel unto those folks there at Rome. And he earnestly desired
to meet those people. Now, if you hold your place there
and look back at Romans chapter 1, I love the way he describes
the believers there in Rome. And this is true of you and I.
This is true of all of God's people. Romans chapter one, look
at verse six. Among whom are you also the called
of Christ Jesus. So all that are in Rome, beloved
of God, called saints. Notice those two words there,
to be. can be left out, called saint, grace to you and peace
from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ." I love that description,
don't you? They are the call. God's people
have been called, irresistibly, effectually called out of darkness
into God's marvelous light. We've been called with the gospel
and it's been blessed our heart, power of God the Holy Spirit.
Then he calls those people and all of God's people beloved of
God. Now you think about that. God
specifically, sovereignly set His love on His people. It's not so that God loves all
men everywhere without exception. That's not so. That's not true.
The love of God, we read in Romans 8. Remember how Romans 8 ends?
Nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in
the Lord Jesus Christ. But His people are the called
of God. They are beloved of God. I think of that scripture in
1 John 3, verse 1, where it says, Beloved, now are we sons of God. Behold what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called sons
of God. That is a great... Why would
God love you? Why would He love me? Well, the
reason's not found in you and me. The reason's found in himself,
because he would. He would have mercy on whom he
will. And then Paul referred to those believers there in Rome
as the saints of God. You know, every believer is a
saint of God. You're looking at me, a poor
sinner, who was so blessed in Christ that he calls me Saint
Thomas. St. Thomas. You see, all believers
are sanctified in Christ, set apart by God in that eternal
covenant of grace, sanctified by the redeeming blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and sanctified, made a new creature, regenerated
by God the Holy Spirit. We're sanctified in Christ. Matter
of fact, we don't teach and preach what some people call progressive
sanctification. That is, we're getting more holy
every day. We don't teach progressive sanctification because Christ,
He is our sanctification. He is our holiness. I was listening
to the radio preacher on the radio this morning before my
message came on, and he said, you've got to be holy. You've
got to be holy to be accepted of God. Well, that's true. But
what he meant, you've got to do your best to be holy to be
accepted of God. The truth is we are holy in Christ. We are accepted into beloved.
I can't produce, this flesh that we have, it can't produce anything
that's holy. All it produces is sin. That's all it does. So we are
sanctified in the Lord Jesus Christ. And we are saints, the
saints of God. Now, I am sure, look at verse
29, I am sure that when I come unto you," he said, I'm sure
of this, I shall come in the fullness of the blessings of
the gospel of Christ. Now that's a big statement. That
is a big, weighty statement. Now we know that Paul did go
to Rome later, but not the way that he planned. He thought,
well, I'm going to take a journey into Spain, and on my way to
Spain, I'm going to stop by Italy. I'm going to go to Rome. I'm
going to visit the churches there in Rome. He did go to Rome, but not the
way he planned, but he did go the way the Lord planned it,
as a prisoner of Rome. But we never read in Scripture
where the Apostle Paul called himself the prisoner of Rome.
Not one time. but rather he always referred
to himself as the prisoner of Christ. those what we call prison
epistles, Ephesus, Philippians, Colossians, those prison epistles,
he always referred to himself as the prisoner of Jesus Christ.
For example, in Ephesians 3 verse 1, he says, For this cause I,
Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, for you Gentiles. Now we know
that there in Rome, His ministry after he went there, he was there
two years before he was executed for the gospel sake, beheaded
probably like John the Baptist was, but what was he doing those
two years while he was there before he was executed? If you
look back at Acts 28 and Romans 1 and just look up A few verses
there. During those two years that he
was there in Rome, Acts 28 verse 30, Acts 28 verse 30, Paul dwelt
two whole years in his own hired house, received all that came
in unto him, he was under house arrest, preaching the kingdom
of God, Teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus
Christ with all confidence, no man forbidding him." That is
when he was there in Rome as a prisoner, he was just as determined
as he was at Corinth to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ
and him crucified. Now why did God give him 20 more
years to preach? It wasn't his purpose. It wasn't
his purpose. When his ministry was over, the
Lord called him home. But I love the statement that
he makes there in that 29th verse. I shall come in the fullness
of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. This is how every
believer lives in the fullness of the gospel of Christ. This
is true of everyone who believes the gospel. This is exactly how
we are presented to the Heavenly Father right now. In the fullness,
in the fullness of the blessings of the gospel of Christ. Now
you think of all that's involved in that statement. You remember
when we studied through the little one chapter of Jude, "...now
unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present
you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."
Here is why we can say that, I am sure, I am sure that I'll
come in the fullness of the blessings of Christ. If you look back at
Romans chapter 4, look at verse 16, Therefore, it is of faith
that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be
sure." We have the sure promises of God in Christ. Every blessing
and promise God has given to us is sure. It's sure to all
the seed. Who is that? His elect, his people. Not only to that which is of
the law, but that which is also of the faith of Abraham, who
is a father, who is a father. We come in the fullness of the
blessings of the gospel. Now we can say that with assurance
because it says it in the word. Turn over to John chapter one. You remember John chapter one, verse 16. Here's why we can say,
every believer, we come before God right now in the fullness
of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. And here's why we
can say that. Verse 16, John 1, 16. Have all we receive grace for
grace. Though the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, you don't
need to turn, but if you want to, you can follow me along.
I'm going to turn to Colossians chapter 2. And here's another
reason we can say that with assurance, Colossians chapter 2 verse 2,
that their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love unto
all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgement
of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ in whom
are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now, look
down at verse 9, Colossians 2.9, For in him dwelleth all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete in him which is
the head of all principalities and powers. That's how God sees
His people right now. In the fullness of the blessing
of the gospel of Christ. Because of that union we have
with the Lord Jesus Christ, being made one with Him, what's true
of the head, as I've said over the years, what's true of the
head is true of the body. What's true of Christ, our head, is
true of His body. 1 John 3, 17 says, As He is, so
are we in this world. Herein is our love made perfect,
that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because
as He is, so are we in this world. We appear right now, holy, unblameable,
unreprovable in God's sight, in the fullness of the blessing
of the gospel. You see what I'm saying about
that verse? It's a powerful, powerful verse that teaches us
so much of the blessings we have in Christ. You remember back
at verse 14 of Romans 15, 14. Romans 15, 14. And I myself also
am persuaded of you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness,
filled with all knowledge, able to teach one another. Full of
goodness, filled with all knowledge. Knowledge of what? The gospel,
full of goodness, whose goodness? None good but God. Now, having
said that, let's look at verse 30. Romans 15 verse 30. Now I beseech you, brethren,
for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake. for the gospel sake, you see
verse 30? And for the love of the spirit that you strive together
with me in your prayers to God for me. Now, when he's asking
for prayers for the minister of God, he's asking also for
the blessings upon the preaching of the gospel that goes forth
through the ministers of the gospel. The apostle Paul asked
for the prayers of those that were believers, that they would
strive, and that word means a fervent, strong exercise. It's not just saying, let's have
a little word of prayer. I mean, prayer is more than,
it's the earnest, fervent desire and cry of the heart. It's not
just have a little talk with Jesus. It's more than that. It's
the cry of the heart. And Paul said that he strived
to preach the gospel. You remember in verse 28, so
have I strived to preach the gospel. Now he says, let us strive
together to pray for one another. And that should be on our heart
all the time, to pray for the Lord's people. If you look over
in Colossians, this time chapter 4, I love verse 2, Colossians
4 verse 2. He says, continue in prayer and
watch in the same with thanksgiving With all praying also for us,
that God would open to us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery
of Christ, for which I am also in bond, that I may make it manifest
as I ought to speak." Pray for me that God would open the door
that we might preach the gospel here and in other things. We
are to pray without ceasing and in everything. Pray without ceasing,
rejoice evermore in everything, give thanks for this is the will
of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Pray about everything. I
love the prayer of that publican. God, be merciful to me, the sinner. We know the Lord hears the cry
of his people. Paul said pray for me because
of two things, based upon two things back in our text. He mentioned
two things here. First of all, that word for can
be rendered because of, because of, or for the Lord Jesus Christ's
sake, or for the glory and for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ
and for the fervent of the gospel. We are to pray for one another,
and love one another even as God, for Christ's sake, hath
forgiven us." For Christ's sake, and then the second thing he
mentions there, and for the love, the love of the Spirit that you
strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. The love
of God had been shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit,
right? By the Holy Spirit. You remember
back over in chapter, let's turn over chapter 8, verse 26, Romans
8, 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth
our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as
we ought, but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with
groaning which cannot be uttered. Thank God, the Holy Spirit, enables
us and blesses us to pray unto our great God. Now, in verse
31 and verse 32, Paul makes, when he asks the church to pray
for him, for Christ's sake, for the love of the Spirit, that,
what would he pray for? What would you think that he'd
pray for? You know, Paul was a sickly man.
He was a sickly man. He was a weak, frail man. Bent,
gnarled, bent over, always had an infirmity in the flesh. But
you know, he doesn't pray, you pray for me that the Lord would
heal my body. He doesn't even mention that.
That's not even on the radar. that I may be delivered from
them that do not believe the gospel in Judea, that my service
which I have for Jerusalem, the saints at Jerusalem, may be accepted,
may be accepted of them, that I may come unto you by the will
of God, with joy by the will of God, that you may be refreshed."
He prays for spiritual things, not for a better job, a bigger
house, and a nicer car. Those things aren't even on the
radar. And Paul, as I said, Paul was a sick man. But he doesn't
pray for health. He didn't ask them to pray. Four things I've got jotted down
here. That I may be delivered from
unreasonable and wicked men, You know, he was persecuted,
stoned, locked up, whipped, beaten, drug out of the city as a dead
man. Remember? He said, I pray when
I go to Jerusalem that I may be delivered from them that do
not believe the gospel. Those who do not believe the
gospel hate God and they hate God's ministers. And that's what
he's saying here. When he writes in 2 Thessalonians
chapter 3, he says, Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the
word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified, even
as it is with you, that we may be delivered from unreasonable
and wicked men, for all men have not faith. And that's true, is
it not? At first, when he went to Jerusalem,
you can go back and read it, in Acts 21 verse 17 through verse
20, Let me just read it to you, if
you want to turn with me you can, but Acts 21, Acts 21 verse
17, when he first went back to Jerusalem carrying this gift,
he said, this is Acts 21 verse 17, And when we were come to
Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following
Paul went in with us unto James, And all the elders were present,
and when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what
thing God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. And when they heard it, they
glorified the Lord and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how
many thousands of Jews there are which believe, and they are
zealous of the law. And they informed us that thou
teachest the Jews, which are among the Gentiles, to forsake
Moses, saying that they ought not to be circumcised, and their
children neither walk after the customs of the law." Now, what
is it? You see, the brethren received him, but those old Jews
who were hanging on to Judaism and the law, you can read the
rest of that chapter, there was a big uproar. And this is when
he was arrested. for the gospel. At first when
he went to Jerusalem the church received him gladly, but later
many of the Jews in that Jewish part of that congregation who
were jealous of the law were angry with Paul for preaching
justification by faith alone and not by the deeds of the law.
He was arrested, and put in prison. And this is when he appealed
to Caesar, and this is how he ended up in Rome. The second
thing he prayed for, that the gift would be received. That
the gift would be received. that my service which I have
for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints." Now, why would
he pray for such a thing as this? The gift would be received in
love as it was given in love, that the Jewish church would
receive this gift from the Gentile churches without respect of persons. There was such a prejudice, and
there still is in the heart. That's part of our depravity.
Ever wonder why you have prejudice in your thoughts and hearts toward
someone who looks different than you? It's because we're depraved
sinners. We're depraved sinners. And he
prays, he said, Lord, bless this gift to those Jewish believers
that they may receive it as it was given in love. In love for
one another. And then thirdly, he prays that
I may come to you, verse 32, that I may come to you with joy
by the will of God and may be refreshed, refreshed, refreshed,
that I may come to you by the will of God. We are to pray about
everything, Lord, thy will be done. We are to make our requests
made known unto God. And the last part of verse 32, that I may come with joy by the
will of God. By the will of God. You know,
our Lord works all things after the counsel of his own will. But when we pray, we're to pray,
Lord, thy will be done. That's the way our Lord prayed. And then he said that I may be
refreshed. that I might come by the will
of God and may with you be refreshed, that you may be blessed by the
preaching of the gospel, that there may be a refreshing." Gospel
preaching to the believer is a time of spiritual refreshment
to our soul. It's a time when we feed upon
the word of the Lord, It's a time when we rejoice in the Lord Jesus
Christ and have no confidence in the flesh. It's a time when
we drink of the water of life in Christ. It's a time of refreshing
that comes to us by the Spirit of the Lord through the ministry
of the Gospel and the preaching of the Word. That's why we make
so much of a teaching and preaching of the Word of the Lord. Now,
the last verse in Romans 15. Now, he says, the God of peace.
the God of peace be with you all." Our God is a God of peace. Now, he's a God of peace. We
only have peace with God We only have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ. He has reconciled us unto God. He has removed the enmity because
He has removed our sin. We have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. We have peace through His blood. Our God, as it says there, the
peace of God, the peace of God. If you look back at Romans 15,
look at verse 5. He says, now the God of patience
and consolation grants you. Our God is a God of peace. Our
God is a God of patience. He's long-suffering. And He's
a God of consolation. He's a God of all comfort and
mercy. grant you to be like-minded one
toward another according to Jesus Christ, that you may with one
mind, one mouth, glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ." If you look over at Romans 16 verse 20, Romans 16
verse 20, he says this again, the God of peace. The God of
peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. And if you look back
at Romans 15, 13, he's called the God of hope. The God of hope. fill you with all joy and peace
in believing, there's an article in the bulletin today from this
verse, that you may abound in hope to the power of God the
Holy Spirit. Peter calls Him the God of all
grace. Now you put all those together. I need to compile all
that and put it in the bulletin. The God of all longsuffering,
comfort, patience, He's a God of all grace, He's a God of hope,
He's a God of peace. You know when I thought about
reading that and meditating upon that, do you know what verse
came to my mind? Over there in Exodus chapter 15. When, you
remember what happened in chapter 14, when they were brought through
the Red Sea, God parted the sea and said, Behold the salvation
of the Lord, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.
Do you remember what they sang about? When Pharaoh and his armies
were destroyed, remember what they said? Our God is the man
of war. Well, I thought he's the God
of peace. How can he be the God of peace and the God of war? He's both. We have peace with
God to our Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from Christ, our God is
a consuming fire. He is a man of wrath, a man of
war to those who are his enemies. I don't want to be an enemy. I want to be reconciled to God
in Christ. The God of peace be with you
all. Amen.