Exposition by Max A Forsythe
Christ Covenant Reformed (PCA)
Just
this week I finished a biography of the American General, Robert E. Lee.
Since the biographer read back into Lee’s humble Christian character
both evolutionary and Freudian attitudes, I will not dignify our meditation with
his name or his publication!
However, many of the essential military relationships are well enough
known that they could not be tampered with.
And it is in these character relationships that I would focus briefly
this morning, to clarify our text today.
You see, in those complex command relationships of the militant south,
there was borrowed a biblical framework for teamwork.
Lee chose competent and capable subordinates and gave them the freedom
and responsibilities to achieve what providence would allow.
Mistakes, of course, did occur; all of Lee’s Lieutenants erred at some
time or another, as did Lee himself.
It was somewhat amusing to see that, on one occasion, both Jackson and
Longstreet had arrested their own subordinates for offenses for which Lee could
easily have arrested them, a few months earlier.
Ever
the peace maker, Lee carefully restored both lower commanders to their work,
even as the war progressed.
Rarely did Lee reprimand anyone directly.
J.E.B. Stuart was called on the carpet at Gettysburg, and sent out never
to leave Lee in the dark again.
Of course, there were self-important generals who asked to be
transferred, and they were.
But all in all, the closeness and the trust of that gallant band of
warriors is the stuff of legends.
It is that legendary working relationship that I would use to point us
towards the biblical model that Paul sets before us.
It is also this working relationship that we see here that I try very
hard to imbue into all of those elders and deacons who this congregation elects
as spiritual leaders.
Truthfully,
I can say at Presbytery that this little congregation has been greatly blessed
with men who have a heart for ministry.
Your elders are all known at Presbytery, and if I have to encourage the
deacons to take on more of the local work, it is because three committees at
Presbytery can benefit from the labors of your session!
In this I am saying nothing more than what Paul says of the people in
Rome.
Look at verse fourteen:
“I
myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness,
complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”
John Murray well notes that the believers in Rome were themselves able to
instruct and admonish one another.
Paul’s description here indicates the maturity which characterized the
Roman community of believers.
The
“goodness”
is that virtue opposed to all that is mean and evil, and includes uprightness,
kindness, and beneficence of heart and life.
The “knowledge”
is the
understanding of the Christian faith which allows the leaders to continue in
maturity as learners!
Murray also notes that it is these very qualities which allow the themes
of the last two weeks to be dealt with lovingly.
“Goodness is the quality which will constrain the strong to refrain
from what will injure the weak and knowledge is the attainment that will correct
weakness of faith.”
Paul
then points out to the Romans that they may believe that he is bold indeed to
presume to remind them of the pointed theology he has lovingly conveyed
throughout this most polemic of all letters.
We have to remember that the Romans did reside in the capital city of the
Empire, and the population there fully believed the common Latin title for their
city, which translates literally as “The
Big Apple”!
Doesn’t that have a modern ring to it?
Of course, it is not without pride that New Yorkers in our day use the
same phrase.
So
here is Paul, a poor preacher from the provinces, sending instruction to the
believers in the great capital of the ancient world.
But he does not apologize.
Instead, he asserts his God-given duty to define theologically the gospel
message.
Calvin notes here that, in Paul’s case, we can see his remarkable
discretion in that he was quite content to be of no reputation, provided only
that the doctrine which he preached should retain its authority.
How very often people become confused between the greater importance of
the messenger and his message.
World
magazine, a few weeks ago, reported on a Texas tragedy, in which a
minister placed himself above the law that he preached.
Now a great congregation of thousands is left to watch and wonder as the
disparity between messenger and the message is argued.
Last fall, dear Rev. Eppler in Louisville wrote to me about a great
congregation in that city, where a similar tragedy was being played out.
Again, when I was in Florida for a church planting conference, we heard
about a messenger in a large church who had confused himself with the greater
importance of the message!
How much tragedy has befallen the church over the centuries because the
stewards of God’s gospel and of God’s grace have not learned the lesson here
acted out by Paul!
In
verse sixteen, we see a summary of Paul’s ministry.
In verses seventeen to nineteen, we see his work, in which he glories.
Paul understands that he is a servant, and not a Christian Corporate
Executive Officer!
Paul does not boast of what he has accomplished, because he well knows
that the signs, the miracles and the power of the Spirit have all been
graciously given by the very hand of God.
And because of God’s graciousness, the proclamation of His word from
Jerusalem to Illyricum has touched the hearts and minds of those whom God was
calling into Christ’s church.
Certainly,
Paul hopes to come and visit the Roman Christians, but he hopes that they
understand why he has been hindered in his coming.
At this point in our text, there is a new paragraph where Paul explains
his plans for the future.
He longs to go to Spain, but like the Atlanta hub, where many airplane
flights rendezvous, the Mediterranean shipping lanes all center on Rome.
So in time, he will arrive for an extended visit before pressing on to
new mission fields.
Do
you notice that he will allow the Romans to assist him on his way!
Just as the Macedonian and Achaian churches were able to assist the
Jerusalem saints, Paul will invite the Roman churches to assist the missionary
journey to Spain.
We ought always to remember to remind the saints who benefit from the
Word given to us by God that they can participate in the spreading of the
Gospel.
As you all know, we have been spreading the Word free and without charge
on the world wide web, and in our weekly mailings.
Each year a small percentage of our local income comes in from that
extended family of believers, who have profited by the Word given to us and who
have shared as widely as God will allow.
But
even more important than material gifts, Paul emphasizes the spiritual blessings
that come from and to the members of Christ’s church as the world wide mission
of spreading the gospel is worked out.
In verse thirty, Paul urges the Roman brethren to do more than subsidize
his journey.
He asks for their prayers.
So must we; like Paul, the Apostles and all of the Doctors, Fathers and
Brethren of the church, your leaders here must be held up by prayer.
Paul here shares the prospective dangers of returning to Judea.
He hopes that all will work out within God’s providence, that he might
be enabled to come to Rome and to joyfully be refreshed.
Until then, he fervently wishes that the God of peace will be with them
all.
And
we are certainly included in that hope, because Paul’s letter has been saved,
copied and reprinted for two thousand years.
In itself, this is no small miracle -- that you might have in your hands
the revealed will of God, contained in Paul’s polemic message of essential
theology, which has been used since the first century to prepare people for
service in Christ’s Kingdom.
Today, as we leave behind the grand and awesome revealed theology of our
Creator, and the admonishments of the last few chapters to work out that
theology in our lives, may we humbly look up to the Christ proclaimed, bow our
knee and glorify Him with our ministry and with our work.
Resources Used: The Holy Bible, New International Version
Places Preached:Bruce, F.F. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries: Romans. Hodge, Charles. Romans. Mackenzie, R. Calvin's New Testament Commentaries: Romans. Murray, John. New International Commentary: Epistle to Romans.
Christ Covenant REFORMED (Presbyterian Church in America) Post Office Box 13926 - Columbus, OH 43213-7926
Rom15b.htm 03 March 96
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