Romans 15:20-29

It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation. Rather, as it is written: "Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand" [Isaiah 52:15]. This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you. But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while. Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem in the service of the saints there. For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this fruit, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.

Though Paul preached the Gospel passionately to all, there was a special place in his heart for unbelievers who have not heard of Christ. Why? He gets to set the foundation. If anyone other than Christ should be the foundation setter, it was Paul. Why? Paul and Jesus’ foundations were one-in-the-same! Consider the importance of the Old Testament as foundational to the Gospel. Notice Paul’s application of Isaiah 52:15 in v21. Isaiah says that God said, “Those who weren’t told will see, and those who haven’t heard will understand,” and Paul aspires to be right in the middle of that. He wants to be involved in God’s prophesied work.

Paul expedited his travel plans. Paul acknowledged that in order to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy that those who have not heard will understand, He has been kept from visiting Rome. But now that he has fulfilled that work in this particular region, “all roads lead to Rome” – on the way to Spain. The Old Testament prophecy still stands, and thus Paul will continue to reach the un-reached. Paul has really wanted to visit Rome "for many years," as he mentioned in Romans 1:10-13, but was kept from there by the Holy Spirit until his work was done. We talked about Paul’s continued attempts to get there while at the same time submitting to the sovereign decretive will of God regarding the timing and the method by which he would finally get there. So now that a foundation has been established in all the regions where he has traveled, he’s expediting his plans to stop by Rome on his way to Spain. He has set his sights on the horizon, which of course, never ends. And this is the passion for the Gospel that we all need to have.

Rome, having been evangelized and established, now becomes no longer Paul’s ends, but the means to his ends (Spain). He wants the believers in Rome to contribute to his travels in every way, financially and prayerfully and for mutual refreshment. Did Paul ever arrive in Spain? The Bible does not give us an answer. There are some writings outside of the Bible which might indicate that he did arrive in Spain. Clement of Rome writes in his first letter to the Corinthians (chapter 5): “Paul…after preaching both in the east and west, gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west, and suffered martyrdom under the prefects. Thus was he removed from the world, and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience” (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ii.ii.v.html). The “extreme limit of the west” suggests Spain according to most scholars, or even Britain according to some.

First, however, Paul has to go to Jerusalem to deliver an offering from the believers in Macedonia and Achaia to support the poor within the Jerusalem congregation. Paul says that their contribution was both a cheerful one and an obligated one. See 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 and Acts 11:27-30. Since the Gentiles get to share in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, the Gentiles should share their material blessings with the Jews. It is the privilege of God’s church to support God’s individuals in and for God’s work here on earth.

Finally, Paul announces that, when he comes to Rome, he will come will the full measure of the blessing of Christ. Paul not only preached the Gospel but he lived the Gospel; he was immersed in the Gospel, he was “set apart for the Gospel” (Rom. 1:1). One could not find Paul without finding the blessing of the Gospel. One could not meet Paul without having a full encounter with God’s good news. And when these believers met Paul, they met the closest thing to Jesus that they’d see on earth. That’s the full measure of the blessing of Christ.