The One Year Bible Club with Teaching
Commentary by Nick Boork
August 2
Romans 15:23-16:9
Commentary by Nick Boork
August 2
Romans 15:23-16:9
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August 2 – Romans 15:23-16:9
But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 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, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
16 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Paul said in verse 29 that he would come the Roman believers in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ! That’s very interesting but what does it mean? Well first, we’re talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If there is a fullness then there can also be a half fullness or a near empty Gospel experience. Think of a glass of water. It can be overflowing, half filled, empty or even dry as a bone.
What Paul was saying was that he had faith that when he visited the Romans God would send him with a full experience bringing all the blessings that Jesus Christ died and rose again to bring us through his redemption! For some believers they hear just one part of the gospel that Jesus died on the cross to save them from their sins and they receive him as Savior. Praise God they are saved, they are forgiven and they are born again by the Holy Spirit and one their way to Heaven! However, there is so much more that God wants to do in his children. Let’s take a look at what the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ includes!
We all know that when Jesus began his ministry he preached the gospel to the poor but he also brought healing to the brokenhearted and deliverance to the captive. He also brought sight to the blind, healed the sick and proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord. In other words, Jesus message and ministry touched the whole man spirit, soul and body.
The apostle Paul teaches about the fullness of Christ in his letters, especially in the book of Ephesians. Christ is seen as the fullness of God with the purpose of filling all things with his own divine presence! Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]). Amplified The whole universe includes you and me!!! Christ wants to fill us with the fullness of His presence right here and now! Here are some ways that the Lord wants to fill us with the fullness of the blessing of the gospel:
1) Fullness of authority in Christ
Ephesians 1:22-23 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
2) Fullness of the Holy Spirit filling the Church
Ephesians 2:21-22 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
3) Fullness of assurance that we know the Lord
Colossians 2:2-3 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4) Fullness of the love of God filling every Christian
Ephesians 3:19 "to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." The Bible actually teaches that we know when love is fully mature in us because we become very secure filled with confidence when our time comes to stand before the Lord. 1 John 4:19 "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." Being filled the love of God causes you to know you have been saved and belong to God as one of his children. You know that when your heart stops beating and you breath your last breath you will leave your body and go to meet the Lord with joy!
5) Fullness of God’s Power to answer our prayers
Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." God wants you to grow in faith in prayer believing in his unlimited power to move mountains and do the impossible! That’s being filled with faith and the Holy Spirit. It’s learning to pray in faith knowing that God will answer our prayers and bring his purposes to pass in our lives.
6) Fullness of spiritual maturity growing up in Christ
Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Colossians 2:9-10 For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God]. And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ],
7) Fullness of the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 5:18-20 "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." The fullness of the Holy Spirit also includes the manifestation of all of his gifts functioning in the life of his people the church, the body of Christ. Don’t let anyone talk you out of experiencing the fullness of the Holy Spirit by trying to put the Holy Spirit in a dispensational box. No, The Scriptures are very clear that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to continue all the way until the return of the Lord! 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 So that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
What’s the bottom line?
1) Have you experienced the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ according to the Scriptures we have read?
2) Never settle for half of God’s blessings! Go for God’s fullness in every area of your life!
3) According to the Bible this glorifies God when we appropriate all of his promises by faith.
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 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, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
16 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. 6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.
HERE’S MY TEACHING COMMENTARY
Paul said in verse 29 that he would come the Roman believers in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ! That’s very interesting but what does it mean? Well first, we’re talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If there is a fullness then there can also be a half fullness or a near empty Gospel experience. Think of a glass of water. It can be overflowing, half filled, empty or even dry as a bone.
What Paul was saying was that he had faith that when he visited the Romans God would send him with a full experience bringing all the blessings that Jesus Christ died and rose again to bring us through his redemption! For some believers they hear just one part of the gospel that Jesus died on the cross to save them from their sins and they receive him as Savior. Praise God they are saved, they are forgiven and they are born again by the Holy Spirit and one their way to Heaven! However, there is so much more that God wants to do in his children. Let’s take a look at what the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ includes!
We all know that when Jesus began his ministry he preached the gospel to the poor but he also brought healing to the brokenhearted and deliverance to the captive. He also brought sight to the blind, healed the sick and proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord. In other words, Jesus message and ministry touched the whole man spirit, soul and body.
- Jesus used Peter’s boat to preach to the crowd on the shore then blessed him with a full boat load of fish and told him from now on he would catch men.
- Jesus multiplied the bread and fed over 5000. The Bible says that there were baskets still left over. The Lord wants to fill his people with the fullness of his blessings!
- Jesus Christ is the source of all the fullness of God. John 1:16 For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift]. Amplified.
The apostle Paul teaches about the fullness of Christ in his letters, especially in the book of Ephesians. Christ is seen as the fullness of God with the purpose of filling all things with his own divine presence! Ephesians 4:10 He who descended is the very same as He who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things [that is, the whole universe]). Amplified The whole universe includes you and me!!! Christ wants to fill us with the fullness of His presence right here and now! Here are some ways that the Lord wants to fill us with the fullness of the blessing of the gospel:
1) Fullness of authority in Christ
Ephesians 1:22-23 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
2) Fullness of the Holy Spirit filling the Church
Ephesians 2:21-22 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
3) Fullness of assurance that we know the Lord
Colossians 2:2-3 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4) Fullness of the love of God filling every Christian
Ephesians 3:19 "to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." The Bible actually teaches that we know when love is fully mature in us because we become very secure filled with confidence when our time comes to stand before the Lord. 1 John 4:19 "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world." Being filled the love of God causes you to know you have been saved and belong to God as one of his children. You know that when your heart stops beating and you breath your last breath you will leave your body and go to meet the Lord with joy!
5) Fullness of God’s Power to answer our prayers
Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." God wants you to grow in faith in prayer believing in his unlimited power to move mountains and do the impossible! That’s being filled with faith and the Holy Spirit. It’s learning to pray in faith knowing that God will answer our prayers and bring his purposes to pass in our lives.
6) Fullness of spiritual maturity growing up in Christ
Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Colossians 2:9-10 For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God]. And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ],
7) Fullness of the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 5:18-20 "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." The fullness of the Holy Spirit also includes the manifestation of all of his gifts functioning in the life of his people the church, the body of Christ. Don’t let anyone talk you out of experiencing the fullness of the Holy Spirit by trying to put the Holy Spirit in a dispensational box. No, The Scriptures are very clear that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to continue all the way until the return of the Lord! 1 Corinthians 1:7-9 So that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
What’s the bottom line?
1) Have you experienced the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ according to the Scriptures we have read?
2) Never settle for half of God’s blessings! Go for God’s fullness in every area of your life!
3) According to the Bible this glorifies God when we appropriate all of his promises by faith.
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
ORDINATION
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll
We provide Ministry Credentials and Ordination through Diamond Ministerial Association. Click to learn more and apply! http://www.diamondinstitute.org/ordination
ONLINE COURSES
For Bible courses and ministry resources see our online school Diamond Institute. Enroll free today and get access to our free and pay as you go courses. http://www.diamondinstitute.org/enroll