Thursday 23 April 2009

Preach the gospel!

What did the apostle Paul want to achieve for the believers in Rome? What had he hope to accomplish if he had been able to visit them? What did he now hope to do through writing instead?
  • To impart spiritual benefit to them, 1:11
  • To see them established, 1:11
  • To bring mutual encouragement, 1:12
  • To have spiritual fruit amongst them, 1:13
  • To discharge his own debt to all who he was called to be an apostle to, 1:14
Now how did Paul think he would be able to accomplish these ends? What means would be up to it?

A new political program? An aid agency? A way to make them rich? Skilful psychological counselling? Better education? Signs and wonders? What does the text say?
So, as much as in in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also (1:15).
That is how it's done. That is the only way it's done. That's the way it really is done.

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