The setting for this letter to the Roman Christians is
linked to the part of Paul’s journey in Acts 20-21 where Paul is headed toward Jerusalem to meet with
the church there. Acts 20:16 says that
he was eager to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost
.
Paul loved Israel, and he is eager to return to Jerusalem
and deliver, to the poor Christians, money collected by the Gentile churches.
Paul wants to minister to these people, and his desire is so strong to go to
Jerusalem, that he ignores all of the Holy Spirit-filled advice given to him by
the churches in Miletus, Tyre, and Caesarea.
These churches urged Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul was
determined to go anyway. (Acts 20 and 21).
We know the ending of the story. Paul went to Jerusalem, was arrested and sent
to Rome where he was a prisoner until his death. In the scripture quoted above,
Paul expresses his desire to see the Roman Christians, and he prophecies that
he will “come in the fullness of the blessings of Christ.”
Paul acted against the instructions of the Holy Spirit when
he returned to Jerusalem. Yet, God still
used Paul in a way that was mightier than anyone could imagine. After Paul was arrested and imprisoned, the “fullness
of the blessings of Christ” extended not only to the Roman Christians, not only
to the Gentile churches, but to all churches throughout the ages. God used
Paul’s disobedience to bless our lives right now—right this very moment. What
grand, all encompassing, time surpassing grace!
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