Christian Conduct in a Modern World

by Walter A. Boyd (South Africa)

Paper 15
No.4 — THE CONSIDERATE LIFE (Continued)

(F) Remember God’s Programme (Romans 15.8-13)

The section of the epistle that deals with the subject of the Considerate Life runs from Ch.14.1 through to 15.13. The verses that we will consider in this paper are the conclusion to that major section. In his conclusion Paul returns to one of the major themes of the epistle, the purpose of God towards mankind. He shows us again that the purpose of God is two-fold; it has to do with "the fathers," v8, and "the Gentiles," v9. This purpose is centred in the person of Christ, and the Trinity are involved in its outworking: "Jesus Christ," v8; "The God of Hope;" "The Holy Spirit," v13. The apostle teaches that God in His purpose is not unfaithful in neglecting the promises made to Abraham; nor is He unrighteous in blessing the Gentiles. God retains His righteous character in both His Word and ways. Fulfilling His promises to the Jews and extending mercy to the Gentiles through the person of His Son achieve this.

The paragraph comprising v8-13 is divided as follows:

  1. The Privilege of the Gentiles, v8, 9 (a).
  2. The Praise of the Gentiles, v9 (b) — 11.
  3. The Potentate of the Gentiles, v12.
  4. The Plenitude of the Gentiles, v13.

1. The Privilege of the Gentiles, v8,9a. With the repeated mention of the Gentiles (x10 in Ch.15), the apostle is emphasizing their privilege and obvious part in the plan of God. God has brought them into blessing. God blessed the Jew, firstly by making the promises to the fathers, and secondly in confirming these promises by sending the Messiah to the nation of Israel. However, blessing is not exclusive to Israel, the Gentiles also are the recipients of God’s mercy and will glorify Him for it. The Messiah came to exercise a ministry to the Jews, v8, and to extend mercy to the nations, v9.

All the promises of blessing that had been made to the fathers of the nation of Israel find their fulfilment in the Messiah. Verses 8 and 9 are difficult to analyse grammatically and have been debated by scholars over the years. It may help us to understand them if we view them like this:

1. "Jesus Christ has become a minister of the circumcision," v8.

HISTORICALLY — the Messiah has come to the Jews as the servant of God.

2. "For the truth of God," v8.

SPIRITUALLY — the service of the Messiah was to do with the truth of God.

3. "To confirm the promises made unto the fathers," v8.

PROPHETICALLY — only the Messiah could establish the prophecies and promises to Israel.

4. "That the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy," v9.

DISPENSATIONALLY — only by the establishment of the promises made to the Jews could the Gentile nations be blessed. The gospel was "to the Jew first and also to the Greek," Rom. 1.16.

By describing the Jews as "the circumcision" there is a reminder of the faithfulness of God in the covenant that He had earlier established with Abraham, and thus the apostle introduces the subject of the "promises made to the fathers." Christ is the executor of the fulfilment of every promise made to the Jews. Terms like "truth," "confirm" and "promises" would be very familiar to the saved Jews in Rome. The promises of God to Israel had not been forgotten, and bringing the Gentiles into blessing was not in any way displacing the Jews. By extending mercy to the Gentiles, God is actually fulfilling the promises made to the Jews.

2. The Praise Of The Gentiles, v9b — 11. In verses 9-12 the apostle quotes four passages of the Old Testament in the Septuagint; these are from the Law, the Prophets and the Writings. By drawing his support from each of the three divisions of the Old Testament Scriptures, the apostle shows that all of the Word of God corroborates what he has stated concerning the Gentiles being blessed by God. In v9b there is the association of peoples in praise to God. The praise to God by the Jews will be in association with the Gentile nations who have also been brought into blessing, "therefore will I give praise unto thee among the Gentiles" (R.V.). In v10 there is the association of praise to God. The Gentiles will not be idle bystanders but will join in full measure with the Jews in praise to God, "rejoice ye Gentiles with His people" (R.V.). In v11 there is the ascription of praise to God. The Gentile nations will have every reason to praise God in their own right as the recipients of mercy. Their praise will not be borrowed, but sincerely from the heart they will praise the Lord Who so mercifully blessed them, "praise the Lord all ye Gentiles" (R.V.). Presently in the age of grace, the Gentiles praise God without the accompanying praise of the Jews as the Nation of Israel is far from God. These Old Testament quotations will have their complete fulfilment in Millennial glory when the Jewish nation and the Gentiles join in praise under the sway of the Messiah’s sceptre.

3. The Potentate of the Gentiles, v12. In this verse we see that the Gentiles’ wholehearted acceptance of the Messiah is the reason for such voluminous praise. When the Gentiles accept the mercy of God as extended to them in Christ, they will accept Him as Lord and offer Him their praise. The prophet Isaiah weaves two great truths together with skill in this verse: the ancestry of the Messiah as "the root of Jesse" and the ascendancy of the Messiah as "He that ariseth to rule over the Gentiles" (R.V.). Here again the fulfilment of the purpose of God is seen in Christ in relation to the Jews and the Gentile nations. The implication is clear; the purpose of God in His Son has been to unite Jew and Gentile under the singular authority of Messiah’s kingdom. If we go back to the earliest promises of a nation and blessing to Abraham, we find that God promised to bless Abraham and all the families of the earth through him. The nations of the earth are already enjoying the blessing of God in salvation through Christ who is a descendant of Abraham. Sadly, Israel is now out of the sphere of divine blessing, but the apostle has clearly shown that they have not been rejected completely by God, chs.9-11, in fact, they are the means through which Messiah has come, Who will bless all mankind. From both Jew and Gentile there will be praise to God.

4. The Plenitude of the Gentiles, v13. The connection between v12&13 is clear;

v12 — "In Him shall the Gentiles hope…" (R.V.).
v13 — "Now the God of hope…"

The apostle brings this lengthy section which began at ch.14.1 to a close in a fitting way — by prayer. His prayer expresses his desire that the saints at Rome be filled completely full with joy and peace, so that their hope would continue to grow. In the succinct expression of his desire we learn truths that are fundamental to the Christian faith. Hope, faith, joy and peace are features of the believer’s life; in fact joy and peace are seen as features of the kingdom of God, ch.14.17. Paul’s prayer is stating these truths;

The Author of hope is God — "The God of hope."
The Agent of hope is the Holy Spirit — "Through the power of the Holy Spirit."
The Channel of hope is faith — "In believing."
The Measure of hope is increasing — "That ye may abound in hope."
The Pre-requisite of hope is joy and peace — "Fill you with all joy and peace."

If the Christians at Rome take heed to Paul’s desire as expressed in His prayer for them, they will be in the full enjoyment of these blessings in their faith in Christ. Their enabling by the power of the Holy Spirit, Who is the Spirit of power and the Spirit of holiness, will be as a consequence of their faith. From this point in the chapter we are shown the completeness of God’s blessing by the use of such words as; fill, full, filled, fullness, abound, etc.

The previous prayer by Paul is in 15.5 where he speaks of the "God of patience and consolation," here God is described as "The God of hope." He is the constant source of present grace as the God of patience and consolation. In the title "the God of hope" He is the God of present confidence and future glory. They will experience strength as they rely upon the God of patience Who is also the source of hope, so that their hope abounds.

—to be continued (D.V.)