What is the meaning of Romans 15:20? In this way Paul has just described how Christ empowered his ministry “by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God” (Romans 15:18-19). • The phrase points back to that Spirit-filled pattern: proclaiming, demonstrating, and depending on God’s power. • It reminds us that ministry method matters. Like Paul, we share Jesus “not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). • Acts 14:27 shows Paul recounting “all that God had done through them,” underscoring that the “way” of mission is God-centered from start to finish. I have aspired Paul’s ambition is not selfish but surrendered. • 1 Corinthians 9:16—“Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!”—reveals a holy urgency. • Philippians 3:14 models pressing “toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” • Such aspiration is cultivated: Paul urges believers to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life” (1 Thessalonians 4:11), showing that true godly desire is always anchored in obedience, not ego. to preach the gospel where Christ was not known Paul’s heart beats for the unreached. • 2 Corinthians 10:16 speaks of preaching “the gospel in the regions beyond you.” • Acts 16:9-10 records the Macedonian vision directing him to new territory. • This passion echoes Jesus’ command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19) and His promise that “the gospel must first be preached to all nations” (Mark 13:10). • It challenges us to consider neighborhoods, workplaces, and distant peoples who still need a first witness. so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation Paul honors what others have already done and seeks fresh ground. • 1 Corinthians 3:10-11: “According to the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation… but each one must be careful how he builds.” Christ alone is the foundation; servants merely build. • Galatians 2:7 shows distinct spheres—Peter to the circumcised, Paul to the Gentiles—confirming that God assigns unique lanes for each worker. • 2 Corinthians 10:13-15 illustrates Paul’s refusal to “boast beyond limits,” choosing instead to reach where the gospel had not yet penetrated. • The goal is gospel multiplication, not ministry competition, ensuring every people group hears and has a local, indigenous foundation in Christ (Ephesians 2:20). summary Romans 15:20 captures a Spirit-driven strategy: follow God’s power and pattern, nurture holy ambition, focus on the unreached, and build wisely on Christ alone. Paul’s example invites us to pray, give, go, and speak so that every corner of the world—and every heart in our sphere—hears the good news for the very first time. |
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