Romans for Youth
Commentary by Pastor Ron Beckham

Romans Chapter 15

Verse 1.  “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.”

God wants us to HELP those who are weaker than we are.  That’s why He makes some people strong – to help others!  Life is MORE than just doing things for ourselves.

Verse 2.  “Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”

Most just want to please themselves.  God wants us to please others, like your neighbor.  Be kind to them and it will help them see that God is good.

Verse 3.  “For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘the reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.’”

Paul, who wrote Romans, quotes Psalm 69:9, which was written about Jesus Christ, hundreds of hears before He came to earth.  Jesus did not please Himself, but pleased YOU, by giving Himself so that you will be safe.

Verse 4.  “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

The Psalms and the other Old Testament Scriptures were written many years ago, to help us and give us hope in the Lord.  We should read the Bible – often.

Verse 5.  “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,”

We should encourage and help each other because God loves us and helps us so much.  He gave us Jesus, who gives us friends and helps us to be a friend, so we can share Jesus with one another.

Verse 6.  “so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Our purpose in life is to bring glory (honor) to God the Father of our Lord Jesus.  We should ALL want to glorify Him together.

Verse 7.  “Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”

People’s differences are small and our need for love is great.  We should ACCEPT each other, remembering that Jesus Christ accepted us and died for us.  We “tell” others that God is good by our love for one another.

Verse 8.  “For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers,”

Jesus Christ helped the Jews (the “circumcision”), showing that all the Old Testament promises about the “Christ” (Messiah) are true.  Those promises were given to the “fathers” (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the rest) of Israel.

Verse 9.  “and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, ’Therefore I will give praise to you among the gentiles, and I will sing to Your name.’"

Paul, who wrote the Book of Romans, quotes David in Psalm 18:49.  It would not only be the Jews who would praise God, but the “Gentiles” (non-Jews) were also to be told of the Lord and they would praise Him, too.

Verse 10.  “Again he says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.’"

The “Gentiles” (non-Jews) and “His people” (the Jews) are meant by God to be one people and to be happy in the Lord together.  The words of this verse, by the way, were first written by Moses in Deuteronomy 32:43.

Verse 11.  “And again, ‘Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him.’"

Everyone, everywhere should PRAISE the Lord, as it says in Psalm 117:1, for as that Psalm continues, His “kindness is great toward us” (Psalm 117:2).

Verse 12.  “Again Isaiah says, ‘There shall come the root of Jesse, and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles hope.’”

Jesse was the father of King David.  This verse quotes Isaiah 11:10, where it is said that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from Jesse’s son, David.  Jesus, he said, would offer hope to all the people in the world.

Verse 13.  “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Paul is praying that those who believe in Jesus Christ will HOPE in Him, finding wonderful happiness and peace through God’s Holy Spirit.

Verse 14.  “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”

Paul wrote to Roman (Italian) Christians (“my brethren”) and he encouraged them by saying they were good people who knew about the Lord and were therefore able to encourage each other.

Verse 15.  “But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God,”

Paul was very honest with the people of Rome (and with you and me), talking about difficult things - “his” words really came through him from the Lord.

Verse 16.  “to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”

The Apostle Paul, a Jew, was sent by God to be a “minister,” a “priest,” to help the “Gentiles” (non-Jews) hear the “gospel” (good news) about Jesus Christ, so they might receive the Holy Spirit and be made acceptable to God.  He is also “ministering” to you and me, 2000 years later.

Verse 17.  “Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.”

Because Paul was “in” (saved by) “Christ Jesus,” he had reason to be pleased by the words the Lord had given to him (and to us) about God.

Verse 18.  “For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,”

All Paul wanted to talk about was what Jesus Christ had done – many “Gentiles” had come to the Christ through Paul and they were changed by the Lord.

Verse 19.  “in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”

Many miracles (amazing wonders) came through the power of the Holy Spirit, when Paul spoke about Christ, all the way from “Jerusalem” in the east to “Illyricum,” in Europe, in the west.

Verse 20.  “And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man's foundation;”

Paul usually went to “new” places, where the people there did not yet know about Christ.  He told people about Jesus for the first time – it would be OTHERS who would then come and teach them more about the Lord.

Verse 21.  “but as it is written, ‘They who had no news of Him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand.’”

Isaiah the Prophet (God’s spokesperson) had said that the good news about Jesus would be told to people who had never heard about the Lord before (Isaiah 52:15).  God would help them understand the good news about Jesus Christ.

Verse 22.  “For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you;”

That was why Paul had not visited the Romans before – because others had led them to Christ.  Paul would instead go to places where others had not yet been.

Verse 23.  “but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you”

Paul felt there were no new places for him to go in the part of the world where the Romans lived (in Italy), but he wanted very much to go and visit them anyway.

Verse 24.  “whenever I go to Spain--for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while—“

Paul wanted to sail on a ship to Spain and on his way, stop in Rome, visit the Roman people and stay with them for awhile.

Verse 25.  “but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints.”

But at that time, Paul was going in the opposite direction, to Jerusalem, in Judea (Israel), and he would help the Jewish Christians in that place.

Verse 26.  “For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.”

Paul had been given money by Christians in Macedonia, in the north of Greece, and also in Achaia, further south in Greece, for the Christians in Jerusalem who were suffering and needed help.

Verse 27.  “Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.”

The Macedonians and the Achaeans (verse 26) gave money for the poor people in Jerusalem and they were glad to do it.  As Paul says, God gives us everything in Christ and we should want to help others in return.

Verse 28.  “Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain.”

After Paul took the gift of money to the church in Jerusalem (verse 26), he meant to sail west (in a ship) to Spain and stop on his way, to visit the Christians in Rome.

Verse 29.  “I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.”

When he came to Rome, Paul would have a lot to share with them about Christ and he would give them many blessings from the Lord.

Verse 30.  “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,”

Paul asks the Romans to pray for him and for his work, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and because of the love given to God’s people in the Holy Spirit.  WE should pray for those who work for the Lord.

Verse 31.  “that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints;”

Paul knew there would be people in Judea (an area in Israel around Jerusalem), who would try to hurt him because of his love for the Lord.  He wanted prayer, not only to be safe, but also that those in Jerusalem would receive his words to them.

Verse 32.  “so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.”

Paul hoped to have a happy time with them when he finally got to Rome, and wanted to get some REST while he was there.

Verse 33.  “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”

Paul was praying for the Romans that they would have the peace of God in their lives.  We need God’s peace, too.  “Amen” at the end of a prayer, means “So be it” or “it is so,” a word of BELIEF that God will ANSWER your prayer.

Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
ron@fridaystudy.org