Life with eternal meaning comes only through Jesus!

I was amazed by the insight that can be gained by studying a list of names in Romans 16:1-16. Paul gave personal greetings to church members in Rome. Some he had known personally as he evangelized Asia Minor. Others he had heard of from those who had shared with Paul their stories of faithfulness.

Many of the names were those of slaves laboring at the imperial court in Rome. As noted by William Barclay, The leaven of Christianity had reached the highest circles in the empire. Some were royalty who would pay a high price for placing trust in Christ alone. Paul gives a glimpse of this grouping in Philippians 4:2, All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

Consider Rufus who is quite possibly the son of Simon of Cyrene, the man who was forced to carry the cross of Christ to Calvary. It is thought that Rufus was the man Paul greeted in Romans 16, a leader of the church in Rome. William Barclay asks some stirring questions, It was men from Cyprus and Cyrene who came to Antioch and first preached the gospel to the Gentile world (Acts 11:20). Was Simon one of the men from Cyrene? Was Rufus with him? Was it they who took the first tremendous step to make Christianity the faith of a whole world? Was it they who helped the Church break the bonds of Judaism? Can it be that, in some sense, we today owe the fact that we are Christians to the strange episode when a man from Cyrene was compelled to carry a cross on the road to Calvary?

It is believed that Nereus led Flavius Clemens, consul of Rome, and his wife Domatilla to the Lord while he served in their household. They were part of those who suffered for their faith under Nero when Christians were accused of setting the fire that devastated Rome in 64 A. D. The persecution is described by William Barclay, Nero ordered the Christians to be rolled in pitch and set alight to form living torches for his gardens, to be sewn into the skins of wild beasts and flung to savage hunting dogs, and to be shut up in ships which were sunk in the Tiber.

What could draw people away from family and friends to faraway places? What could lead people of wealth and power to submit to cruel persecution, even death? History can be as current as today. People are looking for deliverance from the ills of this world. Too many are looking in the wrong places or to the wrong person. Those in Romans 16 would declare that it was because of a commitment to one man, Jesus Christ. He alone had the power to make a difference in their lives and to make that same difference in anyone who calls on him by faith, today.

It has been said that committed Christians are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. Today, I fear that too many Christians are so earthly minded that they are no heavenly good. Only Jesus can and will meet our deepest needs. Check out the study of Romans 16:1-16 under the Books of the Bible tab and consider the roles the Roman Christians played in the greatest story ever told, the good news of Jesus Christ. Now is a good time to have your needs met in Jesus.

The Apostle Paul, a man of prayer.

The ungodly consider prayer a waste of time. Christians are considered weak since they seek deliverance outside of themselves. We who are Christians know that prayer is not a matter of weakness but faith. We have transferred trust from ourselves to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As we come to the conclusion of the study of Romans, I am refreshed by Paul’s commitment to prayer. Romans 15:22-33 pictures Paul as a man on his knees who encourages others to do the same. This is the same Paul who described himself in Romans 1:1, Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, and in 1 Corinthians 9:1, Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not you my workmanship in the Lord? Also, consider his comments in 2 Corinthians 11:25, Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea;

Paul was a strong man who depended on prayer not on his accomplishments. He was an apostle but he coveted the prayers of others that he might have success in ministry. He is probably the greatest evangelist of all time but he asked others to pray for him as he proclaimed the Gospel, Colossians 4:3-4, At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.

Paul knew that living and proclaiming the Christian life is not just difficult but impossible without God working on his behalf through the prayers of brothers and sisters in Christ. Prayer was not an afterthought but was at the forefront of his ministry. Warren Wiersbe catches Paul’s prayer focus, . . . our praying must not be a casual experience that has no heart or earnestness. We should put as much fervor into our praying as a wrestler does into his wrestling! Hear John Calvin, (Paul) shows how the godly ought to pray for their brethren, that they are to assume their person, as though they were placed in the same difficulties.

Paul knew that his ministry was greater than himself. Any of us who have ministered in the name of Jesus Christ would agree that ministry is a cooperative effort, not a one man show. John Witmer gets it, A Christian’s intercession is a means of sharing in the ministry of others. Not everyone can travel the world sharing the Gospel but every Christian can get on his or her knees and become a missionary through prayer.

We are near the end of our study of Romans but at the beginning of applying what we have learned. Join me in the study of Romans under Books of the Bible tab. Let’s commit to more prayer for ourselves and others in this New Year.

The Apostle Paul, a worthy role model.

It seems like finding a role model has become harder and harder in recent days. Whether it be an educator, a pastor or a politician, many of those we have trusted have headed to failure. Life is tough, even for Christians who have placed faith in Jesus Christ alone. At times, it would be good to watch and learn from a human who fully lives what he believes.

I encourage you to join me in the study of Romans 15:14-21. It is a wonderful description of the Apostle Paul’s principles of ministry. I believe his principles, tied to our faith in Jesus Christ, will encourage each of us in the walk of faith.

First, Paul used tact in his ministry. He did not assume the worst but the best of those who profess faith in Christ. Consider William Barclay’s assessment, Paul was much more interested in what people could be than in what they were. He saw faults with utter clarity, and dealt with them with utter fidelity; but all the time he was thinking not of the wretched creatures that men and women were, but of the splendid creatures that they might be. What a benefit to our ministries if we were more tactful and less judgmental.

Paul was prone to repetition. He would remind brothers and sisters in Christ of what he had previously taught. This is wise advice from Alexander Pope (1688–1744), Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown proposed as things forgot. One of my favorite instructional statements has been, repetition is the key to learning. We shouldn’t expect everyone to understand everything the first time. I have benefitted greatly from those who were patient with me as I struggled with understanding important truths.

Paul majored on majors. Chapter 14 was his instruction not to turn preferences into priorities. In chapter 15, Paul’s heart for majors of the faith is evident. His focus was on evangelism and discipleship. John Stott got it right, Every conversion is a power encounter, in which the Spirit through the gospel rescues and regenerates sinners. We can’t go wrong if those are priorities of our ministries.

Paul was humble. He was an apostle. He wrote more books of the Bible than anyone else. He was arguably the greatest evangelist ever. But all thought of glory was deflected from himself to his Savior who empowered him by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Warren Wiersbe notes his humility, The apostle did not serve and suffer as he did just to make a name for himself, for he had a much higher purpose in mind. He wanted to bring glory to Jesus Christ. What would our ministries be like if we were seeking to bring glory to Christ instead of to ourselves?

Lastly, he was faithful. He knew his calling and wanted a ministry with no regrets. It is good to be reminded that we are vessels who desire to be used by God. William Barclay wrote, It is when we stop thinking of what we can do and begin to think of what God can do with us that things begin to happen. Do I know God’s calling on my life? Do I know how I can be successful? Paul was on target. He was looking to the time when God would say to him, face to face, Well done, good and faithful servant.

There is nothing wrong with having a role model. Please consider the Apostle Paul. His principles of ministry have stood the test of time.