Romans 15:22-24 - 22 This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, 24 I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while.
Message: On his way to Spain
Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome
What the Lord is Saying:
Background
Paul seems to have ended a thought in some way in the last several verses, almost like he was concluding his message to the church in Rome. He had a purpose in reaching the Gentiles, though his letter seems to be primarily to the Jewish Christians in Rome. He has helped them to understand their faith and beliefs. He has shown them throughout the earlier chapters that the belief in Jesus is not a new thing, but it is a message central in the Old Testament and now he briefly is showing that the message of the Gospel to the Gentiles is also not knew, but something that is also fulfilling scripture. And yet his message is somewhat coming to a close.
In the Open Bible, verses 22-33 are now under the heading of, "Paul's Plans for Traveling."
Hindered in the past from coming to you
He says, "For this reason I have often been hindered from coming to you." This repeats a phrase from Romans 1, verse 13, "often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented thus far)." He aludes to a reason back in verse 13 of Romans 1 and now he clarified what that reason was here in verse 22 of Chapter 15.
Paul had mentioned again in verse 20 that his ambition was to preach the gospel and go to places that never heard and so, here, he states that "he has been hindered from coming to you" because he is instead setting his sights on wanting to go to people that have not heard of the name of Jesus. He recognizes that his time is short on earth and he must make it count. But, he is speaking of why he hasn't come in the past, giving the idea that the will come now. He has been focused on fulfilling his ministry preaching from "Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum (verse 19)."
His calling fulfilled
Paul clearly saw that the Lord had given him a calling. What is my calling? Has the Lord called me to do a specific purpose? Paul believed that he had no further place for himself in those regions. This doesn't mean that he necessarily had traveled to all of these regions. But, he mentions his place there is no more and he remains with a longing to see the Christians in Rome: But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you.
Outermost parts
Paul saw the land of Spain as the furthest region for him. Yes, it is true that his desire to go to Illyricum and all the parts in between had been fulfilled, he now desires to go beyond, to Spain.
It is understood here that the church helps its missionaries. Not everyone is called to go, but for those that don't go, they assist or help those that go. Verse 24 says that as Paul goes to Spain, "to be helped on my way there by you." He states that he needs help. There are missionaries everywhere serving the Lord and they often will raise support and in so doing, ask for help.
Promise: We are not in final control of our lives and that God in his providence may redirect us or keep some of our plans from coming to pass.
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