8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.9 God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
Last night I went to a "parenting talk" by Josh McDowell and one of the things that he said that stuck out to me was that relationships are the foundation for everything. We were made to have relationships... a relationship with God and relationships with people. In saying this he also said that we often "preach the truth" or quote scripture but there is no relationship with the people we are preaching the truth to. He said, "Truth without relationship leads to rejection". Paul, in Ephesians 4:15, refers to "speaking the truth IN LOVE" and David in the book of Psalms says, "I am constantly aware of your UNFAILING LOVE, and I have lived according to your TRUTH". Both of these verses tie the truth with love or, in other words, a good relationship. In these verses in Romans Paul is explaining how he is preaching the gospel of Jesus to them and to others, BUT he says this in the same sentence in which he makes an effort to applaud them regarding their faith! He is also talking about how he has tried MANY times to try and get to Rome so he can fellowship with them and encourage them (as u will see in the next verse). He is trying to establish a relationship with them, ALTHOUGH he has not actually be able to get to Rome to meet them and talk to them in person! He understands how important it is for him to establish a good relationship with them so that they will listen and apply the TRUTH of God that he is about to try and teach them!
11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
In verse 11 Paul is NOT saying that he can GRANT or BESTOW spiritual gifts! In fact he clarifies himself in verse 12 by explaining what he meant. He simply meant that by being with them, he could share his spiritual gift with them and they could share theirs with him, resulting in encouragement. You have to remember that Paul does a lot of lonely traveling and he hasn't exactly lived the "american dream" life, so he is probably longing to be with people who share the same desire to follow Jesus as he does. It is a break from being chased around by people who hate him or are trying to arrest him!
13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
In these last few verses there are several thing to observe:
1) Paul makes three "I am.." statements"I AM OBLIGATED both to greeks and non greeks"...aka every body
"I AM SO EAGER to preach the gospel to you in Rome"....since his efforts to get there have been foiled over and over...it is almost as if he is relieved because he felt responsible to get the truth to them and has finally reached them through this letter
"I AM NOT ASHAMED of the gospel"...this basically sets him up for the rest of the book....
2) in verse 17 he says "righteous that is by faith from first to last"....My inital question was "from first to last what??". Paul simply means that the righteousness that you have is by faith from the minute you begin your spiritual walk with christ on earth to the last breath you take before you see him in heaven.
3) verse 16 is one of those verses that you hear a lot and so when you read it, it is really easy to read it fast and not think twice about it. It is actually very cool. Paul says that the gospel is "the power of God". That is....the gospel is literally God's power (his power was demonstrated on the cross). "For the salvation of every one who believes"... so it is GOD'S POWER and through his power we have salvation. By believing, we have salvation, salvation is through his power, and his power is the gospel! #a lot to ponder
SOOO....to sum these verses up....
Vs 8-13 Paul is trying to build somewhat of a relationship with them (after introducing himself in vs 1-7)
vs 14-17 Paul says that he is obligated to share the Gospel with every one (including them) and he is eager for them to read this letter because he has had a hard time physically traveling to them. He feels like he is beginning to fulfill his obligation to them, and so...he is eager. He is also not ashamed of the Gospel, hence his hard effort to get it to them, and also hence the things he is about to try to teach them! He is about to get into some TOUGH STUFF!!!
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