15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Verses 15 and 16 reminded the Romans that the writing of this epistle was part of a larger mission to the Gentiles.
15:15
Nevertheless, brethren,
Again, Paul used a family term to relate to the Roman church.
I have written [Romans] more boldly to you on some points,
Paul had the habit of speaking directly on some points. Some in the church might have thought Paul was too brutal in his frankness.
as reminding you,
Remembrance of vital truths gives stability to the Christian faith (2 Pe 1:12; 3:1-2). Repetition is important for remembering. All of us need to remember core principles from God’s Word.
because of the grace given to me by God,
By grace God gave Paul the gift of apostleship (Ro 1:5). He did not earn nor deserve the right to be an apostle. He could not take any personal credit for his gift.
Apostleship was Paul’s authority for rebuking the church.
15:16
that [result] I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles,
The word “minister” means public servanthood carried out as a priestly duty. A priest represents God to man. This was a special ministry given to Paul for the Gentiles.
ministering the gospel of God,
Paul was clear that God called him to minister the gospel. The “gospel” is the good news that Jesus saves sinners.
that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable,
“The offering” is the presentation of the Gentiles to God. Because God gave the Gentiles the gospel, He made them “acceptable” to God in the economy of grace.
sanctified
The Greek tense of “sanctified” should be translated “having been sanctified.” God sanctified Gentiles at a point in the past with the result that they stand sanctified or separated unto God as His people (perfect tense). God made salvation of the Gentiles a permanent issue.
by the Holy Spirit.
The work of sanctifying Gentiles permanently was a work of the Holy Spirit.
PRINCIPLE:
The only right for any of us to serve the Lord is due to the grace of God.
APPLICATION:
None of us deserves to serve the Lord. Paul received his apostleship by grace (Ro 1:5). He deemed himself to be the “least of the apostles . . . not fit to be called an apostle.” However, he could say,
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Co 15:9-10)
