Revelation 1:3

³ Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

PAUL’S PLAN TO VISIT ROME
ROMANS 15:22-33

For this reason, I also have been much hindered from coming to you. ²³ But now no longer having a place in these parts and having a great desire these many years to come to you, ²⁴ whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. ²⁵ But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. ²⁶ For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. ²⁷ It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. ²⁸ Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. ²⁹ But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessingof the gospel of Christ.³⁰ Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, ³¹ that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ³² that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. ³³ Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Vs. 22 For this reason, I also have been much hindered from coming to you. Paul explains his comment made Romans 1:13, his ministry to the Gentiles is set forth in this epistle. His local Gentile ministry has kept him busy for several years, He could not leave until he had fully preached the gospel in the territories in which he had labored. The Holy Spirit had kept him busy on three missionary trips establishing churches and preaching the gospel. That work has been successfully finished.  

Vs. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts and having a great desire these many years to come to you, The situation has changed, my work here is finished, and I want to get on with the work the Lord has given to me. He is looking forward to a work in Spain where the gospel has not been preached. He is anxious to get on in his service to the Lord. He is looking at Rome as a place to rest on his journey to Spain.

Vs. 24 Whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. The apostle desires to go to Spain and continue his apostolic work. I hope to see you on my journey There would be no problem in stopping in Rome and being refreshed on his journey. I shall come to you Paul got to Rome, but he came as a prisoner instead of an apostle. Whenever I journey to Spain, there is much uncertainty regarding the trip on to Spain, it is not mentioned in the Bible. The apostle’s plan is to visit with the church, if first I may enjoy your company for a while at Rome, a passing visit as he is on his way to Spain. Paul desires Christian fellowship and to be fully satisfied with their company or have full enjoyment of it. And be helped on my way there by you.  He expects from the church at Rome a sending forth with commendation and blessing comparable to that experienced earlier at the hands of other churches (cf. Acts 14:26; 15:40).  Notice how close was this bond of fellowship between the churches and the apostle in the performing of his specific apostolic commission.

Vs. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. The apostle explains why he is going to Jerusalem prior to setting out for Rome, he has a mission of mercy, the ministry he brings is a mission of Christian love to the poor saints. It may be a surprise to us that Paul would have thoughts of interrupting his apostolic function for what is apparently secondary and concerned with material things. We only think such thoughts when we overlook the dignity of the work of mercy. We must look at this as a statement of apostolic duties in. the worldwide missionary enterprise: But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas, and John who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of Christian fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do (Galatians 2:7-10). So, Paul was not neglectful I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.

Vs. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. Paul is bringing to Jerusalem a contribution koinonia meansfellowship. This could be translated to establish a certain fellowship which would have been more appropriate. This would be the establishment of fellowship between the saints in Greece making the Christian gift to the needy saints in Jerusalem. It is God’s blessing when true churches are bonded together in truth and fellowship is promoted.

Vs. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. The first thing to notice is the voluntary character of the contribution, it pleased them indeed    for if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. Paul sets forth the debts the Gentiles owe in spiritual things to the in Jerusalem and the way they paid their debt.  These Gentiles had been brought out of heathen superstition and idolatry to worship the true God through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ Their obligation is to be loving, this includes helping those in need, Christian charity to those in need is a duty. The Gentiles were partakers of the spiritual things which came forth from Jewry and Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit was instilling love in the hearts of those Gentiles that do not know these poor saints in Jerusalem.

Vs. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. There is a sense of purpose as the apostle speaks of when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit. Here he calls the contribution this fruit. But first it was necessary to wait untilthe Jerusalem visit is finished.I shall go by way of you to Spain.  The fruit Paul was to seal was the fruit of the faith and love from the believers in the Greece proof that his ministry had been successful and fruitful. The gospel had come from the Jews and went into all the world. As God’s children we are obligated to help those Christians in need.

Vs. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. The apostle speaks with a sense of certainty regarding delivering the fruit and then coming to the saints in Rome. Paul arrived in Jerusalem and delivered the fruit to the saints to whom it was sent (cf. Acts 21:17-21). He had well defined designs and a solid hope he would reach Rome. After delivering the fruit, Paul was about to be murdered by the Jews that saw him in the temple. He was rescued by the Roman Army and finally became their prisoner. But God is very gracious, after this ordeal the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul, for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome” (Acts 23:11).  The apostle is going to Rome, but not the way he had planned.

Vs. 30-32 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, ³¹ that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, ³² that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. The apostle has a high estimate of the maturity of the Roman Christians and the refreshment he expects from them on his visit. Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, It

Is characteristic of Paul to ask the saints to pray for him: that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me (cf. Philippians 1:19, Colossians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:25, 2 Thess. 3:1). Paul is not ignorant of what may happen in Jerusalem so he asks for prayer that he may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe. Also, he knows there are those that dislike his ministry, they want the Gentiles to obey the law, be circumcised, and become Jews. That is why he asks the saints to strive together which suggests the wrestling which real prayer involves; it is to be persistent and ernest. The apostle desires everything to be acceptable to the saints. Paul would like a little rest that I may come to you with joy by the will of God and may be refreshed together with you.

Vs. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. We should always remember that peace with God is primary. This prayer includes all of the blessings guaranteed by the presence of the God of peace.

Catechism Question 48

Q:  What is the preface to the Ten Commandments?
A:  The preface to the Ten Commandments is in these words: “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt , out of the house of bondage”.

Exodus 20:2

²  I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt , out of the house of bondage.