And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:14-16

If The Apostle Paul was around today, he would be writing Churches a letter, he might even be writing your Church a letter. And instead of Christians receiving these letters with great joy, as Paul was an Apostle filled with the Holy Spirit. Christians today would mostly dismiss Paul as a “legalist” and “judgemental” , however the Apostle Paul wrote these letters, not to condemn his brothers and sisters, but to remind and enlighten them with the wisdom of God

Paul begins with a positive note, “my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able or competent to instruct or admonish one another” Imagine the hours and years Paul had to pour into this Church to get them to this point! This is what Jesus instructs us to do “Go Make Disciples” (Matthew 28:19) Yet most Churches today, most Christians don’t want to be discipled or make disciples. This has been the downfall of the modern Church, the lack of love and discipline to The Lord. Paul has labored with many Churches, making many disciples, and He’s ready to let the Church of Rome on their own, as Paul is coming to the end of his life in prison.

But next , since Paul loves these brothers and sisters in Christ, he must tell them the truth, he must rebuke them. As scripture says “For The Lord disciplines those he loves” (Hebrews 12:6) Yet most Christians today don’t want to be disciplined, they don’t want to be discipled, they don’t want to submit to any authority, because most of the Church today is Luke Warm,  it’s carnally centered false religion. The Apostle Paul states “Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God”

Paul admits he had to be hard on the Church sometimes, just as a parent sometimes has to show tough love to their children, not because Paul wanted to condemn the Church, but because he loves the Church and wants them to grow in sanctification. However the flesh for most overcomes the spirit. Many have rejected Pauls instructions, just as many Christians still do today. The Apostle Paul was preparing the Church to be a spotless bride before The Lord (Ephesians 5:27)

The Apostle Paul continues “that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Let me ask you , are you Born Again? (John 3:3) And if so, are you being sanctified by the Holy Spirit? Looking back in the past years, have you really grown in The Lord? Or have you become a dead branch? Have you produced fruit of the Holy Spirit? Or are you a dead tree waiting to be cut down and thrown into the fire? (Matthew 7) Answer the calling of our Father,  Submit to The Lord, submit to the Church, be sanctified by the Holy Spirit, Amen