Are You Ready. (Romans 1: 8-17)

Welcome to The Bible Project Daily Podcast: Studying Romans.

Episode Overview:

In this episode, we explore the central theme of readiness in the Christian life. Using Romans 1:8-17, we examine the Apostle Paul’s passionate declaration of being prepared/ready to preach the gospel and what that means for believers today.

Key Themes Discussed:

• The difference between responsibility and true preparedness.
• Paul's unwavering readiness to share the gospel.
• Faith, prayer, and community as sources of strength.
• The transformative power of the gospel in revealing God's righteousness.

Key Verse: "So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also." (Romans 1:15)

Reflection Questions:

• Do you feel ready to share the gospel? If not, what is holding you back?
• How can Christian fellowship strengthen your faith and readiness?
• How does Paul’s example inspire you to embrace your mission boldly?

Stay tuned for our next episode as we continue our journey through Romans!

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Chapters

• 15:21 [Ad] The Balance of Gray
• 16:09 (Cont.) Are You Ready. (Romans 1: 8-17)

Transcript

Are You Ready. (Romans 1:8-17)

Transcript:

Just because someone has a responsibility doesn’t necessarily mean they are ready to fulfil it. 

A young man might have a job, but that doesn’t mean he’s fully prepared to meet its demands. 

A student may have an assignment but still lack the necessary knowledge to complete it well. Likewise, believers have responsibilities, yet not all are truly ready to carry out the tasks God has given them.

One of our greatest responsibilities as Christians is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. This begins with our own lives, extends to our communities, and ultimately reaches to the ends of the earth. However, simply knowing we have this duty does not mean we are prepared to fulfill it. In fact, many believers feel hesitant, even embarrassed, when it comes to speaking about Christ. 

So, let me ask you: Are you ready? Are you ready to fulfill your responsibility to share the good news the bible contains ?

If we are honest, many of us would have to admit that we don’t feel entirely ready. But that raises an important question: What would it take to get you ready? Would an extensive theological education, do it? Perhaps, but not necessarily. 

There are countless  well-read Christians and theologians with degrees upon degrees who remain silent when it comes to being evangelistic in their everyday interactions. The stand like an Arctic river, frozen at the mouth.

Would an evangelism training course help? While such programs can be helpful, experience shows that even those who complete them often still struggle with actually sharing their faith in the real world. The reality is that readiness is not just about education or training; it is about something deeper.

So again, I ask: Are you ready? And what would it take to prepare you?

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul makes a bold declaration: “I am ready.” This statement appears in Romans 1, and today, we will explore what made Paul ready. By understanding his mindset and the context of his words, we can discover how we, too, can be prepared to do what God has called us to do….

Paul in today’s passage tells us he is ready here in Romans 1, and today, we will explore what made Paul ready. By understanding his belief and the perspective of his words, we can discover how we, too, can be prepared to do what God has called us to do….

To answer the question, what mad Paul ready, let’s turn our attention to Romans 1:8-17:

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now, I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’

(Romans 1: 8:17)

Romans is much more than just a letter—it is a profound theological discourse, it may still follows this ancient letter format. It begins and ends in the expected manner, with Paul elaborating on key ideas in the introduction. 

The passage we are examining today, Romans 1:8-17, serves as his thanksgiving and prayerful introduction to the letter. However, in this case, Paul does more than just give thanks, he reveals crucial insights about the gospel and ministry that are highly instructive for us.

This passage naturally divides into two parts: first, Paul expresses his thanksgiving for the Roman believers (v. 8), and then he offers his prayer for them (vv. 9-17).

So, Paul begins in verse 8 by thanking God:

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Paul is grateful that their faith is known everywhere. But how did these believers come to Christ? Who led them to faith? It wasn’t Paul, for he had not yet been to Rome.

There are several possible answers to this question. One possibility is that some of the people converted on the Day of Pentecost were from Rome. Acts 2 does mention visitors from Rome being among those present when Peter preached and 3,000 were saved. Some of these new believers may have returned to Rome and established churches there.

Another possibility is that Paul’s missionary work throughout Macedonia and Greece led to converts who later travelled to Rome and started churches. Either way, it is clear that the gospel had taken root in Rome, and Paul was eager to visit and minister among them. 

Paul's deep longing to visit the believers in Rome reveals not only his pastoral heart but also his unwavering commitment to the will of God. He understands that his desires must align with God's timing and purpose. When he prays, "if by some means now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you," it is evident that Paul is not merely making a request but submitting himself to God's sovereign plan.

This raises an important question for us: how do we pray? Do we demand our own way, or do we, like Paul, seek God's will above our own desires? Paul's words remind us that effective prayer is not about manipulating God into granting our wishes, but rather about aligning our hearts with His purposes. He longs to visit Rome, but he acknowledges that only God can make that possible in a way that is fruitful and in accordance with His divine plan.

The reason for Paul's request is not self-serving. He is not looking to visit Rome for personal gain or comfort. Rather, he desires to offer them a spiritual gift so that they may be built up in their faith. This perspective reflects the heart of a true minister, someone who is driven by a passion to strengthen and encourage fellow believers.

Paul expresses a beautiful sentiment in verse 12: "That is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me." This demonstrates the reciprocal nature of Christian fellowship. 

Paul, despite being an apostle, does not see himself as above the believers in Rome but as a fellow laborer who will also benefit from their faith. He recognizes that ministry is not a one-way street. It is not just about what he can give to them, but also about what he can receive through their shared faith. 

This should challenge us in our own walk. Do we see our relationships in the body of Christ as opportunities for mutual encouragement? Or do we see Christian ministry as something only flowing in one direction?

Paul's opening prayer in this letter of his I think highlights three essential components of the Christian life:

Gratitude, intercession, and submission to God's will. 

First, he thanks God for the believers' faith. 

Second, he consistently prays for them, lifting them up before the Lord.

Third, he surrenders his own plans to the sovereign will of God, trusting that He will open the right door at the right time.

Paul insists, he wants to not just write this letter but to come. There is something about personal presence that cannot be replicated.”

Paul also highlights another crucial truth: The fact that ministry is a two-way street. He didn’t just want to visit Rome to encourage them, he knew they would encourage him too! 

This is the Apostle Paul speaking! A man who had been caught up to the third heaven, who had received direct revelation from Christ Himself, and yet he acknowledges his need for the encouragement and ministry of other believers. 

If Paul needed it, how much more do we?

Ministry is not just about the preacher giving and the congregation receiving. It is mutual. It is reciprocal. We are meant to strengthen one another. 

Have you ever walked into church discouraged, only to leave uplifted because someone shared a kind word, a testimony, or even just a warm greeting and chat? That’s the body of Christ in action. That’s the power of gathering.

This passage is one of the strongest arguments for being actively involved in a Christian community. Yes, we can read our Bibles at home. Yes, we can listen to sermons and teaching online. But there is something unique, something irreplaceable, about gathering with other believers, supporting one another, and experiencing the presence of God together.

Paul's longing to visit Rome was not just a passing wish, it had been for him a deep and persistent desire. He emphasizes that he has often planned to come but had been hindered. The phrase he uses, “I do not want you to be unaware," is a significant one, found in several of Paul's letters, often signaling something of great importance. The use of the word "often," underscoring just how frequently he had intended to make the journey.

But what hindered him? Elsewhere in 1 Thessalonians, Paul attributes his hindrance to Satan on one occasion. Here in Romans, he does not specify, but in Romans 15:22, he does clarify that his ongoing ministry commitments have kept him from making the journey sooner. 

His mission of planting and strengthening churches had occupied him so fully that he had not yet been able to fulfill his desire to visit Rome.

He was hindered not because of reluctance but because his work elsewhere was not yet complete.

Despite this, Paul makes it clear: his desire to come to Rome has not diminished. He has prayed for this opportunity, and he is ready.

 In verse 14, he describes himself as a debtor to the Greeks and the Barbarians, to the wise and the unwise. This debt is not financial but spiritual. 

As the apostle to the Gentile world, Paul feels an obligation to share the gospel with all people, regardless of their cultural or educational background. This is why he is so eager to reach Rome, because it was the very heart of the Gentile world.

Paul’s readiness is not just a passive willingness; the word "ready" in verse 15 conveys eagerness and determination. He is not merely willing, he was actively prepared and eager to go. His mission is clear, his sense of duty unwavering. For Paul, preaching the gospel is not an optional calling; it is a sacred obligation that he must fulfill.

Today’s passage serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency of the gospel mission. And Paul’s example challenges us to consider our own readiness and willingness to serve. Are we eager to fulfill the calling placed upon us? Do we recognize the spiritual debts we owe to those who have not yet heard the good news? 

Paul's words still for us today, urging us to embrace our mission with the same passion and dedication.

I'm ready to come and preach the gospel at Rome, he says, just as I have done throughout the ancient world. Paul continues in by declaring, (V16)  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." And in verse 17, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."

These two verses encapsulate the theme of the entire book of Romans, and they are so important I think I will devote an entire episode to them tomorrow and unpack them some more. But for now, let’s consider them in the context of this passage.

Paul declares that he is ready, and he is not ashamed. Why? Because he understands that the gospel is the very power of God for salvation and that in it, the righteousness of God is revealed. More on that later also.

But for now, we need to recognize that at the heart of Paul’s readiness is the realization of his debt. He is not just willing; he is eager to fulfill his obligation.

This marks the end of the opening part of the book of the Romans, but we’re just getting started. It consists of his introduction and his thanksgiving and prayer. Paul thanks God for the faith of the Roman believers, a faith that is known all over the world. He prays earnestly for the opportunity to visit them—not just for his sake, but for theirs and for the sake of those who have not yet heard the gospel. He wants to encourage them, to be encouraged by them, and most importantly, to preach the gospel to those who are lost.

And herein lies the great lesson for us. We are not only to thank God for those who come to faith in Christ. We are not only to pray for those who come to faith in Christ. Those are crucial, but there is more. 

The big lesson here for us is that we, too, are debtors. Paul says, "Because I am a debtor, I am ready to pay my debt."

We must understand that we are also debtors, and the Lord has commissioned us to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Repeatedly, you will hear me say that as a result of our studying the bible together our responsibility is to take what we learn and reach to others for Jesus Christ. That means your family. That means your coworkers. That means your friends. As the BPDP community, we must recognize our spiritual debt also: We are obligated to share what we learn with those who do not know Christ.

The question before us today is this: Are you ready? What will it take to make you ready? Training courses can be helpful, but they are not the key. We could work through the whole bible college and still not be truly ready. So, what makes someone ready to be evangelistic? The same thing that made Paul ready, realizing that he was a debtor, just like everybody else.

Think about debt in our daily lives. Do you have a mortgage? A car payment? A credit card bill? When you owe a debt, you know it must be paid.

That is the kind of urgency Paul expresses here because He recognizes his debt for sin has been paid by and he stands ready before God, unashamed, eager to pay  forward what he has been freed of to others.

I remember hearing a message on evangelism years ago, and the speaker put it in a way I will never forget. He said, "If you were a scientist and you discovered the cure for cancer, you would be in debt to the world to share that cure. If you hoarded that knowledge, it would be unethical, even criminal." 

Think about that. We have been given the cure for sin. We have been given the ability to escape judgement. To keep that knowledge to ourselves is not just negligent, it is immoral.

So let me say it plainly: we are debtors. Are you ready to pay-forward your debt?

One final thought: Paul was a debtor, and he was ready. And what did he do to fulfill his debt? Well, first of all He prayed. He prayed for an opportunity to go to Rome and discharge his responsibility.

So, I ask you: Are you praying for an opportunity to minister? Because in this passage, Paul spends most of his time saying, "I thank God for you, and I pray for you. But what I am really praying for is an opportunity to come and minister to you and to everyone else in Rome."

So, are you ready? Being ready begins by praying for the opportunity to fulfill your thankful obligation to God?

Ask the Lord to give you an opportunity, perhaps in the next week, the next two weeks, or the next 30 days, to speak to someone who needs to hear the gospel. 

Maybe it will be someone you already know. Maybe it will be someone you haven’t even met yet. But pray for the opportunity to help discharge the responsibility we all share to share the good news of Jesus Christ when that opportunity presents itself.