Romans 15:15

Romans 15:15 says, 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, Paul said his boldness in writing to the Romans, who were Gentiles, came from the grace given to him by God.  We today need to be bold in that same grace.  We are to be God's representatives to the world, and the Holy Spirit will empower us to boldly proclaim the gospel.  Verse sixteen adds, 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.  Paul was being condemned by the Jews for proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles, but he told them that it was his calling from God.  We need to be led by the Holy Spirit when we proclaim the gospel to the world, but we must never attempt to limit those we will share the gospel with.  We may start to feel like the Jews in Paul's day did, which is that we are somehow morally superior simply because of where we were born.  Paul went where the Holy Spirit led him and proclaimed Christ boldly through the power of the Holy Spirit.  This is what we are to do today.  Verse seventeen continues, I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.  Paul did not say that he gloried in his abilities or heritage, but that he gloried through Christ in all things that pertained to God.   We are to glorify Christ in all that we do, because Christ restored us if we are truly followers of Christ.  Whatever we do in life should glorify God, and when it doesn't, we must ask for forgiveness and once more boldly proclaim Christ to the world.  Verse eighteen states, For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,  Paul was speaking to those around him from experience.  The one thing that no one can deny about our lives as followers of Christ is our salvation and the work that God has done through us.  They may argue about the truth of the Bible, but they cannot argue our about our salvation experience. Verse nineteen adds, Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Paul was still sharing how God had worked through his life after he accepted Christ as his Savior and Lord.  The Holy Spirit had performed many signs and wonders through Paul.  Paul had preached the gospel wherever the Holy Spirit led him.  We are to do the same today, proclaiming Christ wherever we are.  Verse twenty continues, Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: Paul was boldly going to preach the gospel where it had never been preached before. Though we could say that was nearly anywhere in Paul's day, he could have stayed close to where others were preaching, but he took the gospel to those who had not been reached before.  Verse twenty-one concludes, But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.  Paul again gave a scriptural reason for doing what he did.  He was led by the Holy Spirit to do what God's word said needed doing.  We today need to make sure that we are doing the same if we are to be successful followers of Christ.