Obligated to All: The Gospel for Every Soul

Romans 1:13-15 NLT

¹³ I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles. ¹⁴ For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. ¹⁵ So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.

Message

Paul not only longed to visit (Romans 1:11) but also planned many times to visit the believers in Rome (13^a).

In his letters to churches, he often expressed that his desire to see them again. They were his spiritual children (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, 1 Corinthians 4:15, Galatians 4:19, Philemon 1:10). They were the proud reward, crown, pride, and joy of his ministry team (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 NLT, Philippians 4:1 NLT). Paul’s ministry team loved them deeply (1 Thessalonians 2:8 NLT) and taught them to do the same for one another and for all people (1 Thessalonians 3:12 NLT, 1 Thessalonians 4:10 NLT).

His purpose in seeing or visiting them was:

• to fill the gaps in their faith (1 Thessalonians 3:10 NLT).
• to bring them some spiritual gift that would help them grow strong in the Lord (Romans 1:11).
• to encourage them in their faith, and to be encouraged by them (Romans 1:12).

As for the believers in Rome, whom Paul had never visited before, his purpose was:

• to work among them and see spiritual fruit, just as Paul had seen among other Gentiles (13^b).
• to preach the Good News (15) because he had a great sense of obligation to all people (14).