Glory Through Jesus Christ Romans 15:17

Paul the apostle told the believers in Rome, “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”, and he added, “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.” In chapter fifteen and verse seventeen of Romans, Paul declared, “I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ” where we read:

I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

The verse begins, “I have therefore whereof I may glory ...” Paul began with the words, “I have therefore whereof” which means “Paul held, possessed and kept fast” “I may glory” which means “Paul could boast in a good sense”. Because he was able to offer up to God the “sanctified by the Holy Ghost Gentiles”, Paul had something within which to “boast” and “glory”.

The verse continues, “... through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.”. Paul added the word, “through” which means “by means of and in the manner of” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind, God incarnate” “Christ” which refers to “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God” “in those things which pertain to” or “to the advantage of, near, towards and with regard to” “God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul could “boast” by “Jesus Christ” in “regard” to the “things of God” which pertained to the “gospel” extended to the Gentiles.

When we think through these words of Paul, we see he was able to “boast” and “glory” in God's “works, actions and activities” toward the “Gentiles” which was given to him through his relationship with Jesus Christ. People who receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord” do not “boast or brag about” themselves because they realize the “grace” of God has provided their relationship with Him. When the “Gentiles” received Jesus because of Paul's preaching of the “gospel of God”, Paul credited God with the work. Let everyone who reads these words realize “to God be the glory for all the great things He has done!”

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome how he, “not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not worked by me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.