Romans 15:21

But as It is written, To whom He was not spoken of, they shall see.

Prophecy and the means of its fulfilment

This ambition of the apostle was the means of fulfilling a prophecy with respect to the spread of the gospel in heathen countries. Thus it is that God fulfils His predictions and His purposes. He gives His people an earnest desire to be the means of accomplishing them at the moment when He designs their accomplishment. It will be thus that the gospel will at last be effectually carried to every country under heaven. It is thus that modern missionaries have, in some measure, carried the gospel to the heathen, and although the slothfulness of the people of God in former ages is not without blame, it is because the time to fulfil God’s predictions to the nations was not come that a like ambition to that of Paul was not found more generally to animate Christians. Whenever the Lord has work to do, He raises up men with a heart to perform it. This, however, is no excuse at any particular time for indifference or want of effort to spread the gospel. (R. Haldane.)

Missionary toil

I. Its difficulties.

1. Untried ground.

2. A foundation must be laid.

3. Particular obstacles removed, etc.

II. Its encouragements.

1. The nature of the gospel.

2. Its actual successes.

3. The faithful promise of God. (J. Lyth, D.D.)

Missions

I. The object of missionary zeal. To speak of Christ, and to make Christ known. If a heathen could say, “I am a man, and nothing human is foreign to me,” how much more should our hearts burn, when we are told that the knowledge of Christ is at present limited to one-third of the human race! Surely this is an object sufficient to justify missionary efforts.

II. The character of missionary labours. To go forth and to preach the gospel of Christ. Leaving it to Mahomet to draw the sword and enforce obedience, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, our appeal is not to secular authority, for the religion of Christ made its way against that authority.

III. The promises of missionary success. We can appeal to “It is written,” and I should like to know what nineteen centuries have done to invalidate Paul’s testimony.

IV. The extent of missionary claims. If Jesus looked beyond His conflicts and trials, and saw of the travail of His soul, can we be indifferent to that on which His heart was set now He is in heaven? If He anticipated much as the reward of His labours, can we be satisfied that He should receive but little? Did He say, “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me”? Shall not we aim to lift Him up by the preaching of the gospel, and say to perishing men, “Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world”? (R. C. Dillon, D.D.)

The claims of missions

1. There are millions still who have not heard the gospel.

2. The gospel is not only adapted to their case, but intended for them.

3. The obligation rests on us to send it.

4. The successful result is certain--predicted--exemplified. (J. Lyth, D.D.)