Romans 15:18,19 - By the power of signs and wonders

15:18

“I will not venture to speak of anything except that which Christ has accomplished through me...”  The only things worth boasting about are what Christ has done through us. What we do in our own strength, whatever is the product purely of our own imaginations soon turns to dust. It is what Christ does in us and through us that is of lasting value. The verse then goes on “to bring the Gentiles to obedience - by word and deed”. In the Great Commission (Matt 28:19,20) Christ told us to teach people to obey all that He commanded. Bringing people into obedience to Christ is our task, and this, of course, starts with ourselves. It is also why that those who think they are preaching the love of Christ when they “affirm” lifestyles and identities explicitly forbidden in Scripture are utterly deluded.

15:19

Paul’s ministry was fulfilled through both word and deed, by what he preached, and by what he did. And what he did was done “by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God”. In the West we find it so hard to believe these words, even in charismatic churches. We will seek to replace these works with “good works”. Now “good works” are good, but “the power of signs and wonders” should be part of the church’s armoury, and they must go together with the word of God. We need God to teach us anew in this area. Charismatic churches need teaching, reformed churches need teaching, we all need to learn from Him.