Fulfilled the Ministry

“In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;” -Romans 15:17–19

As Paul glories in the work he has accomplished as “a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles,” he establishes his office as an apostle by sharing what that work looks like in object, in effect, and in scope.

First, the object of his work was to bring the Gentiles to obedience.

Second, the effectiveness of his work could be seen in the effectiveness of the word when he preached, the effectiveness of the deeds he accomplished, and the power of the miracles God did in his midst and on his behalf. These are all evidences of the Holy Spirit of God working through him. Paul points to this supernatural effectiveness to demonstrate that he had been appointed by the Lord for this work.

Third, the scope of his work, which extended from Jerusalem to what is modern day Bosnia and Croatia is further proof that God’s Spirit was upon him. The idea that he has fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ means he has both supplied the region with the truth of the gospel and perfected the work (as much as was humanly possible) in the churches that were established. His ministry, in effect, supplied what was spiritually lacking.

Perhaps we can take away from this Paul’s example who answered the call God had placed upon him (Acts 9) and fulfilled his vocation successfully by the power of God alone. In other words, the success in one’s calling may be seen as validation of God’s blessing when it is achieved without the tricks and schemes of men and accomplished in the power of God alone.