1. Mission, a gift of God's grace (14-16)

It is by God's grace that we are Christians, and by his grace that we are missionaries and Bible teachers. God's people are called to be a kingdom of priests. A priest stands between men and God. He brings men to God and brings God to men. Paul saw the work of proclaiming the gospel as a priestly ministry. To call people to 'the obedience that comes from faith' is to offer them to God. God shows that he accepts the offering when the Holy Spirit works to change people's hearts.

2. Go where Christ is not known (17-22)

Paul wanted all people everywhere to repent and believe and obey the Sovereign God. When all people love and obey God, then creation order is restored. So Paul wanted to pioneer places where Christ was not known, and lay foundations. He was so busy doing this that he had not had an opportunity to visit Rome, even though Rome was the strategic center of the Gentile world.

Application: Lord, help me to see the world from your point of view, and obey your world mission command.
One Word: A priestly ministry