Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. (Romans 15:14)

Full, Filled, And Able

Character is defined by a person’s decisions that identify them as an individual. Reputation is what others perceive of the character of another. The reputation of a person is often a reflection of the perceived character of the individual. Paul’s message of encouragement to the saints in Rome was based upon what he had heard of them because he had never met them or visited the church in Rome. As he finishes his letter to Rome, he confides in them the confidence he shared with them at the beginning of the letter.

Paul’s great desire was to visit the church in Rome to impart some spiritual gift to them. He wanted to establish their faith further as he had heard of their work in the kingdom. Having never met them, he knew their struggles, commending them for being examples of faith. In the letter, Paul admonished the brethren to seek peace and hold fast to the promises of God. Showing that both Jews and Gentiles needed the saving blood of Jesus Christ. Only the righteous act of God in giving His only begotten Son was salvation made possible. Living for Jesus required a life of living sacrifice.

Though he had never seen them, Paul had complete confidence in them for three reasons. First, they were full of goodness. The saints in Rome had a spirit of devotion to the work of the Lord. Paul’s letter to Rome was a difficult treatise to read and practice. He knew they would accept the letter with a spirit of love for God and willingness to obey. Abraham is an example of someone who never questioned the word of the Lord. He obeyed immediately because he trusted in God. The Romans understood that character because they believed in the word of God as divine truth. There would be no hesitancy to follow the commands of the Lord.

To be full of goodness is to accept the word of the Lord with an unquestioning heart, soul, and mind. Too often, people want to argue about what God says, but how often will arguing with God change His word? The Roman saints accepted the letter of Paul as the divine truth that would answer the question of salvation for Jews and Gentiles. They would see the power of God’s glory in the gospel as it united Jews and Gentiles together.

Second, they were filled with all knowledge. Paul reminded the saints that faith is born from hearing the word of God. Centuries before, Hosea the prophet brought the charge of the Lord against Israel because they had rejected knowledge and forgotten the law of the Lord. Israel was destroyed for lack of knowledge. Faith comes from the word, and the Roman saints were filled with the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The work of the kingdom would grow with saints filled with knowledge. Jesus defeated Satan with the word of God. The Romans would defeat Satan with the same word.

Finally, Paul says they were able also to admonish one another. Knowledge is a vital part of the Christian’s life and the work of the church. What is also important is the relationship between brethren. What made the work of admonishing one another more challenging was the mixture of Jew and Gentile. Paul’s letter shows the unity of the body of Christ regardless of Jew and Gentile. He had full confidence in their desire to accept all those who came to Christ and were cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. There are no distinctions in the kingdom of Christ. In a divided world of Jew and Gentile, slave and free, and male and female, the church of the Lord was a unit of cohesion for the glory of God. Admonish one another. Build one another up in the most holy faith. Instruct others in the way of the Lord.

A church family would do well to be known as a full, filled, and able church. These traits do not come easily, but they can be learned. What made the church in Rome an example for the other churches was its reputation, which came from its character. Paul had never met these brethren, but he knew them. If Paul were living today, what would he say about my church family? The work of the church is many things. Paul offers a three-pronged approach to church work. Learn how to be full of goodness, fill the family with knowledge, and be able to admonish everyone.