![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Banner-MOG-701.gif\" "\\"Ministry")
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that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Christians are called to a ministry of proclaiming the gospel message to everyone.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cminister<\/span>\u201d is not the word most often translated minister (diakonos<\/em><\/span>); rather, it is the Greek word leitourgos<\/em><\/span>, which is a compound word made up of leitos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cof the people\u201d and a form of ergon<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cwork.\u201d Thus, we see that this word refers to a public servant, one who works for the people.<\/p>\n \u201cMinistering<\/span>\u201d is translated from yet a different word. It is the Greek word hierourge\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which is also a compound word. It is made up of hieron<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ca temple\u201d and a form of ergon<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cwork.\u201d Hence, it refers to sacred work. It is the word that is used of the service that a priest did in the temple in Jerusalem offering up sacrifices to God for the people.<\/p>\n The word translated \u201cacceptable<\/span>\u201d is euprosdechtos<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of eu<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cgood or well\u201d and a form of prosdechomai<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto receive\u201d or \u201cto accept.\u201d So, it refers to something that is especially well accepted.<\/p>\n \u201cSanctified<\/span>\u201d is from a form of hagiadz\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cto be taken from common usage and used for the service of God.\u201d The basic meaning is \u201cto be set apart.\u201d It is usually translated as \u201csanctified\u201d or as \u201choly.\u201d<\/p>\n This verse is the continuation of what Paul was saying in the previous verse. You will recall that he is explaining why he was so bold in his comments to the Christians in Rome. Combining the last part of the previous verse and the first part of this verse, we see he is saying, \u201cbecause of the grace given to me by God that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n Paul is well aware of the ministry to which he has been called by the grace of God, the ministry of apostleship to the Gentiles. But in Paul\u2019s humble manner he does not claim to be the apostle to the Gentiles, instead he calls himself a minister, one who works for the common people, a public servant.<\/p>\n And, according to Paul, his responsibility in this position is \u201cministering the gospel of God;<\/span>\u201d that is, he was performing the sacred work of presenting the gospel of God in a clear and understandable manner for the Gentiles.<\/p>\n In other words, Paul is saying he is a public servant of Jesus Christ, doing the sacred work of the gospel of God. He is proclaiming the gospel to the Gentiles so that their offerings will be particularly well acceptable to God through the purifying work of the Holy Spirit. Paul is not serving himself, he is serving God and he is serving the Gentiles to whom he is delivering the message of salvation through faith.<\/p>\n And we, too, who are saved by the blood of Christ, are ministers of the gospel of God. It is our responsibility to carry the gospel to others, proclaiming this salvation that is available to all who will believe. It is a ministry to which God has called us all. Are you serving God and others? Are you fulfilling your ministry of proclaiming the gospel to those around you?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ministryofgrace.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Signature1.gif\" "\\"Will\\"")
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