Hope Overflows in Worship

Our advent series has us considering the hope of the gospel as Paul unpacks it in Romans 15. The hope of the gospel is for our good and for the glory of God. When we come to share in the hope of Christ, this hope overflows from our lives in worship and honor to God.

Paul calls attention to a number of passages of Hebrew Scripture, which reveal that God’s plan has long been to create a people from among all the peoples of the earth. His redeemed people are to be a worshiping community, a people who glorify him. Our salvation glorifies him and should lead us to praise and honor him.

God’s plan is not yet complete. He still desires to bring many to faith in him to the praise of his glory. Thus, Paul, writes later in this chapter of his own missionary endeavors: “I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation” (15:20). God’s plan to save people from “every tribe and language and  people and nation” (Rev 5:9) means that when we welcome all kinds of people as Christ welcomed us, we are joining in God’s plan for their good and for his glory.