Introduction

• Romans 15:8-13
• 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs
• 9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name."
• 10 Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."
• 11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples."
• 12 And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him."
• 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This passage in Romans mentions six things that Jesus came to do....

I. Jesus came to bring salvation to the Jews.

"Christ has become a servant of the Jews." (Romans 15:8)

Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30 tell the story of the "Syro-Phoenician Woman" and her demon possessed daughter. Jesus informed her that He had been sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and not to the Gentiles (so it says in Matthew). But in Mark, Jesus says that He came FIRST to the Jews.

• John 1:11-13
• 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
• 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
• 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

II. Jesus came to exemplify the Truth of God.

"...on behalf of God's truth..." (Romans 15:8)

John 14:6 "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father, except by Me."

When Jesus was examined by Pilate, Pilate asked the famous question: "What is Truth?"

• 36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
• 37 "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
• 38 "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.
• 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?"
• 40 They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.
• 1 ¶ Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.
  John 18:36-40 and 19:1

Many times people mistakenly think they know the truth, but they do not. "There is a way that seems right to a man; but the end of it is death," we read in the Book of Proverbs.

Muslims and Communists believe they have the truth. Muslims think the Koran is true. They believe it so much they are willing to blow themselves up in acts of murder and terrorism. Communists think that the little red book of Chairman Mao is the truth. Mormons believe in the writings of Joseph Smith. Jehovah's Witnesses believe in Charles Taze Russel. What is truth? Who gets to decide what is true? Only God knows the truth. Jesus is God in the flesh, so He is the truth. His words are truth.

III. Jesus came to fulfil the Abrahamic Covenant.

"...to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs..." (Romans 15:8)

The promises made to the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. This was the central and primary covenant of the Old Testament. The Covenant with Israel through Moses came later, and did not replace the original Covenant. Paul writes about it in Galatians 3:16-29

• 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ.
• 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.
• 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
• 19 ¶ What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator.
• 20 A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
• 21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.
• 22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
• 23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.
• 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.
• 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
• 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,
• 27 for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
• 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
• 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

IV. Jesus came to bring salvation to the Gentiles.

The Abrahamic Covenant was made with the fathers of the Jewish nation (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob/Israel). But the intent was NOT to simply bless the descendents of Israel. The intent was to bless the entire world, all the nations, the Gentiles. Paul quotes numerous Old Testament passages to make this clear.

• 9 so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name."
• 10 Again, it says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."
• 11 And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples."
• 12 And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him."
  (Romans 15:9-12)

Jesus came to bring salvation to the SPIRITUAL DESCENDENTS OF ABRAHAM, both Jew and Gentile. Unbelieving Jews and unbelieving Gentiles are all "goats," and not Jesus' sheep. Being Jewish by nationality won't buy you any entrance into the Kingdom of God.

• 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
• 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
  (Matthew 8:11-12)

V. Jesus came to Rule the World.

"The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations." (Romans 15:12)

• 15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."
• 16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God,
• 17 saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
  (Rev 11:15-17)

Jesus WILL, eventually, literally rule over all the nations of this earth. This is why the Gospel, and Christianity, is hated and attacked, and the Bible is forbidden in Communist and Muslim nations, and in so-called Secular nations which trumpet freedom of religion, but really oppose the Gospel. They know that there is a power struggle going on, and they want to retain their power, and they don't want to bend the knee to King Jesus and His Laws.

VI. Jesus came to bring Hope, Joy and Peace to all who trust in Him.

"...the Gentiles will hope in him. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:12-13)

We echo this idea in so many of our Christmas carols: "Joy to the World!" and "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear..."

• It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old,
• from angels bending near the earth to touch their harps of gold:
• "Peace on the earth, good will to men, from heaven's all-gracious King."
• The world in solemn stillness lay, to hear the angels sing.

If you lack inner peace and joy, perhaps you have not learned to trust Jesus for EVERYTHING. For your personal safety, and for the safety of your wife and children. For your food, clothing and housing. For life's decisions. For health, or the lack of it. For death and dying. Leave in all in Jesus' hands, and you will find peace and joy.

Conclusion and Summary: What did Jesus come to do?

• I. Jesus came to bring salvation the the Jews.
• II. Jesus came to exemplify the Truth of God.
• III. Jesus came to fulfil the Abrahamic Covenant.
• IV. Jesus came to bring salvation to the Gentiles.
• V. Jesus came to Rule the World.
• VI. Jesus came to bring Hope, Joy and Peace to all who trust in Him.