Grace, Not Power: Paul’s Apostolic Heart for the Church

Grace, Not Power: Paul’s Apostolic Heart for the Church

Romans 1:11-12 | A Dispensational Teaching Post

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” —Romans 1:11-12 (KJV)

Paul’s longing to see the Roman believers was both pastoral and doctrinal in nature. Paul had not yet been to Rome. He had not yet met these believers in person. Though his longing included mutual fellowship, his primary desire was to bring the grace doctrine to them—to see them firmly established in the gospel committed to his trust. His desire to visit was driven by love for the saints and a divine urgency to strengthen them through teaching, so they might stand mature and unwavering in Christ.

What Is Paul Really Saying?

• “I long to see you”: This is not casual. It’s a deep yearning, showing Paul’s affection and spiritual concern.
• “That I may impart unto you some spiritual gift”: Paul isn’t claiming to distribute gifts arbitrarily. He’s likely referring to teaching, encouragement, or apostolic insight that would strengthen their walk.
• “To the end ye may be established”: His goal is spiritual establishment—not emotional hype or temporary excitement, but rootedness in truth. Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans around AD 57, sending it ahead to lay the doctrinal foundation of the grace message. Though the believers in Rome could read and begin to grasp the truth from his letter, Paul still longed to see them face to face. His desire was to establish them—not merely inform or stabilize them. When he finally arrived in Rome around AD 60, it was as a prisoner, yet his purpose remained unchanged: to personally establish them, grounding them in the grace doctrine, ensuring they were not only introduced to it, but firmly rooted and built up in it.
• “That is, that I may be comforted together with you”: Paul clarifies—this isn’t one-sided. He expects mutual encouragement through shared faith.
• “By the mutual faith both of you and me”: He’s not above them. He’s beside them. Their faith comforts him just as his comforts them. The phrase “mutual faith” reminds us that faith isn’t private—it’s communal. We draw strength from each other’s trust in Christ.

This is a model of spiritual fellowship: not hierarchical, but reciprocal.

What Is “Imparting a Spiritual Gift”?

Paul says he longs to visit the Roman believers “that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.” This phrase is rich with meaning:

• “Impart” (Greek: metadō) means to share, bestow, or communicate something beneficial.
• “Spiritual gift” (Greek: charisma pneumatikon) refers to a divinely empowered enablement—but Paul doesn’t specify which gift.
• “To be established in the end” (Greek: metadō) means to share, bestow, or communicate something beneficial.

Importantly, Paul is not claiming to distribute miraculous gifts. That role belongs to the Holy Spirit alone (1 Corinthians 12:11). Rather, Paul is speaking of ministering truth, encouragement, and doctrinal clarity—especially the mystery revealed to him for the Body of Christ (Ephesians 3:1-9).

What This Doesn’t Mean

Many assume Paul is referring to:

• Miraculous gifts like prophecy, healing, or tongues
• Activation of dormant gifts in believers
• Laying on of hands to transfer spiritual power

But this interpretation misses the context. Paul is writing to believers in Rome—not to stir signs and wonders, but to ground them in the gospel of grace.

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified…” —1 Corinthians 1:22-23

Dispensational Insight (Clarified)

In this present dispensation of grace, spiritual gifts such as miracles, tongues, and prophecy are no longer in operation. These sign gifts served a purpose during the transitional period of the early church, especially to confirm the Word to Israel (Hebrews 2:3-4). But now, we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” —1 Corinthians 13:8

God is sovereign and can heal or intervene as He chooses, but the spiritual gifts described in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 are no longer distributed or activated today. They were temporary and foundational (Ephesians 2:20).

So, when Paul says, “that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift,” he is not referring to signs, wonders, or supernatural powers. He is speaking of ministering spiritual understanding—truth that blesses the inner man, not the flesh.

In this dispensation, the true spiritual gifts are:

• The knowledge of God’s will (Colossians 1:9)
• The riches of grace and peace (Ephesians 1:2-3)
• The comfort of mutual faith and fellowship (Romans 1:12)

These are the gifts that establish and strengthen believers today.

Lessons to Encourage Others

Here’s how you can draw encouragement from this passage for outreach or teaching:

1. True ministry is mutual

Paul, the apostle, expects to be comforted by ordinary believers. That’s deeply humbling. “Your faith matters. You strengthen others—even leaders—by simply standing firm.”

2. Spiritual gifts are for establishing, not entertaining

Paul’s aim is to “establish” them—not impress or entertain.“God gives gifts to build up, not show off. Let’s use what He’s given to strengthen each other.”

3. Longing for fellowship is godly

Paul’s desire to be with them shows that physical presence matters. Online ministry is powerful, but embodied fellowship is irreplaceable.“It’s okay to long for deeper connection. Paul did too. Let’s pursue fellowship that comforts and strengthens.”

Final Encouragement

Romans 1:11-12 is a model for dispensational ministry: grounded in truth, shared in humility, and aimed at spiritual maturity. Paul’s longing wasn’t for spectacle—it was for establishment.

Let us follow his example:

• Teach the mystery revealed to Paul (Ephesians 3:9)
• Strengthen others through sound doctrine (2 Timothy 2:2)
• Share mutual faith that comforts and uplifts (Philippians 1:27)

“That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God…” —Colossians 2:2

In this dispensation, the greatest spiritual gift we can impart is the knowledge of God’s will, rightly divided, and the comfort of shared faith in Christ.