“But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:29).
For many years, the apostle Paul had had an intense desire to go to Rome. Because of his commitment to preach the gospel where Christ had not been named, he had focused on carrying out the will of God in this way. Now that the gospel had been fully preached from Jerusalem to Illyricum, he now began making long-term plans to preach in Spain. Since Rome was a logical place to stopover when traveling from Jerusalem to Spain, he was now anticipating the possibility of stopping in Rome and enjoying the reciprocal encouragement of their mutual faith.
Though Paul had many unknowns about his planned trip and stopover, he was certain of at least one known: he would come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
Regardless of whether his current travel plans took five months to complete or five years (as they actually did), the power of the gospel to save sinners would not be diminished in any way. The gospel’s amazing power for salvation cannot be eroded by the relentless march of time. It is just as capable and powerful today as it was in the first century. Therefore, Paul was certain that when he arrived in Rome, he would come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
Plans change. The power of the gospel to save does not.
