Paul explains to the Christians in Rome what exactly their place is in God’s plan of salvation for the nations. It is significant that he dares to do so in this letter, even despite the fact that he had not yet met his readers. He can do this because 1. he knows that the readers are already where God wants them to be (an as such this letter is merely
an encouragement), and 2. because Paul himself is a living example of what he prescribes for others.
Because he is familiar with the work of the Holy Spirit, Paul can begin the second half of Romans 15:1–33 by praising his readers for their faith: I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another
(Romans 15:14).1
14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.