to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest of the gospel of God. God’s purpose is that the Gentiles may be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit……My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation,……But now I no longer have any work to do in these regions, and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you” Romans 15:16, 20, 23 CSB https://bible.com/bible/1713/rom.15.16-23.CSB

Paul urges the Jews to serve as priests to the gentile converts who know nothing of the history or ways of the One True God. They are God’s asset to the burgeoning Church growing with Gentiles. The modern equivalent would be those who grew up in the Church should be discipling the newly converted to the Church, for they know the word of God, having been with Him for most of their lives. Paul was a missionary. Paul developed the Church where there was none. Most Christians are not going to leave their hometown. Paul’s work was finished not because everyone was saved everywhere he shared the gospel. His work was finished because he had planted churches in every city where he shared the gospel, and the Church there would now do the long-term evangelism and discipleship of the remaining population. The modern equivalent would be if we are not going somewhere out of culture to share Christ and disciple people, then we must stay in culture and share Christ and disciple people until all people are in Christ. Regrettably, the Church has left the work of God to the vocationally paid of God. This work has been embraced by those who are not to do this work but who are commanded to equip others to do this work until the whole body is built up, all people everywhere are saved and discipled, being like Christ in every way (Ephesians 4). The Church must reengage the work lest the culture continue its downward spiral of disobedience to Christ, resulting in increasing suffering for those who claim Christ, just like the first Church when there were so few who knew and loved Christ.