Hello Friends!
Welcome Back! Let’s continue our journey through the book of Romans – “The Romans Road to Righteousness.”
Welcome Back! Let’s continue our journey through the book of Romans – “The Romans Road to Righteousness.”
The Roman’s Road to Righteousness (Chapter 16:17-27)
This
week we will conclude our reading of chapter 16,
verses 17-27 as we consider Avoiding
Doctrinally Divisive Persons & Greetings from the Saints…
As
we approach the closing passages
in the final chapter of this
great “doctrinal” epistle, we
find that the Apostle Paul continues to open his “heart” so that the “Roman”
readers may share in his wise “personal”
counsel and inspired “theological”
thoughts. To Paul, these “believers”
in “Rome” were more than just
“elements of success” in his “ministry”
endeavors. They were more than just simply a faceless mass of humanity. He
truly cared for these “saints”
and he saw them as “beloved”
friends and “co-workers” in
the “faith” fellowship…
Avoid Doctrinally Divisive Persons!
To
begin with, we will see that Paul is deeply concerned for these “brethren” and “urges” them to beware of “false teachers”:
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple – Romans 16:17-18
Here
Paul identifies false teachers as “those”
who teach “false doctrine” and “cause divisions” and “offenses”
among true “believers” in “our Lord Jesus Christ.” That's what a “false teacher” does! He or she “teaches” something “contrary” to the “truth” of which is “learned” and brings schism “by smooth words”
and “divisions” by “flattering speech”
causing discord & conflict and creating “stumbling
blocks” for the “church”
– Wolves in sheep’s clothing!
These
liars “gain” the “ears” and “deceive”
the peoples “hearts” and
that's why we must “test everything”
by the Book! The Apostle Peter
also had this to say concerning “false
prophets” and “false teachers”:
There were false prophets among the people and there shall be false teachers among you who secretly shall bring in destructive heresy, denying the Lord that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction – 2 Peter 2:1
These
“false prophets” inevitably
bring “doctrines” of human
invention and “destructive heresy”
of which are sometimes very close to the “truth” of “Scripture”
and thus their “smooth words”
and “flattering speech”
can be very convincing and very subtle.
Therefore, Paul “urges” the “brethren” to “avoid” these liars who are “denying the Lord” at all costs! Why?
Because “those who are such”
do not “serve”
God but their “own belly”
and seek only to “deceive”
the naïve and spiritually immature “hearts of the simple” in the “faith” – Very
wicked indeed!
There’s
also a positive reason to “avoid”
these “false teachers” – Next
Paul says:
For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen – Romans 16:19-20
Paul
is essentially saying: “I'm so happy that your good testimony of “obedience” is going
all over the world and everyone “knows”
about your “faith” in “Jesus Christ.” Your spiritual reputation
is well known among all the “believers!”
However, don't become an expert on “lies,”
“deceit” and “heresy” but rather, “be wise in what is good” and don't get
involved in it. Be “simple
concerning evil” and run from it” – Be very wise and discerning!
A PEACEFUL PROMISE: Beloved, after all is said and done,
the “God of peace”
will eventually “crush Satan
under your feet” and the “grace” of our “Lord Jesus Christ” will “be with you” – Hallelujah!
Greetings from Paul’s Friends
Next
up is Paul’s little group of “brethren”
who are with him in the city of Corinth as he authors this letter to the “Romans” and they too send their “love” in brief personal “greetings” as a part of this beautiful
epistle:
Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you – Romans 16:21
"Timothy” was Paul’s beloved “fellow worker”
– his protégé’ and “son” in
the “faith,” his number one “disciple” and dear “friend.” Then “Lucius” is mentioned because when
Paul first started out his “ministry”
in “Antioch” (see Acts chapter 13), one of the five men who was
leading the “church” there was
“Lucius of Cyrene.” This
man was most likely with Paul in Corinth as the book of Romans is being written. Then “Jason” and “Sosipater” are
mentioned. “Jason” was Paul's
host on his first visit to Thessalonica (see Acts
chapter 17) and ”Sosipater”
was from the town of “Berea”
and was probably one of the “more noble”
Old Testament students who “searched the
Scriptures” to “see”
if the “things” Paul taught “were so” (see Acts
chapter 17:11) and was in Paul's group at this time (see Acts chapter 20). These “brethren” were Paul’s “countrymen” and fellow “Jews” in the “faith” – True
brothers in Christ!
Next
“Tertius, who wrote this
epistle” greets the “Romans”:
I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord – Romans 16:22
This
doesn't mean “Tertius”
was the author of this letter, he was simply Paul’s secretary. Paul
often used a secretary to write and here he's using a man who adds this one
verse as a personal “greeting”
as Paul's amanuensis. Incidentally, we don't know anything
else about “Tertius”
or his “ministry” efforts.
Then
the “greetings” are concluded
with “Gaius,”
“Erastus,”
and “Quartus”:
Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen – Romans 16:23
“Gaius” had
responded to Paul's preaching as a “Gentile”
convert and was “baptized” by
the Apostle (see 1 Corinthians chapter 1).
He is not only Paul's “host”
but he's the “host of the whole church” and
they probably met in his “house.”
Then “Erastus”
the “treasurer of the city”
is mentioned. His name was a common one and we really don't know who he is.
Then finally, "Quartus"
is mentioned and all we know about him is he was a “brother” to Paul. And so Paul is
surrounded with a “beloved”
group of “believers,” a camaraderie
of “brethren” who share in his
“life” and “service” to “Jesus Christ” – A true
fellowship of love!
And
then comes another beautiful benediction of “grace”
from Paul:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen – Romans 16:24
The
Apostle truly has a heart of compassion for these “believers” in “our Lord Jesus Christ” – What a loving man Paul was!
A Final Doxology and Benediction
Doxologies are also a very important part of the “life” of the “saints” of God. Therefore, the book of Romans concludes with a classical call of Benediction by the Apostle Paul and a Doxology of “Praise
to God.” Here Paul takes back the pen from “Tertius” his secretary, who wrote a
personal “greeting” in verse 22 and added a final word of encouragement
to his readers – A beautiful doxology!
There
is a marvelous parallel between this closing doxology and the opening eleven
verses of Romans chapter 1. This wonderful
epistle is introduced and concluded with elements
that summarize all that is in between! First of all, Paul praises “Him” for the “gospel” of “Jesus Christ” which “establishes” people from “all nations”:
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen – Romans 16:25-27
The
word "establish"
simply means to “set steadfastly” in an immovable position. There is an
unsettled attitude in the “world”
today in the sense of a struggle for “truth”
of the “gospel.” Men and women
are “crushed” under the weight
of “sin” and are not mentally
or spiritually settled in their “soul”
without the “revelation of
the mystery” that is now “made manifest” by the “preaching of Jesus Christ”
by the “prophetic Scriptures”
known to “all nations”
– Praise the Lord!
“Scriptures” written by the Old Testament “prophets” prophesied about the “truth” of the “gospel” but it was never fully
made “manifest” to
them. It was always “hidden”
and “veiled” in secrecy.
That's why it is called mustērion – a “mystery!”
Any “mystery” in God’s Word is
a “truth” about something that
was “hidden” in the Old
Testament and is “revealed”
in the New Testament – The concealed is now
revealed!
A FINAL CHALLENGE: There are FIVE hidden “mysteries” from the Old Testament that are
“revealed” by the Apostle Paul
throughout his excellent “epistle”
letters. Do you know what these “mysteries” are and where
they can be found in God’s Word? Here is ONE
of these “hidden” passages to
get you started on your “mystery”
mission through God’s “truth!”:
the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory – Colossians 1:26-27
No one in the “world” is more “established” in their “soul” than a
true “Christian!” We “know” what we “believe,” why we “believe” it and we thank
the “everlasting God” for our “obedience to the faith” by the “glory”
through “Jesus Christ
forever…” AMEN! – The Gospel is
able to save all who believe!
In
closing:
The
false “love”
proposed in the contemporary ecumenical movements of today is far different
than the true “love”
demonstrated by the Apostle Paul! Biblical “love”
warns against error. The slick and sickly sentimentalism
of our day seeks to set “doctrine”
aside for the sake of a so-called false “unity.” Any “love” that is destructive
of God’s “truth” and is tolerant
of “doctrinal” error
must be avoided – This is not the essence of Biblical love!
What
must we do when we come across “false
teaching” and the “false
prophets” of our day? What do we do when we come across “heresy” and divisive “doctrines?” Are we to “debate” with
it? Are we to “dialogue” with it? Are we to “compromise” with it? – Good
questions!
Nowhere
in Scripture are we instructed to argue with these “false teachers” – That's fruitless. What
Paul is saying here is “obey”
what you've “learned” in the
true Biblical “faith” and “stand fast” in what you “know” to be the “truth.” We must increase and enhance our “knowledge” of God’s Word. Biblical
“love” sounds this
warning! Therefore, Paul “urges” us to “avoid” their “lies” and “hypocrisy”
– Get away from them!
In
fact, the “bad fruits”
of these “false teachers” were
overtly outlined by the “Lord Jesus Christ”
in His closing warnings of these “ravenous wolves” in His Sermon on the Mount:
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them – Matthew 7:15-20
I'll
sum it up by saying this: No “warning”
in all of “Holy
Scripture” comes close to the “judgment”
that God pronounces on “false teachers.”
These “men” may appear on the surface
to be well meaning but “inwardly“
they are not concerned with anything except their own personal
“fleshly” gratification. They
do NOT serve the “Lord
Jesus Christ” but rather their “own
belly” and they're NOT “worthy” of your time or attention! And
Jesus Christ warned: “by
their fruits you will know them” – Amen to that!
Please continue reading verses 17-27 of
the sixteenth chapter of Romans.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
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