Paul's Solemn Plea To Rome Series

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

1. Causes Divisions and Offenses

2. Serves not the Lord Jesus Christ

3. Deceives the Hearts of the Simple

Introductory Remarks.

1. Today's lesson will present the message: “Paul’s Solemn Plea To Rome.” This was an urgent and solemn plea from the beloved apostle Paul to the saints at Rome. His message began with a sincere plea to the brethren faithful to the Lord and part of the body of believers in the church in Rome. This solemn plea is given to the faithful saints: to mark and turn away from those causing divisions and offenses in the body of Christ. These are those who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their (own) bellies and are making merchandise of babes, the unlearned, unsuspecting, and innocent. Nothing is more important to the church of Christ than to warn her of this solemn message of Paul and all the other apostles.

2. First, we will consider Paul's concern regarding those who cause divisions and offenses in the body of Christ. The apostle begins this solemn plea with his softest word: “Brethren, I beseech you, not command you.” We, like Paul, understand that though we have the authority to demand, it serves best when we humbly ask, pray, or beg in the “name of Jesus Christ” for the saints to be persuaded rather than directed. Some military men, like myself, struggled with this after giving and receiving “orders” for decades. It took my wife to help me in this area of communication. Paul’s solemn plea included two things: 1) to mark them and 2) to turn away from them: “who cause divisions and offenses within the body of Christ,” Romans 16:17.

3. Second, we will discuss that those who now trouble the church serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their bellies. They were troubling the church with divisions and offenses. We will learn that Paul speaks of the Jewish fathers and those of the circumcision. They were teaching the Gentiles that they could not be part of the church family without first obeying the Law and being circumcised to become proselytes of Judaism. They were messengers of the evil one and were not the servants of the Lord but “greedy for filthy lucre,” Titus 1:11-12. Finally, he asked the church to pray that the saints of Jerusalem and Judaea might accept his work in delivering the money from the Gentile churches and that he could be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.

4. Lastly, we will investigate what the apostle meant when he wrote: “And by kind speaking and praise deceive the hearts of the innocent,” Romans 16:18b. This sentence outlines the hearts and minds of those who not only preach and teach something other than sound doctrine. But it also includes the hearts and minds of those who will be “beguiled and wholly deceived” by their good words and fair speeches. Paul refers to them as “the innocent and deceived” because they were ignorant and unlearned regarding the “faith of the gospel” and were deceived, and their destruction and damnation were standing at the door. Paul warned them and us that: “Every sin and disobedience shall receive a just recompense of reward,” Hebrews 2:1-2. God’s judgment will be fair and final!

BODY OF LESSON

I THAT CAUSES DIVISIONS AND OFFENSES

A. Now I beseech you, brethren: “Mark them that cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine that you have learned, and avoid them,” Romans 16:17.

NOTE: The EGNT reads: “But I exhort (urge) you, brethren, to consider those who make the divisions and the offenses, and turn away from them,” Page 435. He encouraged them to consider and turn away from them (those)who cause, encourage, or commit divisive behaviors.

1. Paul’s acclamations. After the apostle had given sincere compliments to all those saints in Rome, he turned his attention to the evils of those who would cause divisions and offenses among them. He begins,

2. With a solemn plea. “Now I beseech you, brethren.” He does not demand or command such to these saints. He warns and urges them to do these things as an apostle because: “That which comes upon him daily, the care of all the churches,” 2 Corinthians 11:28. Nothing is more attractive to the evil one and his disciples than their assaults, temptations, and divisive works against, unto, and within the church of the Lord. Especially when,

a. Fruit-bearing congregations are busy doing the Lord's work and growing in numbers and (the) faith of the gospel.

b. Its ministers are “doing the work of an evangelist.” Like Timothy and Archippus, whom he wrote,

1) To Timothy, “But watch thou in all things, endure affliction, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry,” 2 Timothy 4:5.

2) And to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it,” Colossians 4:17.