“Goodbye Saints”
Romans pt. 23
Thesis: Roman’s 16 challenges us to develop relationships within the Body of Christ with other Saints and to build them up in Christ. We also learn that we must be alert and watching to make sure that no one is allowed to cause division within the Kingdom of God. We also learned that the God of peace is just about ready to crush the head of Satan so we need to be ready!
Introduction:
Let’s recall what I shared with you months ago when we started the Romans series.
Jon Stensrud stated this about the Historical impact of the book of Romans in the history of the world from His sermon introduction to the book of Romans on sermoncentral.com:
Martin Luther in his book “Preface to the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans” argues that:
“This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian’s while not only to memorize it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes. Therefore I want to carry out my service and, with this preface, provide an introduction to the letter, insofar as God gives me the ability, so that every one can gain the fullest possible understanding of it. . . . it is in itself a bright light, almost bright enough to illumine the entire Scripture.”
John Calvin said that, "When anyone gains a knowledge of this Epistle he has an entrance opened to him to all the most hidden treasures of Scripture."
F.F. Bruce is quoted as saying "Time and again in the course of human history {Romans} has liberated the minds of men, brought them back to an understanding of the essential gospel of Christ, and started spiritual revolutions.”
Warren W. Wiersbe: in his commentary on the book of Romans tells the story of a man whose life was changed by this book and who in turn changed the lives of literally millions of men and women:
"On May 24, 1738, a discouraged missionary went ’very unwillingly’ to a religious meeting in London. There a miracle took place. ’About a quarter before nine,’ he wrote in his journal, ’I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.’
That missionary was John Wesley. The message he heard that evening was the preface to Martin Luther’s commentary on Romans. Just a few months before, Wesley wrote in his journal: ’I went to America to convert the Indians; but Oh! who shall convert me?’ That evening in Aldersgate Street, his question was answered. And the result was the great Wesleyan Revival that swept England and transformed the nation."
The book of Romans is to Christianity what the Declaration of Independence is to America and the Magna Charta is to Great Britain! It can set you free if you study it and believe it.
We have spent the last few months learning what a Saint is and isn’t! Have we not? This book has challenged us to become living sacrifices for the Kingdom of God. It has given us instructions on how a Saint should be living. It has painted a picture for us of what a Saint is to look like. Their actions , attitudes, character traits, and lifestyle.
Do you remember my catch phrase: A saint is not an “aint,” because the Spirit of Christ adds “S” to “aint” and makes the “aint” a “saint.”
If you recall when I started this series months ago I shared how I had looked up the word “saint” and discovered this definition: ONE SEPARATED FROM THE WORLD AND CONSECRATED TO GOD; ONE HOLY BY PROFESSION AND BY COVENANT; A BELIEVER IN CHRIST!
I summarized my findings this way, “Biblically, the term saint is correctly applied to anyone who believes Jesus Christ is Lord. To believe in Jesus demands obedience and conformity to His will. A saint bears true and faithful witness to Christ in speech and in life-style. To be a saint is a present reality when a believer seeks to let the Spirit form Christ within their hearts and inner spirit.”
Questions: Do you feel that the Romans road has lived up to its reputation? How has the truths revealed in this book changed your life? How are you going to live the rest of your life – like a saint or like and aint? Do you better understand what the Lord expects of you a “Saint”?
Today we will be exploring the last chapter of Romans – Chapter 16. Let’s listen to this chapter from the NIV Dramatized Version. Please follow along in your Bibles as the narrator walks us through this chapter.
Scripture Text: Romans 16
1I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.
3Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
5Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
6Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
7Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
8Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.
9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.
10Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ.
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.
11Greet Herodion, my relative.
Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
12Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord.
Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.
14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them.
15Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.
16Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the churches of Christ send greetings.
17I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
20The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
21Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives.
22I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.
23Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings.
Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.
25Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him—27to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
There are 3 points that I have gleamed from this chapter today!
I. Acknowledge and build relationships with those who labor beside you for Christ.
a. This section of our chapter brings us back to the importance Paul placed on Jesus’ commandments two commandments: Which are to Love the Lord with our whole hearts, minds and souls and then the second to love our neighbor as ourselves.
i. This chapter helps clarify the two Covenant relationships we are to have in life – see the Power point showing the vertical and horizontal covenants of Jesus.
b. This section shows the importance of deep relationships with one another in the Body of Christ. We are not to just become Sunday Christians but we are be intertwined – connected to each other in this church.
i. MACARTHUR’S NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY: ROMANS 9-16 by JOHN MACARTHUR, JR STATES THE FOLLOWING ABOUT OUR CHAPTER.
1. Despite the great popularity of the book of Romans, chapter 16 is often neglected by preachers, teachers, and Bible students. It has almost no explicit teaching and includes several lists of people, many of whom we know nothing about except what little, if anything, is said of them here. But they doubtless were a representative cross section of believers in Rome and of Paul’s companions at the time he wrote the letter. This passage is by far the most extensive and intimate expression of love and appreciation to come from the tender heart and inspired mind of the apostle Paul. It is a rich and rewarding section that yields many insights into the life of Paul, into the lives of other early Christians, and into the nature and character of the first-century church. The apostle’s comments about these mostly unknown individuals are all the more poignant because this great apostle takes time to speak so warmly and appreciatively of these “ordinary” Christians, who were as much his brothers and sisters in Christ as Peter, James, John, and other New Testament notables. He here reveals his deep affection for those whom he had served, for those who had served him, and for those who served with him. Paul continues the personal epilogue that began in 15:14 and reveals still more of his inner thoughts and feelings, not so much as an apostle as a fellow servant of Jesus Christ. In 15:14-33 he focuses on his relationship to the Lord in his ministry. In chapter 16 he focused on his relationship to other Christians with whom he has been associated in one way or another in his ministry. He specifically identifies, and sometimes briefly comments about, those to whom he felt the closest. He reveals his love for the community of the redeemed, his mutual accountability with them before God, and his dependence on them for his own ministry and for his own well-being. In many ways, this chapter reflects the personal and practical agapē love he has beautifully described in 13:8-10 and which, a few years earlier, he had portrayed in chapter 13 of his first letter to the church at Corinth.
ii. I want you to notice Paul’s closing remarks – look at the names and the descriptions of these “Saints” that Paul refers too. They are real people like you and me and they are his brothers and sisters in Christ and listen to some of their epitaphs:
1. Phoebe (servant of the church in Cenchrea) – greek - word διάκονος is “servant” – which means a deacon or deaconess in the church. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance says this about this Greek word: An attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess):—deacon, minister, servant.
a. Paul tells them to treat her in a way worthy of a “Saint” because she is a great help to the Kingdom of God and she will be a great help to them as well.
2. Priscilla and Aquilla – fellow workers – this was a ministry team of a wife and husband. They pastored a church which met in their home. Paul says they risked their lives for him and for the whole church.
3. He addresses other woman who worked hard for the Lord
4. He addresses the first convert.
5. He names others who were imprisoned with him for preaching the Gospel.
6. He addresses others by noting how they have been tested and approved by the Lord.
7. Paul acknowledges the ones who are blessing to him in Corinth - Corinth was the place of the writing of Romans. Paul was at the time in some “city” (Rom 16:23). He was staying with one Gaius, or Caius and we find in 1 Cor 1:14 a Gaius, closely connected with Paul, and a Corinthian. He commends to the Romans the deaconess Phoebe, attached to “the church at Cenchrea” (16:1), presumably a place near that from which he was writing; and Cenchrea was the southern part of Corinth.
c. To better help us understand this section of Romans I would like to make it more personal for us here at New Life Today:
i. Greet Dan and Colleen Blair for me I recall how they are such a blessing to New Life Community Church! They labor weekly and yearly for the Kids of New Life and are always positive and upbeat and I never here them complain. They serve God and the kids and this makes God smile.
ii. Greet Sue Skalicky for me who was always giving 110% to the church. Willing to serve and to serve and to serve. What a tremendous help she was to me as pastor. He servant leader attitude is to be appauled.
iii. Greet Ron and Valma Olsen for me man have they gone through the fire but come out on the other end more committed to Jesus and still willing to serve the youth and the church with compassionated sincere hearts.
iv. Greet Glen and Mary Strom the cornerstones of the church who have stuck with the Body through dissension, criticism, ridicule, through the good times and the bad times but always keeping their eyes on the Heavenly prize.
v. Greet Mark and Sylvia Wien for their 1,000 of prayers for the church, for individuals in the Body for the pastors and the leadership. They have served and stuck it out for God’s glory. They have given of themselves for others and they never desire the lime light but just the smile of Heaven.
vi. Greet Phyllis Knutson who has helped so many people with a heart of compassion. She has been a mom to many hurting people and been there for those who need a hug and loving mercy. She works hard for the Lord.
vii. Greet Dr. Joe Goldsmith a man with a heart for prayer. His fervor for the Lord and his willingness to sacrifice for others is to be commended. He is always giving and he does it because of his love for the church and for Jesus.
1. Do you understand how personal this section is – and God wanted it in the Bible to teach all of us a lesson about acknowledging those who labor beside us because we are all in this together.
2. By the way everything I said above about our Board is true!
3. Please note – I wish I could spend all day addressing each one of you that makes New Life effective for the Lord but time does not allow me to do so! But thank you for what you do – I believe God is pleased with those who serve His church and you reward will be great in heaven.
d. The phrase -- “Greet one another with a holy kiss”
i. McArthur notes the background information on this practice in the early church:
1. Paul ends this section with the admonition, Greet one another with a holy kiss. The practice of embracing and kissing friends on the forehead or cheek was common in Old Testament times. Men would sometimes be kissed on the beard. Such kisses were in no way romantic, much less erotic, and kissing on the mouth was rare, except for married couples. Kissing was common among relatives and close friends, especially when they first came together after a long separation and when they departed, as is common today. To kiss a person of high position was a sign of honor and respect…Paul admonished believers in Rome to maintain the practice when they would greet one another. He gave the same admonition at the end of both of his letters to the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12) and in his first letter to believers in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 5:26).
ii. Paul used this phrase to stress the importance of treating each other with respect and giving honor to those who deserve honorable mention.
1. At the AACC Convention banquet I sat with a lady who was the author of the book Raising Respectful Children in a Disrespectful World.
a. Her and I discussed her book and I shared that the biggest concern I see in the church today is the disrespect that children, teens, and adult show to others.
b. She agreed and said disrespect has become a disease that sweeping across our country and churches and it is destroying the very fabric of society.
c. She noted that the parents must take back control or we will watch our society self-destruct from this sin.
d. By the way I invited her to come speak in Amery and she agreed!
2. Paul knew that the church would never be what it was suppose to be if there was no respect for others, no willingness to honor others for their service to the Kingdom and to others in the Body.
T.S. – This section of scripture is very personal and God placed it in Chapter 16 so that we could learn the importance of respecting each other and also the importance of honoring one another in the Lord. When we understand Paul’s intent in the beginning of this chapter we now understand why he says what he say in verse 17 “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions…”
II. Watch out for those who want to cause division in the Body of Christ.
a. Don’t let them put obstacles in your way.
i. When a person has a divisionary spirit they place obstacles in the path of your spiritual growth in God.
ii. These obstacle are their to make you take the road to the Spirit of Offense so that you no longer are a blessing to the Kingdom but are a hindrance to the Kingdom
b. Stay away from them.
i. Paul says “Don’t have anything to do with them!” They are like the plague and they will contaminate you if you hang around them to long.
1. There is an illustration of pulling someone off a bucket. It’s easier to pull some down then to lift someone up so Paul says don’t let them pull you down to their sinful level.
2. Remember instead we are to respect others and honor others because this is what saints do!
c. Paul also tells us that they are not serving the Lord but their own appetites – In other words their own self-centered ways. Don’t let them get away with what they are doing this is not a character trait of a saint! Stop them!
i. Why? Because they will lead the naïve astray and cause them to fall into the same sins they are in. So be on your guard against them.
ii. We need to protect each other in the Body of Christ and not allow the wolves in sheep clothing to come in and hurt the baby lambs!
1. We are to drive out the wolves! We are to be the shepherds who defend the flock from the attacks of gossip, slander, dissension and division.
d. John Bevere in his book “The Bait of Satan” says, “Our response to an offense determines our future (page 4).
i. Paul understood this principle clearly and this is why he warns this church against the spirit of offense and those who practice it.
ii. John states, “Many are unable to function properly in their calling because of the wounds and hurts that offenses have caused in their lives. They are handicapped and hindered from fulfilling their full potential. Most often it is a fellow believer who has hurt them. This causes the offense to feel like betrayal. In Psalm 55:12-14 David laments, ‘For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. We tool sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng.’ They are those whom we sit with and sing alongside, or perhaps it is the one who is delivering the sermon. We spend holidays, attend social functions, and share offices with them. Or perhaps it is closer. We grow up with, confide in, and sleep next to them. The closer the relationship, the more severe the offense! You find the greatest hatred among people who were once close. Attorneys will tell you the most vicious cases are in the divorce courts. The American media constantly report murders in homes by desperate family members. The home, meant to be a shelter of protection, provision, and growth where we learn to give and receive love, is often the very root of our pain. History shows that the bloodiest wars are civil-brother against brother, son against father, or father against son (5, 6).
iii. He adds “Pride keeps you from dealing with the truth. It distorts your vision.”
1. He continues on from page 8, “Pride causes you to view yourself as a victim. Your attitude becomes, ‘I was mistreated and misjudged; therefore, I am justified in my behavior.’ Because you believe you are innocent and falsely accused, you hold back forgiveness. Though your true heart condition is hidden from you, it is not hidden from God. Just because you were mistreated, you do no have permission to hold on to an offense. Two wrongs do not make a right” (8)!
a. Remember Jesus told us that we will be offended in this world but we must choose the attitude we take toward it.
b. He also reminded us in Matthew 24:10-13: “10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
i. We are to stand to the end like the saints were doing in Rome who Paul acknowledged in verse 1-16.
c. He also stated this in Matthew 6: 9-15: 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven 11 Give us today our daily bread 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
i. Jesus meant what he said here saints – you don’t give it to others then you do not get it from Him!
d. “Proverbs 6:16-19 says that sowing discord or separation among the brethren is an abomination to the Lord. When we repeat something with the intention of separating or damaging relationships or reputations-even though it is true-it is still an affront to God” (Bevere page 40).
e. The truth is it takes a lot of work to stay free from offense but we must do the work to reap the eternal benefits in heaven.
i. Paul was arrested in Jerusalem as he took the gifts that he talked about in Romans 15 and listen to what he says at his hearing , Acts 24: 5-16 stated, “5“We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. 8By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.” 9The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true. 10When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
ii. Paul knew that he could not even take offense at these accusers because they were blinded by their father Satan. He had to choose the higher road and do things like a saint should!
1. John Bevere stated, “Your spiritual maturity depends on you willingness to face, forgive, and forget past offenses” (243).
T.S. – Paul was not afraid to go to Jerusalem because he knew that he was in the will of God and He also knew that certain things had to happen for the climax of the world to come. He reminds the church in Rome that Satan’s D-Day was coming and in the end he would be crushed by the God of Peace and this would usher in the peace on the earth.
III. The God of peace will soon crush the head of Satan.
a. Time is running out on the Devil.
b. God is the author of peace but He will still crush the Devil in the end so that peace may take root in the world.
c. God will win the war so be ready and do not be deceived.
d. He will establish who the saints are in the end.
i. He will in the end appear to all the nations so that they might obey and believe in Him.
ii. Jesus will honor the saints who are faithful to the end for Him so choose to be a “Saint” and not an “Aint.”
Conclusion:
Paul glorifies the Lord with his concluding remarks – to the only wise God be glory!
Paul end our Romans road with a awesome and reflective statement – He says after writing this masterpiece of the Gospel of the Lord that glory belongs to the only one who is wise and that is God!
God is the only one who could have come up with the Romans road to Heaven. It’s based on grace because everyone falls short of the glory of God. It is made available to all by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. His sacrifice paid our debt and if we choose to believe and place our faith and trust in Him then we will be saved. Then we need to be baptized because this becomes an outward testimony to what Jesus did on the inside when we asked Him into out heart. We need to do this so that we overcome the evil one and bring hope to others. When we become a saint of God then we must also become living sacrifices because this will make us a hero for the Kingdom of God. Being a living sacrifice for God will cause us to stand out in this world of darkness. In the need if we live like we are suppose too then we will participate in the glory of the lord in the end times and we will be respected and honored for all eternity. Paul thinks wow what a mighty awesome wise God we all serve!
There is coming a day when pain will be gone forever because God will crush the evil one!
Closing song, “Faith Hill”
