ROMANS 16: 17-24-27
FINAL APPEALS AND GREETINGS
[Acts 20: 28- 32]
Romans was a letter Paul found very difficult to end. There is always more that needs to be said. So before Paul ends he makes a final appeal for his readers to keep away from evil influences (CIT). In this appeal he portrays a couple of the chief characteristics of people who damage churches. His apostolic authority is revealed as he warns the believers in Rome about the menace of divisive people causing dissension and those teaching ideas and doctrines contrary the Word of God.
After this final appeal to obedience he sends greeting from those who are with him in Corinth. He also blesses his readers with God’s amazing grace.
I. GIVE DISTANCE TO DIVISIVE PEOPLE, 16: 17-20.
II. GIVE GREETING TO OTHERS, 16: 21-24.
III. GIVE GLORY TO GOD, 16: 25-27.
The transition to closure begins with a final word of warning in verse 17. "Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them."
Paul has urged kind reception of faithful ministers and Christians. Now he urges us to have nothing to do with those whose cause divisions, hostilities, and hindrance to the Word. The pressed warning is that they watch out for spiritual enemies. He defines these enemies as those who are divisive and seek to hinder the Lord’s work [who put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned]. "Keep your eye on" (skopeo) carries the idea of looking at or observing with intensity. The Greek word in it’s noun form is where we get our term scope as in telescope and microscope. It means more than simply to look at, but to examine and scrutinize carefully. [MacArthur, John. NT Com. Romans 9-16. 1994. Moody: Chicago. p. 372.] [Scope them out.]
Believers are to keep away (pres. imper., "keep on turning away") from or avoid those who cause dissensions [dichostasias, "standings apart"] in the fellowship and hindrances [skandala, "traps, snares"; 14:13] to the teaching of the Word. Don’t engage false teachers in discussions. Don’t spend time arguing with them. Mark them and avoid them. [Why? Here are two reasons.
One reason is protection. Satan is clever. And many a believer who thought he was strong in theology has succumbed to those who are inspired satanically. The second reason is prioritization. Invest your energy in the fields that are already white and ready for harvest (John 4:35), in the lives of those who are already open to the gospel] [Courson, Jon: Jon Courson’s Application Commentary. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003, S. 1001].
God builds and protects His body the church through the teaching of the Word. Those who will not listen to it and teach something other than the sound doctrine of the inerrant Word will hinder the work of God in and through the church. We must separate our selves[, our fellowship or participation], from those who will not hold to the apostolic teaching [such as we have in Romans].
Verse 18 reveals why people in the fellowship cause divisions and contentions. "For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting."
These people were not serving (douleuousin) Christ as Lord. Instead of doing the Lord’s work, they are disuniting those whom Jesus has united. Instead of serving the Lord, they serving their own selfish desires and motives. They were slaves to their own appetites ("bellies"; Phil. 3:19). Appetites suggests unbridles impulses such as anger, pride and jealousy. Their uncontrolled gluttony drove them to devour the fellowship.
How did they go about devouring the fellowship? The stated problem or tool was by smooth talk and flattery they deceived the minds (lit., "hearts") of naive people (akakn, "innocent, unsuspecting"). They use plausible and flattering conversation by which they were trying to secure influence over the unsuspecting. The word (akakos) simple, signifies not merely innocent, but unwary, he who is liable to deception (Proverbs 14:15).
When we read books or listen to sermons, we should check the content of what is written or said and not be fooled by smooth style. Christians who study God’s Word will not be fooled, even though superficial listeners may easily be taken in. Take the Berean believers as an example for they carefully checked God’s Word (Acts 17:10-12) to see if the teacher match up with it.
No matter how seemingly sincere and caring false teachers or preachers may appear to be, they are not genuinely concerned for the cause of Christ or for His true church. They are driven by self-interest and self-gratification—sometimes for prominence, sometimes for power over their followers, sometimes for financial gain, and frequently for all of those reasons. Many of them enjoy pretentious and luxurious lifestyles, and sexual immorality is the rule more than the exception. Such people "are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things" (Phil. 3:18–19). [MacArthur, p. 374.]
A church member’s CHICKEN COOP was invaded by rats. Attracted by the feed, they had moved in. So he set out a couple of traps. After a week, though, he had not caught a single one. Then a farmer friend offered some advice. "Rat," he said, "will not touch an exposed trap. You must disguise it with food. Fill a pan with meal and place the trap in it. Cover it well with meal so it is completely hidden." It worked! The next morning he had a big fat rat.
This reminded me that the devil knows this trick too. He carefully disguises his trap with truth. Nowhere is it better seen than in the numerous false cults and religions in the world today. All set their traps of error in a pan of meal. Many quote the Bible and preach a certain amount of gospel truth. They talk about prayer and Jesus and the Bible. But under the layer of truth is the trap of error. For Satan often disguises error with a veneer of truth.
[This is the age of deception. The Bible therefore warns us to "test the spirits" (1 Jn. 4: 1) and beware of deceivers (2 Tim. 3:13; 2 Jn. 7). The only antidote against the clever deceptions that come in the name of Christ (Mk. 13:5-6) is to know your Bible. Be rooted and grounded in the truth (Col. 2:6-8). "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Th. 5:21). Beware of Satan’s traps. [Our Daily Bread. MRD]
Verse 19 commends the Roman Christians for their faithful obedience. "For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil."
Paul did not consider these believers naive, but he did asked them to be innocent. Their obedience to Christ was well known and Paul was glad for them. But he was concerned that they be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil (kakon). "I believe the trend in ministry today to keep culturally current and socially relevant is contrary to this word of warning" [Courson, S. 1001].
The word for "innocent" is akeraious, "unmixed, simple, pure." In Greek it was used of wine that was not diluted and of metal that was not weakened in any way. [The word is used in the New Testament in only two other places: Matthew 10:16 ("innocent") and Philippians 2:15 ("pure"). Christians should be innocent about evil, not following the ways of the world (Rom. 12:2). [Walvoord, John & Zuck, Roy. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983, p. 501].
What a challenge--to becomes experts in doing right moral and ethical action in the midst of a society committed to all forms of indiscretion and immoral behavior!
A YOUNG SOLDIER during the Afghanistan War found himself in a company of men whose main pastimes were drinking, gambling, and sexual escapades. When urged to join the parties, he replied, "As a Christian, I did not do these things at home and do not intend to do them now." Ridiculed at first for refusing to become a "beginner in evil," he later was respected for his authentic caring for the men in his unit when they faced difficulties and needed a listening ear. He kept his convictions and also his relationships. Pray that God will give you wisdom to know what is right and the strength to do it. But remember, the best protection against falsehood is adhering to God’s truth.
To conclude this warning Paul added the promise in verse 20. "The God of Peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."
[The God of Peace (15:33; Heb. 13:20) will soon crush Satan under your feet (Gen. 3:15).] God is the God of peace, because He it is that is the author of all the peace that His people enjoy. Were it not for the overruling power of the Lord, His people would have no rest at any time in this world.
So remain innocent concerning evil and watch how God will pour His peace into you. You will have peace in your heart, peace will flows from your lips, and peace will be seen on your face. God is able to give us peace in the presence of all the adversaries we face. The false teachers who caused dissension were under Satan’s influence, but God establishes peace.
These divisive people who are committed to their own appetites instead of the ministry of the Word were regarded as agents of Satan, but believers should not be afraid of them. Though they are to be watched and avoided, they cannot prevail ultimately (Rev. 20:1-6). As was promised in the Garden, the enemy of souls will eventually be crushed, and we are promised victory as "the God of Peace will crush Satan under [our] feet shortly."
Paul strikes a fine balance as he warns Christians not to ignore Satan but at the same time not to be paranoid about him. Though he is real and still dangerous, he is defeated and his days are numbered. The devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, but he is on a short leash and the hand that holds it is the hand of God. Careless ignoring of satanic infiltration is foolish, but chronic oppression by satanic influence does no justice to the victory which is ours in Christ. [Briscoe, D. Stuart. The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982, S. 261]
Then Paul gave another benediction ( Rom. 15:13, 33) about God’s grace. You need God’s continuing grace to direct and strengthen you. You need His wisdom to give you wisdom to recognize false teachers. You need His grace to give you comfort and patience when you are attacked by Satan’s emissaries while he is still in power over the world.
There is a constant supply of grace offered from Christ to His people. We who have been bought by the blood of Christ will be supplied by Him with grace continually so that we might stand in the truth and perseverance in virtue. Bless Jesus for the grace of God in our lives.
II. GIVE GREETING TO OTHERS, 16: 21-24.
Paul next sends greetings to the church at Rome in behalf of his companions, presumably men who were known by some of the believers in that city. Starting in verse 21 we find these personal greetings from some of Paul’s associates. "Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen."
Again these men were not members of Paul’s family, but fellow countrymen (vv. 7, 10). [These may be the men of the same names mentioned elsewhere (Acts 13:1; 17:5-9; 20:4; 2 Cor. 9:4).] Timothy was a key person in the growth of the early church, traveling with Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1-3). Later Paul wrote two letters -1 and 2 Timothy- to him as he worked to strengthen the churches in Ephesus.
Lucius may be the native of Cyrene who was one of the prophets and teachers in Antioch who, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, first commissioned Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:1-3) as missionaries.
Then Tertius, who was Paul’s secretary or stenographer for this epistle, sent his greetings in verse 22. "I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord."
The pastor Gaius, sends his greetings in verse 23. "Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother."
Gaius, Paul’s host in Corinth, who apparently had a church meeting in his home. This Gaius was probably not the same Gaius who was from Macedonia and traveled with Paul (Acts 19:29) nor the Gaius who was from Derbe (Acts 20:4). The Gaius mentioned here in Romans was probably Paul’s convert whom he baptized (1 Cor. 1:14).
Erastus sent greetings. He was the city’s director of public works (lit., "the city’s steward," a high position) of Corinth and therefore a man of prominence and high political office.
Paul called Quartus our brother, undoubtedly meaning a spiritual brother, not a physical one. The name of Paul’s secretary was Tertius which means "Third." The name Quartus, means "Fourth." These guys were slaves. In those days, slaves were referred to only by number. Consequently, it’s interesting that these two, who were considered unworthy of names, became historically and eternally significant because they were brought into the kingdom.
You too, might feel like a number, like no one cares about you, like no one takes notice of you. But the Lord has a plan for you. He’s got your number. And as you give yourself to Him and walk with Him, you’ll find significance. Ask Tertius and Quartus!
Paul gives his usual closing as he writes verse 24. ["The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."]
Romans 16:24 which repeats the benediction in verse 20b, is not found in a number of the major Greek manuscripts and is not considered genuine.
Paul used "Grace be with you" with slight variations in his correspondence. This was a distinctive feature of his letters. This was more than casual well-wishing. It was a prayer of profound significance. Apart from grace, which is the undeserved, freely given loving-kindness of God, no part of the Christian experience is possible.
[III. GIVE GLORY TO GOD, 16: 25-27.]
IN CLOSING
One of the intriguing characters in literature and opera is Dr. Faust. The character of Faust was based on a German legend about a man who made a PACT WITH THE DEVIL, surrendering his soul in exchange for youth, knowledge, and magical powers.
One artist put the legend onto canvas, depicting the story of Faust as a grim chess game. On one side of the table sits Faust, a symbol of men and women in the world, with only three or four pieces on the board in front of him. His face is contorted in despair. On the other side of the table the devil sits back in his chair gloating over his apparent victory. The artist titled his painting, "Checkmate." A chess master came to the art gallery, stood before the picture, and studied it for a long time. Then he exclaimed, "It’s not over! It’s not checkmate The king and the knight still have another move!
Many times throughout history it has appeared that Satan is winning the game. The god of this world seems to control the board. Yet, Jesus Christ has the final move. Paul could boldly assert, "The God of Peace will crush, Satan under your feet shortly." The evil one cannot and will not win. As Christians, we can live in the firm confidence that the contest isn’t over till its over. There are no losers with Christ and no winners with the devil.
May the peace and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen
