ROMANS  Chapter 16

 

Romans 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

 

  • I Commend to you … Sunistaw, I stand together with Phebe and introduce her to you.
  • Servant of the church … g1249. διάκονος diakonos; probably from an obsolete διάκω diakō (to run on errands; compare 1377); an attendant, i.e. (genitive case) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specially, a Christian teacher and pastor (technically, a deacon or deaconess): — deacon, minister, servant.
  • AV (31) – minister 20, servant 8, deacon 3;
  • one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master,
  • a servant, attendant, minister
  • the servant of a king
  • a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use …
  • Some have attempted to say that Phebe had the office of a Deaconess and have wrongly asserted that women can be Deacons in a church from this verse. But they miss the point. We nowhere find in the NT where the qualifications of a Deaconess are located, nor even where such an office is declared. She cannot be the husband of one wife, which is a requirement of a Deacon. The two Offices of the churches of our Lord are reserved strictly for men, and only to such men as meet the qualifications as spelled out in 1 Tim 3:1-13(8-13 for deacons) and in Titus 1:6-9( and in Acts 6:3 for deacons). Even then, we find in Scripture, from the meaning of the word itself, that a Deacon is one that serves to assist Pastor/Elder of the church by serving the needs of church members in need of assistance. Churches that have deacon boards that rule over the pastor of that church have it backwards and are functioning contrary to Scripture. A Deacon is a servant, not a ruler. Beside the office of Deacon, all Christians are called to be servants, ministering to the needs of one another. And this type of servant is what sister Phebe was, and she was one highly esteemed of Paul, as we shall see.
  • church at Cenchrea … The church located near Corinth on its eastern port. The church from which Paul sent this letter to the Romans.

 

Romans 16:2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

  • That ye receive her in the Lord … 4327 prosdechomai Meaning: 1) to receive to one’s self, to admit, to give access to one’s self.  In other words, welcome her warmly into your church, give her access to yourselves.  For what and why?
  • and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you … Assist, or Stand with her and lend a hand. Get in there and help her out, whatever her need might be, be there for her. That is what Paul said that Christ Himself did for him in his trial before Nero in 2 Tim 4:17. John Phillips says this “The world knows nothing of the fellowship, friendship, and helpfulness which is to be found within the family of faith. No lodge or club on earth can begin to provide for its members such a bond of helpfulness as exists between truly saved believers.”
  • for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also … A succourer, from 4368  prostatis {pros-tat’-is} Meaning:  1) a woman set over others 2) a female guardian, protectress, patroness, caring for the affairs of others and aiding them with her resources .

She apparently was a lady of means and capability. She apparently provided for the needs of many, including Paul himself. We know that she was faithful also, for this epistle was entrusted into her hands to be delivered to the saints in Rome.  What a friend and helper she was. Every church should have members such as Phebe, those who see a need and then do what they can to meet that need.

 

Romans 16:3-4 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

  • Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus … They were Paul’s “fellow workers” they worked together with Paul, not just in tentmaking where we first find them in Acts 18:2 at Corinth where they met Paul. But they worked together with Paul in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Who have for my life laid down their own necks … We don’t know when or where this occurred, but they were willing to die to spare the life of the Apostle Paul. They were co-laborers for the cause of Christ and faithful in their commitment to assisting Paul in his labors for Christ Jesus. Wow, what a commendation.
  • not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles … Also the churches of the Gentiles. That is notable. Aquila was a Jew, Acts 18:2, but not a Judaiaser which was roundly condemned by Paul in the book of Galatians. Aquila was not a hypocrite like Peter happened to be on one occasion. But they stood true to the doctrines of the faith, even to the point that the churches of the Gentiles were grateful for them and their labors.

 

Romans 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

  • Greet the church which is in their house … By this time Aquila and Priscila had returned to Rome after Emperor Claudius had run the Jews out of Italy. And as we mentioned last time, they had church meetings in their house, apparently where ever they happened to be living at the time. It could well be that they may have had the first “Tent” Revival meetings, seeing they were tentmakers by trade—they probably lived in a tent.
  • 1 Corinthians 16:19 reads “The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.” Paul wrote the first letter to the Corinthians from Philippi, probably after he had left Ephesus after ministering there for about three years. Aquila and Priscilla by this time either were still at Ephesus, where there was a church at their house or had just recently returned to Rome. But wherever they were, they were conducting church services in their house. They were very hospitable and welcoming saints of the Lord and tireless workers. Now they are back at Rome as Paul writes to the Romans, but later we find them again at Ephesus as Paul writes his second letter to Timothy, near the end of his days, in 2 Tim 4:19.
  • Paul now begins to salute those saints that were currently in Rome, very possibly in the church at the house of Aquila and Prisicilla. We will list them as we come across them,

Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. – First man saved in either Athens or Corinth.

 6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. 1) to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief)

7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.   In 2 Cor 11:23 Paul said of himself that he was “in prisons more frequent.” Apparently, on at least one of these occasions, these two kinsmen were imprisoned as well for the sake of Christ. They were also men that even the Apostles in Jerusalem had taken note of.

8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.

9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.  Another who worked together with Paul and his companions.

10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household. {household: or, friends}

11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. {household: or, friends}  Even a narcissist can be changed from a lover of one’s self to a lover of God!

12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.  Again, these were those that labored to the point of growing weary, exhausted, all for Christ.

13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

  • Rufus, chosen in the Lord. Mark 15:21 “And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.”  Simon, a Jewish man, was in Jerusalem from Libya for the Passover week. He was chosen, compelled, to carry the cross for Christ, part of the way.

“Cyrene was located in northern Africa in eastern Libya. A Greek settlement in the province of Cyrenaica, it had a Jewish community where 100,000 Judean Jews had been forced to settle during the reign of Ptolemy Soter (323–285 BC) and was an early center of Christianity.”

  • Paul was not necessarily Rufus’ physical brother sharing the same mother, especially if Simon of Cyrene was this Rufus’ father, for Paul was from Tarsus. Paul probably is using “mother” in a figurative sense, as Christ did in Matthew 12:49 “And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
  • Also, Paul told Timothy how to treat the elder women in the church in 1 Timothy 5:2 “The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.” And that is how Paul referred to Phebe in vs 1, “Phebe our sister.”

14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.

15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.

16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

Paul had a great love for the saints, and he was ready to salute them and as we know he was frequent in praying for them.

Following Phebe, Priscilla and Aquila, Paul saluted twenty-six different saints, with twenty-four of them named. Unknown to history most of them, but written here on the pages of Scripture. The only thing better is being written in the Lamb’s book of life, and in the book of remembrance that the Lord keeps of all those that fear Him and that think upon His name, Mal 3:16.

We now come to a passage that is much neglected by much of modern Christianity, Romans 16:17-20. Modern Christians, for the most part, tend to be somewhat anemic when it comes to earnestly contending for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. That fight is to take place in our individual Christian lives, in our Church when there is false-teaching or heresy present, and in our culture when we encounter the need to defend our Lord and His Word when it comes under attack. Paul just mentioned a few of the saints that had labored to the point of fatigue for the cause of Christ. I pray that God would raise up many of us who would either continue or begin in that labor for our Savior.

Let us read what Paul exhorts us to be doing,

 Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. {simple: or, harmless} 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

  • Now I beseech you, brethren … Just as Paul exhorted them in Rom 12:1-2, so he here exhorts them again. Parakalew.
  • Mark them … 4648 skopeo {skop-eh’-o} Meaning: 1) to look at, observe, contemplate 2) to mark 3) to fix one’s eyes upon, direct one’s attention to, anyone 4) to look to, take heed to thyself.

Watch out for them and then “mark them out” so that others will be careful of them. Next, Paul lists those that we are to Mark out,

  • which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; … Cause divisions, from 1370 dichostasia  Meaning:  1) dissension, division. …  AV – division 2 (1 Cor 3:3), sedition 1 (Gal 5:20); 3.

A major cause of the present form of Christianity and its numerable denominations and cults has been brought about by those that cause or promote, divisions against the Bible’s doctrines. Many times it will be accompanied with heresies of one sort or another. But sometimes by just seemingly minor differences.

  • Roman Catholicism and the Orthodox religions of the east drifted away from Biblical Christianity and fell into all sorts of superstitions and heretical doctrines, prayers to Mary, prayers to saints and icons, the pursuit of acquiring relics of splinters of Christ’s cross, threads of His garments, etc, etc, etc. And these are just the minor heresies they hold.
  • Besides divisions, we are also told that they make offenses. That is they cause Christians, whether mature in the faith and not careful, or those less mature in the faith, to stumble and fall off the path which the light of Scripture points out. Now, these divisions and offenses are specifically pointed out here as being such that are “contrary to the doctrine which you have learned.” Unfortunately, there were many heretics in the early centuries of Christianity that succeeded in breaking away folks from the Doctrines of the Faith once delivered to the saints. But it is nothing new, as Paul in 2 Corinthians 11 calls Satan “an angel of light” and his devils “ministers of righteousness”, that is they transform themselves into such. Satan has done that since Genesis chapter 3 when it comes to his dealings with Adam’s race. The churches of Jesus Christ have always had to deal with those that would steal away unwary sheep. Healthy sheep can only be so by following the doctrines of the faith as laid out in the Bible. The final command Paul gives concerning the ones marked out is,
  • and avoid them … The thing to do when you see them approaching is to simply “Avoid them”, that is turn to the side so that you do not engage them. This is something I need to improve on when it comes to answering the door when the Jehovahs Witnesses come knocking. Most of them have been well trained in jumping you off the verse you want to show them and turning back to their favorite verses from their Satan inspired New World Translation. I need to step back, shut the door and go back to what I was doing. Some people, especially “religious” and cultic people cannot be swayed with the Truth, for they do as Peter warned in 2 Peter 3:16, they “twist the scriptures unto their own destruction.” We need to simply turn away.
  • Well, now we come to the subject of who those are in our Christian world today that we need to “Mark out” and “Turn aside from.” There are two aspects that come to my mind, and many of you have heard me cover this before. Those two aspects that threaten the followers of the doctrines of the faith once delivered to the saints are, 1) music and 2) books, videos, etc that are for sale in Christian bookstores.

 

  • First, in the area of music, we need to beware of that which is worldly and carnal. Rock and Roll is ruled out off the bat. That is all it is about, the pleasures of this world and worldly lusts. Titus 2:12 commands us to avoid that, to deny worldly lusts. The second is Christian music that is Rock and Roll clothed in “Spiritual words.” Some of you, maybe many, I don’t know, may disagree with me on this, but that’s ok, you’ve been warned. I’ll leave that between you and the Lord. And if I am wrong, then I will apologize to you when the Lord corrects me.
  • KCBI radio used to be a decent Christian radio station, but not anymore. The last I listened to their music a few years ago, they were playing “Christian songs” that were driven by sometimes hard rocking rock and roll styles of drums and electric guitars. It is Christian music that is often carnal.
  • But also, and this is even more critical, they are not careful in the music or the musicians they play on their station. They have been like that since the 1990s as far as I know. There is a song called “Lord I need You.” played and written by a man named Matt Maher. Maher is a practicing Roman Catholic that has performed with many of the modern CCM musicians. He sees himself as a Music Missionary. He is not desirous to draw the lost to the Christ of the Bible, but listeners to the God of his Roman Catholic church and its sensual form of worship. Their doctrine is “contrary to the doctrine which we have learned.” Their salvation is by the grace only offered by their church through their rituals and sacraments, not by the free grace of God offered directly to everyone who would turn to God from their sins and by faith receive the Lord Jesus Christ trusting His death, burial and resurrection for their salvation; the Roman Catholics hold Mary to be both a com-mediator with her Son and a co-redeemer with her Son; they call Mary blasphemously the “Mother of God” and “The Queen of Heaven.” In fact, Maher along with fellow Catholic Danielle Rose wrote the music for a song called “Hail Holy Queen” a song of prayer and devotion to Mary.
  • As an aside, there is a church in Colleyville, Texas, Compass Church, that advertised on the radio (a secular talk station) this week (January 15th of 2018) that they are holding a “Worship Seminar” soon and that one of the two main speakers will be, you guessed it, Matt Maher. How can a church that is supposed to be Bible based have a Roman Catholic Music Missionary come and teach them how to worship? Shame on them! They are the blind leading the blind!
  • But more so, how can a radio station, owned by and sponsored by First Baptist Church of Dallas be playing the music of a Roman Catholic Music Missionary? We are truly living in very strange and dark times.
  • But that is the bent of many Southern Baptists today. Compromise with the world and with heretics seems to be acceptable in the denomination. Another area that they are not careful in is their bookstores that carry many authors that “cause division and offenses contrary to the doctrine” of the Bible. Max Lucado is a Church of Christ elder that believes water baptism is necessary for salvation. He is on their bookshelves. They carry TD Jakes books, a oneness Pentecostal preacher. At one time several years ago they had some Benny Hinn books on their shelves, a name it and claim it charismatic. They carry Joyce Meyer who was a Word-Faith evangelist on the radio, maybe television also.
  • In other words, Christians must be very wary when shopping at Lifeway or any other Christian bookstore. They are bookstores and are not attentive shepherds of our souls.

 

  • Let us read again this paragraph,

 Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. {simple: or, harmless} 20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

 

  • One of the pre-eminent threats to Biblical doctrine today is the Ecumenical movement. It is either promoted or accepted by most in the New-Evangelical movement. The Ecumenical Movement’s goal is to unite all denominations of Christian churches into one unified body. Their philosophy is  “Do not let doctrine divide us.” That flies directly against what Paul has set forth in this passage. They basically spit in the face of the apostle Paul, but more so in the face of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is one of Satan’s most useful tools today in making Christianity anemic and impotent in knowing and preaching all the counsel of God.
  • As an aside, I think one reason that the Ecumenical Movement is made up of many New Evangelicals is because most of the New Evangelicals see Rome as the “mother church.” That is because they are Protestants. Their church denominations began in the 1500s with Martin Luther’s protest against the doctrines and practices of the then current Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. They are soft on the doctrine of separation, and they believe in a universal, invisible church, and they see all the churches coming together as one mass “body of Christ.” It would be very easy for such a movement to come under the head of a future pope, for that is its origin. However, Baptists were never Protestants. There have been Baptists, though under different names, since the time of Christ. Roman Catholicism departed from the faith once delivered to the saints due to the errant doctrines of men like Augustine sometime in the third or fourth century AD.
  • A second major threat is what is referred to as the Emerging Church movement. And its danger is not so much in promoting false doctrines (for there is a wide range of doctrinal and denominational positions among its various churches), but in being disobedient to the Word of God by refusing to deny worldly lusts. They think that they must be relevant to the culture by adopting the culture’s methods to reach the lost. Thus they meet in bars, some even having classes on how to brew your own beer, etc. We don’t have time here this morning to give detail on the Emerging Church Movement, but you can find more information about the Emerging Church movement at www.wayoflife.org.

 

Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly …

  • How will God bruise Satan under their, and our, feet shortly? What is the meaning? Well, we have to look at the context of this paragraph which began at vs 17. and ends here at vs. 20. We mentioned earlier that God is not the author of confusion, but Satan is. Satan, transforming himself into an angel, or messenger, of light, or truth, is the one that attempts to bring in divisions and stumbling blocks into the churches through false-teachers. In contrast, the God of peace is the author and conserver of peace. And this peace spoken of here is the peace of unity around “the doctrine which ye have learned” that is declared in the Bible, especially the New Testament. I would like to quote from a commentary writer named Lenski, a Lutheran who lived in the late 1800s and early 1900s. I disagree with his interpretation of many Scriptures in regards as it regards the doctrines of Lutheranism, but he says some things in this passage which I believe are correct and helpful for us today.
  • “Like a flash, the word “Satan” illumines all that Paul says about those that cause divisions and set death-traps by means of contrary doctrines. Satan is behind their work. They are tools of his. As he deceived Eve by words that sounded good (Gen 3:5), so they continue his work by whatever good they say of their errors; as he deceived, so do they. Help me o God that I may never even unconsciously lend even my little finger to Satan for his work of spreading error!

“In plain allusion to Gen 3:15, Christ’s crushing the head of the serpent, Paul says that God will crush Satan “under your feet” when he comes to you with “the evil” of false doctrine. God will use our feet as by Christ’s feet He crushed Satan …  “Shortly” here has the idea, not of “soon after Paul’s writings Satan would invade the Roman congregation; the phrase means ‘swiftly.’ As with the swift stamping of the feet, one crushes a snake’s head, so the moment the snake’s head of false teaching would raise itself among them, the Roman’s will by God’s help stamp it to death.”

As an interjection, I recall years ago at the little church my wife and I first joined in 1986, hearing that many of the older members did not believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. They said that a woman preacher had preached a message at that church decades earlier against Christ’s deity, and so they held to that heresy. What a shame they did not have at that time someone in that church that knew the truth of the Bible doctrine concerning Christ! That error could have been dealt with immediately. But it wasn’t and so many there continued in their heretical doctrine.

Let’s continue with Lenski,

“These verses reveal the true nature of all false teaching. They deserve more attention than they often receive. Verse 17 is one of the sedes (seat, throne, habitation) against unionism, fraternization with errorists [Promise Keepers, Ecumenicists, Emergents, etc in our times]. The entire paragraph should be used. The efforts to make Paul’s words apply only to the most fundamental errors like the denial of Christ’s deity, atonement, incarnation, resurrection, leaves the door open to a host of other errors as though these are not to be stamped out. Paul’s “contrary” in vs. 17 covers all errors. Paul says that the seamless garment of the divine doctrine is not even to be frayed or snagged by some errorist who acts as Satan’s finger.” (RCH Lenski, St Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, p. 923).

  • This reminds me of David’s words in Psalm 119:128 “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” Every single word and doctrine is right and true he says, and we too should hate any and every teaching that opposes itself against any doctrine of our Bible.
  • Recall in Rom 15:14 that Paul commended these saints for being “filled with all knowledge and able to admonish one another.” That is what is necessary. Error must be seen, identified, addressed and corrected in the Lord’s churches. We cannot have any impact on the third or fourth generation of Christians coming after us. But we can and must impact our present generation and the one following us with the necessity to know God’s word, to abide in it, to cherish the Truth, and to follow our Savior in preaching His gospel and His word to all, to love God, to love one another and to guard against error in our own church.
  • On a final note, Paul on occasion named names. See here what he says in 2 Timothy 2:15-19 as he is giving his final charges to Pastor Timothy,

“15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; {canker: or, gangrene} 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. {sure: or, steady}”

  • Error cannot be eradicated from a church unless the source of the error is named and the error defined and the contradicting truth declared. It was not a “cardinal” doctrinal error with which these two false-teachers were leading believers astray. They did not deny the resurrection of the saints, but they allegorized it, they spiritualized it. They were forerunners of Augustine who was responsible for a great leading astray of the Lord’s churches in the 300s AD.
  • Paul called them by name and he told Timothy that their false-doctrine was a canker, literally a gangrene that eats away at the health of the body. Paul wanted Timothy to protect the flock of the church he was leading by doing what Paul commanded him in 1 Timothy 6:14 “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In other words, Paul commanded Timothy, and thus all pastors and teachers of the word of God, to keep every commandment we are given in the NT. The “this commandment” that Paul gave Timothy in 1 Timothy concerned his words in that letter about church polity, the role of women and also things concerning the end-times of the churches.
  • He was to keep this charge without spot. Not one little speck was to be allowed to alter the doctrines of the local churches to which they were to hold, preach and guard. Paul did not say, just make sure the “most important” doctrines are kept pure. No, all doctrine as presented in the New Testament is to be cherished, preached, taught and kept in every one of the Lord’s churches until the age of Christ’s churches ends at the rapture of the saints until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • I sat down at my computer while preparing this lesson and started to list all the teachings or doctrines that Paul presents just in this book of Romans. I came up with a total of eighty-nine. I know I made just some summaries for chapters 9 and 10 and probably could have expanded that list to 100 or more doctrines/teachings that we find in this epistle alone. Paul wanted these saints at Rome to guard each and every one of them. They are all important truths, some more than others, yes, but all important. Paul exhorted them to mark and turn away from anyone and everyone that was promoting doctrines opposed to any one of the 100s of doctrines that are found in the New Testament.
  • I will not here present a comprehensive list of authors of Christian books, and singers of CCM music who are promoting things contrary to the Doctrines which we find in the Bible. But I do recommend to you David Cloud’s website wayoflife.org as a resource for those to be wary of and to steer clear of. Our days are beset with a plethora of errant doctrines and heresies that we must “turn away from.” And we have an abundance of errorists and heretics that we need to mark out. Joyce Meyers and Beth Moore are two that you ladies need to turn away from(“Moore claimed that God showed her that the Roman Catholic Church is part of the “church” as He sees it and that it should be included in ecumenical unity.“). They are marked out as teaching things contrary to the doctrines we have in our Bible. Men, we need to turn away from New-Evangelical leaders and writers most of whom are promoted in Christianity Today and on KCBI and other popular Christian Radio Stations. Billy Graham has faithfully preached the Gospel of Christ since the late 1940s, but he also has been a compromiser in working with Roman Catholic churches and apostate mainline denominational churches since the 1950a. Chuck Colson joined with and works with Roman Catholics in his prison work. Other Ecumenicists include Rick Warren, Chuck Swindoll and many others. Promise Keepers come to mind. One of their seven promises of a Promise Keeper was “Do not let Doctrine divide.” We need to be careful of David Jeremiah and Max Lucado. These men promote Contemplative Prayer. If you would like to know why these are named, go to the website and search their names and you will find several articles on each that you need to be careful about. Again that site is https://www.wayoflife.org/database/emergentheader.html
  • Let me read to you this article from Cloud’s Friday Church New Notes which I received by email this past Friday, January 26, 2018. It is in regard to the compromise of a once fundamental independent Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia. The article is entitled “Hillsong at Thomas Road.”

 

  • David Cloud’s ministry is a warning ministry. Many in our time want to remain simple minded concerning error and they consequently turn away from his work. They may be quick and willing to condemn the error of Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses or maybe even Roman Catholics. But they do not care to watch and warn on what they consider “lesser matters.” Thus, they have little regard for David Cloud’s warning ministry.
  • I want to interject this from a personal perspective. I have mentioned before and will say again, that I am very grateful for the ministry that David Cloud provides through his Way of Life website. I formerly held to the modern versions of the Bible as being better than what I at that time held as “that old difficult to understand KJV.” But the Lord led me to start looking into the Bible Versions issue, and among other authors I also found David Cloud to have several articles and books that helped me to understand that the KJV is the best English translation we have of God’s inerrant, preserved Scriptures from the Greek NT and the Hebrew OT. He also had several books on the history of the Baptists that I read and came to realize that I should be a member of an independent Baptist church rather than a Bible church which my wife and I were members of at the time. Finally, he had some articles on Calvinism, a doctrine that I once held to, that helped me as I had already begun studying the Bible more closely, as the Lord brought me to realize that the Calvinistic doctrine I had once held was in error. Consequently, my wife and I left the Bible church and its Calvinism and were led by the Lord to join Northeast Baptist Church in 2004. And I thank our Lord and praise Him for leading us to this church. So I have much to be grateful for to David Cloud’s work. I am not a Cloudite, nor should anyone be. But as I said, his work has helped me very much.
  • I will say this about Cloud, he has researched and “marked out” those that we would be well advised to “turn away from.” Some might think he goes too far and criticizes unfairly. However, if you can show him his error, he will publicly apologize and correct the error. I say all this as we look again at verses 18-19,
  • Romans 16:18-19 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. {simple: or, harmless}
  • vs 18 … Deceive the hearts of the simple … by good words and fair speeches
  • vs 1 Simple … 172 akakos  Meaning:  1) without guile or fraud, harmless, free from guilt 2) fearing no evil from others, distrusting no one
  • Proverbs 14:15 says “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.”
  • We can so easily be deceived when we are unsuspecting of someone speaking error to us. “Why, their words sound so marvelous” you might “Why, look at all my Christian friends on Facebook who like them. They must be godly and spiritual!” Unsuspecting, fearing no evil from others, distrusting no one. Be careful out there! Be careful!
  • Paul commended and rejoiced that they were obedient to the doctrines they had learned. But he cautioned them to be wise in regards to that which is good, or of benefit to the faith and their Christian life and to be,
  • Simple, or unmixed with evil, to be pure of mind in regards to holding to the right doctrine and staying away from the errant teachings.

vs 19  Simple … from 185 akeraios {ak-er’-ah-yos} Meaning:  1) unmixed, pure as in wines or metals 2) of the mind, without a mixture of evil, free from guile, innocent, simple.

  • Paul saw the need and gave the necessary warning to these saints at Rome. The Roman Empire was noted for its rule by law and demand for obedience. These first Roman saints I am certain obeyed these commands of Paul. But following generations reverted back to accepting the vain and often vulgar philosophies and pagan religious practices that also abounded in Rome. Thus Paul urged them to be simple in regards to evil, to let no evil come into their beliefs or practices. For a while they heeded his warning. It is a shame though, that following generations of the churches in Rome, and elsewhere, did not continue to guard the doctrines of the Biblical New Testament faith.

 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

The grace of God, our Lord Jesus Christ is necessary for us to properly carry out this work of keeping the Biblical doctrine unspotted from the enemies of Christ, though they claim to be His followers.

 

Romans 16:21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.

Romans 16:22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.

  • Tertius was merely the man Paul used to write down on paper this epistle as the Lord gave Paul the words. Remember, Paul probably has a problem with his eyes and would find it profitable to have another write-in normal size letters for his audience at Rome. See Galatians 6:11 where Paul penned that letter himself with large letters. The end note of 2 Corinthians, though not part of the inspired original, says that it was written, or penned, by Titus and Lucas. The first Corinthian epistle was said to be penned by four different men, Stephanas, Fortunatus, Achaicus and Timotheus. So it was not unusual at all for Paul to let another labor at the penning as the Lord gave him the words to be written.

Romans 16:23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.

Romans 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

  • Paul here has concluded the epistle to the saints at Rome. His salutation along with all attending in Corinth as the letter was penned here concludes with their desire for the Lord’s grace to strengthen them and attend them as they read, consider, appropriate, obey and proclaim the marvelous truths that have just been delivered to them. And as Paul concluded, Amen, so we join with him in proclaiming Amen, “So let it be,” in our study here in the Epistle to the Romans.

All that remains is a Doxology to Paul’s and our great God and Savior,

 

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Romans 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Romans 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

<Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.>

 

Now to Him that is of power to stablish you,

The word stablish is according to Strongs from the word 4741 sterizo Meaning:  1) to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix 2) to strengthen, make firm 3) to render constant, confirm, one’s mind AV – stablish 6, establish 3, strengthen 2, fix 1, stedfastly set 1; 13. We see here the truth that as Paul had set forth in vss 17-20 the need to protect Bible doctrine, it is this doctrine, as presented in especially the New Testament, and an adherence to this faith once delivered to the saints, that will be used by the Holy Spirit to ground a church firmly on the foundation of the Gospel of Christ and a ministry that will be effective for the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Made know to all nations for the obedience of faith.

  • The word nations is from ethnos and is translated nations, gentiles, heathen, people. We get our English word ethnic from this Greek word. It signifies people groups, normally not Israelite. Recall that in Genesis 12:3 the Lord pro Abram that in Abram, all the families, clans of the earth would be blessed. And that is the work that Paul undertook, to bring the Gospel of Christ to all the ethnics of the world, that grace that brings salvation to all who will turn to God and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior.
  • As regarding the obedience of faith, I believe what we find here is that the Gospel of Christ is not merely to provide a hell-fire insurance policy. It is not a “Say this prayer, now you will go to heaven, not hell when you die.” No, the purpose of the Gospel of Christ is much greater than that. Its purpose is to take unrighteous, helpless sinners, enemies against God, and reconcile them to the holy and just God Almighty. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.” The purpose of the gospel is to bring us to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. The new man which is regenerated at the moment of the new birth will desire to obey the Lord in all things. And Paul has shown us in this epistle, how that can be accomplished in the life of the believer.
  • We find an example of this truth in the life of the father of our faith, Abraham. We know from Genesis 15:6 that Abram was justified by faith, Paul even using this truth in Romans 4. But we also see in Genesis 26:3-5 that the blessings were going to be bestowed and confirmed upon Abraham’s son Isaac, for this reason, “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”

 

Paul has shown us here in this epistle that it is solely on the basis of the grace of God and by faith in the shed blood of Christ and belief in the gospel of Christ, that man is made right with God. But he also has shown us that saving faith will lead one to obedience to God and a life of good works for Him. The old axim says it well,

“Faith alone saves,

but the faith that saves is never alone.”

And another,

“I do not work my soul to save, that work my Lord has done;

but I shall work the whole day long for love of God’s dear Son!”

 

I hope that we will rededicate ourselves today to laboring for the Master, even sometimes to the point of weariness. Whatever the gift for service that the Lord has bestowed upon you, be like Mary of vs 6, Urbane of vs 9, Tryphena, Tryphosa or Persis of vs 12? Keep on helping, keep on laboring for the Savior. “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11

 

Romans 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.