Well, I want to welcome everybody
here this morning. This morning I'm going to do
the last Roman study in the book of Romans. The verses that we'll
be dealing with, the chapter rather, will be chapter 16. And we're going to go over mainly in this particular chapter going
to mainly be dealing with verses 17 through 19. Verses 1 through
16 here. These verses at the beginning
of this chapter going all the way through verse 16 are verses
that pertain to various salutations and greetings and commendations
of individuals that were with the Apostle Paul throughout his
journeys. And it seems like these individuals were there at the
church at Rome when he wrote this letter because of mentioning
their names. And that's pretty much what we
have through these first 16 verses. So this morning, I'd like to
bring that to your attention and you can go back as you have
time and opportunity to go over these verses and to see these
particular names that the Apostle Paul has included in his salutations. But most of our time, as I said
this morning, is gonna be taken up looking at verses 17 through
19 where the Apostle Paul takes the opportunity before he closes
the letter and he brings an earnest and an urgent request to the
church there at Rome requesting that they be diligent in identifying
those that might come in and attempt to cause divisions among
the members here at the church at Rome. Now Verse 16 says, as
the Apostle Paul says, now I beseech you, or I make an urgent request
of you. He says, I beseech you, brethren,
mark them which cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the
doctrine which you have learned and of autumn. One of the greatest
dangers for the church in this world was and is false preachers,
and false professors seeking to divide and destroy the fellowship
of faith. Some of these individuals might
even be immature believers. Believers that might be able
to be easily influenced by false preachers. We know the church
cannot be destroyed because Christ has redeemed us into himself.
And he preserves and protects us into final glory. Our Lord
said in Matthew 16, 18, upon this rock I'll build my church
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. But all who
claim to have faith in Christ, they will be tested. They will
be tested both individually and collectively. Peter says in 1
Peter 4, 12 and 13, beloved, Think it not strange concerning
the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange
thing happening to you, but rejoice in as much as you are partakers
of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed,
you may be glad also with exceeding joy. And also look what the Apostle
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11, 19. For there must be also heresies
or schisms among you why that they which are approved or tested
and found true may be made manifest among you. These trials will
reveal the strength of faith, of true faith, and many times
they will expose false professors of the faith. We as believers,
therefore, are commanded to be ready and prepared for them and
to act accordingly in truth when they come, Acts 20, 28. It says, take heed therefore
unto yourselves and to all the flock over the which the Holy
Ghost hath made ye overseers to feed the church of God which
he hath purchased with his own blood. Paul is warning the saints
in Rome just as he charged the church of Ephesus back in Acts
20 that we just got through reading He warns the church here at Rome
to mark them which seek to divide and hinder believers by introducing
false doctrines contrary to the doctrines which they had heard
before. Paul says, he says, now I beseech
you brethren. This language tells us that this
is a serious and an urgent matter for all believers and cannot
be tolerated or ignored. Paul begs them to listen to him
on this matter. Mark them which cause divisions
and offenses. To mark them means to keep your
eyes on them as it relates to what they might be teaching.
This is not some kind of self-righteous, self-serving, and unloving witch
hunt trying to find fault in others. Believers should never
be involved in these kinds of acts. It is simply recognizing
and dealing with those who seek to divide brethren. Some of these
individuals could be friends, or it could be family. Some could
be men of renown, but that does not relieve us as brethren of
our responsibility. Paul says, which cause divisions
and offenses. These false teachers seek to
divide brethren and cause them to stumble. over issues that
are contrary to the basic gospel truths that God the Holy Spirit
teaches each and every one of God's children. God's true ministers
will seek to edify. They'll seek to build up, unify,
encourage, and strengthen, and teach, brethren. Then it says,
contrary to the doctrine which you have heard, Paul says. The
issue here is doctrine which adores and enhances the doctrine
of Christ. Anything contrary to that, he
says, anything contrary to it, they need to pay close attention to it. This
is the gospel with its particulars that teach and promote the salvation
of sinners by God's free and sovereign grace in and by the
Lord Jesus Christ. This is the doctrine of the simplicity
that's in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 11 3 says, but
I fear less by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through
his subtlety. So your mind should be corrupted
from the simplicity that's in Christ. This simplicity that's
in Christ is what the Holy Spirit teaches all believers concerning
the great salvation. God freely gives us in Christ.
And it's based on Christ's righteousness alone, His blood alone. This
doctrine is neither new doctrine, nor is it either doctrine that
might be only revealed and understood by maybe some elite group of
preachers and people who claim to have some kind of special
knowledge of God. Any teachings contrary to the
simple, simple teachings of the gospel of Christ are to be exposed
and they're to be avoided. Paul says, avoid them. We're
not to follow or support any teacher who promotes divisions
and offenses contrary to the doctrine which we have learned.
This does not mean that they are to be treated harshly in
any way. It also does not mean that if
they are a brother in Christ that we should not pray for them
and seek their recovery. It means we're to turn away from
them in their teaching and in their division. They're to be
avoided in all their instructions, contrary to the simple gospel
doctrines of which every true believer is taught and believed. Now, some of these cautions here
are a strong statement. when it talks about avoiding
individuals. But it's necessary in order to
avoid divisions among brethren within our church. In verse 18
of Romans 6, 16, it says, for they are such, speaking
of those that would want to divide brethren in the church, for they
are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly.
and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts. It's simple.
False teachers do not serve Christ. They serve themselves. The belly
here refers to their natural fleshly appetites. They may have
an appetite for self-righteousness, self-promotion, or to make a
name for themselves, money, power, position, the approval of men,
and on and on. Different reasons. fleshly reasons
why they might want to do some of these things. They have their
own fleshly motives, but it's not to the glory of God in Christ,
the salvation of sinners and the edification of the church.
Those who seek to divide the church in the name of Christ
and truth do not serve Christ. no matter what they say or do,
if they come in here trying to divide brethren on issues that
are contrary to the gospel. Paul says, and by good words
and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. These false
teachers are subtle and deceptive. They have an appearance of great
sincerity and love for the truth and for the people of God. Jude
4 says, there are certain men crept in unawares. Matthew 7,
15 says, beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly, they're ravening wolves. Now, they do
not openly deny Christ and his gospel. If they did, they would
never even gain entrance into a fellowship of believers. They
speak much truth, but introduce new teachings hard to understand
and explain. Doctrines that upset, confuse,
and divide the children of God, instead of establishing their
hearts with grace and promoting growth and unity in the body. A lot of this is done by taking
scriptures out of context, which is one way of interpreting scriptures
as we read scriptures. and when individuals come in
trying to introduce maybe new doctrine, that we should always
look at these teachings and make sure that these individuals are
not taking scripture out of context. So many false religions have
been established by taking scripture out of context. The simple here in verse 18 does
not mean that they're ignorant. or unintelligent, it described
those who are innocent, unaware, and unsuspecting, and not on
their guard. They insist on believing the
best of individuals in spite of clear evidence to the contrary.
The book of Proverbs says in Proverbs 14, 15, the simple believeth
every word, but the prudent man looketh well to his going. They refuse to test preachers,
as in 1 John 4, 1-3 tells us, and to judge the reality of good
and evil, which Hebrews 5, 13 and 14 instructs us to do. Those
weak believers are more likely to follow such false teachers
in their error and division. We do not want to become suspicious
of everyone, but we also do not want to be simple are gullible
as to be deceived in these matters. We ought to be as the noble Bereans
who, in Acts 17, 11, received the word with all readiness of
mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things be
so. Psalm 19, 7 says, the law of
the Lord is perfect, converting the soul, the testimony of the
Lord is sure, making wise the simple. In Proverbs 8, 5 says,
O ye simple, understand wisdom, and ye fools, be ye of an understanding
heart. Verse 19 of Romans 16 says, for
your obedience, speaking to the church here at Rome, is come
abroad unto all men. I am glad, therefore, on your
behalf, but yet would have you wise unto that which is good
and simple concerning evil. Now, although the apostle acknowledged
the reputation of the church at Rome as being confirmed in
their obedience unto God's word, and as contending for the faith,
he urges them to be careful and wise in God's word in order to
judge good and evil and not to be deceived in these matters.
This is a plea to Christians to beware of spiritual contamination
by false preachers and an exhortation to judge. to expose, and to avoid
them. Godly love for the brethren,
which springs from justifying faith and true repentance, encourages
faithfulness, it exposes false teaching, it enjoys fellowship
in Christ, it exalts the Father, and this godly love has no confidence
in the flesh. Paul's desire for them is that
they be wise unto that which is good. have an understanding,
a love, and a desire toward that which glorifies God, exalts Christ,
and edifies the brethren. He also desires they be simple
concerning evil. The Lord instructs us in Matthew
10, 16. Our Lord says, behold, I send
you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be you therefore wise
as serpents and harmless as doves. In verse 20, says, and the God of peace shall
bruise Satan under your feet surely. The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with you, amen. As God promised eternal salvation
and final glory based on the righteousness of Christ alone,
he also promises based on that same ground that Satan and all
of his ministers shall be defeated finally. It is the God of peace
who will bruise Satan's head under our feet. and peace with
God is based entirely on the imputed righteousness of Christ.
God's glory as a just God and a savior is the real issue in
salvation. And in this great victory, now,
and Christ's righteousness is the real issue in God's glory
because it is impossible for God to be glorified in the salvation
of sinners based on anything other than Christ's righteousness
alone imputed. Paul writes this to encourage
the Roman believers to continue and to persevere in resisting
the wiles of Satan and his ministers. Again, we see how every exhortation
is given to believers. motivated by the certainty of
salvation and final glory condition on Christ. It is by the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ that we will persevere and we will
gain the final victory in the end. Now, in verses 21 through
24, Paul mentions other fellow workers in the gospel. In verse
21, he says, Timotheus, my fellow worker, And Lucius, and Jason,
and Sosipater, my kinsman, salutes you. Tertius, who wrote this
epistle, salutes you in the Lord. Gaius, mine host, and of the
whole church, salutes you. Erastus, the chamberlain of the
city, salutes you, and Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Now, Paul's friends and brethren at
Corinth, which is where he wrote this letter, now send their greetings
to the Christians there at Rome. Tertius was a companion of Paul
and wrote this letter as Paul dictated it to him. He was like
a recording secretary to Paul. These are the words of Paul as
he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Tertius was only the human instrument.
who did the actual writing. Erastus, here mentioned, was
a man of high office, the treasurer of the city of Corinth. But he
was mainly a brother in Christ and a helper to Paul. Verse 24
is Tertius, the person that penned the letter, it is his personal
close to the church at Rome, where he says, the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, amen. God's grace is always
and will always be in our Lord Jesus Christ. And our whole salvation
is by this grace of God in Christ alone. Verse 25, now to him that
is power to establish 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. Paul concludes with
a doxology or an inscription or attributing praise to God
alone in all these matters. Now to him that is of power,
this salvation is of the Lord and of his power and grace alone
to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of
Jesus Christ. Believers are strengthened and
confirmed in salvation by Christ who is able to save us completely.
because he is both God and man in one person. And he has, by
his death, put away all our sins and brought forth an everlasting
righteousness by which God has justified us. Therefore, we are
established in salvation by the grace of God in Christ. And our
hearts, our minds, which is our minds, our affections, and our
will, will be established in time and must be established
with the grace of God in Christ. Then it says, according to the
revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world
began, this revelation is the divine uncovering of the whole
gospel, which men, by carnal reasoning, cannot know. This
is a message of God's grace in Christ that has to be revealed,
else it cannot be known, understood, believed, and followed. It's very clear Christ, in his
conversation with Nicodemus, when he told him, you must be
born again. You must be born from above. God must do a work in your heart
by his Holy Spirit, enabling you to see these truths of scripture,
the gospel itself. Now, In John 6, 37-45, I want
to read these. I'm not going to read all of
them, but it says, starting with verse 37, Christ says, All that
the Father give me shall come to me, and him that cometh to
me I will in no wise cast out. Christ himself says, All that
the Father give me. All that the Father give him
in that eternal, everlasting covenant of grace. all of the
elect, the election of grace that was given to Christ as he
became their substitute, their surety, when all of God's elect, their sins
being credited to Christ, the very Son of God, credited to
his account, imputed to him, he became responsible for all
those sins. to come in time and pay that
sin debt. And Christ says, I am no wise cast of mine. He says,
for I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the
will of him that sent me, the father that sent him. And this
is the father's will which has sent me, that of all which he
hath given me, I should lose nothing but should raise it up
at the last day. And this is the will of him that
sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth
on him, may have everlasting life, and I'll raise him up at
the last day. That's no uncertainty there.
That's totally salvation that's sure and certain, because it's
not based on the sinner. It's not based on what we do
or don't do, it's based on what Christ did in our place. Now
the last verse here, 26, says, but now, speaking of this gospel
mystery that we just spoke of, is made manifest and by the scriptures
of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting
God, make known to all nations for the obedience of faith. Paul
says, but now it's made manifest. The gospel mystery is now preached
in the whole world and believed by all whom God brings to faith
in Christ and true repentance. And then the apostle says, and
by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment
of the everlasting God, this manifestation of the gospel mystery
is not an invention of Paul. It didn't just start with Paul,
but it was prophesied in the scriptures by the prophets and
in accordance with God's revealed will by way of the commandment.
Paul states this to show that any Jew who would complain of
Gentiles taking part in the benefits and blessings of salvation were
complaining against God's command and God's word. This gospel mystery
has been made manifest Paul says that this gospel ministry has
been made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. Again,
not only was the gospel mystery of God's grace in Christ preached
into the whole world, but it was also believed on by God's
elect among the Gentiles. Now, 1 Timothy, Chapter three, verse
16 says, and without controversy, great's the mystery of godliness.
God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen
of angels, and preached to the Gentiles, believed only in the
world, received up into glory. And then Paul closes out this
letter with verse 27, where he says to God only wise, be glory
through Jesus Christ forever, amen. Everything in salvation,
the salvation of sinners by God's grace in and by Christ, is to
be attributed to the infinite wisdom of God and is to be aimed
toward the glory of God in the person and finished work of Christ
alone. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 1
verse 6, it is all to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein
he hath made us accepted in the below. Amen.