By the way, just to make mention
of the work we're doing with Pastor Mahan's sermons, I hear
from people all over the world and quite encouraged about it.
I've got some extra sermon sets with me if some of you like to
have a copy. 1,300 sermons on six DVDs. And if you'll see me after the
service, I'm sure that we can strike a bargain. Turning your
Bible, please, to Romans. Romans 16. Romans chapter 16. I've preached this message to
myself over and over for the last three days. Rolled the bed
all night with it last night and about wore it out. And I
trust the Lord will bless His word to the hearts of His people. Romans 16. I want to begin at
verse 25. Romans 16, 25, and I think often
when we come to this chapter, we do this very thing that I'm
going to do right here. We forget the first 24 verses.
Let's skip right to verse 25 and read this closing doxology.
But there's a whole lot in those first 24 verses, and we'll go
back and look at those in just a minute. But let's read beginning
at verse 25. Now to Him, to Him, our God,
our great God, our Savior, God our Savior, that is a power to
establish you. according to my gospel, my gospel,
and the preaching of Jesus Christ. My gospel is a preaching and
declaration of who Christ is, Jesus Christ, according to the
revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world
began, but now is made manifest by the scriptures of the prophets,
according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made
known to all nations for the obedience of faith, that God
Only wise be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. Now, that is a glorious doxology
of praise, and what a way to end the book of Romans. Now,
if you look over chapter 16 of Romans, you'll see many names
and many greetings. You'll notice verse 3 says, Greet
Mary, salute Andronicus, greet Empilus, salute Urbane. And you have a tendency, just
because there's so many names that are difficult to pronounce,
and names that you think, well, it's just a general greeting
and just some general remarks. And maybe you have a tendency,
I know I did, to read over these things and tell you, really,
this is why we ought to take the Word of God, take the Word
of God and look at it so carefully. And so closely, because there's
so much more here than just the list of 36 names. Now, it's encouraging
that there's a list of these names because these are people
that are recognized by God and they are some of those names
that's in that Lamb's Book of Life. These names that are written
here, right here, some of these folks right here, these folks
that are written are in that book. And that's a glorious thing
that God would choose a center and use a center to promote the
gospel of Jesus Christ. These people here that are mentioned,
they are believers called by God's grace, they loved the gospel,
they labored, they learned by the Spirit of God the gospel
of Jesus Christ, and they gave their very life unto it. Can
we do less than give our whole being to the gospel of Jesus
Christ? Notice, if you will, verse 3
and 4 of this couple here, Priscilla and Aquila. husband and wife,
who have for my life laid down their own necks, unto whom not
only I give thanks, but also all the churches." Here's a couple
that stood firm for the gospel, even though it cost them greatly. And my friend, God's people are
of the same mind, are of the same attitude, willing to give
whatever it takes to stand for the gospel of God. He mentions
in this list both men and women, young and old. Jew and Gentile,
who promoted, supported, believed the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ, who are at this time, at this right now, singing that
song of redemption unto the Lamb, unto Him who loved us and washed
us from our sin in His own blood. To Him be all the honor and glory. Worthy is the Lamb. Now, what
God gives in these verses, verse 1 down through verse 24, And
here's what I want to do. Here's what I want to work on
this evening. What God gives in these verses is a description
of His people. A description of His people.
And there's at least seven things, and I'm sure there's more, but
there's at least seven things that I see here that God uses
in His closing chapter to describe His covenant people in Christ
Jesus. Now, here's the first one. God's
people are loved of God. God's people are loved of God.
Look at verse 5. Likewise, greet the church that
is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Eponidas,
who is the firstfruits. You know, the firstfruits were
God's property given to God. Eponidas was well-beloved, and
he was a firstfruit. He was one of the first conversions
in Asia unto Christ. Again, in verse 8, look at verse
8, greet and pile us, my beloved. Now look at this, my beloved
in the Lord, my beloved in the Lord. And then again, down in
verse 12, it talks about salute the beloved Persus, which labored
much in the Lord. Now, you can see that, and this
is true of all of God's people. All of God's people, they're
loved of God. Loved of God. Now, I don't know
about you, but I'm embarrassed to talk about my love for God. How frail, how weak. I can say
with Peter, Lord, you know all things. You know I love you.
I don't love Him like I should. I don't love Him like I ought
to. I don't love Him like I will one day. But I can say by His
grace, I can say, Lord, I do love you because you first loved
me. But I'm embarrassed to talk about
my love for Him. I kind of get a little bit uneasy
when someone sings that song, Oh, How I Love Jesus. Now, I'd
rather talk about this. I'm embarrassed to talk about
my love. I do love Him. Don't misunderstand
me. But here's what I want to talk about. And here's what I
am not ashamed to talk about. His love for me. I want to talk
about it. I can camp there. I can dwell
right there and talk a little bit about His love for this sinner. For this sinner. Oh, I tell you. It melts your heart, doesn't
it? How I love to talk about His love for me. John put it
this way. Here is love. Oh, not that we
love God. Here it is, he said. Here it
is. Not that we love God. Ah, but
He loved me. How much did He love you? How
much does He love His own? Oh, he laid down his life for
his sheep. Here is love, not that we love
God, but that he loved us and gave himself to be the mercy
sea, the sacrifice, the pouring out of his blood on the mercy
sea to put away my sin. That's love. Talk about that
kind of love. His love for me. But what does
the Word of God say about God's love for his people in Christ
Jesus? I hear what a lot of religious
people say. You know, I want to know what
God says about his love, what he says about his love. Well,
several things I know from the word of God, turn back to Romans
chapter nine. This love of God, sovereign love. Sovereign love. The part saying
about it this morning, hail sovereign love. It's sovereign love. Here
it is in Romans. Chapter 9, verse 13, as it is
written, Jacob have I loved. Jacob. Oh, Jacob. Jacob have
I loved. Esau have I hated. That's sovereign
love, isn't it? Cannot our sovereign God, who
has all power, love whom he will? Choose whom he will? What shall
we say then, verse 14, is there unrighteousness with God? You
going to charge God with unrighteousness because he's sovereign in his
love and sovereign in his mercy? Well, God forbid. For he said
to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. I'll
have compassion. I'll love whom I will. So then,
it's not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but
it's God that shows mercy. Sovereign love. Sovereign love. What else does the Word of God
say about this love of God? Turn back to Romans chapter 5.
Not only is it sovereign love, but it's sacrificial love. It's
sacrificial love. It says in Ephesians 5, He loved
the church. He loved the church and gave
himself for it. But here in Romans chapter 5,
Romans chapter 5, look at this. Verse 6, For when we were yet
without strength, According to the time, God's time, due time,
Christ died for the ungodly. Look at verse 8, that God commended
His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us, much more than being now justified by His blood which
shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies
we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more
being reconciled We shall be saved, because he
ever lives to make intercession for us. Sovereign love, sacrificial
love. How about saving love? Saving
love. It's saving love, is it not?
Throw over here to Ephesians, the book of Ephesians. You don't
mind turning to these scriptures, do you? I know you don't. Ephesians chapter 2. Look at
this here. Saving love. The blood of God. verses Ephesians chapter 2 verse
4. He talks about in the preceding
verses everything we are by nature, children of wrath, even as others.
Then he comes with this little word that I love, B-U-T, but
God. But God who is rich in mercy
for his great love wherewith he loved us. Even when we were
dead in sin, hath quickened us together with Christ by grace
are you saved and has raised us up together, made us sit together
in the heavenly in Christ Jesus." You see, it's sovereign love,
isn't it? Sacrificial love, isn't it? It's saving love, isn't it?
And you know what else about this love? There's no separation
to it. Turn back to Romans chapter 8.
Romans chapter 8, he said, I'm persuaded, verse 38 of Romans
I am persuaded that neither death nor life, angels' principalities,
things present, things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any
other creature shall be able to separate us from the love
of God." There is no separation. It is an eternal, everlasting
love. "...shall be able to separate us from the love of God which
is in our Lord Jesus Christ." So we got the first point. Back
to Romans 16. God's people are supremely, sovereignly,
eternally loved of God in the Lord Jesus Christ. Second point
is this. Second point is this, and I'll
skip down to verse 13. We'll come back to some other
verses in a moment. But I like verse 13, where it
talks about, and this has to be a name that originated in
eastern Kentucky. Down in the coal field. This
is a coal miner's name, old Rufus. Salute Rufus. Look at, chosen
in the Lord. Ah, here's a special jewel of
God. Chosen in the Lord. And his mother,
and Paul said, and his mother was just like my mother. She's
chosen in the Lord. Rufus, chosen in the Lord. Think of it. Think of it. Here
we see that blessed truth of God's electing, saving grace. It's certainly taught throughout
all the Scripture, isn't it? God's choice of His people. God's choice of His people. Our
Lord referred to it often. All that the Father hath given
to me shall come to me, and those that come to me I will in no
wise cast out. That is, there is in the Word
of God, it's all through the Word of God, it's not some isolated
verse here or there, but it's all through the Word of God.
God's electing choice of His people. God elected a people
from all eternity. And we often refer to it as a
Bible doctrine of election. But my friend, to me, it kind
of makes it cold and impersonal. When I think of election, you
know what I think about? Christ. Christ. The first time the words ever
used in Scripture, Isaiah 42, 1, Behold my servant, my elect,
in whom my soul delighteth. The election, my friend, is Christ.
He is the elect. We're chosen in the Lord Jesus
Christ. Our Lord said, You didn't choose
me, but I've chosen you and I ordained you. Now what do we know about
this election? Well, this election is this election
of grace. is eternal, there is a remnant
according to the election of grace. Turn over here to 2 Thessalonians,
2 Thessalonians chapter 2. This election is eternal, eternal. 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 13, We
are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved
of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you
to salvation. God did the choosing, from the
beginning He chose you to salvation through sanctification of the
Spirit. That's the new birth, which leads to belief of the
truth, whereunto He called you by our gospel to the obtaining
of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So it's an eternal election. It's an unconditional election. It's purely on God's sovereign
pleasure, a remnant according to the election of Grace, not
merit. It's not God foreseeing I'd do
something sometime. No, it's the pure, sovereign
choice of God from eternity. He elected a people unconditionally
on His own sovereign pleasure. Something else about this election,
not only is it eternal, unconditional, but do you know what's personal? Rufus, chosen in the Lord. John, chapter 10, talking about
the Good Shepherd. You remember what it said, the
Good Shepherd knows his sheep by name. He knows my name. Before I formed you in the belly,
he said to Jeremiah, I knew you. I ordained you. I chose you. It's personal. He knows his sheep
by name. Matthew, follow me. Zacchaeus,
down. Lazarus, come forth. You see,
it's personal, isn't it? I like that. I like it up close
and personal. This thing of salvation, my friend,
is not some cold, isolated doctrine. It's personal. It's personal. I have a Savior who knows me,
and He's always known me, and He'll never forget me. That's
right. Blessed is the man whom thou
choosest and causest to approach unto him. It's not an election
of nations or election of churches. It's personal. He chose me. How do you know that? How can
you say that with assurance, that he chose me? Well, Paul
said, brethren, knowing your election of God, your gospel
came not to you in word only, but in power. In power. He quickened of His own will,
begat He us with the Word of truth. He gave life and caused
me to run after Him and to hear Him and to love Him and to embrace
Him. It's personal. He called me. It's a powerful call. It's a
holy calling. It's a personal calling. And
He'll never stop calling me. And I'll never stop calling on
Him. Thirdly is this. Here is another
good word here. Back in verse 10, this man saluted
Peles. This man, Peles, I like this
word here too, approved. Approved in Christ. Approved. How would you like to have the
approval of God stamped on you? Huh? I'm interested in that.
I'm interested in that. You see, my friend, the Scriptures
teach that we're accepted in the Beloved to the praise of
the glory of His grace. I can never be approved by my
efforts. I can never be approved by my works. All my righteousness
does are filthy rags. There is none righteous, no,
not one. I grew up in works religion. Many of you did. I tell my folks
back home, I cut my teeth on works religion. I grew up out
in the Rocky Mountains. I grew up out in the state of
Utah, grew up a Mormon, was a Mormon priest and an elder. Works, works,
works. That's all it is. What is it?
Dung, dung, dung. I tell you, I can never be approved
by my works, by my effort, by my righteousness. If righteousness
comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Well, how good
do I have to be to, how righteous do I have to be to be accepted
and approved of God? How good? How much? Perfect. Well, preacher, I can't attain
that. I can't either. But I tell you, in the Lord Jesus
Christ, He's able to, my God, is able to supply all my need
according to His riches in glory through the Lord Jesus Christ.
My God is able, I like that word, able. You can do a lot with that
word, able. God is able to say to the uttermost
all that come to God by Him. All approved of God, accepted
in the beloved. You're not going to believe this
scripture. Turn over and look at this. This just absolutely
blew me away right here. 2 Corinthians 10, look at this. Appellees approved in Christ.
If you're a believer resting in the Lord Jesus Christ, just
pencil in your name right there. Approved. Approved. I'll tell
you why we're approved in Christ. When Peter stood up at Pentecost,
you know, the first word out of his mouth, you men of Israel,
hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God. Approved
of God. Now look at this, 2 Corinthians
10, verse 12, For we dare not make ourselves of a number, or
compare ourselves with some that commend themselves, but they
measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among
themselves, they're not wise. I tell you what, they're not
saved either. That's right, that's just self-righteousness. But
here's the good news. Look at the last few verses here. Verse
17 here. He that gloried, let him glory
in the Lord. For not he that commended himself
is approved, but whom the Lord commended. That's the man approved
of God. Whom the Lord, the Lord commended. Our Lord said, And God the Father
said of the Lord Jesus Christ, this is my beloved Son in whom
I am well pleased, approved. I have his stamp of approval
on this sinner, justified by his grace, freely through the
redeeming work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Fourthly is this. Notice, if you will, here is
another description. And this is a description of
the Lord's people. I call it a spiritual biography,
and I think that's what it is. But it's God's description. Remember,
this is God breathing, and this is the Lord revealing and describing
His people, His church. Look at verse 17. Something else
we know about these people. They're taught. They're taught
of God. Now, he said, I beseech you, brethren, mark them which
cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine. Notice
that doctrine which you have learned. You see, God's people
are taught of God, and avoid them. For they are such that
serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good
words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. God's
people are taught of God. Not only loved, not only chosen,
not only approved of, they're taught. They're taught of God.
Now, get a hold of this. Turn back to Romans 15. Romans
15. These who are taught of God,
they contend for the truth. I didn't say they're contentious.
I said they contend for the truth, willing to take a stand no matter
what the cost for the truth. And you know why? They're taught
of God. They're taught of God. It doesn't matter what men think.
They're taught of God. And they will not back down.
Believers have been taught from his word. Look at Romans 15.
Here's our learning. Romans 15, for whatsoever things
were written aforetime, Romans 15, for were written for our
learning. We are taught from the word of
God. This is the doctrine of Christ. written for our learning that
we, through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have
hope." This is the source of our learning, is it not? This
is the source of our teaching, is it not? All those who have
heard and learned of the Father, come to the Lord Jesus Christ.
He said, take my yoke upon you and learn of me. I tell you what,
this doctrine here that we have learned and this doctrine that
we have been taught and this doctrine of the book is one thing.
It's one lesson. One lesson. You mean this book
just teaches one lesson? There's one teacher and one lesson. And that one lesson is Christ.
The Lord Jesus Christ in salvation. He is everything. Not something,
He's everything. Christ is all and in all. He teaches us through His Word.
He teaches us by regeneration. Except a man be born again, he
can't see the Kingdom of God. I can teach and teach and preach
and preach, but I tell you something else has got to happen. God has
to speak and give life. God has to quicken. We read that
we're born again, not of a corruptible seed, but incorruptible by the
Word of God, which lives and abides in us. So we're taught
by the Word. We're taught in regeneration. When He opens our eyes and gives
us life, we see. It's been there all the time,
but now we see. God who commanded the light to
shine out of darkness. has shined in our heart to give
us the light, the knowledge, and the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ. In the person of Jesus Christ,
I can see how God can be holy and just and forgive me of my
sin and be just in doing so in the Lord Jesus. He's a just God
and a Savior by His Word, by regeneration, and by revelation. By revelation of His Word. Turn
over here to 1 Corinthians chapter 2. Verse 9, he said, As it is
written, I have not seen. 1 Corinthians 2, 9. I have not
seen, as it is written, I have not seen, nor ear, heard, neither
hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto
his Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things
of God. I tell you what, the believer
is in a continuing education class. I like that continuous
education, don't you? Desire the sincere milk of the
Word that you might grow thereby. We grow in grace and in the knowledge
of the Lord Jesus Christ as we study this Word, being begotten
of God, having life, and the Holy Spirit takes this Word and
continues to teach us and teach us, and we grow and grow as we
learn more of Him. He is altogether lovely to you
who believe He is precious. He is precious. I tell you, look
back at Romans 16 again. Something else we see here. Fifthly,
believers, as described of God, are committed, faithful, and
obedient in the Lord. Committed, faithful, and obedient. It says this twice here. Verse
19, For your obedience has come abroad unto all men. It was publicly
known. This thing wasn't done in a corner.
It was publicly manifested, their obedience and their stand for
the gospel. And he said, I'm glad. I'm glad therefore on your
behalf, but yet I would have you wise under that which is
good and harmless concerning evil. Again, the last part of
verse 26, he said, made known to all nations for the obedience
of faith. My dear pastor taught me from
the Word of God that faith and conduct go together. Where you
find one, you find the other. Faith and conduct go together,
like faith and repentance. Where you find one, you find
the other. God's people are zealous of good works. You read down
through these verses and you see over and over in these chapters
where the Holy Spirit recognizes their labor of love in the gospel. Who labored much, labored much. Look at verse 6, for example.
Greek Mary, who bestowed much labor on us. And then verse 1,
Phoebe, our sister, verse 2 says she was in whatever business
that she had need of you. You help her. She's about the
Lord's business. God put this epistle in her hand
to deliver it to Rome, gave it to a woman to do it. She went
with an army of angels. They labored much in the Lord.
But now, stay with me here. Look at this here. He gives a
warning here in verse 19. Did you see it? Or did you read
over it? I read over it until I looked
at it more closely. Look at verse 19 again. He said,
Your obedience has come abroad unto all men. Recognize obedience,
public obedience, faith and obedience go together. And I'm glad on
your behalf, but be careful now, but yet I would have you wise
unto that which is good. Our obedience and our work and
our labor makes up no part of our righteousness. I would have
you wise unto that which is really your goodness. You know what
he's warning here? Don't trust your works. Don't trust your works. Don't
trust your efforts. We are the true Israel which
worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence
in the flesh. There's a warning there. He said,
I would have you wise unto that which is good. Do you know what
he's saying here? I would have you wise unto that
which is your real and only goodness before God. What is our only
goodness before God? Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ. Never have I read in Scripture
where any time it says that my obedience is my righteousness.
But I tell you this, turn back to Roman chapter 5, I read of
another's obedience who is my righteousness. Did you see that
in Roman chapter 5? Look at Roman chapter 5. Verse 19, for by one man's disobedience
we were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall the many
be made righteous. One man's disobedience, Adam,
all in him, died, sinners. So by the obedience of another,
he's my righteousness. His obedience, you see the warning
there? You've got good works, yes. You've labored hard. We
are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
But never find assurance or hope of salvation in your works. Never. It will lead you to despair.
It will. It will lead you to despair.
Our hope of righteousness before God, that satisfying unto God,
is the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Righteousness is by His obedience.
Listen to this. Now, hang with me. Don't rock me. Salvation, as I read in the Word
of God, is by works. Amen. Amen. Somebody got it. His! His work. I can make good on
that. You think so? I can make good
on that. Turn to John chapter 4. It says this over and over again
in the Word. Salvation is by His obedience. His obedience
for us, His work for us, and His work in us. It's by His work. Notice John chapter 4. The Lord
said, 34, John 4, 34, my meat is to do the will of him that
sent me and to finish his, what's that word? Work. Finish his work. John 17, turn
over there. John 17, you see what I'm getting
at here? We trust Christ who finished
salvation for us. Look what it says here, John
17. Verse 4, I've glorified thee on the earth. I've finished the
work you gave me to do. John 19, 30. Turn over there.
John 19, 30. When the Lord had received the
bender, He said, It is finished. The work's done. It's finished. It's finished. I'm glad. That's
His work for us, right? He died for our sin according
to the Scripture. Now turn to Philippians chapter
1. Philippians chapter 1. That's His work for us. He did
a glorious, substitutionary, satisfying sacrifice of Himself,
not with the blood of bulls and goats, but with His own blood.
He put away our sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Philippians 1, verse
6, being confident of this very thing, that He would have begun
a good work in you, will perform it. until the day of Jesus Christ. Look over here at Ephesians chapter
1. Ephesians chapter 1. Ephesians chapter 1. We believe. You know, we believe the gospel
according to His work. We read that this morning. This
is the work of God. Look what it says here in Ephesians
1.19. Ephesians 1.19. What is exceeding
greatness of His power to us who believe according to the
working of His mighty power. Now, you see where I'm going
with that? Salvation is all of God's. As what Brother Scott
used to say, He is doing and dying. He is doing and dying
for us. Well, if you've got time for
one more, turn back to Romans 16. Romans 16. The last one is this, not like
this one. Romans 16, verse 20. God's people are not only taught
of God, not only obedient unto Christ, who is our salvation,
but you know what? They're victorious. Look at verse
20. They're victorious. And a God of peace. We have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. And the God of peace
shall, he has, and he will, bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Verse 24. The grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. The God of peace. The God of peace. The grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ shall conquer all our enemies and put all our
enemies under our feet shortly. Amen. Shortly. In this world,
our Lord said, you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer.
I've overcome. We are more than conquerors through
Him that loved us. There's an amazing verse in the
Revelation that I think explains the whole book. He went forth
conquering to conquer. He is the mighty conqueror. He
is King of kings and Lord of lords. He defeated all of our
enemies. The law, He put it away. That
which was contrary to me and against me, He took it away,
nailed it to His cross. redeemed us from the curse of
the law. How about our sin? It's gone. He appeared once in
the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. He purged us with His own blood,
by His own sacrifice. The law, sin, death. Turn to 1 Corinthians 15. This
is the last one, death. We are more than conquerors to
him that loved us. 1 Corinthians 15, look at this,
this is sweet old death, where is thy sting? Verse 54, so when
this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, this is 1 Corinthians
15, 54, are you with me? Then shall be brought to pass
the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. He said, I am he that liveth
and was dead, behold I am alive forevermore. victory over sin,
over the law, over death itself. Oh, death, where is thy sting?
Oh, grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death, the cause
of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. I tell you,
the law is satisfied. The sin is put away. But thanks
be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I tell you what a gospel we have,
what a message we have to tell, what a God we have to serve. To God only one. glory through
Jesus Christ forever. Amen.