Romans 16: 17-27

(Romans 16: 17-27)

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 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.  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. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you. I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord. Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  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,  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: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

 

At the beginning of the last chapter of Romans, there is a greeting to Paul's warm, tender tone for Christians in Rome. By the way, in verse 17, Paul exhorts Christians in the Roman Church in a strong, determined tone, as never before. 『Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 』Is the content. "If there is anyone in the holy community of faith who is trying to break down the community by creating conflict, or if the brothers and sisters of the faith are doing things that interfere with their lives, stay away from them." Paul's exhortation explains in verse 18 why Paul is speaking like that. 『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. 』

 

The apostle Paul told the Saints in the Roman Church to keep away those who confused the church. First, they are those who do not serve Christ, second, those who serve only on their own, and third, those who deceive the hearts of the naive with cunning and flattering words, they cause conflict in the church, These are the obstacles. Therefore, Paul is encouraging the church to keep these people away. Paul, who greeted the Saints softly and peacefully, warned those who broke the peace of the church and caused conflict in a firm and violent tone. We can feel Paul's caring and loving love, but his strict father's heart is wrong.

 

On the one hand, Paul was fortunate to "because the Saints of the Roman Church obeyed the Word and lived a good life of faith." However, Paul continues to write the content of the counsel, hoping that the Saints will remember it. 『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. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. 』

 

Paul strongly cautions that "the Christians in Rome are wise to follow what is good, and stupid to be drawn to evil, so as not to fall into the delusion of false teachers." Paul uses a similar expression in 1 Corinthians 14:20. 『Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 』

 

Paul tells Christians that they should do good things wisely. Regarding the practice of good deeds in wisdom, the meaning of James 3:13 can be seen more clearly. 『Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 』It is said that wisely doing good works demonstrates it with the gentleness of wisdom.

 

Wisdom means knowing God, the wisdom of a practical concept of living the holy life God requires. A holy life is a life that dies every day. Knowing God is becoming one with God. It is possible only in Jesus Christ. Those who enter into Jesus Christ are crucified with Jesus. And meekness does not originate from weakness or resignation, but means tenderness that can embrace the whole in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This means living with a tenderness that can be embraced with a wide heart in the understanding of God.

 

Paul encouraged Christians not only to stay away from those who do evil, but also to attack the saints, to counteract and retaliate against, and not to retaliate against, just God Emphasizing that He will judge all things, God must be able to entrust Him to direct and resolve these situations.Just as God said, "I will hurt Satan under your feet." God judges the church without destroying it and leaving those who deceive the saints.

 

Those who cause numerous conflicts in the church and interfere with the faith life of other believers seem to live as holy believers by calling on the name of Jesus. But they are those who do not serve Jesus Christ, and in the end they are the greedy who only seek their own interests, called only their own ships, and the wicked who deceive the members of the faith with cunning and flattering words. God does not leave these people alone, but must destroy and judge them all.

 

After exhorting the Saints on how to respond to the unrighteous, Paul continues his greetings. Timothy, Nugius, Jason, and Sosibad, co-workers, greeted Paul, who wrote Romans on behalf of Paul, and Gaius, who took care of the church, and Erasdo, the treasurer of the city, and Guadala, also with Paul. It shows how much interest and love you have toward the Saints in Rome, even though you are not together now.

And finally, through the verses 25 to 27, he summarizes the contents of the letter to the Roman church, closing the curtain of the great Romans who had defended and explained the gospel he had preached so far. Through numerous teachings and sermons on Paul's gospel and the Savior Jesus Christ, God revealed the hidden mystery that had been unknown for a long time, strengthening the Saints of the Roman Church. The secret has been revealed to the world for a long time since the prophecy that had been prophesied through the prophets now comes to earth as a savior. And about the revealed human savior, Jesus Christ, not only the Jews but also many Gentiles heard thHowever, it is not because of Paul's merit or competence that these marvelous things could happen, but because God's living Father, who is the subject in the preaching work of the Gospel himself, has done it for himself. I couldn't say anything except to confess that I wanted to. Paul was so excited about the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul, who was devoted to preaching the entire life, was delighted to see the Lord's body church being built up in good health. But he urged caution and strict vigilance against "those who were looking for opportunities to destroy the church."

 

However, it is not because of Paul's merit or competence that these marvelous things could happen, but because God's living Father, who is the subject in the preaching work of the Gospel himself, has done it for himself. I couldn't say anything except to confess that I wanted to. Paul was so excited about the gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul, who was devoted to preaching the entire life, was delighted to see the Lord's body church being built up in good health. But he urged caution and strict vigilance against "those who were looking for opportunities to destroy the church."

 

Paul was convinced that, in his faith, a just God would judge all evil, he was able to leave all circumstances to God.
Paul lived in his life thoroughly emptying the space where the Word of God would work, and in that space God was God. His last confession is not his pride, but forever glorifies only one living God, the Father.