DOCSLIB.ORG

Romans 16-17-20

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Romans 16-17-20 The Pastor’s Powerful Warning Romans 16:17-20 Introduction Paul has been greeting friends of the ministry. Paul interrupts his greeting and issues a stern warning. “Watch out for divisive people. Watch out for them! Watch out and avoid them! Mark those who cause divisions (vv.17-18). Mark what is good (vv.19-20). Why? Paul knows we live in a corrupt and evil world. Paul also knows that people have problems. Sometimes people in their problems become dissatisfied, disgruntled, unhappy, selfish and sometimes even sinful. The abrupt interruption is not some after- thought; it’s not a parting cheap shot Paul is throwing in before the epistle of Romans is complete. It is Paul’s final exhortation needed by a healthy church—a strong church if they are going to weather the fire-storms of divisive people. Most of us were shocked to discover it was a fire-fighter who helped start the Hayman fire last year. Gerarld Cornelius talks about similar incident in Texas: “The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that firefighters in Genoa, Texas, were accused of deliberately setting more than forty destructive fires. When caught, they stated, "We had nothing to do. We just wanted to get the red lights flashing and the bells clanging." The job of firefighters is to put out fires, not start them. The job of Christians is to help resolve conflict (Matt. 5:9), not start more of it”. The pastor of a small southern church was on his way home when he met an acquaintance from town who was not a member of his church. After chatting a while the man asked how many members he had. The pastor responded, "Fifty active members." The friend said, "My, that certainly speaks well for you." But the preacher responded, "Well, I wouldn't say that. All fifty are active--but twenty-five are actively working for me and the other twenty-five are actively working against me!" Alan Redpath wrote; The secret of every discord in Christian homes and communities and churches is that we seek our own way and our own glory. What kind of a person is a divisive person? This is the person who grumbles, and complains, and criticizes and murmurs and gossips. This is the person who is always looking for an argument, causes strife, acts out of pride, ambition or selfishness. The divisive person is unloving and the divisive person introduces and teaches a different doctrine. One of the most effective tools Satan has at his disposal is the divisive person, the man or the woman who gains a foothold in a healthy church and obtains a position of leadership or influence. The divisive person preys on the weak, the immature, the sensitive, the unlearned. The divisive person acts “contrary to the doctrine which believers have learned” (v.17). What is the doctrine of God and Christ? 1 John 3:23 (NKJV) 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. 1 The Pastor’s Powerful Warning Romans 16:17-20 The divisive person acts contrary to the teaching of God and of Christ. The divisive person opposes the Lordship of Christ, the doctrine of Christ, the love of believers, the mission of reaching the world with the gospel, the glorious news of eternal life in Christ to the world, abundant and eternal (see p.276 The Preachers Outline and Sermon Bible). Guard the Sheep; Mark Those Who Cause Divisions (vv.17-18) Romans 16:17 (NLT) 17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things that are contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Paul makes one last, powerful appeal. Mark divisive people. They are a threat to the health, the unity, the safety of the church. Division is a very serious sin. Divisive people must be recognized and avoided. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NKJV)10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. There are several reasons why false teachers and divisive people must be marked out— identified and avoided. The most obvious reason is a divisive person causes division and offenses and lays a stumbling block for believers in their growth and maturation in Jesus Christ. The word ‘divisions’ is the Greek word dichostasias. It means to stand apart, to be separate, to cause cleavage. The word ‘offenses’ is the Greek word skandala which means a stumbling block placed in someone’s path to cause them to trip up or fall. Paul’s argues this is “contrary to the doctrine which you learned”. Does doctrine matter? Is sound doctrine really necessary? Some people argue that doctrine is irrelevant, impractical, divisive, unspiritual, or unknowable (see Robert Bowman Jr., Orthodoxy and Heresy p.15). According to the Bible, doctrine or teaching matters. What doctrine is Paul talking about? Paul is speaking of the teachings of Jesus, the teachings of the apostles, the teachings surrounding the gospel. The whole book of Romans we have just studied, and its great themes of justification by faith alone, in Christ alone. Doctrine does not deal with insignificant matters irrelevant to most people. Doctrine does not deal with “disputes over doubtful things”(Rom.14:1). Doctrine in its most basic and fundamental meaning is the teaching of Scripture. The teaching of Scripture asks and answers the most basic questions of life. Questions like, “who is God?” “Who is Jesus”; “Why are we here?” “Why is there evil and suffering in the world?” “What happens when you die?” “How can a person have a right relationship with God?” The gospel of salvation is doctrine. What is the gospel? How is a person saved? How is salvation 2 The Pastor’s Powerful Warning Romans 16:17-20 received? Certainly some doctrines are more important than other doctrines, but doctrine is practical, unified, spiritual and knowable. The Bible commands all Christians to learn doctrine. 2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, Galatians 3:22 (NKJV)22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Galatians 4:30 (NKJV)30 Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” Mark 12:10 (NKJV)10 Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. We must read the Bible. We must learn the Bible. Yes some things are difficult to understand, yes reading the Bible requires discipline, but we must commit ourselves to the task. 2 Peter 3:16-18 (NKJV) 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. “Mark them” the word is skopeite—keep your eye on them—observe them—it means to focus, to contemplate to scrutinize. What are we to do with the divisive person? Avoid them. People who engage in crusades of legalism or license, people who erode the truth into speculations, people who engage in wild prophetic speculations. People who are off the wall, keep away from them. Heretics are to be avoided. Sometimes we want to hunt them down and put a stake through their theological heart. The safest thing is to avoid them. Paul does not tell us simply to avoid their doctrine— or their sin, avoid them! Avoid them because of the terrible devastation they can bring on a church. The word avoid (ekklinate) is strong—it means to shun, to turn away from, to keep away from, to remove oneself. Avoid them because we run the risk of appearing approving of what they do. Avoid them so you are not influenced or stumbled by them. Matthew 18:7 (NKJV)7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 1 Corinthians 3:3 (NKJV)3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 3 The Pastor’s Powerful Warning Romans 16:17-20 Romans 16:18 (NKJV)18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. Are there other reasons to avoid the divisive person? The answer is yes! Paul points out the divisive person does not really serve the Lord Jesus Christ but their own selfish interests. “but their own belly”. The word ‘belly’ is the Greek word for stomach (koiliai).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Junia – a Woman Lost in Translation: the Name IOYNIAN in Romans 16:7 and Its History of Interpretation
    Open Theology 2020; 6: 646–660 Women and Gender in the Bible and the Biblical World Andrea Hartmann* Junia – A Woman Lost in Translation: The Name IOYNIAN in Romans 16:7 and its History of Interpretation https://doi.org/10.1515/opth-2020-0138 received June 30, 2020; accepted October 27, 2020 Abstract: The name of the second person greeted in Romans 16:7 is given as IOYNIAN, a form whose gramma- tical gender could be either feminine or masculine which leads to the question: Is it Junia or Junias – awomanor aman– who is greeted alongside Andronicus as “outstanding among the apostles?” This article highlights early influential answers to this question in the history of interpretation (John Chrysostom’scommentary,thedisciple- ship list of Pseudo-Epiphanius, Luther’s translation, and Calvin’s interpretation) showing that societal percep- tions of women’s roles were a factor in how they interpreted IOYNIAN. The article then summarises the last 150 years of interpretation history which saw (a) the disappearance of Junia from the text and from scholarly discussion due to the impact of the short-from hypothesis in the nineteenth century, (b) the challenge to this male interpretation in connection with second wave feminism, and (c) the restoration of the female reading in the ensuing debate. Bringing together the main lines of the argument, it will be shown that there is only one reading supported by the evidence, the female reading which throughout the centuries was the more difficult reading in light of the church’sandsociety’s perception of women’s
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Ted Kirnbauer Romans 16 9/2/18 Chapter 16 Is Paul's Conclusion To
    1 Ted Kirnbauer Romans 16 9/2/18 Chapter 16 is Paul’s conclusion to this great letter and his personal greetings and commendations to individuals he knows in Rome. Many in this list of names are only mentioned here, but even this teaches us many things about the infant church and culture into which it was born. In chapter 15 Paul had spoken of a mutual indebtedness among believers. The Gentiles were indebted to the Jewish believers for the salvation they enjoyed, so they gave a financial gift to help the Jewish Christians in Rome who were destitute (15:27). By receiving the gift, the Jews would then be indebted to the Gentile believers for their help. This is part of the beauty of the church. The church is a gathering of people who depend on one another. In Romans 15:5–7 Paul said, “May the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.” In Romans 16, this theme is applied to specific individuals. In this passage, Paul mentions 26 individuals, two families, and possibly three house churches (it is unclear what “those of Aristobulus” [16:10] and “those of Narcissus” [16:11] refer to. Although most translations insert the words, “of the household of” or “of the family of,” those additions are not present in the original Greek.
    [Show full text]
  • Romans 8 1-11 There Is No Condemnation
    Peter Duckworth Romans Series, Autumn 2017 NO More Condemnation: Romans 8:1-11 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set 3 you[a]free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
    [Show full text]
  • Romans 16:1-16 (Week 110) 01/17/2020 What Matters to Paul
    1 Romans 16:1-16 (Week 110) 01/17/2020 What Matters to Paul This is my message written out prior to being preached. Please excuse the bullet point format and any grammatical mistakes. This is meant to be spoken. • If you have your Bibles, please open to Romans Chapter 16. • I’ll begin by asking for Grace as I read the first 16 verses. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa.
    [Show full text]
  • Romans Chapter 16 Continued
    Romans Chapter 16 Continued 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." This is speaking of doctrinal falsehood and unrighteous practices. Galatians 1:7-9 "Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." "As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." We can see from this Scripture, that Paul says not to fellowship with those who would cause divisions in the church. We are not to accept any other doctrine than that which has been established in our church. Romans 16:18 "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." Anyone who mars the unity or harmony of the local church does not serve the Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of his claim. He puts his interest above the welfare and interest of the local church. Some are driven by self-interest and self-gratification, often seen in their pretentious, extravagant and immoral lifestyles. Proverbs 14:15 "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent [man] looketh well to his going." We see in this that some simple people believe whatever is said to them.
    [Show full text]
  • This Worldwide Movement // Romans 16 // Romans # 31
    This Worldwide Movement // The whole letter is worth a read, but one of my favorite sections reads like this: Romans 16 // Romans # 31 I was initially disappointed at being categorized as an extremist, [but] as I continued to think about the matter I gradually gained a measure Martin Luther King Day of satisfaction from the label. This weekend is MLK Day--a time where we celebrate, remember, and Was not Jesus an extremist for love? “Love your enemies, bless them prayerfully continue to pursue the legacy Dr. King championed. that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” In April 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sat in a small, solitary jail cell in Birmingham, and it’s there he penned his now famous “Letter from a Was not Amos an extremist for justice? “Let justice roll down like Birmingham Jail.” Dr. King’s letter confronted inaction and passivity with waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” the authority of a biblical worldview, particularly one shaped by the gospel. We often talk about Dr. King’s vision of racial equality. But “Letter from a Was not Paul an extremist for the gospel? “I bear in my body the marks Birmingham Jail” reminds us that this wasn’t Dr. King’s vision. It was God’s of the Lord Jesus.” vision. Was not Martin Luther an extremist for justification by faith? “Here I Dr. King called for an end to racial injustice not by appealing to political stand; I cannot do otherwise.
    [Show full text]
  • The Women of Romans 16*
    72 The Women of Romans 16* t the conclusion of his lengthiest and most theologically expansive named without reference to any male relative. In verse 2, Paul urges Aletter, Paul greeted members of the Christian congregations in the Roman Christians to receive Phoebe with honor and to offer her Rome (Rom. 16:3-16). Paul makes it clear that he had never visited help in a worthy manner.1 It is likely that her trip to Rome was what the Roman house-churches (15:22-30), but, due to close networks had enabled Paul to write the letter and be assured of its safe deliv- of association between the early churches, it is evident that Paul was ery. There is good reason to speculate that Phoebe was charged with closely acquainted with many Roman Christians. After commending carrying the letter to the Roman Christians and to read it aloud (as Phoebe to them (16:1-2), he sent greetings to 28 individuals. Of the was the custom of the time), representing Paul to the gatherings of 28 associates on that list, nine of them are women (seven named believers in Rome; thus, her commendation needed to be inscribed and two identified by relationship). in the letter itself. The Greek term that describes Phoebe’s role in the church in Paul’s Female Ministry Partners Cenchrae requires further discussion. The term from which our English term “deacon” is derived is diakonos. Across Paul’s letters, Paul wrote his letter to the Romans with some pragmatic purpos- the term diakonos appears 21 times.
    [Show full text]
  • Romans 16:16-18 Romans 16:16
    Romans 16:16-18 Romans 16:16-Paul Requests That Romans Greet One Another With A Holy Kiss And Passes Along Greetings From Churches He Planted Thus far in our study of this chapter we have noted that in Romans 16:1-2 Paul introduces Phoebe to the Roman believers and commands them to welcome her and put themselves at her disposal. Romans 16:1, “Now, I introduce to you Phoebe, our spiritual sister, who is also serving the church at Cenchrea 2 in order to welcome her into fellowship with yourselves with great honor and hospitality on the basis of the Lord’s teaching to love one another in a manner worthy of the saints and in addition that you place yourselves at her disposal for the purpose of providing her with anything at all she needs from you because she in fact has demonstrated herself to be of assistance for many including myself as well.” In verse 1, Paul gives a two-fold description of Phoebe, both of which were designed to facilitate Phoebe’s acceptance into the fellowship of the Roman believers. The first description “ our spiritual sister ” denotes the common spiritual relationship that Phoebe has with not only Paul and his companions with him in Corinth but also the common spiritual relationship she has with the Roman believers. The second description “ who is also serving the church at Cenchrea ” describes Phoebe as one who serves both Paul and the Roman believers as an intermediary between the two in the sense that she is the courier of this epistle.
    [Show full text]
  • Romans 16-A Commentary
    SUNDRY GREETINGS AND A FINAL PLEA Romans 16:1–27 By Dub McClish Introduction Romans 16 is one of the most completely personal sections to come from the pen of Paul or from that of any inspired writer. Of its twenty-seven verses eighteen of them relate to personal commendations, greetings to those in Rome, or greetings being sent to Rome from various ones who knew Paul was writing the letter. In the various commendations and saluta- tions at least thirty-four personal names are mentioned, and numerous others not actually named are included in greetings from several congregations. This chapter, the capstone of the letter, draws the epistle to a close with a final, fervent plea that relates to the entire doctrinal content of the letter, and indeed, to all of the Gospel. The material in these twenty-seven verses falls naturally into the following divisions: 1. Commendation of Phoebe of Cenchrea (vv. 1–2) 2. Greetings to and complimentary descriptions of familiar and unfamiliar (to us) saints and greetings from the churches (vv. 3–16) 3. A closing plea regarding doctrinal purity and proper handling of false teachers (vv. 17–20) 4. Final greetings and a descriptive statement about the Gospel (vv. 21–27) Exegesis and Exposition of Romans 16:1–27 Chapter 16:1–2: Phoebe of Cenchrea Verse 1: When Paul left Corinth in the company of Priscilla and Aquila to sail across the Aegean to Ephesus at the close of his second preaching trip, they took ship for the east-ward voyage from Cenchrea (Acts 18:18).1 While there Paul shaved his head due to some unex- plained vow.
    [Show full text]
  • Romans - #16 Antioch Bible Class
    ROMANS - #16 ANTIOCH BIBLE CLASS LESSON TOPIC “DEARLY BELOVED” AT ROME SCRIPTURE LESSON: ROMANS 16:1-27 MEMORY VERSE; ROM. 16:16. Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. INTRODUCTION Paul now comes to the end of a long, powerful and spiritually enlightening epistle to the Church at Rome. He has covered a broad range of relevant spiritual concerns applicable to the Roman church, but just as applicable to us today. I fear that there is so much more contained in this epistle which we have not been able to cover. Maybe, at least, our study opens our thoughts to the greater horizons contained in this marvelous letter. I have to wonder, what kind of letter would you or I be able to write to a church which we had never seen but were moved of God to love and desire to see. By being drawn nearer to Paul’s doctrine through this epistle, may we also be drawn nearer to God and to our fellow Christians in the process. This last chapter seems at first to be a long list of insignificant names of Roman Christians, picked up somewhere in the course of his many travels. Looking closer, we see that they were laborers with Paul at some time as well as kinsmen, beloved, servants and saints of God, known to Paul and very dear to him for various reasons. These individuals certainly gave him strong reasons to desire to visit the church at Rome. These people who were so dear to him had, in one form or another and at one time or another, been in Paul’s labors helping him on his journey.
    [Show full text]
  • Tertius of Iconium: Apostle Paul's Secretary
    Tertius of Iconium: Apostle Paul’s Secretary Romans 16:22 - “I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.” Tertius of Iconium: Apostle Paul’s Secretary • Rom. 16:22 - “I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.” • Tertius of Iconium (also Tertios) acted as an amanuensis (a literary assistant, one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts) for Paul the Apostle, wrote down his epistle to the Romans Paul Used Scribes To Write Down His Dictation • Jer. 36:1-8 - “Now it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 2 Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin. 4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote on a scroll of a book, at the instruction of Jeremiah, all the words of the LORD which He had spoken to him. 5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am confined, I cannot go into the house of the LORD. 6 You go, therefore, and read from the scroll which you have written at my instruction, the words of the LORD, in the hearing of the people in the LORD'S house on the day of fasting.
    [Show full text]
  • Romans 14-16 the Generous Welcome the Last Three Chapters O
    The Yale Divinity School Bible Study The Epistle to the Romans VIII: Romans 14-16 The Generous Welcome The last three chapters of Romans continue to spell out what it means for the faithful “to present (their) bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” (12:1) While chapters 12 and 13 deal primarily with the relationship between believers and outsiders (the government; the enemy), chapters 14 and 15 deal primarily with the relationship among Christians in the Roman churches. We have suggested that Paul may have some specific knowledge of what is going on in the Roman churches – perhaps especially knowledge about the relationships between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians. He also is presenting his gospel to a community he has never visited, so it is not surprising if he brings his experience with other churches – especially the Corinthians – and uses that experience to shape his exhortation to the Romans. The Weak and the Strong in Faith (14:1-23) (maybe extend to 15:13) One theme that ties Romans 14 and Romans 15 together is the theme of “welcome” – welcome now not for the stranger but welcome for the fellow Christian. “Welcome those who are weak in faith…for God has welcomed them (14:1,3).” “Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God (15:7).” The first admonition is to those who are “strong” in faith to welcome those who are “weak” in faith. When Paul refers to strength and weakness in this way he means something quite different from our common impressions about what makes faith weak and strong.
    [Show full text]