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Warning about Troublemakers

Keep your distance from false teachers and divisive people.

Romans 16:17-20 Warning about Troublemakers

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord , but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and fattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. :17-19 The Marks of False Teaching • Divisive • False Doctrine - Unbiblical • Self-centered • Power Hungry • Persuasive • Manipulates the gullible • Destined for Judgment Romans 16:17-19 Warning about Troublemakers

The God of peace will soon crush under your feet. The grace of our Lord Christ be with you.

Romans 16:20 It may seem strange that in this context Paul refers to the God of peace (as in 15:33), since enjoying peace and crushing Satan do not sound all together compatible with each other. But God's peace allows no appeasement of the devil. It is only through the destruction of evil that true peace can be attained. John Stott Resources

"THE IMPORTANCE OF ORTHODOXY" "HOW TO DEAL WITH BOARS IN GOD'S VINEYARD" "PAUL'S WARNINGS" (Romans 16:17-20) (Frank Theilman) (Romans 16:17-20 (Romans 16:17-20) John Stott (Chuck Swindoll) The first part of the passage (16:17-20) focuses on remaining unified around the body of teaching Paul begins his exhortation with the same words which he has used to introduce an earlier that all Christians have learned. It begins with a warning against a form of false teaching that creates On June 15, 1520, Pope Leo X issued an official decree condemning the teaching of one: I urge you brothers (17, cf.12:1). He issues a threefold appeal - to vigilance, to separation division and hinders progress in the faith by insisting that some new form of the faith is better than the Martin Luther. In it, he likened Christendom to a vineyard, planted by God and entrusted to and to discernment. ancient form (v. 17). When Paul speaks of "the teaching that you learned," he implies that both he and Peter and his successors. He also likened Luther to a wild boar from the forest seeking to the Roman Christians, many of whom he had never met, agreed on what the was and that the First, Paul pleads for vigilance; watch out for those who caused divisions and put obstacles in teaching they had received and believed was the teaching that all Christians follow. destroy and devour the vineyard. This is ironic, coming from a man who consumed the papal your way, hindering your progress, that are (both of them) contrary to the teachings you have treasury within two years—not to support works of charity, but to surround himself with lavish This teaching had made its way across the Mediterranean Sea to Rome, and not only had the learned (17). Of course some divisions are inevitable, like those caused by loyalty to Christ (see. Roman Christians become famous for embracing it (1:8; 6:17; cf. 16:19), but Paul was confident that abundance and to stage extravagant festivals. After Pope Leo X had swallowed the last morsel Mt. 10:34ff.), and so are some obstacles, especially the stumbling-block of the cross (Rom. 9:32, they could encourage one another (15:14), and himself also (1:12), to remain committed to this faith. of worshipers' penance, he sold church positions off to the highest bidder. When every 1 Cor. 1:23). Paul urges the Romans to look out for those who cause them because they Clearly Paul thought that the gospel he had just outlined at length in the letter, and the ethical vacancy had been filled, he created more positions and sold them as well. Still, as the treasury contradict the teaching of the apostles. He takes it for granted, even this early in the church's principles he had articulated on the basis of it, were not merely his ideas about the gospel and its shrank, the pontiff's appetite grew. Eventually, he reduced the 's assumed role history, that, there is a doctrinal and ethical norm which the Romans must follow, not contradict; it implications but a widely accepted understanding of what all Christians should believe. They were a of dispensing grace to little more than a business transaction, most notably by selling is preserved for us in the . summary of the Christian faith. indulgences as fast as they could be printed. Articulating the content of the gospel in the way he had just done did not divide Christians from The corruption of Leo X wasFalse not new. There have always been boars who ravage God's Secondly, Paul calls for separationFalse from those who deliberately depart from the apostolic one another but brought them False together. As Paul would say a few years later, in a letter written from vineyard. Jesus stood alone in opposition to hypocritical and proud . Paul faith. Keep away from them, he writes. There's no question of approaching them with a holy kiss, Rome, "Christ himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the warned the elders in Ephesus of wolves in their midst (:29) and routinely confronted but rather a standing aloof, and even turning away. Why is this? What is the essence of their dividing wall of hostility" (Eph 2:14). The gospel, with its message of God's reconciling grace, pulls false teachers and deceivers throughout his ministry (:6-11; 2 Cor. 11:11-15,26; Gal. deviation? Paul tells us. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites people together instead of dividing them from one another. 2:4-5; Phil. 3:2; 1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:14-15; 2:16-18; 4:14)- Many of John's writings were an (18a), literally "their own belly" (AV). This is very unlikely to be an allusion to the controversy over In contrast, the false teachers that Paul warns against in 16:17 divided Christians from one another. answer to one kind of heresy or another, and near the end of his life he wrote letters to the Jewish food laws. It is rather a graphic metaphor of self indulgence (as in Phil. 3:19, "their god The divisive tendency of their false teaching stemmed from their advocacy of some new form of the encourage churches to reject false teachers (1 Jn. 4:1; 2 Jn. 1:7-8; 3 Jn. 1:9-11). Peter and is their stomach"). The expression is used in the sense of serving oneself, of being the willing slave faith that hindered a Christian community's progress in the commonly held, traditional form of Jude faced the same difficulties (2 Pet. 2:1-3; Jude 1:4). So it should come as no surprise that of one's egotism. These false teachers have no love for Christ, and no wish to be his willing Christian belief. They were not outsiders expressing an interest in the Christian faith and asking sincere the church in Rome was susceptible to boar-like intruders. slaves. Instead, they are "utterly self-centered" (JBP), and also have a banefull affect on the questions, nor were they fringe members of the traditional group who were expressing real doubts gullible. By smooth talking flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people (18b). Better, "they and occasionally registering dissenting opinions. Paul's welcoming approach to outsiders and the To prepare the Roman believers, Paul taught them how to detect the presence of boars seduce the minds of simple people with smooth and spacious words" (REB). weak in faith is clearly visible elsewhere in his correspondence (Rom 14:1; 1 Cor 14:16-17, 23-25). (Rom. 16:17) and revealed Teachingtheir quintessential character traits (16:18). Fortunately, the Teaching Rather, these false teachers Teachingwere disingenuous people with sophisticated rhetorical and analytical congregation was strong, so his instruction on how to defend God's vineyard was brief and Thirdly, Paul urges the Romans to grow in discernment. On the whole he is very pleased skills, who were using those abilities to serve their own greedy impulses—"their own belly"—as Paul mostly took the form of affirmation (16:19-20). His with them. Everyone has heard about your obedience he says, "so I am full of joy over you" (19a). memorably puts it (16:18). They must have been people with advice is succinct, which makes it especially valuable. Nevertheless, there are two kinds of talent and experience in leading social groups. They were Anything worth protecting will eventually come obedience, blind and discerning, and he longs people who had enough power and influence to lure large under attack. But don't expect the assault to come for them to develop the latter: but I want you numbers of Christians away from the gospel. In short, the false teachers of 16:17-20 were divisive, novel, self-serving, and from barbarians at the gate. More often, churches are to be wise about what is good, and innocent persuasive. subtly taken apart from within by those who divide about what is evil (19b). To be wise in regard Warnings against false teachers in the church with these four people and spread false teaching, usually in hushed to good is to recognize it, love it and follow it. traits are not uncommon in the New Testament. The apostle conversations, one person at a time. Ironically, these With regard to evil, however, he wants them John wrote three letters to Christian assemblies within his own destroyers think they are accomplishing something to be unsophisticated, even guileless, so sphere of responsibility in the wake of the kind of disruption that good. French mathematician and Christian completely should they shy away from any Paul was trying to avoid at Rome. A heretical group had broken experience of it. J. B. Phillips captures the philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote, "Men never do evil fellowship with the main, orthodox group (1 John 2:19) because contrast well: "I want to see you experts in so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from they were advocating some new "progressive" form of the good and not even beginners in evil." religious conviction." gospel that had abandoned the apostolic witness to Jesus's life When boars invade God's vineyard, leaders must Here then are three"valuable tests to and teaching (2 John 9; cf. 1 John 1:1-5). They had apparently also left behind certain Christian ethical principles (1 John Greetings from Partners in Corinth

Work hard to maintain partnerships for the gospel.

Romans 16:21-23 Paul’sPAUL’S Missionary SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY Companions c. AD 49 – 52 (Ac 15:39 –18:22)

Aristarchus THRACE Black Sea A C E D O N I N D P O N T US SecundusM A A Philippi Byzantium I A Amphipolis Neapolis N Thessalonica Y Samothrace Nicaea H A Berea Apollonia T t I I A Gulf on I sp Prusa B C lle T He Luke O A Troas A Dorylaeum D e MYSIA g e L A a Thyatira A n I P A

A C H A I G Pisidian P A S ASIA

e G a Y Antioch A Athens Ephesus . Corinth R C s Iconium t H TimothyCilician M Saronic Lystra Cenchreae Tychius P Gates Derbe I A s Gulf d Sila Paulu C n s l a I Pau n L Tarsus a I Silasm C Seleucia A Rhodes Pieria Antioch S Y as ab R CRETE S arn k U B ar . R d M A R I P an C Y I s e A M C t e I n d o i N t r e E r r O a Sidon O n e a n S e a H Damascus Tyre P

Caesarea I A Route of the Egnatian Way 0 100 km. PALESTINE A B R 0 100 miles Jerusalem A Greetings from Partners in Corinth

Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and , my kinsmen.

Romans 16:21 But the were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not fnd them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. :5-9 Sopater of Berea After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, and Trophimus. Acts 20:1-4 Greetings from Partners in Corinth

I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Romans 16:22 Greetings from Partners in Corinth

Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother , greet you.

Romans 16:23 Gaius of Corinth

I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.

1 Corinthians 1:14 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia [at Ephesus] a little longer. :22 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of . Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. Acts 19:22 Erastus of Corinth Discovered 1929 Dated 50 AD “To God Be The Glory”

Romans 16:25-27 Doxologies are expressions of praise to God that describe his glory, honor, or might, and their origins probably lay in the temple worship of Israel ( 1 Chron. 16:28-29, Ps. 29:1-2; 96:7).

Frank Theilman Paul prays that God will receive the glory for the gospel that has now been revealed. The gospel was both hidden and prophesied in the Old Testament, but the age of fulfllment has come so that the mystery that was shrouded in the past and prophesied is now publicly declared to being fulflled. Thomas Schreiner The gospel centers on Jesus the Messiah, for he fulflls the saving promises of the Old Testament, and these promises are being realized in the inclusion of all nations nations into the people God. Thomas Schreiner God is Able to Strengthen Us

Believers are empowered by God to fourish in life and ministry.

Romans 16:25 We are strengthened by the provisions of the gospel. Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, . . . Romans 16:25 Able, Powerful (δύναμαι) This is one of about four New Testament words for power, all of which are used by Paul. The particular focus of this word is on the transformative nature of the power. God is able to transform us from weak and unstable to strong and stable. strengthen, empower, establish (στηρίζω) When this word is used it indicates that something is being given a firm foundation and thus has gained stability. What was weak is strengthened. What was wobbly is stable. What was soft is now firm. The central message of the gospel is about Jesus Christ . Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, . . . Romans 16:25 Paul called the good news “my gospel” not to claim authorship, but claim ownership. The gospel belongs to him because he stakes his own soul upon its truth. Chuck Swindoll God has Revealed His Plan for the Gentiles

God previewed in the Old Testament and has now revealed in the New Testament the message of justifcation by faith for all people.

Romans 16:26 The Old Testament revealed God's eternal plan. . . . in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith . . . Romans 16:26 revelation, dramatic revealing (ἀποκάλυψις) This word indicates a “dramatic” or “shocking” revelation of something that was previously undisclosed. In the New Testament the focus is on the dramatic appearance of Jesus Christ to redeem at His first coming and His future appearing which will be to judge and rule. The manner of the disclosure is dramatic as well as the content of what is revealed. made visible, made known, revealed (φανερόω) Unlike the previous word which focuses on the dramatic nature of the revelation, this word focuses more on the clarity of the revelation. What is “made known” is “clearly revealed” so that everyone has the opportunity to understand it. made known, revealed (γνωρίζω) As Paul stacks up these word for the revelation of what God has done in the message about Jesus Christ, this word emphasizes that this is not something that you can “figure out”; this has to be “made known” to you by someone else. mystery (μυστήριον)

The idea of a “mystery” in Paul's thinking is quite common (Rom. 16:25; 1 Cor. 2:1,7; 4:1; 13:2; 14:2; 15:51; Eph. 1:9; 3:3-4, 9; 5:32; 6:19; Col. 1:26-27; 2:2; 4:3; 2 Thess. 2:7; 1 Tim. 3:9, 16). A “mystery” is not a riddle or a puzzle that surpasses human comprehension; instead, it designates a secret element of God’s plan that had been hidden from humans in ages past but has now been revealed. It often refers to fulfllment in Christ. God's plan has always been salvation by grace through faith.

. . . in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith . . . Romans 16:26 Abrahamic Promises And Yahweh said to Abram, “Go out from your land and from your relatives, and from the house of your father, to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great. And you will be a blessing. And I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse. And all families of the earth will be blessed in you.” Genesis 12:1-3 (LEB) God is Worthy of Our Praise Forever

The wisdom of God's plan compels us to praise Him forever.

Romans 16:27 God is Worthy of Our Praise Forever . . . to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. Romans 16:27 The dominant theme in this doxology is the ascription of glory to God. This is ftting since the central theme of Romans is that God has arranged history so that he will receive honor, praise, and thanksgiving. Thomas Schreiner “To God Be The Glory” Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. It's fair then to say that the major themes of Paul's letter are encapsulated in the doxology: the power of God to save and to establish; the gospel and the mystery, once hidden and now revealed, which are Christ crucifed and risen; the Christ-centered witness of the Old Testament scripture; the commission of God to make the gospel news universally known; the summons to all the nations to respond with the obedience of faith and the saving wisdom of God, to whom all glory is due forever. John Stott In light of the centrality of Jesus Christ to the gospel God had recently revealed (Rom. 1:3-4; 3:21-26; 5:1-21; 6:23; 7:25; 8:1-2; 31-39), the grammatical ambiguity that Paul's difcult syntax introduced was probably an ambiguity he was happy not to clarify. Frank Theilman Summary

Team Counts! Truth Matters! Worship is Crucial! NEXT STEPS

Know the gospel well. Share the gospel clearly. Praise God enthusiastically. PRAYER TEAM