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This morning we are in the last chapter of Romans. Paul has laid out the and its implications, and now he is sending out greeting and a parting benediction to the church in Rome. I want to highlight three things that stand out in this section about what Paul wants the church to be marked by.

NIV :1- I commend to you our sister , a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. 3 Greet , my fellow workers in . 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5 Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and and all the saints with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. 17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 21 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and , my relatives. 22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 , whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother send you their greetings. 24 25 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might 2 believe and obey him-- 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Notice three things Paul wants the church to be marked by:

1) The church strives for diversity

In this section, Paul sends out lot of greetings, some to people he knew, some to those he had heard of. Notice the diversity: there is ethnic –some Jew and some Gentile, with the majority Gentile. There is also a diversity of class – some slave, some free, with the majority of names belonging to slaves or freedmen. And a mix of men and women: 9 women and 17 men.

This diversity was noteworthy, especially when you compare it to Christianity’s Jewish roots. In Paul’s day, there was a popular prayer spoken by Jewish free men:

Blessed art thou, king of the universe, who hast not made me a slave, a Gentile, or a woman.

The first century Jewish culture was a society where there were differences in status that were very important. Free Jewish men had more access to God through the temple then women, slaves, or Gentiles, and there was nothing those second- class groups could do about it. Gentiles, women, and slaves were all outsiders when it came to the Jewish religion.

But then came the gospel, which leveled everyone at the foot of the cross.

Romans 3:22-24 - This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

And so this became the new perspective:

Galatians 3:26-29 - You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

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I want to highlight three of the notable women in this section:

Phoebe –

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.

Phoebe was probably carrying the letter. She is called a diakonos – could be servant or deaconess, but since it says “of the church,” it is likely that is was an official office. Deacons probably visited the sick, did poor relief and financial oversight. She was a woman of means who had used her wealth to support the church and Paul, so Paul asks them to please help her.

Priscilla –

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5 Greet also the church that meets at their house

Priscilla is named in front of her husband Aquila here and in Acts 18:18, 26, and 2 Tim 4:19. Could be for spiritual or social reasons, but Paul does not criticize her leadership. In Acts 18:2, we read about how Paul met them in Corinth on his second missionary journey. They were probably fairly wealthy in order to have the church meeting at their house.

Junia –

7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

Iounian, accusative of either Junias (masculine) or Junia (feminine). Was usually female, since Junias is an unknown name, but for last 500 years this name was translated as masculine, and now recently feminine again, both probably for agenda sake. It calls her “outstanding among the apostles.” She was not an original apostle, of course. Apostle was also the word for a commissioned missionary, like in Phil 2:25, or and Saul in Acts 13:1.1 Thess 2:6. It didn’t necessarily mean an authoritative church leadership position. Junia and Andronicus were probably outstanding missionaries. 4

So the first thing to notice is that the church is to strive for diversity. It highlights the egalitarianism of the gospel, that all stand as sinners before a holy God in need of a Savior.

And it points to the last day, when there will be a people saved from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

Revelation 7:9-10 - After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

2) The church works for unity

If you look closely, you notice that in this chapter, Paul uses lots of terms of kinship as he sends out his greetings. He uses terms like in Christ, in the Lord, sister, brother, beloved, fellows workers, fellow sufferers. He wants to encourage a close familial relationship among the church. He also writes:

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.

Greet with a holy kiss – tangible gesture of love. The other churches send you greetings. He is promoting a closeness and unity. This is no surprise, looking back over Romans.

He also warns them against false teachers.

17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.

These false teachers are serving their own pleasure and can deceive the unwary.

Philippians 3:18-19 - For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is 5 destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

Be innocent but wise. Free from sin but wise about discernment. Most common false teachers were those who came proclaiming other , especially the need to obey the Old Testament law.

Maintain unity, both in your devotion to each other and your vigilance against false doctrine.

3) The church endeavors to keep the gospel central

Paul ends with this benediction:

25 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him-- 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

His benediction reinforces themes about the gospel from the beginning of the letter, and from the content as well.

1) The gospel is about Jesus Christ

His life, death, and resurrection for our sins.

Romans 3:21-24 - But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

2) The gospel has the power to not only save but establish you

The Greek word translated here “establish” is a word that referred to strengthening young churches, nurturing new converts. The gospel is not just the door in, it is what deepens your faith.

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Romans 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

3) The gospel is revealed truth.

Nobody discovers the gospel in their own power. God must make it known to you

Romans 1:17 - For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

4) The gospel was witnessed in the Old Testament

The whole points to Jesus.

Romans 1:1-4 - Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God-- 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

5) The gospel is good news for the whole world.

Romans 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

6) The gospel’s purpose is to bring everyone to faith and obedience to God.

Romans 1:5 - Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.

And in the end, as the world comes to believe the gospel, God will receive all the glory He deserves.