Romans 16:1-16 …. Introductions, Commendations
Rom 16:1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-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. 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 Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. 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 other brothers and sisters with them.15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord's people who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
Discussion
Paul sends many personal salutations. We see how touchingly his heart dwells upon all the details of service to those who had rendered it. He who by grace had searched into all the counsels of God, remembered all that these humble Christians and these devoted women had done for him and for the Lord.
The absence of titles in the naming of these, his friends in Christ reveals that many Roman Christians were not a part of the upper class, but were slaves, and ordinary people. God invites those whom the world would regard as the unlikeliest of people into His kingdom, and what He prizes is the humble, repentant, and faithful heart, the true believer.
We also find in this list of greetings a reminder of how the church is to function. From day one, the work of Christ’s church has been done only through the contributions of all its members. No one person, not even an Apostle, can do all that is necessary for the church to function well. In fact, Paul’s greetings show us how the Apostle relied on the hospitality and labor of others to get his job done. Christians form one body that is healthy only when all members use their gifts to serve the Lord and one another.
Questions
1. What are some of the common characteristics of the people the Romans were to greet.
2. Using their characteristics as a guide, can we list some of our own?
3. What is the one character trait of all those listed that forms a unifying bond ?
4. What is there about question 3 that reminds us of Our own church. Advent?
5. When it says to greet one another with a holy kiss how can we apply that today?
Rom 16: 17-27… A Warning
17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, 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 rejoice because of 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 Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 21 Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. 22 I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, 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 Quartus send you their greetings. 25 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, 26 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--27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Discussion
Paul’s warning about false teachers shows us how to identify them through signs other than the falsehood of the teaching itself. The first sign the Apostle gives is that false teachers serve “their own appetites.” Literally, Paul says the teachers serve their bellies. He refers here, by way of metaphor, to a lifestyle that reflects indulgence and egocentrism. Christian teachers are not prohibited from enjoying nice things, but they are prohibited from living ostentatiously—from making their paycheck their chief end in their labor. As Paul teaches elsewhere, men fit to fill the office of elder will not be lovers of money (1 Tim.3:1-7).
The second sign of false teachers is “smooth talk and flattery.” This does not mean that pastors and teachers may not have gentle speech that people find pleasing. What the Apostle condemns is dishonest speech that is hidden by flattering comments and words that praise people for the sake of their approval and not because there is genuine sentiment behind it.
We are to be so wise as not to be deceived, yet so simple as not to be deceivers. The blessing the apostle expects from God, is victory over Satan. This includes all designs and devices of Satan against souls, to defile, disturb, and destroy them; all his attempts to keep us from the peace of heaven here, and the possession of heaven hereafter. When Satan seems to prevail, and we are ready to give up all as lost, then will the God of peace interpose in our behalf. Hold out therefore, faith and patience, yet a little while. If the grace of Christ be with us, who can prevail against us?
That which establishes souls, is, the plain preaching of Jesus Christ. And the gospel is revealed, not to be talked of and disputed about, but to be submitted to. The obedience of faith is that obedience which is paid to the word of faith, and which comes by the grace of faith. Remembering that we are called to the obedience of faith, and that every degree of wisdom is from the only wise God, we should, by word and deed, render glory to him through Jesus Christ; that so the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ may be with us for ever.
Questions
1. What does Paul say about divisive and deceptive Church members?
2. How does one recognize divisive and deceptive persons?
3. What do you feel it means to be wise about what is good but innocent about what is evil?
4. Paul refers to a long hidden mystery, what do you think that could be?
Scripture References
1Timothy 3:1-7 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace.
Closing Prayer; Father God, be with us now as we leave this place. May we carry with us your blessing as we continue in our efforts to live the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. We thank you Lord for the teachings of your apostle Paul, and we pray that you will impart to our hearts, those things from this study that you would have us learn. Now we offer up those who are on our hearts, whose names are on our lips who need your healing touch__________. We pray that you will impart to them your comfort and healing touch, that they might be more able to endure and prevail over their illness. These things we pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Meditation
Paul's letter to the Roman Church from the first word to the last, is to the benefit of all who read it, all who apply it to the living of their life. It is about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, what it does for the individual who accepts it what it means for the individual, what it means for the world, how it is understood, and how it applies to life day by day. The Gospel is the answer to the world’s real problem! Sin! None of the things of sin existed before the Fall. All sin of every description came into the world as a result of the Fall. And the gospel is the only thing that can really solve the sin problem! The Gospel can atone for sin, forgive sin, remove sin, cancel sin’s debt, and then it can transform the sinner into a holy man or woman of God. Then it takes that one through every obstacle encountered throughout this life, all the way into the very presence of our holy and glorious God to dwell in His presence forever. How do we do that? Christ is the answer.
The book of Romans is the ultimate revelation of what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about, to whom it applies, what it can do for the individual, what it can do for a church, and what it can do for the world. There is but one solution to the unrighteousness that makes us deserving of judgment, and that is the righteousness of another. This righteousness is received by faith alone. Nothing one can do will meet God’s perfect standard, and only the perfect obedience of Jesus, who lived to make us righteous and died to bear the wrath we have merited, preserving the Lord’s justice, can give us peace with our Maker. How do we do that? Christ is the answer.
We have also here a precious and most perfect rule for our walk, namely, to be simple concerning evil, and wise unto that which is good. Christianity alone could have given such a rule; for it provides a walk that is positively good, and wisdom to walk in it. As Christians we may be simple concerning evil. What a deliverance! While the man of the world must needs acquaint himself with evil, in order to avoid it in this world of artifice, snares and entrapments, he must corrupt his mind, accustom himself to think of evil, in order not to be persuaded by it. But soon there should be entire deliverance, soon should Satan be trodden under their feet. How is this accomplished?Christ is the answer.
So, it is Paul who explains to us, if one is not in Christ today, there is the need for the Gospel. The Good News is that God has sent His Son to die and atone for our sin, and credit His perfect righteousness to our account. Believe in the gospel of Christ! Trust Him! Surrender to Him! Begin to walk in communion with Him! That is the first thing one must do to find real meaning in this life. Anything one can do to appreciate and enjoy this life apart from Christ is only fooling themselves. The world holds out many promises, great riches, material attractions, great power, long life, great accomplishments, and much more, but if there is not Christ in every promise of it, then it is a false hope. How do we discern these things? Christ is the answer.
In Paul’s letters we learn that we begin the Christian life by believing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then every advance we make in this life is enhanced by believing what the gospel purposes for mankind. Acting on that belief we begin to understand what it is that God has purposed for His creation. We learn also that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. And because we are in Christ, we have a new power, the power of the Holy Spirit. God has not left us all alone to try to overcome our bent to sinning. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in our mortal bodies. By the power of the Spirit one can put to death the deeds of the body. God’s righteousness is revealed in the gospel. What that means is that you can count on this gospel of God-given righteousness from the moment you begin to believe, until you take your last breath of faith and awake in the presence of God! Paul reminds us, that as Christians we should apply the gospel to all aspects of our life, all the time. In every thought , word, and deed, and we will come to know this one thing. Christ is the answer.
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