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Part 2
Paul’s final words dictated to Tertius include a warning
about divisive people in the church. He then moves to a final salutation and
benedictory prayer for the believers at Rome. Paul begins (1:5) and ends
(16:26) this letter with the phrase “the obedience of faith.” Genuine faith always
produces change.
I. Paul
warns the believers in Rome about divisive people in the churches vs. 17-20
A. How to
treat divisive people vs. 17
1. Watch,
mark out, keep your eyes on them (don’t turn your back on them)
2. Turn
away from them, stay away from them (error is infectious)
B. The NT cross-references
on divisive people (vs. 17)
“Brothers and sisters, we command you
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to stay away from every brother or
sister who lives an undisciplined life that is not in line with the traditions
that you received from us. You yourselves know how you need to imitate us
because we were not undisciplined when we were with you. Take note [mark] of anyone who doesn’t obey what we have
said in this letter. Don’t associate with them so they will be ashamed of
themselves.” (2 Thess 3:6-7,14 CEB)
“As for a person who stirs up division,
after warning him once and then twice, have nothing
more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is
self-condemned.” (Titus 3:10-11 ESV)
“Traitors, reckless, conceited,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the
form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!” (2 Tim 3:4-5 HCSB)
“He is proud, knowing nothing, but is
obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife,
reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of
men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is
a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.” (1 Tim 6:4-5 NKJV)
They said to you, “In the last times
there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow
mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. (Jude 18-19 NIV)
“Now I urge you, brothers, in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be
no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and
the same conviction” . . . “For to begin with, I hear
that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in
part I believe it.” (1 Cor 1:10, 11:18 HCSB)
C. The
characteristics of divisive people vs.18
1. They
cause divisions, obstacles, snares, traps, problems, and temptations
2. They
oppose biblical doctrines and biblical ethics
3. They
are not slaves of Christ. They are slaves to feelings, lust, cravings, or
legalism. They are controlled by addictions or man-made rules and not by self-discipline
4. They
are con men who are inspiring and eloquent speakers who use flattery to deceive
the minds of the naïve
D. The
Roman Christians’ obedience to past instructions on how to deal with unruly
people attending their assemblies vs. 19
1. The
report is well known that the Roman believers are good at inspecting fruit and
detecting wolves in disguise as sheep and spotting immature troublemakers
2. Paul’s
goal for them in this: be wise in what is pure, unmixed theology (and ethics) and
innocent in what is evil (false doctrine and evil behavior)
E. The enemy’s
involvement and defeat in this scheme of sending divisive people into the
church assemblies with error and wicked works vs. 20a
1. God
will crush Satan, the father of lies and the source of error
2. God
will use the church, armed with the truth, to defeat him until Jesus comes
F. The
difference God’s grace makes in the struggles of life vs. 20b, 24
II. Paul
gives a final greeting and benedictory prayer for the churches in Rome vs.
21-27
A. Salutations
from Timothy, a co-worker, Lucius, Jason, Sosipater, Jewish believers
B. Salutations
from the secretary who transcribed what Paul dictated and the church host along
with the treasurer of the city of Corinth and an unknown brother, Quartus
C. The benedictory
prayer for the believers at Rome summarizes the book’s themes vs. 25-27
1. God
establishes believers through the gospel and preaching about Jesus
2. God has
revealed His plan to include believing Gentiles into covenant with Himself in
the Bible (OT & NT) [the secret is out Eph 3:6]
3. God is eternal,
and He decreed when the mystery would be revealed
4. The
church in Paul’s day made the gospel known to all ethnic groups (GC)
5. Those
who are saved take part in the obedience of faith
6. God
alone is wise and will receive glory through the person and work of Jesus the
Messiah forever
7. The
glory belongs to God alone
