Lessons From Romans – Lesson 18
Time to finish our look at the book of Romans.
Romans lays out so many important truths about salvation and faith and justification as well as God’s attribute of being all knowing and having foreknowledge of everything.
And God’s plan cannot be improved upon. No one is His counselor.
And because of all of the foundation that Paul had laid out from Romans chapter 1 to Romans chapter 11 he then says therefore.
Because of that foundation of who God is and what He has done then therefore live for Him.
That is the two main purposes of the book of Romans.
Purpose #1 Lay down doctrinal truth on a great number of things and then.
Purpose #2 Therefore
Voluntarily present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service.
Do it because you are thankful and because you Love the Lord. And if you do then it says you will prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. You will prove it to yourself and to someone that may be watching.
Living the way your Savior wants you to is for your best.
And Paul took some time giving more information about what living like that looks like in a real practical way. That is Romans chapter 12 and chapter 13 and chapter 14.
Romans also clears up that God has not forsaken the Jews. From the time of Abraham until later in the book of Acts God did His primary work with the Jews, but during that time any Gentile could come and put their faith in the true God and get saved.
To name a few examples this happened with Rahab and Ruth, and a large number of people in the book of Esther.
But overall during that time it was mostly Jews coming to saving faith and just a small number of Gentiles.
In Romans we learn that God is now doing His primary work with the Gentiles, but Romans teaches that a remnant of Jews will be saved.
So from later in Acts until the Tribulation or just right before the tribulation it is mostly Gentiles getting saved with a remnant of Jews getting saved.
Just as a Gentile could get saved when God was doing His primary work with the Israelites, a Jew today can get saved when God is doing His primary work with the Gentiles.
Being graphed in does not make us Israelites, we are still Gentiles. The institution of the church has not replaced Israel.
The 2 groups are unique.
Before Paul closes the letter he is going to finish this topic by showing that Christ the Hope of both the Jews and the Gentiles
Rom 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Anytime you read in the N.T. to the circumcision or as it is here minister of the circumcision that is talking about Israel. So in verse 8 Paul is saying that Jesus was a minister to the Israelites.
And He did it according to and for the truth of God. And Jesus coming to this earth and going to the Jews first was to confirm all of those promises that God made to the fathers.
That is speaking of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and even more than that Moses and Joshua and the promises made to all of the Prophets.
Jesus is the promised one that was promised to the Jews. Jesus is the hope of Israel.
And Paul points out now by quoting many O.T. scriptures that Jesus was also promised to be the hope of the Gentiles.
Rom 15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
Rom 15:10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
Rom 15:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
Rom 15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Paul just quoted or paraphrased 4 different O.T. prophesies about God being the hope and savior of the Gentiles.
Turning to the Gentiles was not a last minute decision or change. God foretold it over and over hundreds and hundreds of years before.
In this short few verses Paul has mentioned both Israelites and Gentiles and how Jesus is the hope of both. Now since Jesus is the hope of both then verse 13:
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Do the same thing whatever group you are in. Let God fill you with all joy and peace in believing.
I have known some people who get saved and they have evidence in their life that backs up that they really got saved. Turn from and turn to God with a repentant heart. Born again. Saved, Saved, Saved.
And yet they will walk around with a sour face like they just drank a jar of pickle juice. They do not have the joy of the Lord in their life in a real powerful way.
I have known others who just worry and fret and what if this and what if that and yes they are saved and their eternal home will be with the Lord. However, they are not filled with peace. Quite the opposite.
Neither one of those is what the Lord wants for His children’s lives.
What He wants is to have His children filled with all joy and peace.
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
And the verse makes it clear that this filling of joy and peace is done thru the power of the Holy Ghost.
We bring it up often. God does not take away your free will after you get saved. He lets you choose how close you want to walk with Him. There are abundant blessings that come from walking close to Him, but God will not force it upon you.
One of the blessings is being filled with joy and peace. That is what God wants for you. But that comes from the Holy Ghost who can be grieved.
When a Christian lives in a way that grieves the Holy Spirit, then the Spirit will take His hands off and let you. He will not fill you will joy and peace while a Christian is living in unrepentant sin.
Paul is giving verse 13 to both groups. This works the same for saved Jews and saved Gentiles.
In the Bible everyone is either an Israelite or you are a Gentile. There is not a 3rd group.
There are sub groups under both of those. A bunch. There are saved gentiles and lost gentiles. And man is grouped into nations and languages. But they all fall under these 2 groups. Jews or Gentiles.
And God loves both and God died for both and God wants all to get saved.
And while Paul loves the Jews and while Paul witnesses to them and works with them and prays for them.
The main area of work that God gave Paul was to be the Minister to the Gentiles
Rom 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Rom 15:15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
Rom 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Rom 15:17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
Rom 15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
Rom 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Rom 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
Paul wanted to see God move among the gentiles. He went on purpose to places where Christ was not named before. And God blessed.
And since most of the N.T. had not yet been written the temporary sign gifts were active. And Paul saw God move and work and convict and open eyes. And totally change lives.
In verse 18 Paul says that he will not speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me. He says by me. He does not say thru me. Huge difference.
A way of saying that Paul did not make it happen. Paul in his own power and in Paul’s wisdom and in Paul’s ability did not do it. Christ did not do it by Paul. He did it thru Paul.
Christ did it by using Paul, but make no mistake. It was God who did it, and Paul is making a point to give all the praise and glory to God for it.
Look at the end of verse 18 again. to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
Before they were idol worshipers. They worshiped false gods. From Zeus to Baal to Diana or a host of others. Living in all kinds of open hurtful sin.
God did a work in their lives and they saw the truth and got saved and then started growing and Paul makes sure to note that it was God that made the gentiles obedient.
And they were obedient by word and deed. Paul saw many of them totally change and walk the walk. He saw them grow into living more and more like Romans chapter 12
And this was foretold that this would happen in the Old Testament.
Rom 15:21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
Paul saw that happen. Paul saw Gentiles see the truth. He saw God do a mighty work in opening eyes and minds and bringing understanding to lost people who had never heard before.
And watch real close what Paul counted on and used to see this happen. It has been my experience that most people miss this.
Verse 16. ministering the gospel of God … being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Paul is relying on God’s Word, and specifically the gospel and Paul is relying on that work being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Rom 15:17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
Verse 17 the glory for the work is given to Jesus. I may glory through Jesus Christ.
Verse 18 the work was not done by Paul. It was done by God thru Paul.
Verse 19 by the power of the Spirit of God
Verse 20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel,
What Paul strived at was to preach the Word of God. Nothing else compared to that.
And Paul did not want to build on anything else. Paul did not want to do what others had done because others did it and had some results. lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
So put it together. What did Paul use and count on? Only two things.
The Word of God, and God. That is it. Paul got it. That is all you need. This is not a small issue. Understanding this is something that has been lost on most.
I remember early on at Hope Baptist, Johnathan was complaining about not having this or that. And I got his attention and told him that was wrong thinking and how all that is not needed.
You don’t have to have room for a choir, you don’t have to have a fellowship hall. All you need is what we see Paul needed in these verses. The Word of God and God.
I told Johnathan that and I did add a Hymnal because we don’t know how to sing the Psalms. But that is all that is needed. I told Johnathan that we have everything that we need.
And I tried to get him to go the way of prayer. I bought knee pads and tried to get him to pray regularly with us, but he refused. The truth that all you really need is the Word of God and God is not what they are taught in Bible College.
And that is very sad to me. In the old days before Pastors got lazy if a man was called to preach in his church, then the Pastor trained him and sent him out when he was ready.
Then somewhere along the line they pushed that responsibility off to a Bible college. The young man now went from a free education and being trained in faith in the Word of God, to he has to go pay tens of thousands of dollars for a faith weakening education.
That is teaching them that they need a whole bunch of other things.
It is sad. I have seen it a lot thru the years. One time we had a recent Bible college graduate visit and he sat in by Sunday school class. I could see he was really listening and appreciating the lesson.
He caught up with me afterwards in the Forer and asked me where do I get all my lessons. I said O that is no problem I have a book full of them. He got an excited look on his face until he saw I was pointing to my Bible.
He smile turned to a frown as he just rolled his eyes and walked away. He would not even let me talk to him about it or try to encourage him.
He got his head filled with a bunch of junk at Bible College. It is not just those two. I have seen many pastors both in their studies by the books on their desks and from their pulpits teaching people, both in church services and in preacher conferences that you must be widely read.
I have heard both of the Hardy’s teach that as well as a dozen others at least.
And they are talking about other religious books. I watched one pastor who listened to that teaching start reading Catholic books. On the front row one time before service he told me that he could see their point in praying to Mary.
I slapped that down quick and hard. For her to hear millions of prayers all at the same time she would have to have an attribute of God. She would have to be all present. Praying to Mary is saying she is a God. It is heresy.
I am not against reading. I have a decent size library of books but I am very careful on what I read. I only want to read books from men who are really solid.
All we really need is what we see that Paul relied on and that is God’s Word and God.
Christianity would be in a whole lot better shape today if we got back to that truth.
Paul is now going to close the book of Romans with some personal greetings and a desire to go to Rome to teach them and a few quick closing thoughts at the very end including a very serious warning.
Rom 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
Rom 16:2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
She is an example of someone who has the gifts of helps as in helping with needs.
Rom 16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
Rom 16:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
Rom 16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
Priscilla and Aquila are helpers in the work, they had a church in their house.
Rom 16:6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
Rom 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Rom 16:8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
Rom 16:9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
Rom 16:10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus’ household.
Rom 16:11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
Rom 16:12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
Rom 16:13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Rom 16:14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
Rom 16:15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
Rom 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
That is a long list of people. All important and all contributing in some way. At the point in time that Romans was written things have expanded greatly. When Paul went on his first missionary journey there was Saved Jewish Christians in Jerusalem and around Judea and Gentile Christians in Antioch and that was about it.
You get a glimpse in reading this list of people mentioned at the end of Romans of just how much things have progressed.
Christianity has been growing and growing. And with that comes the attention of the enemy. Paul mentions that next.
Rom 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.
Rom 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.
Rom 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
False teachers will come but also those who want to cause divisions and other problems. Paul gives us instructions on how to deal with them.
Avoid them. Notice them, examine what they are doing and mark them. So let it be known. The reason is out of love and protection of your fellow Christians. Mark the false teachers so that Christians might be spared the hurt.
And after you mark them and avoid them, then that is it. No other action on your part is needed. Let God deal with them in His timing.
Rom 16:21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
Rom 16:22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
Rom 16:23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
Rom 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Rom 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Rom 16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.