Sunday Morning Service

Romans 16 (Click scripture reference for audio access)

"Meet The Romans!"  •  8.19.12  •  Sunday Morning Service, Calvary Christian Fellowship

Intro.

- Romans began with a Salutation which was interrupted by Paul's thesis statement: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation!"

- From verse 18-chapter 3:20, Paul delineated our need for salvation because of our Condemnation! "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!"

- Humanity sinned against what we know from creation and what we know in our conscience!

- From chapter 3:21-chapter 5, the bright center of Paul's message is that "there is now a righteousness that comes from God, which is apart from the law," which we call "Justification!"

- We are justified by faith in Christ, just as Abraham and David were, freed from the penalty of sin and given the riches of His grace by the imputation of His righteousness!

- From chapter 6 to chapter 8, Paul explains what happens between now and heaven: "Sanctification!" We are to consider our old man crucified and present ourselves to God!

- In Justification, God gives to us Christ's Righteousness. In Sanctification, He works in us to produce Christ's character!

- From chapter 9 to chapter 11, Paul explains God's dealings with the nation of Israel, who He called, predestined and elected to be His representatives on Earth. This is "Vindication!"

- God has preserved a remnant of believing Jews and grafted in the Gentiles for salvation. In that way, Israel provides us with an illustration of God's faithfulness!

- From chapter 12 to chapter 15, Paul takes us from doctrine to practice, from knowledge to "Application!" We are to be living sacrifices, living for one another, loving people over our liberties!

- Finally, we come to chapter 16. Salutation, Condemnation, Justification, Sanctification, Vindication, Application and Commendation!

- Paul spends this last chapter saluting and commending the church! There are some wonderful people that make up the church! We'll break it up in 4 sections.

I. Paul's Celebration (v.1-16)

III. Paul's Concern (v.17-20)

IV. Paul's Companions (v.21-24)

V. Paul's Conclusion (v.25-27)

Text

I. Paul's Celebration (v.1-16)

• Romans 16:1,2 : "I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also." : Phoebe, whose name means "Radiant," was introduced first because it is widely believed that she hand delivered Paul's scroll.

- Paul approved of her, calling her first, "our sister." Phoebe was not his physical sister, but was a sister in the Lord.

- Too often today, we neglect or make light of the relationship that we are to have with one another and the temptation is to see utility rather than fraternity! That is not the way of Christ.

- We are to love as brothers and sisters, saved by grace and saved for Christ!

- Phoebe was a sister and a servant, or "deacon" of the church in Cenchrea. Cenchrea was a port city on the eastern side of Corinth. Phoebe was a deaconess there.

- The word was used in secular circles of a waitress. Whatever needed to be done for the church to have it's meeting, you could bet that Phoebe was there to take care of it.

- Phoebe was coming to Rome, likely having been a business woman. Paul entrusted this scroll to her care and wanted that she be greeted in a worthy manner.

- "Greet her as you would the Lord Jesus Himself, who is Her Lord!"

- This included warmth and sincerity, as well as practicality. Any business she would have need done, they were to help with, the word "business" coming from the word "pragmatic."

- Whatever practical matters that they could be of service in, they should endeavor to do that for her, as she had often done that for the members of the Church, as well as Paul personally.

- Phoebe was a sister, a servant and, as the KJV puts it, a "succourer." That word is obscure, but "helper" is too generic.

- She was a patron of the church in Cenchrea. She underwrote it's financial needs, as well as those of the Apostle Paul! We owe a great debt of thanksgiving to this woman!

- Here was a woman who knew where to put her resources! Her gift outlived her and we celebrate even today, 2000 years removed!

• Romans 16:3-5a : "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house." : Priscilla or "Prisca" and Aquila came into Paul's life and were fast friends because they shared the same tent making occupation.

- Their friendship grew beyond earthly camraderie to spiritual partnership! Paul calls these two saints his "synergos" from which we get the word "synergy."

- Synergy is defined as cooperative action between two entities! When two different muscles work together to form a single motion, you have synergy.

- That's what these two were to Paul in their work in Christ Jesus. Like a cooperative muscle group, they strengthened Paul and more was accomplished than Paul could have done alone!

- What a blessing it is to be someone's Priscilla or Aquila! This is what the Lord does in the lives of His people: He takes strangers, makes them family and multiplies His work!

- These two had risked their very lives for Paul! We aren't told how, but their loyalty ran deep!

  - It's interesting that Priscilla and Aquilla met Paul in Corinth only because they had been exiled from Rome! At the time of this writing, they had returned to Rome and opened a house church!

- Two things occur to me. Don't ever begrudge a difficult situation! Prisca and Aquila were forced into a move that was fairly inconvenient, but God used it to change their lives!

- Second, don't ever pigeon hole yourself in terms of what God can do with you. These two went from being tent makers to fruitful ministers!

- "I could never" is not an appropriate response in the light of God's presence in our life!

• Romans 16:5b-7 : "Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. Greet Mary, who labored much for us. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me." :  Epaenetus was in the first group of people to come to Christ out of the region of Achaia.

- The term "firstfruits" is indicative of the early crop. When Epanetus believed Christ, it was a sign that God had opened a door in that region.

- Mary is mentioned next and her name is synonymous with much labor. The original indicates that she worked to the point of exhaustion for the Apostle.

- Andronicus and Junia or "Junias" were fellow Jews, likely a married couple and prisoners at some point with Paul. They were well known to the Apostles, likely forced out of Jerusalem!

• Romans 16:8-11 : "Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord." : Amplias, meaning "large" and Stachys were both called Paul's beloved in Christ! Urbanus, was a fellow synergos with Paul. We need more than one in our lives!

- Appelles was "approved" or "tested" in Christ, referring to his authenticity.

- Appelles had been tested. He had gone through some fire and his faith had stayed! He was proven to be the genuine article! The other solo person mentioned here is Herodian from Tarsus.

- In that first group, we see at least one slave in Amplias. He is mentioned in the same breath with Herodion who had a political tie to the family of Herod, in terms of support.

- This man might have been a lobbyist of sorts who came to church on Sunday and sat next to his brother Amplias!

- Paul also greets both the households of Aristobulus and Narcissus. It was said of the latter home, that they were in the Lord, while Aristobulus' home is not designated that way.

- It's possible that Aristobolus, the Patriarch was not saved, but that his household was.

• Romans 16:12-16 : "Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you." : Typhena and Tryphosa, "Dainty and Delicate," labored in the Lord, but beloved Persis labored much in the Lord!

- When your life is measured by a sentence, will your life be summarized with labor or "much" labor in the Lord? It's only a funny question until we are called to give an account before the Lord!

- The language seems to indicate that T and T were presently laboring, while Persis had labored! Thankfully, T and T had a wonderful example in the older, more seasoned Persis!

- Paul mentions Rufus next, a choice man of God, whose mother extended herself maternally toward Paul, making sure that he ate and took care of himself a little!

- Never underestimate the service of acting as a Mom toward another! How many men have needed a Mom's understanding when their Moms have passed or remained unconverted!

- The same is true with men who have been spiritually surrogate Fathers. At times, the young in the faith need Parental ministry. Rufus' mother was such to Paul.

- These other brothers, Asyncritus, et all were the leading guys in their discipleship group.

- All of these 27 people mentioned, as well as the countless household members, were to salute each other with a holy kiss!

- In that culture, a kiss was a sign of warm reception. The principle is the same, though our culture demands that we be very careful with our lips! Our enduring principle is warmth!

- You can almost hear Paul say these names and imagine their great fellowship together. They were united as brothers and sisters. They were servants, laborers in the things of God.

- There were men, women, people of noble birth and people who were slaves. They were diverse, they were Paul's friends and they were Christ's body!

- You could almost hear Paul's thoughts: What could come against this? That's why we hear this tremendous change of tone.

III. Paul's Concern (v.17-20)

• Romans 16:17,18 : "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple." : Now, I urge you brethren! "I am urging you now and will continue to urge you to take note of certain people." Pay attention, keep an eye on those who cause divisions and offenses.

- Who are these people? These are the ones who insist on certain practices or the emphasis of certain doctrines.

- They are always turning the conversation toward their hobby horse and are always willing to passionately engage you, but despite warnings and scriptures to the contrary, they will never change.

- These people make division their business. They aim for this type of behavior. This is their goal. What is not achieved publically, is done privately by undermining God's work and servants.

- These are men or women, who introduce dissent over established truths, dividing people over fundamental biblical knowledge. They seek, as the NEB puts it, to "stir up quarrels."

- These people who do this contrary to what they had learned, were to be avoided! The Roman church was commanded to be shun or avoid them. Why?

- For they who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ! But you may say, "they are talking about Biblical things? They are arguing about seemingly righteous concepts."

- They don't serve the Lord with their divisiveness. They are indeed serving that hollow part of themselves which craves the pleasure of food.

- Their belly is the metaphor for their intent to satisfy themselves with intellectual disputation. They want to be known as the ones with the most intelligent, air tight argument.

- They come to church not to learn and grow and receive from Christ! They come to seize people from fellowship and drown their ears with their latest brilliant thought!

- What they are saying sounds good. It even seems right, even though you know in your heart that something is off! You don't know what, but it's there.

- With words that are similar to good knowledge and with eulogies designed to captivate your emotions, their heart's intent is to deceive the simple unsuspecting one.

- "He has a BIble. He knows lots of verses. What he says sort of makes sense. He is sitting in this church. He must be alright!"

• Romans 16:19,20 : "For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." : Paul commends them for their obedience. This was their reputation, through and through.

- Obedience to God, in whatever is revealed in HIs Word, delightful or difficult, is the mark of honor that our church should seek!

- They were obedient to the Gospel. That is a delight to any soul! Who doesn't want forgiveness and peace with God!

- But to mark out people who would interrupt fellowship? That's difficult, but they were obedient in doing it and that made Paul glad for them!

- Don't be satisfied with that Romans! Be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. The NEB renders it this way: "I want you to be experts in goodness, but simpletons in evil!"

- That was Paul's desire for them. He wanted them to be skilled in what was good. He wanted the Roman church to be excellent in every good work!

- When it came to evil however, Paul wanted them to be simple, free from guile, innocent!

- I have often quoted this verse to people wanting to learn about different cult groups or societal ills, who for the sake of their evangelism, sought to learn their ways.

- Paul said and I concur wholeheartedly, seek to know the good intimately and you will have no choice but to affect the evil.

- Don't spend your time immersing yourself in something that is evil for the sake of seeking to understand it. Seek to understand the good and you will overcome evil!

- What will happen? God will crush Satan under the feet of the church in short order! Literally, the church will trample on Satan! What does that mean?

- Paul is saying that Satan is behind all that seeks to cause division! Their obedience to mark out those who are divisive crushes his plan now. Someday, God will do it permanently!

IV. Paul's Companions (v.21-24)

• Romans 16:21-24 : "Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." : Paul's companions saw their opportunity to chime in. I love this because you see an unabated joy in their work! "We can't end it like that Paul!"

- Paul's first mention is the most notable to us, as he speaks of Timothy.

- Timothy came out of a place called "Lystra," where he witnessed Paul's near death experience. When Paul came back, Timothy had become known in the church as a reliable man!

- Later, Paul will call Timothy his "son in the faith" and will become a Pastor himself.

- We were introduced to Jason and Sosipater in the book of Acts. Jason's house, located in Thessalonica, came under attack during Paul's stay there according to Acts 17.

- Jason was dragged out among a mob and treated poorly until he paid his way out of it!

- Sosipater, or Sopater, was man from Berea, who traveled with Paul and Gaius, to Jerusalem, according to Acts 20. These guys had stuck with Paul through thick and thin!

- Tertius was the secretary or as he would have us call him, the " amanuensis" of this book.

- Erastus, the treasurer of the city of Corinth was mention alongside a slave, Quartus. Tertius' name meant "Third" and Quartus, "Fourth!"

- These men wanted to interject their love toward the Roman church. Notice how their sentiments are verbatim to Paul's.

- Paul's heart was transferred to these men who echoed his exact wish for the Romans. You can't spend time with a godly man and not have them rub off on you!

V. Paul's Conclusion (v.25-27)

• Romans 16:25-27 : "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen." : Paul closes this magnificent book with this wonderful benediction. To Him who is able to establish you. He is able to make your standing sure!

- God has the ability to stabilize you. He is able to fix your position and cause you to stand against all the waves that might come against you. He is able to do that. How? By the gospel first.

- The gospel being that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, so that in believing upon Christ, proving that by repenting of known sin, we who believe can be saved to eternal life!

- That is Paul's and indeed, the church's gospel message to the world! He is able to establish by the gospel and the preaching or proclamation of Jesus Christ.

- It is Jesus Christ who brings freedom, power and makes forgiveness a possibility. The Gospel divorced from Jesus is no gospel at all!

- This is the mystery. That word in the original refers to something that has been hidden. Now, God has shown it!

- The thing that was hidden was that Christ would unite all men unto Himself in the Church!

- The Church, the agency by which He dispenses the gospel and the teaching of Christ, was not shown explicitly in the Old Testament, but was hinted at strongly in the Word of God!

- The Prophets spoke of this, many of the examples we have seen throughout Romans. That which was prophecied was given by commandment by the Everlasting God!

- He is the Ageless One, having no beginning and no end! He is our God!

- This letter, given to the Romans and lived out by their number, was dedicated to the God who alone is wise!

- May He be seen in the greatest light possible and worshipped like He deserves because of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Conclusion

            - Let's pray.