Two final warnings 17-20

• 1^st – Watch out for those who cause divisions… (4 things) vs. 17-18
  • In the middle of Paul’s conclusion – his closing greetings to the church in Rome…
  • He inserts a stern warning to the church…
  • 1^st – Note – literally ‘mark’ – those who cause division/offenses in the church…
    • The word – ‘note’ – means to look at intently – closely – like under a microscope…
    • Paul is not talking about ‘preferences’ within the church – ‘minor’ issues…
    • People in the church tend to divide over silly things – color of the paint in the church
    • Paul is talking about essential doctrines – ‘salvation by faith in Jesus alone’ – the Gospel…
    • The world is full of false faiths – posing to be from God – but denying the TRUE Jesus
    • They talk about a Jesus – but they are cults – their Jesus is not THE Jesus of the Bible
    • * Galatians 1:8 – “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed.”
    • Mormons – Founded by Joseph Smith – 1827
      • Believe they are the only ‘true church’ (a common theme of cults)
      • Believe Jesus is a created being – offspring of God and Mary – brother of satan
    • Jehovah witnesses – Founded by Charles Taze Russell – 1870
      • They believe Jesus is Michael the arch angel – He is not God
      • Believe only Jesus spirit was resurrected – not his body
      • Only 144,000 will be saved and go to heaven (quota filled many years ago)
    • In contrast – the true Jesus – the Jesus of the Bible – is God Almighty!
      • John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
      • I John 5:7 – “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”
    • We are to mark these false teachers – then we are to completely avoid them…
    • Don’t argue them – don’t debate them – don’t try to disprove them…
    • They are not looking for answers – they seek to deceive/confuse and stumble believers!
  • 2^nd – Not just false teachers/doctrines – but divisive brothers in the Lord…
    • * II Thessalonians 3:14 – “Take note [same word] of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed.”
    • If a brother in the Lord – is divisive in the church / likes to argue – avoid him…
    • Not to be mean – but to make him ashamed of his divisive arguments…
    • Bring him back to the simplicity of the Gospel – knowing Jesus!
    • * Titus 3:9-11 – “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.  Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning…”
    • People who want to argue over trivial doctrines / the law of God / genealogies…
    • Men who pridefully think they have all the answers – deeper insight into God’s Word…
    • But for all their ‘knowledge’ they don’t point you back to relationship with Jesus…
    • Warn them the 1^st time – but if they continue to cause division – avoid them
  • 3^rd – Avoid them because – they have the wrong motivation…
    • * Philippians 3:17-19 – “Dear brothers, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.  For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth.”
    • These false teachers / divisive brothers are not looking to bless/help others…
    • They’re not looking to bring glory to God – they’re only looking to please themselves!
    • They are only thinking about things here on earth – food / money / fame / power…
    • They debate with you because they want to be right – win the argument…
    • They try to win you over to their cult – so they can take advantage of you…
    • The #1 message of false teachers – give us money – Apollo Quiboloy / Iglesia ni Kristo
    • The Mormon church is estimated to be worth a staggering 1.5 trillion Pesos!

• 4^th – Avoid them because they have smooth words/flattering speech – they sound good…
  • II Corinthians 11:14-15 – “No wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”
  • The false teachings/doctrines – the divisions in the church – come from satan
  • Satan can come in really pretty packages – sin / false teachings – can look really good…
  • But in the end it will take you away from Jesus – draw you from relationship with God!
    
• 2^nd – Be an expert in what is good… vs. 19-20
  • The example of the church in Rome – their obedience to the Lord – was well known…
  • Paul notes the way to know false teachers & false doctrine – is to obey the Lord!
  • So Paul encouraged them to be experts/skilled in what is Good…
    • We are to be experts – skilled – in what is Good – Jesus and the Word of God…
    • When we are well acquainted – know our Bible and Jesus…
    • We will able to avoid false teachers/doctrine – avoid disputes in the church!
  • But be simple concerning evil…
    • We are to keep pure – completely separate – from the things that are evil…
    • The way a banker learns to spot counterfeit money – is to study the real thing…
    • Then when a counterfeit note comes along – they can spot the imitation immediately!
    • We are to be so well versed in the Word of God – that when false doctrine comes along…
    • We can spot it as an imitation immediately – and completely avoid it!
  • As for satan – evil – the God of peace will crush him beneath your feet – shortly!
    • To often the people in the church focus on cults / satan / evil things…
    • The NT mentions satan/demons 83 times – but the name of Jesus – 941 times!
    • The Bible focuses on Jesus – so that is where we should put our focus as well!
    • We don’t have to worry about satan – we don’t have to worry about evil…
    • God will take care of him – shortly – God will crush him under our feet!
  • The grace of our Lord be will you all Amen – (2^nd Amen – 1^st was in Romans 15:33)

Closing Greetings… vs. 21-24

• Closing greetings from the beelivers in Corinth…
  • Paul wrote the letter of Romans from the city of Corinth – Acts 20:1-3
  • Those who were with him in Corinth gave their greetings to the church in Rome…
  • Timothy – mentioned 24 times in the NT – Paul’s son in the faith…
    • The traveling companion of Paul on his 2^nd missionary journey…
    • Paul wrote 2 epistles to Timothy – dealing with leadership in the church
  • Lucius – meaning bright or white…
    • He came out of the northern reaches of Africa (Cyrene)…
    • He was one of the 6 teachers in the church of Antioch – Acts 13:1
  • Jason – a believer from Thessalonica…
    • Acts 17:2-7 – Paul went into the Synagogue for 3 weeks to teach Jesus to the Jews…
    • When the Jews of the city of Thessalonica rose up against Paul…
    • They dragged Jason to the rulers of the city – because Paul had stayed at his house!
    • When we stand up for Jesus – we can expect people to come against us…
    • The world hates Jesus – He convicts the world of sin and righteousness – John 3:19-20
    • If it weren’t for Jesus men could do whatever they wanted without consequence…
    • Like a light shining in the darkness – Jesus reveals sin…
    • Because men LOVE sin they hate the light that reveals their sinfulness…
    • We have Jesus in us – so as the world hates the light – Jesus – they also hate us
  • Sosipater – could be the same man as in Acts 20:4 – traveling companion of Paul
  • Tertius – 3^rd – who wrote this letter…
    • Paul had a malady – it is thought that Paul had bad eyesight – unable to write…
    • So Tertius was the one who wrote down the letter as Paul dictated it to him…
  • Gaius – meaning Lord – a wealthy man who housed the church – baptized by Paul
  • Erastus – powerful politician – treasurer of the city of Corinth
  • Quartus – 4^th – possibly a Roman slave at one point in time…
    • Romans would name their slaves – number 1 / number 2 / number 3 / ect.
    • No longer a slave – now a brother in the Lord!
  • For the 3^rd time – the grace of our Lord be will you all Amen!
    

Doxology… vs. 25-27

• All about Jesus… vs. 25-27
  • Now to Him who is able to make you strong (sterizo)…
    • All of us want to be strong – to have a solid foundation in life to stand on…
    • People try all kinds of things – money / work / relationships…
    • But there is only one way to be established – strengthened in this life…
  • According to the Gospel of Jesus Christ…

• II Corinthians 12:9-10 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
• We often pride ourselves in our strength – what is our strength in comparison to God’s
• In truth we are weak – but it is in our weakness we find true strength…

• When we realize we are weak we learn to depend on God’s strength…
• Only in Jesus are we truly strong – we have a life that is built on a firm foundation!
• The revelation of THE mystery – kept secret since the world began…
  • * I Corinthians 2:7-8 – “The wisdom we speak of is the secret wisdom of God, which was hidden in former times, though he made it for our benefit before the world began.  But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would never have crucified our glorious Lord.”
  • The Good news – our salvation – God’s plan from the beginning…
  • Hidden throughout the prophecies of the OT – revealed in the work of Jesus at Calvary…
  • If satan/the world – had known – they never would have crucified Christ…
  • But what they thought was Jesus end – was really the beginning of salvation…
  • The Gospel – now made known through God’s Word – to all nations!
• To God who is alone wise – be glory through Jesus Christ forever – Amen!