Read Romans 16:17–20
Questions from the Scripture text: How does Romans 16:17 begin? What does the apostle call them? What does he command them to do? What two things do the people whom they are to note cause? To what are these two things contrary? Once they’ve noted the nature of these divisions and offenses, what are they to do? Whom do those who are such claim to serve (Romans 16:18)? But what do they actually serve? And what else do they deceive, of whom? By what two types of speech? What has become known to whom (Romans 16:19)? How does the apostle feel about this? In what does he want them to be wise? In what does he want them to be simple? Who will do what, to whom, when (Romans 16:20)? What does the apostle pray/pronounce upon them? How does he conclude?
Must Christians welcome all? Romans 16:17–20 prepares us for the midweek sermon in the prayer meeting. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are to note and to shun causers of division and stumbling.
On the heels of the greetings in Romans 16:3-16, the apostle commands avoiding certain professing “Christians” (Romans 16:17). Who and why?
Two of the main applications of chapters 12–15 have been that they welcome and serve one another in the church, and that they especially do so with a view toward helping one another stand as holy before the Lord. Against the welcome and mutual service are “divisions.” Against helping one another in holiness are “offenses,” a word meaning causing others to fall or stumble. These are perennial problems in the visible church: those who wish to divide congregations that have Christ in common, and those who enable others’ sin.
These are theological problems, because they are “contrary to the doctrine” of this letter (Romans 16:17). And they are spiritual problems, because they expose someone as actually serving themselves, even if they claim to serve Christ (Romans 16:18). The poetic image of “their own belly” reminds us how grotesque this is.
These are also infectious problems. Such people do not appear grotesque like the image. Rather, they present as smooth and flattering (Romans 16:18). Those who are not wise in goodness can easily be taken in to think that these divisions are good (orderly?), or that permissiveness of sin is good (“gracious”? “gospel-centered”?).
Even those whose “obedience has become known to all” are susceptible to these subtle and deadly errors (Romans 16:19). And especially those of standing in the faith are targets for the spread of such error. We are not surprised, when Romans 16:20 reveals who is behind the effort to spread such things in the church: Satan himself! But it is not our responsibility to crush the devil. Rather, we resist him with wisdom in goodness (studying, meditating upon, and assimilating such things as the letter to the Romans!), and by being simple about evil (not being taken in by it, and not falling into wicked cunning in opposition to it). Duty is ours. Events are God’s. He will crush Satan. And even our duty will only be done by the grace of Christ!
Over what sorts of things do Christians wrongly divide? In what ways do people cause others in the church to stumble into sin? How can you take note of these things? Whom should you be avoiding?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for the good doctrine of Romans. By this doctrine, give us to be wise in goodness. Please help us to observe how divisions are caused and how sin is accommodated. By the grace of Christ, give us to avoid these things until You crush Satan under our feet. We thank You that we know that You will in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP197 “Christian Unity” or TPH534 “Fill Thou My Life, O Lord, My God”
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