ONE LAST THING

 

Romans 16:17-20

James Boice said, “Romans is not the longest book in the Bible, or even the New Testament, but it is long for a letter, and Paul has taken a long time ending it.” And what seems a bit out of place, Paul has one last thing to say because he loves the people in Rome, and that he hopes to see them soon. But until he returns he wanted to let the church know how important they are to him by alerting them of something destructive that can, and does harm the body of Christ. Just as Paul warned the church in Philippi, “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.” Phil 1:15-17

 

At the height of the Reformation Martin Luther was challenging the corruption of the medieval church by a rediscovery of sound biblical exegesis (explaining the text) and preaching. Pope Leo X issued a papal bull (a public decree) against Luther that said, “a wild boar is ravishing God’s vineyard” It is interesting to note that a verse in the Psalms was used to excommunicate Luther from the Roman Catholic Church. Psalm 80:13 says, “The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.” This Psalm refers to God’s people as a vineyard that He planted. It grew and spread-out in the earth. Then, people began to take advantage of that by abusing His vineyard. But Luther was doing no such thing, what Luther rediscovered challenged the Catholic Church and its leaders to return to the Sufficiency and Authority of the plain reading of the Scriptures.

 

Now wild boars do exist, that is why Luther confronted such wild boars, wolves in sheep’s clothing. They were the ones misusing the Scriptures and abusing the people in the vineyard that the Lord planted. They were the ones manipulating others to conform to their narrative and the miss-use of the gospel. This is why William Tyndale said, “I defy the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that drives the plough to know more of the Scripture, than he does.” Shortly after, Tyndale was sentenced to be burned at the stake for heresy by the Roman Catholic Church. Unfortunately for the Pope, the flames took too long, so Tyndale was strangled to death before the flames consumed him. We must recognize that sometimes we may be maligned, slandered, and abused in our efforts to bring reformation and revival to Christ’s church.

 

Luther’s and Tyndale’s life serves as a clear

illustration of this reality.

We also must recognize that wolves exist, and we are to be alert to the dangers it can have on the unity and local body of the church. Paul says, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” (v17-v18) The same word for urgency is used here “appeal” that Paul used back in Romans 12:1 and 15:30. This appeal comes with some urgent care to what follows to what Paul says next, “watch out for those”

 

In other words “keep an eye” on those who try to disrupt the fellowship. Who are we to watch out for? Those who cause division and teach heresy. Division refers to what Jesus called ferocious wolves, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Matt 7:15. Jesus said in John’s gospel this as well about this kind of divisive person, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” John 10:10. Paul says, “watch out” is the warning to the church to not sleep on the job, Paul has no sympathy for theological sleepiness. We are to be ready to detect false teachers, so that we don’t fall to their cunning words and divisive ways. What Paul is saying here is that we are to reject and we are make mental note of those who are way off base to the teachings of Christ. (v17)

 

How do you spot a false teacher

 

False teaching preys on the spiritually immature…..”But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 

2 Cor 11:3

 

False teaching can be the product of distorted interpretations of Scripture by those not firmly established in the truth…..”There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” 2 Peter 3:16

 

False teaching sometimes stems from a desire for material gain….. “And in their greed they will exploit you with false words.” 2 Peter 2:3

 

False teaching is sometimes attributed to demonic deception…… “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,” 1 Tim 4:1

 

False teachers seek to divide the body of Christ…… "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.” Jude 18-19

 

Not every spiritual work is from God. The spirit of the

messenger and the message must be tested.

 

We are to be as Jesus said, “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matt 10:16

I send you as, inoffensive and harmless, into a cold, unfriendly, and cruel and evil world. Serpents have always been an emblem of wisdom and cunning, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made.” Gen 3:1. With this wisdom comes great responsibility to quote Uncle Ben to his nephew Peter Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility". With this wisdom we are be harmless, not to provoke danger, not to do injury, so that it makes other to be justly enraged against us. This wisdom we have in Christ will not protect you from the wolves who seek to devour you; it only keeps you wise and gentle as doves. This is why Paul says it’s protective; when you love the church as he does. So, you will do whatever it takes to protect her from false teachers and those who scheme to do her harm.

We are to turn away from them,

avoid such a person.

 

Paul is saying we are to “reject” what they teach and we do this by protecting fellow believers, especially new converts from being deceived. What Paul isn’t saying here is that “Avoiding doesn’t mean shunning or being cold or cruel.” It’s deliberately keeping your distance and purposely refusing to move toward certain people. Avoiding divisive people means not being their best friend. Not trusting your heart in their hands, not encouraging them into church leadership, not opening your home to them, etc. John warned a lady and her family about this, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.” 2 John 1:10-11. This isn’t always easy because many have crept into the church and has caused some devastating damage to the body.

 

Paul says when this happens it grieves his heart

because He loves God and His church.

 

In the book of Acts we read, “…..Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.” Acts 20:22-31

 

In the book of Philippians we read, “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” Phil 3:18-19

 

He also said to Timothy, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” 2 Tim 4:1-4

This protection is a horizontal love that is a call for discernment. Why? John Calvin said, “As Christ is the end of the Law and the Gospel and has within Himself all the treasures of wisdom and understanding, so also is he the mark at which all heretics aim and direct their arrows.” Denies will always attack the foundation of biblical truths about: God, being personal, infinite, eternal, singular, immutable, supernatural, sovereign, Spirit, transcendent, good, Triune. Jesus Christ, being deity, pre-existent, human, historical, conceived of Holy Spirit, Savior of all mankind, resurrected, presently manifested. Holy Spirit, being deity, personal, presently operative.

“Watch out” in reality is a call to “Discernment” this is the synonym for the word ‘discriminate.’ This in a way it has a negative connotation, but the word itself is not! It simply means “to make a clear distinction”. Discerning signifies a positive line between good and evil, true and false, right and wrong. In essence it means to separate things from one another at their points of difference in order to distinguish them. This is a process of making careful distinction in our thinking about truth, especially inside the church. According to Paul we are to be alert and test, examine, prove, and even scrutinizes, to see whether this is genuine or fake.

 

Does it pass the “Test of Scripture” It’s a conscious refusal to color every issue in shades of gray. No one can be truly discerning without developing skill in separating divine truth from error and almost truth” Tim Challies said, “We need to be discerning first in what we believe and then in what we do.” And the Apostle Paul’s last charge in his letter is for the church to be on alert to anything that will disrupt the body of Christ. We are called to protect her because the church’s health depends on our obedience to the Word of God. (v19). And this blesses Paul’s heart because they are doing that very thing, but he still sends them word of caution of evil continues. The church in Rome was doing the very thing the Philippians were doing with false teaching and division. “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” Phil 2:14-16

 

If they were doing this and it blessed Paul’s heart, why did he still warn them? Answer! Divisive people are like slippery car salesmen. They will get you to buy the undercoat package and blinker fluid. They are smooth talkers! Why is ice cream so dangerous? Because it goes down smooth. A divisive or false teacher is a smooth talker who sounds good and makes you feel good about yourself. The things they say might taste good, but will have disastrous after-effects. See divisive people are divisive! Isn’t that shocker....This means they are usually the root of most internal issues inside the church, because they seek to divide and recruit others to their team. But the biggest issue to me is this……. Divisive people create doctrinal obstacles. They try to find doctrinal traps and puzzles to demonstrate their knowledge of Scripture and to make you feel foolish. They would rather fight over secondary doctrine to cause internal fighting. Paul said to Timothy, “Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.” 2 Tim 2:14

In other words…. Your war over words is doing nothing to help or encourage, but turning others away from the simplicity of faith. Your passion to fight over secondary issues or doctrine only harms the church. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he said, “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.” 1 Tim 6:3-5

 

Destroying God’s church through pride and

divisiveness leads to destruction.

 

And as Paul says here division’s amoung Christians are Satan –inspired. So we are to be aware, don’t entangle yourself with such people who only want to fight and cause issues. To be innocent in what is evil is not to be ignorant of it or to disregard it. We cannot detest evil unless we are aware or have some idea of what it is. These people purposely go from church to church and they only leave a destructive vapor trail everywhere they go. So remember this! (v20) “the God of peace” this is not a peace through negotiations, or offer and acceptance or compromise. God IS the God of PEACE! This is a title of victory, victory over Satan and sin. When Jesus said, “It is finished” these were not words of defeat but of triumph and victory. 

It’s this God who will crush Satan underfoot and bring an end to the false teacher or divisive person. In other words… the devil and his angels with all the evil they have brought into the world will be crushed forever. This will happen with the return of Christ and He will seal this promise. This was promised in the first gospel, “The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." Gen 3:14-15. What Paul is saying…… Despite what has, and will continue inside the church, we can look forward to a day when our spiritual warfare will be over. Teachers of deceit and falsehood are instruments of the devil and they will be destroyed one day. So hang in there because “soon” has a meaning of “speedily or quickly”, as Jesus said, “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." Rev 22:7

 

This is why Paul concludes his last thing with (v25-v27) Paul ends his letter in vertical worship giving God the glory! You and I need God’s wonderful wisdom to recognize false teachers. You and I need God’s grace to give us comfort and patience when we are attacked by Satan’s minions. You and I need to rest in Paul’s closing doxology of worship! We rest in this beautiful doxology of praise for what God has done through His Son Jesus Christ. God is able by His power. God establishes to make it come to fruition. God has done that through the perfect work of the Gospel. The gospel settles us, grounds us, and makes us firm in Him.

 

In other words…. No one but a Christian can be certain about God. Certain about Biblical truth and God’s attributes. Certain about that God is the only wise God. Certain about that God is eternal, infinitely, worthy of all our praise. Certain about the standards of justification and righteousness. Certain about the mystery revealed in uniting both Jew, and gentile, through the gospel as one. Certain about how to love and care for one another. Certain about being with Him for all eternity. Only the true Christian can say with the Apostle Paul, “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” 2 Tim 1:8-12