Chapter 46

With A Little Help From My Friends

Romans 16

 

Today at Dearborn Baptist Church we've come to the end of a journey.  We have reached the final chapter and my final sermon from Paul's epistle to the Romans.  I invite you to open your Bible to Romans 16.

 

Romans is doctrinal book.  The first eight chapters are a clear and systematic dissertation on the subject of salvation.  Romans is also a dispensational book.  Chapters 9-11 reveal some of God's plan for the future.  Romans is a practical book with straightforward words about how to live the Christian life in chapters 12-15.  Finally, Romans is a personal book.  In this final chapter, the Apostle Paul opens up his heart and allows us to look inside.

 

This last chapter is one that could be easily overlooked.  Most of it is a list of names (I might add - names that are not easy to pronounce - I've been praying and practicing all week).  These names are a list of Paul's "greetings to" and "greetings from."

 

Several years ago, I came to the realization that the Bible was not just a collection of verses and proverbs on various subject but was written in the form of books with beginnings, middles and endings.  I made a commitment that my ministry was going to emphasis, not my gifts or abilities, not my opinions, but God's Word.  I committed to preach through the books of the Bible, chapter by chapter and verse by verse.  I would not skip any chapter or verse in the book.  Every verse is God's  inspired Word and "written for our learning."  Now, admittedly, verse by verse preaching is not the most exciting kind of preaching.  I could preach more exciting messages.  But my purpose is not to give you a weekly thrill.  My calling as a pastor, as the shepherd of this flock, is to feed you God's Word - all of it - because this is the resource that will cause you to grow, make you stronger and give your Christian life more stability.

 

It is providential that today, my anniversary as the pastor of this congregation, which began on December 10, 1986, I would complete another verse by verse study of another book of the Bible.  So far, I have preached through 9 books of the Old Testament plus the lives of Moses, Saul, David, and Elijah which are not complete books but large sections of several Old Testament books.  But I have concentrated on the New Testament, because I take serious the phrase in II Corinthians which says that we are ministers of the new covenant, and I have read, studied and preached 20 of the 27 books of the New Testament. 

 

And so, today, we will consider the words of Romans 16.  The words of this chapter fall into 3 simple categories.

 

 

Be Careful To Give Affection To People, vv. 1-16, 21-23.

 

These first 16 verses are all about people who are, in some way, connected to Paul.  There are 35 people mentioned by name in this chapter.  (26 were "greetings to" and 9 were "greetings from").  Some of them are mentioned elsewhere in the Scriptures, but most of them are only once, only here in the Word of God.  In addition to those who are mentioned by name, there are at least two who are referred to but not by name (v. 13 - Rufus' mom; v. 15 - Nereus' sister) and two household (v. 10, 11) and a couple of times Paul mentions "the brethern that are with them" or "the saints that are with them." There are also several references in this passage to a particular "church" or "churches" (vv. 1, 4, 5, 16, 23).  These were definite people.  They were real men and women and families and churches with whom Paul had a personal relationship.  Paul was a friend-maker as well as a soul winner!

 

They were also dear people.  The word that Paul uses is "beloved" (vv. 8, 9, 12).  They were people whom Paul genuinely loved and who, no doubt, genuinely loved Paul.  Isn't it wonderful what the Lord does for us in this area?  God gives us a whole new family.  We have brothers and sisters that share love with, that we pray for and that we care about.

 

In addition, they were dedicated people.  In describing them, Paul uses words and phrases like (v. 2) "hath been a succourer (support ;assistant) of many, and of myself also", (v. 4) "who have for my life laid down their own necks", (v. 6) "who bestowed much labour on us", (v. 9) "our helper", (v. 12) "laboured much in the Lord."

 

Again and again, Paul expressed his appreciation for this dear and dedicated Christian people.  The Greek word that is translated "salute" and "greet" is found 21 times in this chapter.  It means to welcome, to embrace (folding of your arms).  Not only is the idea of hugs expressed in this passage, but, according to verse 16, this greeting involved a "holy kiss."  (Rich Schultz).  The holy kiss is mentioned five times in the New Testament.  In the east, a kiss was a sign of respect and affection.  It is a traditional eastern greeting, much like our hearty handshake is in the west. 

 

These verses make clear the importance of friends and the importance of local churches in the life of Paul.  This is a good example for us.  Don't isolate yourself from other Christians.  Don't try to be some kind of reclusive lone ranger Christian.  In order to have friends, the Bibles says you must be a friend.  Proverbs 18:24  A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.  "I don't need people," is the excuse I have heard.  "Not true.  And even if is were true, you may not need other people, but other people need you."  Iron sharpens iron.  And please know that church is not just an event that happens on Sunday mornings.  Church is a community of people.  We are still a church when we are not in the assembly.  As a Christian, you cannot and should not divorce yourself from a community of Christians, a local church.  Get involved.  (Sunday nights and Wednesday nights and fellowship opportunities are the best place to get connected with other Christians).  Whether you recognize it or not, whether you admit it or not, you need the fellowship that comes from church.  I have discovered that often the things that we resist the most are the things that we need the most (and this is one).

 

 

Be Careful To Give Attention To Problems, vv. 17-20

 

In the Lord's work, there are not only people to appreciate, but there are always problems to attend to.  Problems are inevitable in the life of church.  Not until the church is glorified and with Christ in heaven will there be no problems.   Changing your address won't help; changing your attitude will.

 

In verse 17-20, Paul cautions these Christians about the potential problems that are inevitable even in good churches.

 

There will be some doctrinal problems, 17.  From the earliest times, the Lord's churches have been plagued with heresy.  How do we recognize truth and identify heresy?  According to Paul it is those things which are "contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned", that is, it is not what the apostles taught (what Acts 2:42 calls "the apostles' doctrine) or, to put it another way, it is something other than the Bible.  This is and must always be, a Bible teaching, Bible centered church. 

 

There will also be division problems, 17-18.  Divisions may be caused by doctrinal issues, but, more than likely, these days, divisions are usually over petty matters or personal offenses.  Either way, the result is the same.  This is one of the most serious problems that any church faces.  Verse 17 tells us to "mark them" (identify who they are) and "avoid them."  Look at what verse 18 says about divisive people.  Strong words, indeed.  They are self-serving (not really interested in serving the Lord), they are fleshly (bellies), they are deceptive, and they take advantage of the simple.  By identifying the problem of division, there is, in these verses a call to unity. 

 

There will also be discernment problems, v.19.  We certainly must be discerning, and able to recognize good and evil.  I Thessalonias 5:21-22  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  Abstain from all appearance of evil.  But, according to these verses, its quite OK to be  innocent and naive about evil.  I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.  I Corinthians 14:20  Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

 

Finally, there are potential devil problems, v. 20.  This is the first and only reference in the entire letter of Romans about Satan, and it is a victory statement.  "20  And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly."  Really, here is the bottom line, when it comes to church problems.  Satan, the devil.  Where there are problems in the church that are not handled properly, it's not "I win" or "you win" but "Satan wins."  But not for long.  God's going to take care of Satan soon.

 

Satan is already a defeated enemy.  He was defeated by Jesus on the cross.  He's headed for hell and he wants to damage as many churches as he can along the way. 

 

 

Be Careful To Give Glory To God, vv. 24-27.

 

The letter closes with a typical kind of ending from the pen of Paul.  It would have been dictated by Paul and so, in verse 22, the scribe signs his name.  Then Paul himself would take up the pen and write the final words which can be summarized in two phrases ... Grace to you and glory to God.  What kind of God is He?  He is gracious (v. 24), powerful (v. 25), everlasting (v. 26) and wise (v. 27).  He has saved us through Jesus Christ by  the timeless and truthful gospel.  Give Him glory!  And everybody said, "Amen!"