November 19, 2017
Morning Service

We started this study of Paul’s letter to the Roman church back in July.  We have reached the final chapter and I feel like I am at the end of a great adventure.  Every chapter has brought us some truth that opens our eyes to who God is, how much He loves us, what he desires for our lives to look like, and a challenge for us to attain it.  My hope is that during this last 5 months you have been challenged to walk closer to our Savior, cried tears of joy, some of repentance, and had several moments that you just had to step back and say “Wow!”  I can’t tell you this letter ends with a bang.  I actually was concerned if there was anything in here that was worthy of even looking at.  I was wrong.  I think this is the perfect thing to discuss especially on this the Sunday before we celebrate Thanksgiving later this week.  I will explain as we go.  In chapters 14 and 15 Paul called us to be our brother’s keeper in a sense.  We who are stronger in our faith, farther down the path to God than others, are to look out for those who are weaker in their faith or just less traveled.  We are to be a unified body of believers; a family of Jesus followers.  We are better together.  We are to truly love one another as we love ourselves, just as Jesus did.

As we begin chapter 16, Paul begins to list those who have helped him along his way, realizing too that he also is just a member of a group of believers that are together spreading the good news of the gospel message to the world.  He could not do his ministry alone.  He knows that they too are better together.

Romans 16:1-15  I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,  (2)  that you receive her in the Lord, as becomes saints, and that you may assist her in whatever business she has need of you. For she has been a helper of many, and of myself also.  (3)  Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus,  (4)  who have risked their own necks for my life; to whom not only I give thanks, but also the churches of the Gentiles.  (5)  Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia to Christ.  (6)  Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us.  (7)  Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.  (8)  Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.  (9)  Greet Urbanus, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.  (10)  Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of Aristobulus' household.  (11)  Greet Herodion my kinsman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.  (12)  Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.  (13)  Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.  (14)  Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brothers with them.  (15)  Greet Philologus and Julias, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints with them. (16) Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. 

·         Paul compiles quite a list of those he has helped, those he has worked side by side with and those who have helped him in fulfilling his ministry of spreading the gospel message.   Here is where we can tie this into this season of Thanksgiving.  We tend to look around us and be thankful for the things that we have been blessed with.  Paul looked around himself and was thankful for the people in his life that he had been blessed with.

·         I want to challenge you to do the same in your life.  The three areas or relationships Paul mentioned are the ones that I was taught many years ago as a true biblical principle at a men’s Promise Keeper event.  They told us that a cord with three strands is more difficult to break.  First we need to be helping or mentoring someone who is not as far down the path of faith that we are.  Second we need a brother or sister to walk right alongside us and work side by side; supporting and holding each other accountable.  Thirdly there needs to be that mentor that is farther down the road than you and can be the one you can seek out for wisdom and advice in trying times.

·           Who are the ones you are helping or mentoring?  Are you investing your time wisely in them?  Is there someone else you should add to that list?  This is the area in our lives that we sometimes tend to cut when time is tight because it does take a big investment on our part.

·         Who is that one that walks with you supporting, challenging you, and who calls you out when you stray away on a small detour?  This person must be trustworthy and proven, but also unafraid to ask the tough questions.

·         Who is your mentor?  Who do you call when you stand at the fork in the road and really don’t know which way to go?  This person has to be reliable, proven and found faithful.  They also need to be honest and open sharing their times of failure as well as success.

·         Make a list if you have to, but during this Thanksgiving season be thankful for having these people in your life and if they are around tell them so.  Paul continues his final words of this letter with another warning.

 

Romans 16: 17-18 And I exhort you, brothers, to watch those making divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them.  (18)  For they who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches they deceive the hearts of the simple.

·         Have you heard this from this pulpit ever before?  It is vitally important that you read and study your Bible.  It is prophesied that in the last days many will be deceived by false doctrines.  It is thus very important that you read and study your Bible.  In Acts 17 Paul described the Bereans as this:

 Acts 17:11  And these were more fair-minded than those of Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see if those things were so.

·         Use your Bible to set the standard on what you believe and don’t believe.  There are those that will teach doctrine contrary to the Word and cause many offences and divisions within the church.  Paul advices us to avoid them for they are only out for themselves.  Paul closes the letter like this.

Romans 16:20-27  And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.  (21)  Timothy my fellow worker, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater my kinsmen, greet you.  (22)  I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.  (23)  Gaius my host, and the host of me and the whole church, greets you. Erastus the steward of the city greets you, and Quartus a brother.  (24)  May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  (25)  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, having been unvoiced during eternal times;  (26)  but now has been made plain, and by the prophetic Scriptures, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith;  (27)  to God only wise be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

·         Paul states what a wonderful time it is to be alive and following Jesus.  God has revealed His perfect plan of salvation that is available to whosoever will and not to the Jew only.  He glorifies God for just being a part of this wonderful plan.

 

Lord, thank You for Your Word, Your love for us, and the perfect plan of salvation that is available to each of us.  Thank You for those You have placed with us on our path to You.