To Him Who Strengthens

Intro: After my sermon last week, I think I would like to sit for a little while in some texts in Scripture that I think will help us to continue to look to Jesus. Now, that doesn’t mean that the Sermon on the Mount doesn’t point to Christ. It absolutely does. But for this moment in time, I think for us, I want us to look at some texts of Scripture called “Doxologies.” There are three in particular that I want to spend some time in, and the first one today is found in Romans 16. This concluding doxology summarizes much of what Paul has been writing in the book of Romans. Romans is seen by many as the greatest of Paul’s letters, revealing the theology of the New Testament in spectacular fashion, and then applying it to the believer’s life. The themes of law, judgment, sin, grace, salvation, and living in light of the redemption of Christ are clear and undeniable. He then closes with praise, doxology.

READ THE TEXT (Rom 16:25-27)

CTS: Our best response to God’s grace in Jesus toward us is worship.

I. God’s Power (25a)

To strengthen us – (we were weak in sin)

Dead in sin (Col 2:13-15 / John 11:25-27 / Romans 5:8),

Brought to life! That’s the strength of God!

Colossians 2:13–15 ESV

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

John 11:25–27 ESV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Strong in faith (Mark 9:17-24 / Eph 1:17-18)

There’s a moment in the book of Mark where a demon-possessed boy cannot be healed by Jesus’ disciples. The father begs and pleads with Jesus, though he may doubt because he saw the disciples fail. Jesus says in essence “If you can? All things are possible for one who believes!” Faith.

Mark 9:24 ESV

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Paul prays for the Ephesian for this very idea, that God would strengthen their faith in Him.

Ephesians 1:17–18 ESV

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Strong in holiness (Romans 12:2, Rom 8:9)

God’s call to His people is that He makes them righteous, then strengthens them to live the life that glorifies Him. Holiness, killing sin and being separated from the ideaology of the world.

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 8:9 ESV

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Strong in courage (2 Cor 12:9-10 / Joshua 1:9)

Courage in the call to the Christian life. We will naturally be a people in opposition. The Gospel confronts sin and pride. It is not natural for humanity because of the brokenness of sin. We are naturally rebellious. So we need to be courageous as we live as the church.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 ESV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Joshua 1:9 ESV

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

II. God’s Gospel (25b-26a)

This power is revealed in His Gospel. The revelation of this good news is culminated in Jesus Himself.

Revelation of the secret. This was not a secret kept to hide, but rather, progressively revealed and in fulness revealed in Christ.

The prophetic writings (the OT Scriptures) have always pointed to Christ. It wasn’t until Jesus came and fulfilled the prophetic writings himself that we know see in clarity what was revealed. (1 Peter 1:10-12, Luke 24)

1 Peter 1:10–12 ESV

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Luke 24:25–27 ESV

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

The reminder here is that the Scriptures are the means by which we understand the Gospel, the revelation of Jesus Christ is found here. There is no need for a new “word from the Lord.” Every bit of what we know and should seek to know the Lord is the revelation of Himself through the Bible. (2 Tim 3:16)

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

III. God’s Heart (26b)

In this, the Gospel was made known to all nations. The clear reminder is that our God is a global God. A theme that runs throughout the Scriptures. Israel was supposed to a light to the nations. The church, God’s people don’t bring people in to a local, but go out into the world and scatter to proclaim the Gospel. Instead of come in, the command of Christ is to go out. We must reach the nations with the Gospel. Every race, every class of people, every ethnicity, and every color of skin. The call of the Gospel supercedes any nation.

IV. God’s Wisdom (27)

The final line of the book of Romans is clear. To the only wise God. There is no other god. There is no one wiser than him. No person, no power, no boss, no spiritual guru, no prophet, no motivational speaker, no author. No one is wiser than God. You want to gain wisdom? Go to the wisdom himself, Jesus Christ.

To him be glory. To him belongs praise. The direction of the church is to this end. To glorify God and to make Him known. There is nothing that brings God glory than sinners coming to repentance. To see God glorified in the church is to worship in spirit and truth, loving God and loving one another, and making disciples. Nothing else matters. Nothing else comes first. To him be glory through Jesus Christ.

And the declarative Amen. All in agreement, all in praise!