Romans Chapter 16, August 13, 2023

Introduction

C. Setting the Stage for Romans 16

1. Overview of Romans 16

- Personal Connections: Greetings and commendations

- Warnings: Vigilance against false teachings

- Theological Insights: Wisdom of God's plan

2. Relevance to Modern Believers

- Connection to our daily walk with Christ

- Importance of community, discernment, and embracing God's wisdom

D. Purpose of the Sermon

- Invite the congregation to explore Romans 16 together

- Encourage reflection on personal relationships, vigilance, and understanding God's plan

- Set the expectation for practical applications and spiritual growth

We are now going to pivot into what's one of Paul's most encouraging roles that he played in the early church. It is the role of being a shepherd in the church.

Let’s read through this long form.

Paul, Shepherd of the Church (Romans 16:1–24)

Romans 16:1–24 ESV

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. 17 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. 18 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. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

Romans C. Paul, Shepherd of the Church (16:1–24)

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, when life is supposedly more impersonal than ever, a person with the apostle Paul’s preoccupations could be excused for overlooking personal greetings.

A. Nurturing Relationships

1. Commendations and Greetings

Romans 16:1–2 ESV

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

- Introduction to Phoebe and her role

Many believe that Phoebe was the person that carried Paul's letter to Rome. This makes Paul encouraging that they give her all the help they can especially relevant. You see Phoebe mentioned in verses one and two. It may be possible that Phoebe was a person of means with wealth that she chose to devote to the growth of the church.

In fact the language Paul uses for Phoebe actually refers to a patroness or benefactoress.....someone who pays for someone else.

- Paul's Personal Greetings to Friends and Fellow Workers

- Importance of Acknowledging and Affirming Others

2. Diversity in the Early Church

Next Paul goes onto a lengthy list of greetings to men and women he knew in the Romans church.

John 10:3 ESV

3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Here’s what I can tell you about the following list starting in verse 3

28 Individuals -26 by name and 2 without name.

5 groups

Various churches and households where churches met

17 Men

9 women—the only ones who were commended for working hard.

2 couples (only!)

5 slaves

2 Households

Persons of distinction

Aristobulus

Romans 16:10 ESV

10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.

Possibly grandson of Herod the great and friend of the emperor

Narcissus

Romans 16:11 ESV

11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus.

a well known freedman who had influence wi th the emperor

Rufus

Romans 16:13 ESV

13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.

Possibly the son of Simon the Cyrene who carried Jesus’ cross to Golgotha

Mark 15:21 ESV

21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.

The names of individuals mentioned in the Bible may seem old-fashioned and unfamiliar, but delving deeper into their stories can be truly fascinating. By taking the time to consider their choices, lives, and sacrifices, we can find inspiration in their example.

People Paul has descriptions for:

Hard workers

Mary

Romans 16:6 ESV

6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.

Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis

Romans 16:12 ESV

12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.

Fellow workers

Priscilla and Aquila

Romans 16:3 ESV

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

Andronicus and Junias

Romans 16:7 ESV

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.

Dear Friends

Epenetus, Ampliatus, Stachys; Persis

Things to note about this list

1: Diversity

Paul's list wasn't created with the intention to please anyone or to appear politically correct or socially acceptable. The list was diverse because it reflected the diversity of the gospel of Jesus Christ which transcends all barriers of race, ethnicity, religion, social status, and culture. The message of the gospel welcomes all, whether you are a slave or free, Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, or regardless of where you live or your background. From the beginning, the church has been intentionally diverse and unified under the cross of Jesus Christ.

2: Women

The next thing to pay attention to in this passage is women's prominent role. A third of the people mentioned are women. Everyone described as hard-working was a woman. In fact, One of the women is described as an apostle. The Bible has always been pro-women, valuing both men and women.

3: House Churches

Do you think Cornerstone Bible Church is small? from the very beginning God worked through intimate fellowships of believers. God grew his church through families and their friends gathering together studying God's words celebrating what Jesus did and committing themselves to living out their faith. Church wasn't about large scale organizations or massive church ministry is run like businesses. Church was family. Church was small and many. Or sometimes church was just one household in one community bravely holding onto their faith in Jesus

4: Diverse churches

If you think back to the past several chapters we have been walking through and you also look at this list of names and the diversity in it from the beginning the church was a place for Jews and gentiles got together. It was a place where people of radically different cultures found unity because of a shared commitment to Jesus.

Two final words from Paul in this section

Romans 16:16 ESV

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

This is the fourth time in Paul's letters that he encourages the believers to greet one another with a holy kiss. He makes a commanding statement to express affection for one another. He tells him you must do this!

I think this is a powerful challenge for us today. It's not optional for us to encourage each other.

One commentator translates this saying give handshakes all around for my sake while if you have the message translation you will read holy embraces all around

Whatever the context whether it's rubbing noses in Alaska Eskimo land or elbows in the jungle affectionate greetings in the church are appropriate and encouraged.

Warnings and Protection (Romans 16:17–20)

Romans 16:17–20 ESV

17 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. 18 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. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

A. The Need for Vigilance

Parallels to the Genesis Story of the Fall

We need to remember that when it comes to the truth of the gospel physical barriers like doors and gates are not going to stop people from attacking.

Think about the Genesis story. Adam and Eve they were taught the truth about how they should live and what they should do. In the same way the Roman believers were taught the truth about the gospel.

Adam and Eve should've stayed away from the person that came to tempt him and the Roman believers Warren to watch out for and keep away from those with lead them away from the gospel.

The one that deceived Adam and Eve wasn't serving God but he was serving him self in the same way the believers in Rome I warned that the temperatures are serving Jesus but they're serving themselves.

Adam and Eve were received by flattery in the same way the Roman believers will use smooth talk and flattery to deceive them.

And also in the same way that God finally judged the one who deceived Adam and eve God will also judge Satan the one who is ultimately trying to deceive the believers in Rome and each of us

A Reminder to take hope

We are reminded as Jesus challenged his disciples

Matthew 10:16 ESV

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

or as Paul challenged the church in Corinth

1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV

20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

The kind of life the believer is called to have is the innocent faith of a child Mk 10:15

Mark 10:15 ESV

15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

but the maturity of an adult fully aware there is a war going on.

Greetings from Paul's Friends (Romans 16:21–24)

Romans 16:21–24 ESV

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

I could walk through this list and tell you that we know some things about several of the people but many of these people we don't actually know that much at all about.

You know it's interesting we are often tempted to think that history will little know or care much about our service. History we fear will forget us a number of decades after we are gone.

And the reality is that's true. History will little remember what the average Christian does with his or her life. But these early believers, these men that Paul list here they were friends of Paul's who served not to get their name chiseled into history but simply to be a friend and to serve this magnificent gospel

These people were focused not on the books of history but the reality that their name was already written in a far more important book

Revelation 21:27 ESV

27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Paul, Apostle of the Church (Romans 16:25–27)

Romans 16:25–27 ESV

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

A. The Wisdom of God's Plan

1. The Means: Gospel and Proclamation

2. The Mystery: Revelation of a Hidden Truth

3. The Mandate: Belief and Obedience

B. Reflection: How do we respond to the wisdom and glory of God's plan for salvation?

Conclusion

- Recap the main points and their relevance to our lives today.

- Emphasize the importance of personal connections, vigilance, recognition of individual roles, and embracing God's wisdom.

- Call to action: Encourage the congregation to reflect on their roles within the church and their response to God's glorious plan.

- Close with a prayer, giving thanks for the wisdom of God's plan and asking for guidance in living out our faith with passion and integrity.

Conclusion

The story of Fred the convict: “Let’s sing it!”

Romans III. Conclusion: A Reason to Praise

Charles Colson, former White House counsel to president Richard Nixon and founder of Prison Fellowship ministry, tells a remarkable story of a doxology in an unusual place and for an unusual reason. It seems that a young man named Fred, a convicted thief and heroin addict, had been led to Christ in prison by the family of one of his robbery victims. They visited him and showed the love of Christ so consistently to him that he was won to the Lord. The impact of his conversion on his conscience was so dramatic that, at a parole hearing, Fred confessed to other robberies for which he had not been caught or convicted. As a Christian, he felt that it was his obligation to be completely honest about his sins.

Because Fred’s original conviction was overturned based on a legality he was released from prison. He joined a church, got involved in an ex-prisoners’ fellowship group, and continued to grow in Christ. At his retrial for the crimes he was originally accused of, he again confessed, this time to the trial judge, to the additional wrongs he had committed. He told the judge he was willing to accept whatever punishment was appropriate. An awkward silence ensued while the judge considered what to do with Fred and his previously-known and newly-confessed crimes. When the judge announced the sentence, it reflected a wisdom that gave Fred back his life: ten years for each robbery—suspended (no jail time)—and restitution to his victims for their losses with 50 percent interest.

For a moment no one in the courtroom moved. Then Fred’s pastor jumped to his feet and shouted, “Let’s sing it!” and proceeded to lead the entire packed courtroom in the singing of the doxology. The Seattle Times newspaper captured the scene: “Everyone stood up, little old ladies in spring dresses, ex-cons, girls in jeans, men in business suits, a biker with his motorcycle jacket and helmet, prison guards—and they began to sing: ‘Praise God from whom all blessings flow.…’ ” Officials later said that it was the first time a Seattle Superior Court case had ever closed with the Doxology (cited by Hughes, pp. 313–315).