Conclusion: From Signatures to Song

The Letter to the Romans

Paul and His Plans

Conclusion: From Signatures to Song

Real People (vv. 21-23)

Real Power (vv. 25-26)

Real Praise (v. 27)

Introduction

Good morning and welcome to Countryside Vineyard!

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Joe Fager, one of the pastors here.

Today we’ll be continuing our study of Paul’s letter to the Romans

Chapter 16:21-27

Introduction

Well, who’s ready to wrap up Paul’s letter to the Romans?

This morning we’ll be looking at verses 21-27

We’ve spent a year walking with Paul; today we land the plane where the Spirit wants all gospel truth to land—in worship.

(Brief textual note—30 seconds):Before we read, quick note on why some Bibles number a verse 24 and some don’t. Our earliest manuscripts all include chapters 15–16, but a few later copies repeat a short grace

Before we read, quick note on why some Bibles number a verse 24 and some don’t. Our earliest manuscripts all include chapters 15–16, but a few later copies repeat a short grace line and some move the doxology’s placement. No doctrine changes—Paul still ends with grace to the church and glory to God. We’ll read it as in our translation and focus on the climactic doxology in 16:25–27. Okay?

Pray…

Real People (21-23)

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 love that the Holy Spirit saw fit to keep these names preserved in the text of Romans.

I think it shows that Paul isn’t some lofty high preacher that he’s right there doing life with real people.

He is sending greetings to the churches in Rome from real people who the recipients would know and recognize.

That matters. The gospel doesn’t float above ordinary life; it is rooted in homes, city offices, and house churches—real addresses. Look at who’s here:

Timothy (v. 21) – Paul’s most faithful co-laborer.

Lucius – Good reasons to assume it’s Luke the of the Gospel and Acts.

Tertius (v.22): the one holding the pen. I love that the scribe steps out from behind the parchment for a second and says, “Hey—grace to you.” The gospel dignifies unseen servants. Not everyone preaches from a stage; some hold the pen, run slides, open doors, rock babies, brew coffee—and heaven sees it.

Gaius (v.23): “host to me and to the whole church.” Hospitality in the early church wasn’t a side dish—it was the table the church ate from. This is small groups before we had a name for it. Spiritual family around a real table in a real living room.

Erastus (v.23): “the city treasurer.” Don’t miss that. The gospel doesn’t retreat from public life; it invades it with integrity. A believer doing his job in City Hall, carrying Jesus into budgets and policies and Tuesday meetings. That’s holy ground too.

Quartus (v.23): simply “the brother.” No resume. No bio. Just belonging. In Christ, obscurity is not insignificance.

Why keep these names? Because the Holy Spirit is telling us: this letter is not theory. It’s community.

I can imagine Paul, Timothy, Gaius all sitting around a table with Tertius in the middle frantically writing all Paul is saying here in Romans, actually probably Phoebe too, because she’s going to deliver it. All listening to Paul composing this letter and all of them saying say hi from me, and me, and me.

How awesome is that?

So, what about us? How does this apply to us… to you?

A couple of weeks ago I talked about how discipleship real Christian living doesn’t happen going to church once a week. It happens in community, people rubbing elbows, having conversation about how to live out what they are learning, getting understanding through talking through the Scriptures, praying together, eating together, doing life together.

We got weak in this area somehow, but I am going to keep encouraging all of you to get into a group. If there isn’t one, form one. Ask people to come. I am willing to talk to you about your ideas about the content or format, but like Bill said last week, just get together. Just do life with each other. You don’t need your group to be sanctioned. There are all sorts of different types of groups, the important thing is that you find one or start one.

Even, the writing of the Book of Romans was done in a group setting!

Transition:

Community is the arena where the gospel plays out. The power comes from God Himself—through the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures—to bring about the obedience of faith. Let’s step into that in 16:25–26.

Real Power (vs. 25-26)

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

“God doesn’t strengthen us by hype or willpower—He establishes us by revealing the once-hidden mystery, now preached as Jesus Christ, witnessed by Scripture, to produce the obedience of faith in all nations.”

A. What the “mystery” is (and isn’t)

Paul says, “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…”

Mystery ≠ riddle to solve. In Paul’s vocabulary, “mystery” means divine truth we could never discover by ourselves.

Truth previously unknown.

Truth not accessible by human reason.

Truth God Himself had to unveil.

Christianity isn’t humanity’s best theories about God; it’s God’s self-disclosure in Christ. We didn’t climb up to heaven; heaven came down to us.

Speculation breeds instability but revelation births establishment. The church is not strengthened by trend, technique, or personality, but by Jesus Christ revealed.

B. How the mystery is revealed: By God’s command, through the prophetic Scriptures

“…but now has been disclosed and through the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God…”

God wanted it known, so He commanded it be proclaimed.

And He anchored it in Scripture. The same Scriptures that promised the gospel (Rom 1:2–4; 3:21–22) now guard the gospel we preach.

The Gospel – what it is:

Jesus lived, died, rose again, and now reigns at the Father’s right hand. To accept the gospel you must repent (admit) that you are a sinner and now want to live for him, that’s it. If you’ve already done that, then your job is to live daily out of that confession.

Two questions:

If God has revealed how to be right with Him, why do we keep inventing new ways?

If the gospel is woven through the Scriptures, why don’t we run to them daily?

Application:

Some of us are exhausted because we’re trying to be strong on a diet of slogans. You won’t be established by clips and quotes. Open the Bible. See the Christ the Scriptures point to. Let revelation, not speculation, establish you.

C. Why the mystery is revealed: To bring about the obedience of faith among all nations

“…to bring about the obedience of faith—to all the nations.”

The goal of revelation is not applause; it’s allegiance.

God wants what every person longs for: love and trust—and the obedience that flows from both (Jn 6:29; 15:10; Heb 11:6; 1 Jn 3:23).

Saving faith is not mere agreement; it’s trusting obedience to Jesus. Not obedience to earn love—but obedience because we trust His love.

And the scope is all nations. The doxology at the end of Romans isn’t a private hallelujah—it’s a global one. If our theology ends with “me,” we stopped too soon. The gospel strengthens us for the nations.

Where is the Spirit calling you to obey today? Forgive? Reconcile? Give? Go? The real power of the gospel is seen when revelation becomes obedience.

When we see the gospel the result should be then Real Praise.

Real Praise (v 27)

to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Let it land:

Paul doesn’t end with a clever summary. He ends with worship. The last word of gospel doctrine is the first note of doxology.

A. “The only wise God”

We live in an age drowning in advice and starving for wisdom. Paul lifts our eyes: there is one fountain of wisdom, one Composer whose melody ties Genesis to Jesus, promise to fulfillment, Israel to the nations, your story to His story—the only wise God.

His wisdom is seen in the timing—“long kept secret, now revealed.”

His wisdom is seen in the means—Christ crucified and risen, foolishness to the world, power to those who believe.

His wisdom is seen in the mission—all nations brought to the obedience of faith.

B. “Through Jesus Christ”

All true worship routes through Jesus. He is not one instrument in the orchestra—He’s the conductor and the theme. The doxology isn’t generic spirituality; it’s Christ-centered glory to the Father.

C. “Be glory forever. Amen.”

Glory is not a feeling we chase; it’s the credit we give. The forever God deserves forever praise. When gospel revelation strengthens a church, it doesn’t produce pride—it produces praise.

Pause. Breathe. Whisper “Amen.” Let your heart agree: “To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever.”

Conclusion

Real People with real people problems and real issues who are dealing with real ethical and moral questions of their day.

Let me ask how the gospel and the Bible inform you opinions about the moral questions of our day.

Are your opinions formed based on who you follow on Instagram or X or Facebook? Or do you allow the gospel empowered by the Holy Spirit to transform your opinions?

Remember that our clip-happy world – especially the media - can make anybody say anything. So, before you post demonizing or elevating some figure, do your homework, both on them and know the gospel and the Scriptures.

How does Jesus and his word inform your thoughts and opinions?

Real Power – The gospel which is that Jesus Of Nazareth(fully God) became a human being died on a Roman cross in the first Century under Pontious Pilot according to the Scriptures (OT), rose on the third day, and then ascended to sit at the Fathers right hand, that gospel, that good news is the power of salvation, and now today it’s also the power to stand firm in the faith.

We preach it every week because you need to hear it every week. In fact, I need to hear it every day.

This gospel is the power to make you able to stand against all the trials, temptations, persecution, anything that comes against you. He is able to establish you when you submit to this gospel.

God the Holy Spirit uses this gospel to transform your heart into a heart that images that of Jesus.

If you’ve never surrendered to Jesus Christ, please don’t leave here without taking that step. You don’t have time, it’s urgent, no one is promised the next day, and without Him you are lost for all eternity. No second chances. Repent and follow him that’s the call.

Real Praise – All of this then results in real praise to him who is able to establish you in Jesus’ name.