Doctrine leads to Doxology!

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.

Introduction

Have you ever watched a movie or read a book all the way through, only to reach the ending and think, “Wow, that was disappointing”? Erin and I often choose a TV series to work through before bed. We’ll watch an episode or two each night, sometimes catch a couple on Sunday afternoons. Over time, we’ve noticed something: the longer a series goes, the shakier the ending often becomes. Great storylines, amazing characters—but when it comes to the ending, they crash and burn.

The book of Romans doesn’t end that way. It takes the gospel story to its full conclusion, leaving us feeling spiritually full. Romans is profoundly gospel-centric. It doesn’t just explain what the gospel is; it also shows what the gospel demands—and how it changes us. Romans as a book very clearly lays out the doctrine of Salvation.

It begins by exposing our sin problem, moves to Christ’s saving work, explains the Spirit’s transformative power, and ends in worship. Paul doesn’t close this book with a warning, an admonition, or a summary. He ends with worship. When we see the gospel on display, we cannot help but worship. That worship flows naturally from God’s character. So Pauls aim in the closing of Romans is to ascribe to God the glory that is due to God because of who he is.

In Romans 16:25–27, Paul highlights four attributes of God’s character:

God strengthens us with His supernatural strength.

God reveals the mystery of the Gospel to His people.

God’s gospel produces faith that leads to obedience.

He is the one true wise God who deserves our glory.

Big Idea: God displays His power, His wisdom, and His eternal purpose in the gospel of Christ, and therefore He alone deserves everlasting glory.

1. God Strengthens His People with His Supernatural Strength (v. 25)

The natural response to the gospel is praise—or doxology. That’s how Romans ends: praising God for all He has done for us. The word doxology comes from two Greek words: doxa, meaning glory, honor, or splendor, and logos, meaning word. A doxology is simply words that proclaim God’s glory as an act of adoration.

Think of the doxology we often sing, written in 1674 by Thomas Ken and drawn from Psalm 47:6, Psalm 86:12, and Hebrews 13:15:

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

This hymn reminds us that worship begins with God—not with us. In the life of a Christian, when we experience the goodness and saving power of Christ, it is natural to break out in praise. When we examine this passage, we see that doxology flows out of doctrine.

Paul begins his doxology with God’s power:

“Now to Him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ…”

We serve an all-powerful God who strengthens us when we have no power at all. Ephesians 2:1 reminds us that we were dead in our trespasses and sins. How much strength does a dead person have? None. Romans 5:6 reiterates this truth:

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

God strengthens the powerless by giving life through the gospel. Romans 1:16 makes it explicit:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”

The same power that saves us continues to strengthen us to live the Christian life. It comes through His gospel and His Spirit. Paul ends this letter by reminding us who saved us and why—to the glory of God alone. We worship Him because He is full of strength, and that strength was used to redeem us.

“His strength saves us, sustains us, and secures us—so we give Him glory.”

2. God Reveals the Mystery of the Gospel to His People (vv. 25–26)

“According to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages, 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…”

This gospel isn’t something new. In Paul’s writings, mystery doesn’t mean “mysterious,” but “something previously hidden that God has now revealed.” This gospel is ancient—rooted in God’s promises throughout the Old Testament. Across hundreds of prophecies, God promised that He would send a Savior to free His people from sin and bondage.

The mystery remained hidden until Christ came. Paul captures its scope in 1 Timothy 3:16:

“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

This doxology points to God’s eternal foreknowledge. From eternity, God knew mankind would rebel, and from eternity, He purposed to send the Savior. God’s work is never reactionary; His plan was established in ages past. The timing was hidden, and the fullness of the plan became clear only through Christ’s work and the Spirit’s illumination.

When mystery came it revealed its self inflesh and blood, That mystery came to teach, to serve and to save.

Now, this once-hidden mystery is being made known to all nations under the authority of the eternal God. We worship Him because He has revealed the mystery of the gospel to us.

3.Paul turns our attention to submission within the Godhead. Christ did not come until He was commanded to come, and He faithfully endured what the Father asked Him to do. The Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—are equal in nature, yet distinct in roles. GotQuestions explains:

“Biblically, all three Persons of the Trinity have the same essence, nature, and glory, but each One has different roles or activities when it comes to how God relates to the world. For example, our salvation is based on the Father’s power and love (John 3:16; 10:29), the Son’s death and resurrection (1 John 2:2; Ephesians 2:6), and the Spirit’s regeneration and seal (Ephesians 4:30; Titus 3:5). The different tasks that we see the Father, Son, and Spirit perform are the result of the eternal relationship that exists among the Persons of the Trinity.”

In Luke 22:42, Christ prays:

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

He submits to the Father’s will in His role as Savior, and that salvation comes through suffering.

Christ did not come to this earth until the appointed time and his coming to this earth was under the command of God the father.

This submission is an action of obedience.

Christs submission to the plan that God set forth, was an action that led us to faith. Christs obedience makes faith possible for us. And that faith makes our obedience possible. That obedience is for us to live a life of faith.

Christ came at the exact moment appointed by the Father, fulfilling the eternal plan of redemption. His submission was not reluctance but perfect obedience. And His obedience is what makes our obedience possible. His faithfulness produces our faith. His righteousness produces our righteousness. His obedience brings about in us “the obedience of faith”—a life transformed by believing the gospel.

So God gets all the glory, because even our obedience is His work in us.

4. God Alone Deserves All Glory Forever (v. 27)

“To the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

Paul draws us once again to God’s character. He tells us that God is the only wise God forevermore. Even this simple verse points us to God’s wisdom.

He is the only wise God

Paul isn’t comparing God to other gods—he’s declaring that no other god exists. He is affirming that God is the only God—and as the only God, He is perfectly wise. 1 Timothy 2:5 says:

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

John Piper summarizes:

“The one and only God is wise—gloriously wise, infinitely wise.”

Romans 11:33–36 echoes this:

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.”

He is the only wise God.

He is infinitely wise

God knows all things perfectly. Nothing is hidden from Him. Because He knows all things perfectly, He accomplishes His purposes perfectly. He always chooses the best plan, always achieves what He sets out to do, and is never thwarted. His infinite wisdom is displayed supremely in sending Christ as the sacrifice for lost sinners—perfect wisdom to provide perfect salvation.

All of this should cause us to well up in worship. When we see God’s attributes on display, when we see His saving work at work, our natural response is worship. When we see God’s power, plan, and purpose, the only appropriate response is praise.

His infinite wisdom also extends into salvation. He knew when to send a savior and how to send a savior. It was in perfect timing and a perfect way. Jesus came in a way that confounded the wise jews of Jesus of his day. They couldn’t believe that this meek and lowly man was the one who come to save them. Jesus also came in a way tripped the gentiles wisdom, by coming in a way that could only be recieved through faith, not intellectual assent.

1 Corinthians 1:25 “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

We are called in our worship to see the finite nature of our own mind, while we also grasp the infinite nature of the mind of God. Our worship is to praise him for being greater and wiser. While also submitting to him, when we don’t always know his plan. His foolishness is greater than our wisdom then he deserves all the glory.

“All of Romans has been driving us to this point. The God who authored the story of salvation, who revealed His righteousness, who came to save the nations, who fulfilled every promise in Christ—that God alone is the only wise God. To Him we ascribe all worship, glory and adoration, because he is only one who is worthy of our praise. AMEN!