Untitled Sermon (2)

Romans 16:1–27 ESV

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 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. Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 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. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. 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. 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. 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. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. 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 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— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Sermon Outline:

Introduction

False dichotomy. Either/or, both-and.

We miss the richness of the biblical teaching if we only emphasize certain parts, while neglecting the others. We miss the richness of the Christian life.

After exposition of the gospel, salvation, the Christian life, and life in the church according to the purposes of God, Paul exclaimed in Rom 11:33, “Oh the depth of the riches...”

Tapos na lahat ng gustong sabihin ni Paul. Including his longing to see them for the first time, prayer requests, and blessing (Rom 15:28-33). “May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” Pero may chapter 16 pa, epilogue, bringing together the wealth/richness of teaching ng buong letter.

Introduce general structure of chap. 16, then share some key reflections.

“Gospel-Driven Life and Ministry” (Rom. 16:1-27)

The Christian church is both corporate and personal (Rom. 16:1-16)

The Christian faith is both doctrinal and devotional (Rom. 16:17-23)

The Christian gospel is both missional and doxological (Rom. 16:25-27)

The Christian church is both corporate and personal (Rom. 16:1-16)

Greetings and appreciation. We probably bypassed this in our readings. And not paid close attention.

Corporate nature of the church.

Not small group. Many names here. Bigger perspective not just Paul giving thanks to Prisca and Aquila, “but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well” (v. 4). “All the churches of Christ greet you” (v. 16).

Local church - “the church in their house” (v. 5).

Diversity - gender, social status, race. “The universality of the church” (Morris, 531).

Personal nature of the church.

So many names here. Hindi natin kilala. Pero kilala ni Paul! Not just names, but some things about them. Though marami sa kanila di pa niya nakikita. Facebook lang? Or naikuwento sa kanya nung iba.

“It was a letter to real people and, as far as we can see, to ordinary people; it was not written to professional theologians…And it is fitting that this letter, which has given us so much solid doctrinal teaching, should end with this emphasis on persons, on love, and on a reminder that humble servants of God perform all sorts of active ministry” (Morris, 527).

Not just greeting them, but commanding the church to greet them. Greet...greet...greet...mentioning names. General sa v. 16, “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” Kiss, root phileo, sign of affection. Express your love.

Appreciation. I commend Phoebe. Praises. Not just pastors’ appreciation month. All year long must be mutually appreciating one another sa church. Specific appreciation/commendation, evidences of grace. Phoebe - servant (diakonos), patron (host/protector/benefactor) of many including Paul (vv. 1-2). Nakatulong siya, tulungan nyo din siya. Prisca/Aquila - risked their necks for my life (vv. 3-4). Sacrifice. Others, fellow workers (v. 8), fellow prisoners (v. 6), “worked hard for you” (vv. 6, 12,

Family - in Christ/in the Lord (v. 11, 13), my beloved in the Lord (v. 5, 9, 12), brothers (v. 14), saints (v. 15).

Lesson for the church today. Specific applications.

The Christian faith is both doctrinal and devotional (Rom. 16:17-23)

Faith for some too subjective, dependent on feelings, for some more on action, for some intellectual.

Doctrinal. “The doctrine that you have been taught” (v. 17). Didache, a body of teaching. Like here in Romans. Paul’s appeal to his brothers and sisters (church as family), not just about loving one another, but guarding/protecting truth of the gospel. People who “cause divisions (dichostasia) and creates obstacles (skandalon)” na anti-gospel. Watch out, avoid them. Don’t be deceived by their smooth talk and flattery. Don’t be naive (v. 18).

Devotional. Teaching matched by life, unlike false teachers/professors creating division, not serving Jesus, but their own appetites (v. 18). V. 19 acknowledging their obedience, expressing his joy for that, and his desire for them to “be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.”

We need help.

God’s future grace - Satan crushing grace (v. 20). From Gen. 3:15 to the cross, to the second coming. Sustaining/persevering grace - “The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”

The church! - connect to first section. vv. 21-23 greetings from Paul’s co-workers. Even Paul needed help. Timothy - fellow worker. Relatives - Lucius et al. Secretary - Tertius. Host/provider/sponsor - Gaius. Not just to Paul but the whole church!

Easy to compromise now. We need all the help we can get.

Church discipleship (ministry of the Word to one another) and church discipline.

We do this to give witness to the transforming power of the gospel and the glory of God’s grace.

The Christian gospel is both missional and doxological (Rom. 16:25-27)

short comment on missing v. 24. Not in orig. manuscript.

Gospel - “my gospel” - Paul’s teaching, apostolic, no other gospel (Gal 1:5-6). OT/NT, good news about Jesus. Mystery revealed.

Missional. Good news, proclaimed, preaching. Made known to all nations. Issue a command to believe/repent, “obedience of faith.” Every Nation.

Not merely horizontal, but primarily vertical. John Piper: Missions exist because worship doesn’t.

vv. 25-27, doxological in tone and content. “To him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel” - connect to Rom 1:16. “To the only wise God...” - connects to Rom 11:33-36 (another doxology). Praise God for how he revealed himself in the gospel, “through Jesus Christ.” As much as he revealed himself in creation, we will more fully know him in the gospel. The power of God (v. 25), the eternal God (v. 26), the wise God (v. 27). Glory. Doxa. Now and for all eternity. Not just true believers in Victory or BBCC, Filipino churches, all nations!

Conclusion: Amen!

Gospel-driven?