ROMANS 37


     We will begin this lesson in Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you,
brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the
doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

     Galatians 1:7 "Which is not another; but there be some that
trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." Galatians 1:8
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed."
Galatians 1:9 "As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man]
preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him
be accursed."  We can see from this Scripture that, Paul says not to
fellowship with those who would cause divisions in the church. We are
not to accept any other doctrine than that which has been established
in our church.

     Romans 16:18 "For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches
deceive the hearts of the simple."

     This is primarily speaking of those who carry tales from one to
the other causing strife in the church. The tongue of one person can
destroy the church. Notice, that the words this person uses sound
good.  This person is a deceiver. Too much talk is not good. Proverbs
14:15 "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent [man] looketh
well to his going." We see in this that some simple people believe
whatever is said to them. The simple fall for anything. Be wise, don't
listen to gossip. Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come
to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

     Romans 16:19 "For your obedience is come abroad unto all [men]. I
am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto
that which is good, and simple concerning evil."

     I Kings 3:9 "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to
judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is
able to judge this thy so great a people?"  It takes great
understanding to be able to run a church. I Corinthians 14:20
"Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye
children, but in understanding be men."  This is the way to keep from
being deceived by a talebearer.  Ephesians 1:15 "Wherefore I also,
after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the
saints," Ephesians 1:16 "Cease not to give thanks for you, making
mention of you in my prayers;" Ephesians 1:17 "That the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit
of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:"  Do not listen to
talebearers, but check out all things with the word of God.

     Romans 16:20 "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your
feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen."

     This prayer of Paul's is the same one we preachers should pray
for our people. Satan is out to destroy the church. We have no power
over Satan, but the name of Jesus has power over him, and we have been
authorized to use Jesus' name. Since the third chapter of Genesis, we
have been enemies of Satan. Genesis 3:15 'And I will put enmity
between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it
shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."  Hebrews 2:14
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he
also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he
might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;"
Hebrews 2:15 "And deliver them who through fear of death were all
their lifetime subject to bondage." JESUS DEFEATED SATAN ON THE CROSS.
He gave us permission to use His name to fight Satan.

     Romans 16:21 "Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and
Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you."

     Timothy, who is intended, is so close to Paul that Paul calls him
his son. He is not his son in the flesh, but in the spirit. Acts 13:1
"Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and
teachers; as Barnabas, and Simian that was called Niger, and Lucius of
Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch,
and Saul." We see here the connection between Paul {Saul} and Lucius.
Jason means healing. He was from Thessalonica and had helped Paul and
Silas there. Sosipater means saver of his father.

     Romans 16:22 "I Tertius, who wrote [this] epistle, salute you in
the Lord."

     This does not mean that he was the author of this letter. It
possibly means that he acted as secretary to Paul here.

     Romans 16:23 "Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth
you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a
brother."

     Gaius was a Macedonian who went with Paul on some of his
ministering journeys. He was arrested in Ephesus. This Erastus was
from Corinth and was probably the city treasurer [chamberlain]. His
name means beloved. Erastus went to Ephesus with Paul and was sent by
Paul with Timothy to Macedonia. His usual place to live was Corinth
and was there when Paul wrote this. Quartus means a fourth.

     Romans 16:24 "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you
all. Amen."

     This is a benediction used by many churches even today. This
is about the best blessing that could be spoken on you.

     Romans 16:25 "Now to him that is of power to stablish you
according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according
to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the
world began,"

     Colossians 1:26 "[Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages
and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:"
Colossians 1:27 "To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of
the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you,
the hope of glory:"  In the Old Testament the veil was covering the
things of God. Jesus opened the way for us to the Father when He died
on the cross. It is as if He removed the scales from our eyes and the
Holy Spirit of God has revealed to us the salvation story. We could
hear it all day long, but until the Holy Spirit reveals the meaning we
are without understanding. Praise God Jesus sent the comforter who is
our teacher and guide, as well.

     Romans 16:26 "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of
the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God,
made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:"

     Manifest means to render apparent. Faith comes by hearing the
Word of God. Luke 24:44 "And he said unto them, These [are] the words
which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must
be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the
prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me." Luke 24:45 "Then opened
he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,"
Luke 24:46 "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it
behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:"
Luke 24:47 "And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Jesus
spoke in parables when He taught so that the world would not
understand. We see in the Scriptures above that He had to open our
understanding for us to understand.

     Romans 16:27 "To God only wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ
for ever. Amen."

     Psalms 147:5 "Great [is] our Lord, and of great power: his
understanding [is] infinite."  This just about says it all. God is
Wisdom. He is Power. He is Infinite.

                                 Notes

















                             Questions 37

1.  Paul said mark them who do what 2 things and avoid them?
2.  Galatians ch.1 v.8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach
    any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto
    you, let them be _________.
3.  Romans ch.16 v.18, says that people who do this do not serve
    Jesus, but their own ______.
4.  By what 2 things are the simple deceived?
5.  The simple believeth every word, but the ________ looketh well to
    his going.
6.  What are we warned to beware of in Matthew ch.7 v.15?
7.  I would have you wise unto that which is _____.
8.  Give thy servant an understanding heart to ______the _______.
9.  In 1 Corinthians ch.14 v.20 we are told not to be children in
    what?
10. Do not listen to talebearers, but check all things by what?
11. Who shall bruise Satan for us?
12. We have no power over Satan ourselves, but what can we use to help
    us fight him?
13. What is the first place in the Bible that tells us that Satan is
    our enemy?
14. Who defeated Satan?
15. Who is this Timotheus in Romans ch.16 v.21?
16. What does Jason mean?
17. What does Sosipater mean?
18. What is probably intended by the statement of Tertius?
19. What area was Gaius from?
20. What office did Erastus hold in his city?
21. Quartus means what?
22. Quote Romans ch.16 v.24.
23. What is the mystery among the Gentiles in Colossians ch.1 v.27?
24. Who has God given the believers who is our teacher and guide?
25. What does manifest mean?
26. How does faith come?
27. Why did Jesus teach in parables?
28. Great is our Lord and of great power; his understanding is
    ________.
                                 Notes