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Good morning my friends,
We have today come to the last chapter Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome, about ad55. As I’ve mentioned, Paul had not yet been to Rome, but it’s obvious in this chapter he has personally met or corresponded with or at least heard about, many of these Roman Christians by name.
Most Bible scholars believe the opening verse shows us who Paul entrusted to take this letter to Rome on his behalf. The carrier had to be trusted, and evidently Phoebe was! Cenchrea was a seaport city about 6 miles from Corinth. Modern excavations have shown it to be an important harbor city and one in which Christianity made a significant impact. Evidently one of the early Christians churches in this important city met in the home of this dear lady, who would be taking Paul’s letter to Rome! What an honor it must have been!
May I ask, who of us would have been willing to be entrusted with the original and only copy of this letter of Paul’s, and travel from Cenchrea to Rome to deliver it?
Perhaps one way of considering the question is asking ourselves how much we value God’s Word, and how we treat our copies of it?
May I admit something to you? Having lived in and traveled to places where people will give a months salary or more for a copy of God’s Word, and watching them keep it wrapped in a bag or newspaper to protect it from wear and tear… and then watching some people here throw them onto the shelf or under the bed, or even drop them on the floor like an old meaningless book… it breaks my heart! Really now… what are your attitudes, my friends, toward this precious book from God to us?
You’ll recognize the couple Paul mentions in vs. 3. Evidently Aguila and Priscilla were back in Rome, either for a visit or permanently. You’ll recall Paul had first met them in Corinth, after they had been run out of Rome, by an edict of the Caesar! (Acts 18) “They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.” is a powerful statement affirming how God has used this remarkable couple, in the advancement of the Gospel, in many places Paul has started churches throughout the empire. Evidently they had started another new little church, meeting in their home in Rome.
Friends may I take a moment to help you understand something about this word ‘church’? Here in North America, and formerly in most of Europe, when you hear that word, ‘church’, what comes to your mind first? Probably a building, right? Various shapes and sizes, in years past with a steeple or stained glass windows. In Europe, huge cathedrals, right? But when Jesus, first used the word ‘church’ in Matt. 16:18 He was referring to ALL people, everywhere, who come out of the darkness and trust Him as Savior. That’s why the word Jesus used is “ekklesia” (Greek language), and it means “called out people”.
When Paul and other New Testament writers use the word “church”, it most often refers to a local group of Christians who are meeting together regularly, usually in someone’s house, since they did not build large buildings in the first century just for occasional meetings.
Around the world today, while there are many place where big buildings have been built by the Christians, and dedicated to be used for their corporate worship gatherings, and other such functions, many, many ‘churches’ in Asia and Africa in particular, are still meeting in homes or under trees. They are small in size by design, since their purpose is mutually nurtured spiritual growth and mutual care and community impact with the Gospel. Many do not have a ‘pastor’ serving their church only… ‘pastors’ in these parts of the world often travel and serve many churches. For the vast majority of time, the people of the church are caring for one another, and studying God’s Word together WITHOUT a Pastor on location.
Everywhere in the world, the question is. . . what difference in ‘the church’ making in the community in which it exists, regardless of size, or meeting location, or denomination, or leader. How would you answer that question for your church my friends?
As we continue to read down the list of those Paul mentions by name, do you see how special they are to him? Can you imagine their joy when this letter was first read out-loud in the Roman church? If Dawn and I were to begin such a list and include the churches we’ve been a part of in Illinois, Haiti, Montvale, Fargo, Williams Bay, Maryville, and now here in Florida… I can’t imagine the number of pages!
Oh how we thank God for His people who have embraced us and touched our lives in so many different places. I’m sure you can say the same, right? So let’s stop right now, and take a few moments to pray for all the places God has led you in your life journey which have had special churches which helped you grow in Christ Jesus.
Paul was often facing the painful reality that ‘false teachers’ followed him almost everywhere he brought the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Romans 16:17-19, you see his warning to be alert to anyone who might come among them with a variation of the Gospel, and cause them confusion and bring division or discord among them. Today, we need to be on the same alert my friends, where-ever you are. This is why it is so important we each and all study God’s Word for ourselves. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would teach us God’s truth (John 16:13), so please, remain diligent in your daily time in growing in your understanding of God’s Word.
Oh don’t you love Paul’s promise in vs. 20 that our great God is supreme over Satan! Aren’t you grateful that daily, Jesus is defeating Satan and his attempts to hold people in sin bondage and the darkness of his evil kingdom, as the power of the Gospel frees people from Satan’s clutches! Remember what Paul wrote in the opening of this letter “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16).
I’m sure you’ve noticed that normally at the bottom right corner of a painting the artist puts his or her mark or signature. It’s rare, but here in Romans 16:22, the scribe to whom Paul dictated this letter, gives us his name, and perhaps on the original scroll, made his mark.
In verse 23 we meet a special man, Gaius. He, evidently, had a great gift of generous hospitality which many enjoyed. In fact did you know the Apostle John wrote a special letter to Gaius which we have as 3 John! We’ll read that together later this fall.
Isn’t it interesting that Paul identifies Mr. Erastus’ occupation? “…the city’s director of public works…” Why do you suppose Paul would make note of that? Perhaps because Paul wanted us to know the Gospel had penetrated into the local government in Corinth. Or perhaps because Erastus, was one person so transformed by Jesus, that what formerly was a corrupt government office, was now functioning with integrity and high ethics, a model for all other offices? Yes my friends, do you agree, the marketplace is an important place for Christians to live their integrity and Christlikeness, with high visibility and consistency?
And oh my, what a closing benediction Paul proclaims over the people in Rome,do you see it in vs. 25-27? Do you see how Paul makes it both personal and global. I love the phrase “…so that all nations might believe and obey Him – to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.” While Paul had not yet been to Rome, he knew there was also the entire continent of Africa and all of East Asia and so much more of the world, he would never see.
But I wonder if, as he closed this remarkable letter to the Roman Christians, the Holy Spirit of God gave him a future glimpse, that one day this letter would be translated into hundreds of languages, and distributed to places he didn’t know existed.
And one day this Romans, would even be sent around the world electronically through something called ‘cyberspace’!? Oh my friends, I invite you to take a moment right now and pray for those working on new translations of Romans, into languages who have yet to receive it, and let’s thank God for this remarkable letter, filled with so much wonderful truth about Jesus and His finished work in our salvation!
If Bible translation interests you, check out www.wycliffe.org
Tomorrow, we will return to the continuing story of the movement of the Gospel across the world, following Jesus ascension to heaven, as we rejoin the chronology of the book of Acts.
Oh Lord Jesus. . .
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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