Paul finishes his letter with a few personal shout outs and each one is someone we can learn from by their example.
STOP, pray and read Romans 16
Some were mature missionaries who risked it all...
Priscilla and Aquilla (v3-4), Andronicus and Junia (v7), Urbanus (v9).
Some were steadfast servants who worked incredibly hard...
Phoebe (v1-2), Mary (v6), Apelles (v10), Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis (v12).
Some were faithful friends who were near and dear...
Epentus (v5), Ampliatus (v8), Stachys (v9), Rufus and his mother (v13) and to a lesser extent - the household of Aristobulus (v10), Herodion and the household of Narcissus (v11), Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas (v14), Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas (v15).
In verses 16-20 Paul
reminds the church in Rome once more that they're part of a massive
family that God has saved through Jesus. They should be wary of anyone
who calls themselves a Christian and tries to divide God's family.
Paul says one day Satan will be crushed by God once and for all but
until then he recommends three things that will help them stay united as
God's people:
1. Continued obedience to Jesus... above anyone else who has different ideas.
2. Wisdom about what is good... so they're always learning to serve and share Jesus more.
3. Innocence about what is evil... so they're not learning new ways to sin and be distracted.
Paul finishes by
sending greetings from the people he's serving with right now and then
gives all the glory to Jesus. It's all about Jesus, only about Jesus
and always about Jesus from start to finish. Jesus is the 'mystery
hidden from long ages past' (v25), 'now revealed and made known'... 'so
that all Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith'
(v26). God is doing it and he's the only one who's truly wise.
Paul wants everyone who's not yet a Christian to trust and follow Jesus,
receive forgiveness and friendship with God, life to the full and life
forever.
Paul wants Christians everywhere to be missionaries who risk it all,
steadfast servants who work incredibly hard and faithful friends who are
near and dear.
I think Romans challenges us if we're Christians to have a plan for
massive church growth! The church is not a cosy club for Christians to
enjoy themselves. The church exists for its non-members and Christians
should always be praying, planning, loving and living for more and more
and more people to know Jesus. We should ask ourselves questions like:
'How many friends would I like to see become Christians this year?' and
'What plans do we have for our local church to double in number and keep
doubling?' Jesus is still alive! Lost people are still lost! The
life-saving good news is still life-saving good news! What are we doing
about it?
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