Romans ~ Part 40
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As I’ve stressed in my previous post, our journey to comprehend the profound significance of Sha’ul’s Letter to the Romans is not just a study but a crucial cornerstone of our faith.
Closing Remarks ~ Part 3
You often witness divisive rhetoric in public, especially on social media. Romans 16:17-20 advises us to be on guard against division. To address this, commit to engaging positively on social platforms. Instead of divisive posts, share encouraging content and biblical truths that promote harmony. Find ways to engage in respectful dialogue about controversial topics, advocate for love and understanding over hostility, and transform your digital presence into a space of unity.
Warnings About Troublemakers
17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put snares alongside the teaching in which you have been trained—keep away from them.
Those who cause divisions, either by “looking down” or “judging” (Romans 14:3) or by opposing the sound doctrine outlined in this letter.
18 For men like these are not serving our Lord the Messiah but their own belly; by smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the innocent.
By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the innocent because, as Proverbs 14:15 puts it,“The simple believes every word.”
19 For every one has heard about your obedience; therefore, I rejoice over you. However, I want you to be wise concerning good but innocent concerning evil.
Be innocent concerning evil, “harmless as doves” (Mattityahu 10:16). There is no need for a Believer to occupy himself with the details of evil or how it is accomplished. Folk wisdom is rightly suspicious of the censor who spends hours poring over pornography, ostensibly to protect the public from it.
20 And God, the source of shalom, will soon crush the Adversary under your feet. The grace of our Lord Yeshua be with you.
God, the source of shalom, will soon crush the Adversary (HaSatan, (the ultimate source of all opposition to God) under your feet. This imagery draws on Genesis 3:15, Luke 10:19, Messianic Jews 2:7–9, and a Jewish work written around 108 BCE, the Testament of Levi 18:12:
“And Beliar [a variant of B’liya‛al, another name for Satan, as at 2 Corinthians 6:15] will be bound by him [the “new priest” that the Lord will raise, 18:2], and he will give power to his children to tread on evil spirits.”
According to Genesis 3:15, it is the “seed of the woman,” understood in Galatians 4:4, to be the Messiah, who will “bruise” or “crush” the serpent’s “head.” But here it is, God who will … crush the Adversary under your feet. Therefore, by implication, Yeshua is identified with God and those who trust Him (see Mattityahu 2:15).
Greetings From Other Believers
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, sends greetings to you; so do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. 22 I, Tertius, the one writing down this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Timothy, we know. Tertius, the one writing down this letter was Sha’ul’s secretary.
23 My host Gaius, in whose home the whole congregation meets, greets you. Erastus the city treasurer and brother Quartus greet you. 22 I, Tertius, the one writing down this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 My host Gaius, in whose home the whole congregation meets, greets you. Erastus the city treasurer and brother Quartus greet you. * (Some manuscripts add verse 24: The grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with you all. Amen.)
Praise to God
25 Now to God, who can strengthen you, according to my Good News, in harmony with the revelation of the secret truth which is the proclamation of Yeshua the Messiah, kept hidden in silence for ages and ages, 26 but manifested now through prophetic writings, in keeping with the command of God the Eternal, and communicated to all the Gentiles to promote in them trust-grounded obedience— 27 to the only wise God, through Yeshua the Messiah, be the glory forever and ever! Amen. [1]
A final poetic greeting that sums up the message of the whole book. Sha’ul repeats his reference to the secret truth … kept hidden for ages (see Romans 11:25, Ephesians 1:9, 3:3–9) and once again uses the phrase, trust-grounded obedience (Romans 1:5a), which expresses what he hopes to foster by writing this letter. Important as is the work of Yeshua the Messiah (chapters 3–8), he is nevertheless subordinate to God the Father: To … God, through Yeshua the Messiah, be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
A Final Thought
If you feel overwhelmed by the demands of life, remind yourself of Romans 8:28, which assures us that God works in all things for our good. During the next service, seek out a mentor or fellow Kehillah member and discuss your current struggles. Use this time to encourage each other, swapping insights on how understanding Romans can motivate you to see God’s hand in troubling situations.
This post concludes our examination of the Letter to the Romans. In our next post, we return to Shaul’s journey through the Book of Acts.
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[1] Romans 16:17–27.
My Heart is for Israel 