Dr. Paul’s Worldviews Dr. Paul's Worldviews

In Romans 16:17-27, the Apostle Paul closes his letter to the Roman Christians with instructions that are clearly at odds with today’s ideas about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Paul warns the church in Rome about certain characters who would be divisive and scandalous. Those individuals were not only NOT Christians, even though many of them most likely wanted to be thought of as such, they were deceivers who would use Christian talk and flattery to trick the Romans into believing their deceptive, false ”gospel.” Naivete was something that the Roman Christians did not need to be, but instead, they needed to be wise. By way of application, Paul’s instruction needs to be trumped from the roof tops today, in an age where false prophets and teachers abound, and have taken many well-meaning individuals hostage through cunning and deceit.





Lastly, the Apostle Paul offers a short doxology, glorifying God through the Lord Jesus, and especially for the gospel message that was a ”mystery,” but is now fully revealed in the person of Jesus. Thank God for his grace! Thank God for his revelation! Thank God for his Son, who willing paid the sin debt of humanity in-full, so that sinners ”may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in” Jesus. Amen!

As Paul begins to close his letter to the Romans, he takes timeout to greet his many friends and fellow co-workers in the Lord. Paul lists 26 individuals by name, along with several others not named specifically. It is further evidence that even though Paul had not founded the church in Rome, his personal influence was acknowledged over the course of the years, as well as the thousands of miles he traveled sharing the ”good news” of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. They were his pals, in the vernacular, and those whom Dr. Paul points out are the Christian’s only real friends in the world, namely fellow Christians.

As the Apostle Paul approaches the end of his letter to the Roman Christians, he reiterates his plans to visit them prior to journeying further to Spain. There was no more work for him to do, and finally the opportunity had arisen whereby he could now take the gospel to ”the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Dr. Paul, though, points out that the Apostle’s Paul journey was filled with difficulty and intrigue that he probably did not fully anticipate, as was recorded in Acts 21-26. So, Dr. Paul takes some time to discuss those difficulties by alluding to one of the most compelling chapters dealing with Paul’s journey just prior to him boarding a ship and sailing for Rome, Acts 26. It is part of the reason why Paul would write the Romans, ”I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ” (Rom. 15:29). Amen.

As the Apostle Paul winds down his letter to the Christians in Rome, he reminds them of his call to the Gentiles. That his ministry and priestly service was to spread the gospel to those who had not heard, so that their converted lives would be acceptable to God. Paul was sold-out on his mission, and serves as example to those who claim to be Christians, but seem content in their apathy and complacency.

In Romans 15:8-13, the Apostle Paul stresses the fact of Jesus’ servitude to the Jews, as well as the Gentiles. The purpose was to not only reveal the truth of God in a real, tangible way, but to, as Paul wrote, ”confirm the promises given to the patriarchs” and ”that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.” Paul then resorts to showing from the Law, Writings, and the Prophets how the Gentiles were now a part of God’s chosen people, alongside those ethnic Jews that were redeemed by the same principle of faith, through grace. Ultimately, such conversion on the part of God should instill joy and peace, through the Spirit of God, as the believer abounds in a hope that he/she otherwise was without prior to God’s grace act of redemption through Jesus Christ.

All kinds of groups these days are clamoring for unity, whether in sports, politics, or even moral standards. The problem with their pleas is that none of them have an objective standard by which to validate the unity effort. In Romans 15:-7, the Apostle Paul addresses the subject of unity within the Christian faith. There were apparently some within the Church at Rome who were mature, except in the area of recognizing their obligation to help the less mature. Paul makes it perfectly clear that we, as Christians, are to bear one another’s failings or burdens with the express hope of building others up, rather than tearing them down. Ultimately, though, by preferring other’s welfare over ourselves, to the glory of God, an establishment of camaraderie or unity that takes place within the Kingdom of God. The mature become that much more mature, and the weak are matured, as well, as they grow in the image of God unto the glory God.