Romans - Chapter 16

Be Wise and Innocent

Romans – Chapter 16

Review

1. What was Chapter 1 about?

1. Gospel
2. Discusses how bad the Gentiles are (remember: “Greeks and barbarians”)?

2. What’s Chapter 2 about?
1. Judgment – God’s Judgment falls on all.
2. Jews aren’t much better than the Gentiles from Chapter 1
3. Chapter 3?
1. Justification
2. Faith through Salvation, not works
3. Works are THE FRUIT of Salvation through Faith (in Jesus Christ)
4. Chapter 4?
1. Faith
2. …Of their fathers (Abraham and David)
3. Shouldn’t be a new concept for them.
5. Chapter 5?
1. Result of Justification
2. We receive benefits.  Jesus is contrasted (mostly) with Adam
6. Chapter 6?
1. Life and Death – Believer’s Style
2. Alive in Christ, dead to sin.
7. Chapter 7?
1. Our Motivation – The Law motivates by Fear.  God-followers are motivated by Love.
8. Chapter 8?
1. Our Position with God in the Spirit.
9. Chapter 9?
1. This is God’s show.  He can, He does, He will…just because He wants to…just because He’s God.
2. Israel’s past
10. Chapter 10?
1. Salvation, how?
2. Israel’s present
11. Chapter 11?
1. God’s Grace – our ticket, Israel’s restoration
2. Israel’s future
12. Chapter 12?
1. Our Sacrifice – Our Response(s)
13. Chapter 13?
1. Love is the fulfillment of the Law
14. Chapter 14?
1. Individually Accountable to God
15. Chapter 15?
1. Be of one mind.

Introduction

1. What’s your opinion of Romans (thus far)?  Easy, hard, straightforward, confusing, basic, advanced, etc?
2. How did you all do this week reading Romans?
3. What is your opinion of this chapter?  Easy or lots of questions, difficult and convoluted?
1. My first impression, perhaps even before I read it was that it would be a “thanks for reading, love you, goodbye” chapter.  It’s not.  There’s much more here.
4. Can you group any of these chapters together?
1. 1-5 deal with justification / conversion, ie “getting” saved
2. 6-8 deal with sanctification - “living” saved.
3. Chapters 1-3:20 deal primarily with God.
4. Chapters 3:21-7 deal primarily with Jesus Christ.
5. Chapter 8 - introduces the Holy Spirit
6. Chapter 9 – talks about God’s Authority and the history of Israel
7. Chapter 10 – talks about God’s Mercy and the present Israel
8. Chapter 11 - Israel’s future and God’s grace
9. Chapter 12 – Start the “sanctification” process.  How to live as a Christian.  Overview of all the relationships involved.
10. Chapter 13 – relationships of/to Government and “neighbors”
5. J. Vernon McGee says “Romans chapters 1-8 are doctrinal.  Romans chapters 9-11 are dispensational.  Romans chapters 12-16 are duty.  The first eight chapters of Romans emphasize faith.  Chapters 9-11 emphasize hope.  Chapters 12-16 emphasize love.  There is another way to view Romans: the first section deals with salvation; the second section with segregation; and the last section with service.” (Thru the Bible, vol. 4 pp 708).
6. Pick someone in the room that isn’t sitting next to you.  Think of how you think of them or how you’d describe them.  I have a line that I always use for my wife - “She’s a walking Hallmark card.  She’s sensitive, sweet, funny, and every other kind of card you can find.  A friend of ours describes his wife as “My little onion”.  It is a visual about how she’s sweet, but there are many layers to her.  She’s a simple shape (figuratively speaking, of course), but is more complex than it initially seems.
   
   Maybe you start with not “who” they are, but “what” they are (in a negative sense, maybe you’re shallow.  :)  Maybe you see “woman”, “man”, “pretty”, “ugly”, “pretty ugly”, or “fat”?  Maybe you see a disability that means a person can’t do something.  Maybe you see someone younger than you.
   
   We can learn about how Paul sees people in this chapter.  It’s a tender chapter where Paul offers “props” to his supporters, friends, etc.  This chapter is just like the others since chapter 12 – it’s all about relationships.  How to deal with friends, supporters, detractors, and deceivers.

Lesson

1. vv. 1-2 [READ – Rom 16:1-2]
1. What’s Paul doing here?

                                                               i.      He’s introducing the person that delivered his letter to the church in Rome.  He’s giving her credentials / instructing them to be nice to her.

2. What’s noteworthy?

                                                               i.      That this person is a woman.  And that she’s called a deacon/servant.

3. Is this to say that it’s OK for a woman to be a deacon?

                                                               i.      Sure, in the sense that deacon (diakonos in Greek) means “servant”.  In my opinion, the church made the rule that woman cannot be deacons based on the legitimately Biblical idea (in Ephesians 5) that women cannot rule over men.  However, the modern church expanded the role of deacon to actually be in charge of something rather than just serving.  There is a difference between minister and deacon. I’ll even agree that the role of “elder” can also be different.  But deacon is a role of servanthood.

                                                             ii.      The passages in 1st Timothy in my opinion do not contradict this since they refer to the need for the woman to do the things discussed in submissiveness.  Servanthood is the active life of submission.

2. vv. 3-16 [READ – Rom 16:3-16]
1. Notable things…

                                                               i.      V 3 – Aquila and Priscilla – Also in Acts 18.

                                                             ii.      v 7 – Paul went to some prison somewhere and what did he find?  Christians.  Two of them.  In fact, not only did Paul NOT lead these fellow prisoners to Christ, they’d actually been followers longer than Paul and held in high regard, as they were apparently known by the other apostles.

                                                            iii.      These first groups are believed to be the starters of the church in Rome.

                                                            iv.      V 11 – Herodian and Narcissus probably indicates slaves of families of Herod and Narcissus.  Especially of Narcissus.  This is most likely not Narcissus of Agrippina’s fame.

                                                             v.      V 13 – Simon of Cyrene was Rufus’ father (SEE:  Mark 15:21).  During Paul’s first journey into Jerusalem, the locals were predictably fearful of Paul (since he killed many of them last time he was there, albeit before his conversion).  It’s thought (through much convolution and assumption) that Rufus’ mother took him in and Paul considers her like a mother to him.

                                                            vi.      V 16 - Holy kissin’!  Some how, I don’t think is a practice that’ll catch back on in our culture.  The point is to greet their friends.  Keep those relationships with Christian brothers.  Love them.  Respect them.  The kiss was the highest formal greeting.

3. vv. 17-20 [READ – Rom 16:17-20]
1. v 17 –The real point of this section: be careful of those that cause divisions by preaching incorrect doctrine.  His instructions?  Avoid them.
2. Their motivation is for their own good – at the expense of the simple.  But they’re good.  They can speak well and impress people.
3. V 19 – The people Paul is addressing is known to be good and intelligent, but that’s not a reason to let their guard down.  They still must be careful.
4. vv. 21-24 [READ – Rom 16:21-24]
1. v 21 & 23 – This section is greetings from people with (currently or recently) with Paul.
2. V 22 – Paul had a secretary that wrote for him.  The exception is Galatians)
5. vv. 25-27 [READ – Rom 16:25-27]
1. v 25 – the “mystery” – What mystery could Paul be talking about?  It now “has been made known to all”.  What is it?

                                                               i.      The Old Testament in general?

                                                             ii.      The plan of Salvation through Christ? ( – this is what I think.)

                                                            iii.      Who the Christ would be?

2. V 26 – “obedience of faith” – what’s that mean?

                                                               i.      Obedience is the fruit of faith.  It’s a natural outflow of faith and trust in Christ.

Summary

1. What’s your key verse?
1. v 19
2. Relationships are everything.  Love, remember, and cultivate Christian relationships.
3. Hospitality is important.  It leaves a lasting impression (Rufus’ mother)
4. Your Christian legacy while may not the most important thing, serves as encouragement to others.

Print | posted on Saturday, April 23, 2005 7:31 PM |