Romans 16:16-20 (WEL) Greet one another with a holy kiss. The congregation of Christ greets you. 17 Now I beg you, brethren, keep your eye on those who create dissensions and opportunities for sin, contrary to the teaching you have learned. Avoid them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Jesus Christ but their own self-interests. By pleasant speech and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For [the news of] your obedience has spread to all. I am glad therefore on your behalf, yet I want you to be wise about all that is good and innocent about what is evil. 20 The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
V16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The congregation of Christ greets you.
The holy kiss refers to the greeting of kissing each other’s neck or cheek as some Middle Eastern cultures still do. Today, we can greet each other in other various ways as a friendly, genuine smile, a handshake, a hug (if appropriate), etc. The whole church (Corinth) sends its greeting. We are a family who loves and helps each other.
1 John 3:18 (NKJV) My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
V17 Now I beg you, brethren, keep your eye on those who create dissensions and opportunities for sin, contrary to the teaching you have learned. Avoid them.
We need to be observant about evil (Matthew 13:25, Matthew 13:38, and Acts 15:24). There are people sneaking into churches to change and/or destroy them as in Jude 1:4). The people seek to win the minds and hearts of some people to draw them away to their own ministry(?). Some create opportunities to sin by enticement, dismissing sin, preaching “freedom,” etc. Note that these are evil, contrary to God’s will.
To be observant of evil, we must know what good is, which is why we must read and study the Bible in its plain, normal sense.
V18 For such people are not serving our Lord Jesus Christ but their own self-interests. By pleasant speech and flattery, they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Note the word serve. We can only be servants of one or other kingdoms. We can be servants of Jesus Christ or ourselves. We are servants of Jesus Christ. We are in the kingdom of light. Those who serve themselves are addicted to sin. They are in the kingdom of darkness. Their self-interests may be money, fame, followers, etc.
Their method of operation is to deceive. What is one way people are deceived? It is by 1) happy, peaceful, comforting lies and/or 2) flattery.
Who are the naive? The naive Christian has not been taught the Christian faith. They are led into false theologies, definitions, and lifestyles.
V19 For [the news of] your obedience has spread to all. I am glad therefore on your behalf, yet I want you to be wise about all that is good and innocent about what is evil.
Obedience refers to obedience to the Gospel (believe—John 3:15-18) and also to obedience to the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).
John 17:17 CSB – “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Sanctify means to separate good from evil, God’s laws from the laws of the flesh, God’s worldview and lifestyle from the world’s worldview and lifestyle. This is the sanctification God wishes for us. The greatest wisdom is the Scriptures, for they are the mind of God. What He says is wisdom and truth. Let us, then, read, study, and live in this wisdom.
With His assisting grace, we can: 2 Corinthians 12:9 CSB – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
As a Christian, are you willing to do so?
V20 The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
One of God’s attributes is peace. The God of peace will crush (Genesis 3:15) Satan shortly. Satan is already defeated by the cross and the resurrection of Jesus. The crushing is in Revelation chapter 20.
Shortly carries the idea of imminence.
Paul gives a blessing to the assembly in Rome. We need God’s assisting grace (2 Corinthians 12:9) every day.
We learn:
- The devil, though evil, will be crushed as promised.
- Some methods of deception.
Questions:
- What is the source of truth?
- Are you reading and studying the Book of truth?