Paul closed his letter to the Romans with his usual goodbye. This daily devotional looks at the blessing and doxology closing out the letter.
Nuggets
- Jesus’ grace is available to all believers.
- Through our obedience in faith in Jesus Christ, God strengthens us and provides His wisdom.
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Paul ended his letter to the Romans with a blessing and a doxology. He always closed his letters by pointing his readers to the One true God and His power and love.
Let's Put It into Context #1
Here is a running list of what we’ve discussed previously.
Paul’s Blessing
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all” (Rom. 16: 24 CSB)
Jesus’ grace is available to all believers.
This is one of those verses that the Christian Standard Bible chose to leave out but put in the footnotes. I guess part of me can see why. It does fit with the team roster where it is normally grouped because it isn’t said to the team.
But then, it isn’t part of the benediction that comes next. It isn’t praising God.
Excuse me, folks. It is still important. We are going to throw out the baby with the bath water because it does not fit our structure? (And remember the chapter, verses, and headings are our doing.)
When don’t we need a blessing? When don’t we need a word of encouragement?
Spurgeon said this of Paul. He wrote, “Thus the great heart of the apostle relieved itself; though he would have been willing to lay down his life for the brethren, yet he did not think it idle to give them his blessing.”
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is a special thing. It doesn’t come on its own. It comes with Jesus.
Spurgeon said it is a product of abiding in Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2: 20 ESV).
Glossary
Spurgeon said the grace also doesn’t come alone. It comes with Jesus’ love, mercy, pardon, and peace.
Oh, slam. Spurgeon was right when he wrote, “It is grievous to see how we stunt ourselves, and appear content with a poor form of spiritual life.”
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We settle for an inferior religion instead of going for a true relationship with Sovereign God and our Blessed Redeemer. Yeah, yeah. Part of it is because our wee human minds just can’t fathom the greatness of what is available to us.
Part of it is because we just like our sinful nature. We don’t want to give it up. So we compromise worldview with Godview.
Paul is giving this blessing to all of the members of the church at Rome. Not all of the citizens of Rome, just the believers in Rome.
We all need grace. It is offered to all. It is our decision whether we will accept it or not.
Paul’s Doxology
“Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles — to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ — to him be the glory forever! Amen” (Rom. 16: 25-27 CSB)
Through our obedience in faith in Jesus Christ, God strengthens us and provides His wisdom.
God has the power to establish us because He can and will strengthen us.
Bonar said that God’s power speaks to steadfastness, also. We know that God is unchanging.
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We need that stability. I know. We think we are so strong, but how quickly do we give into temptation — really?
We get that steadfastness by holding onto the gospel and onto what Jesus has done for us. It is nothing that we have done or that we can do that keeps us safe from Satan and his grasp. It is only Jesus.
Don’t you love it how Paul calls it “… my gospel …” (Rom. 16: 25 CSB). He isn’t selling them something sight unseen. It is something well-loved and well-worn.
On the other hand, it isn’t a fake gospel that someone else is trying to sell them. Bevan talked about those peddling false doctrine. Paul wanted the Romans to listen to his gospel — not because it was his, but because it led to God through Jesus.
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There is only one road to God — through Jesus. Jesus came to earth, died on the cross to shed His blood for us, was buried, and rose again. Today He lives in Heaven, seated at the right hand of God.
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Bevan clarified that we are not talking about God’s attribute that He is mysterious and incomprehensible. This is talking solely about how He reveals things to us.
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Scriptures are just an introduction to God and His wonders. He reveals more of Himself to us after we ABCD. Even more awaits for when we meet Him face to face.
God hadn’t revealed His Plan of Salvation in the Old Testament. There may have been hints, prophecies, but God didn’t lay it all out like Paul did here in Romans Part One.
If God did, not only the Gentiles missed it, but the Jews also totally blew right by it.
But now that mystery has been revealed in the Person of Jesus. In the fullness of God’s time, He came to save the world — if we accept Him.
It all comes down to obedience of faith. Faith is the conviction that the doctrines revealed in God’s Word are true, even if we do not understand all aspects of them, a belief which impacts our lives.
Because we have faith, we are obedient. Obedience means to hear, conform to, and carry out the instructions that God gives us.
Let’s add one more component. Bevan wrote, “To accept the grace, to believe in God through Jesus Christ, is to render the obedience of faith. This, then, is the object which is sought by the divulging of the mystery.” Grace is a free and unmerited gift from Heavenly Father given through His Son, Jesus Christ that enables salvation and spiritual healing to believers by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Glossary
It is faith in the Christ’s gospel — not just among the Jews, but among everyone. Whatever had been a mystery in the past was now being shouted from the rooftops. “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs” (Mt. 10: 27 NIV).
The strength comes through the revelation of God’s wisdom. “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (I Tim. 1: 17 KJV).
Side note. Don’t you think it is interesting that the modern translations took out wise and just do “… the only God …” (I Tim. 1: 17 NIV, ESV, NASV, CSB, HCSB). While it is true, it does change the meaning. I wonder what God really intended?
God is wise, and He will share that wisdom with us. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (Jas. 1: 5 ESV).
Isn’t that wonderful! God has the wisdom and has made provisions to share it with us. Tyson wrote, “God has made abundant provision to present to believers the truth in an unmistakable form, and to give them every aid in mastering that form.”
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Tyson is right, though. We not only have to know God’s truth, but we also have to love God’s truth. If we love His Word, that will get us down to obedience.
Making the Connections
Pastor Chad always said he reserved the right to have seven closings to his sermons. Tyson said Paul followed the same philosophy. There is a closing in Romans 15. Romans 16: 20 can be considered a closing as can 16: 24. Then, Paul started all over closing out again in 16: 25.
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I guess Paul just didn’t want to say goodbye.
How Do We Apply This?
Spurgeon gave us a list of blessed consequences. I see them also as things we can work to do better.
- We need to love God better.
- We can pray more.
- Our walk has to be more godly.
- We need to love each other more.
- Our speech needs to glorify Him.
- We need to make God Master of our homes.
- We need to make God Master of our world.
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Father God. You want to bless us. You want us to come to You in obedience and faith. We come humbly to Your throne room, thanking You for Your Grace, love, and mercy in sending Your Son to be our Redeemer. We proclaim Your gospel so that others may come to know Your love. Amen.
What do you think?
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