Episode Details

Who does Paul encourage us to embrace or watch out for in his final instructions? - Incomplete Audio Recording - Please refer to the notes below to consider the full breadth of todays sermon. Romans 16:1-23 Paul begins with 16 verses of people he wants the Roman Church to embrace. 'Greet' - these are the type of people you should love and live with Paul includes: fellow works in Christ, his beloved, his first convert, fellow prisoners, those well known in Christ, brothers, choosen people in the Lord, saints, those belonging to the family of Christ. These are lay people- they assist the apostles in caring for the people of the Church (serving the poor, caring for the widow, etc.). They also help ensure people are believing right doctrine. In v.16, he warns us about the people we should avoid. This warning probably wouldn't apply to congregants of a church. It isn't speaking about people trying to understand God's sovereignty, but struggling. It likely doesn't apply to those trying to share the gospel but accidentally leaving something out. The warning is The warning is aimed at INTENTIONAL DECEIVERS ‘Watch Out’- observe, contemplate, mark them v.16 There are people who are teaching things "contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught" MARK THEM. They are creating an obstacle. - It is more than misunderstanding something. - Obstacle in the greek means “stick for bait” - a trigger for a trap - It is an intention trap set to ensnare someone - It's an offensive move to put a negative cause and affect relationship into motion - They are intentionally implanting a subtle doubt into your mind- one that will lead to a inescabaple conclusion - The person creating the obstacle is extremely knowledgeable - They create ‘A means for stumbling’ So what have we learned in Romans? What knowledge is the deceiver using agains the Roman Church? We are free from sin! Now we strive to wage war against our sinful habits. Our human inclinations are selfishness and greed. These are the things the Deceiver will appeal to. v.18, they have a self-serving motive - use smooth talk and flattery v.19 Paul is grateful that they are obedient but more than that, he wants them to be knowledgeable, to have wisdom. He doesn't want them to be naive in their obedience. Obedience is good, wisdom is better. Why did Paul write all of romans?! Because there are people looking to deceive them. They need to KNOW their doctrine. SO APPLICABLE FOR TODAY! Some people are intentionally deceptive to gain wealth. Others are doing it accidentally, which is equally as bad. When you have a platform, elder, pastor teacher, you have a greater responsibility and therefore a greater judgement. Tim Challies Article: https://www.challies.com/articles/7-false-teachers-in-the-church-today/ THE HERETIC - the most prominent and most dangerous of the false teacher 2 Peter 2:1-3 "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping." - The heretic teaches something that is a blatant contrition of the truth of God. - However he is teaching just enough of the truth to cover his blatant error. "He is a gregarious figure, a natural leader teaching just enough truth to mask his deadly error. Yet in denying the faith and celebrating what is false, he leads his followers from the safety of orthodoxy to the peril of heresy." - T. Challies THE CHARALATON- Uses christianity as a means of personal enrichment. 1 Timothy 6: 3- 5: " If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching