Romans 16:21-27

Paul admonished believers in the previous passage to watch out for those who cause division by false teaching “contrary to the doctrine which you learned.”  This closing passage is a reminder of the essence of sound doctrine.

What does it mean to be “established?”  The word means “to set up, to fix firmly, to support or establish.”  In 2 Thess. 3:3 it is equated with being “kept from evil.”  It was what Paul desired for the Romans (Rom. 1:11).  If God establishes us even our life of suffering will not stand in the way (1 Peter 5:10).  Such is His power or ability.  But how does God do this?  Paul refers to three means by which God does this, each taking us back to the Word, the Bible!  And each revolves around the living Word, Jesus Christ.  Truly we will give glory to God, alone wise, through Jesus Christ forever (v27).

·        According to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, v25.  Paul’s gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ are the same.  It is the gospel of God (Rom. 1:1) that is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16).  There can be no establishment if there is no foundation on which to build.  The foundation is Christ as revealed in the gospel!

·        According to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest through the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, v25-26.  In Romans Paul spoke of the “mystery” of the Church that involved the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles while Israel was temporarily blinded (Rom. 11:25).  This was central to Paul’s ministry (Eph. 3:1-7).  But he also spoke of the mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27), the mystery of the rapture (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-52), and the “mystery of His will” when all things are brought together in Christ in the fullness of times (Eph. 1:9-10).  Paul was a steward “of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor. 4:1).  In the end we believe that all of these mysteries point to the exaltation of Christ as the “heir of all things” (Psalm 2:7-9; Heb. 1:1-3) culminating at a specific time in the future (Rev. 10:7).  The point here is this: we are established by this because it speaks of God who has been in control, unfolding His plan at the proper time, and will bring all things under Christ.  We are kept by Him until we stand before Christ (2 Tim. 1:12)!

·        According to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith, v26.  This particular command of God is essential to faith.  It has always been true (Romans 4 affirms this) that men could only come to God by faith.  When the gospel is preached it then says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13).  God has made no other provision; justification is by faith alone.

What a powerful conclusion.  God’s righteousness truly is from faith to faith (1:17).  We are saved by the gospel; we are established by the gospel.  

To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.  Amen!