A People of the Gospel

Landing the Plane

Well, church, it is good to see you this week. Do me a favor: if you have your Bible with you, turn to Romans 16. By God’s grace, we are going to close out this series that we’ve been doing in the book of Romans for the last twenty-four weeks. Can you believe it? We’re going to land the plane tonight, Lord willing. Or maybe we’ll just keep going. Maybe we should just start over and go back to Romans 1!

This has been an incredible series for me. Just to see what the Holy Spirit has done through His word to continue to “wreck shop” in my own heart has been amazing. I trust and hope He’s done the same for you. As we’ve sat in these last twenty-four weeks, we have saturated ourselves in a deep, robust theological understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ—how a holy God has made righteous a sinful people. Through the sacrifice of His Son, He has redeemed us, reconciled us, and remade us into His new creation.

We sat in that for eleven chapters, and then for the last four chapters, we’ve been talking about how that theology, how that gospel, lives its way out in and through our lives—both in our own hearts, in the church around us, and in the world around us. We’ve watched the Lord do some wonderful things, and now we come to this last chapter in Romans 16.

Romans 16:1-27 (NASB)

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; also [greet] the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the [household] of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the [household] of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and [so] [do] Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother. [The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen]. Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, [leading] to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

A List of Faceless Saints

If you open Romans 16 and just scan it for a second, what do you notice? Especially in the first sixteen verses, you see a lot of names, don’t you? There are thirty-five names in this chapter alone. Now, let’s just be honest for a moment: how many of you, in your Bible reading, skip over the names? Come on, it’s a safe place here. Let’s be honest. We skip over them. It looks like about five of you were honest and the rest are liars!

But there are thirty-five names here, and I want to show you briefly what you would miss if you just skipped over them. These people are here for a reason. This is the longest list of people in your New Testament. Most of them are people the world has not known nor will ever know. They are faceless to us, but they are known by God and significant enough that God said, “Write them down. Record them forever in the canon of Scripture.”

We’ve got a very diverse list here. We’ve got women, men, couples, slaves, young and old, wealthy and poor, Jews and Gentiles. We’ve got former enemies of Jesus in this list, and some who were even named after pagan gods. Yet all of them have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ and are now one in Christ’s church. These were some of the key people the Lord used to help build His church in Rome.

One of the reasons I think it’s cool that Paul begins the ending of this letter with a list of names is because it’s a great reminder that after all the doctrines we’ve studied—all the theology and exhortations—Romans isn’t just theory. It’s attached and applied to real people.

The first person we see in verse one is Phoebe. Paul is introducing her and commending her to the church.

Romans 16:1 (NASB)

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea;

Phoebe was a key servant in the church of Cenchreae, a port city of Corinth. Corinth is where Paul wrote this letter from. Many scholars believe Phoebe was actually the person who delivered the letter of Romans to the church at Rome. Think about that. This lady ensured that the letter of Romans made it to its destination. We owe much of our study of this book to this faithful woman. Paul calls her a “servant,” which is the Greek word from which we get “deacon.” Whether she held an official office or was simply a tireless servant, she was a dignified woman of nobility and a servant of God.

Then, in verses three through sixteen, Paul greets twenty-six individuals who were already there in Rome. Remember, the church in Rome wasn’t just one building; it was house churches scattered all over the place. Paul starts with a couple: Prisca and Aquila.

Romans 16:3-4 (NASB)

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;

We know them from the book of Acts as Priscilla and Aquila. Priscilla means “wise woman” and Aquila means “the eagle.” This was a seasoned, veteran missionary marriage. They were evicted from Rome by Emperor Claudius, met Paul in Corinth, and eventually helped establish churches in Ephesus and beyond. Paul says they literally risked their necks for him. This wasn’t a couple that used their marriage for self-absorption or just to have a “BFF” to cuddle with. This was a couple who gave their marriage for the Kingdom of God.

In verse five, I’ve got some trivia for you. Who was the first convert in Asia?

Romans 16:5 (NASB)

also [greet] the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.

Greet Epenetus! I double dare you to drop that on your friends this week. You’ll amaze them. Then there is Mary in verse six, and in verses eight and nine, we see names that were common slave names in the Greco-Roman world. In fact, many believe as many as two-thirds of this list were current or former slaves.

Romans 16:8-9 (NASB)

Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

In verse eleven, we see Herodian and Narcissus.

Romans 16:11 (NASB)

Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the [household] of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.

Herodian was likely named after Herod, possibly from a family loyal to Rome, but now he is loyal to Jesus. Narcissus is a name from Greek mythology—the man who fell in love with his own reflection and drowned in it. Paul doesn’t greet Narcissus himself, but his household. It’s a beautiful play on words: in the house of a man named after self-absorption, there are people who reflect the image of Jesus Christ.

Then there is Rufus in verse thirteen.

Romans 16:13 (NASB)

Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine.

If you grew up in the seventies or eighties, no, there is no relation to Chaka Khan. But in Mark 15, we are told that Simon of Cyrene carried Jesus’ cross, and Mark notes that Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus. If this is the same Rufus, this is the son of the man who carried the physical cross of Christ. Paul even says that Rufus’s mother became like a mother to him.

Romans 16:15-16 (NASB)

Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

The Diverse Body of Christ

These diverse people were the key individuals God used to advance the gospel in Rome, one of the hardest places to reach in the known world. They are faceless to history, but significant to God.

What’s even more beautiful is the picture of the church this list represents. When you consider the dividing walls of the ancient world, this list proves that the gospel of Jesus Christ has obliterated them. Racially, you have Jews and Gentiles together. Gender-wise, you have nine women listed as significant players alongside the men. Socially, you have slaves and upper-class wealthy citizens in the same list. The gospel tears down the walls. It validates what we saw in Romans 3: when salvation comes by grace alone through faith alone, there is no distinction.

A Warning Against Division

Now, in verses 17 through 20, Paul moves into some final warnings. This is common for Paul when he is saying goodbye.

Romans 16:17 (NASB)

Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

He tells them to keep an eye on those who cause dissension contrary to the teaching they learned. What teaching? The teaching of Romans! He’s saying, “Be careful of those who come in and say what I just wrote isn’t true.” We call these people heretics. The root of “heresy” means “to choose.” It’s when someone persuades you to choose an alternative to what God has commanded.

Paul gives us three instructions: First, know where they are—keep an eye out. Second, hold to what you’ve learned. The best way to fight a counterfeit is to know the original so well that you spot the fake immediately. We are all called to be theologians. Third, turn away from them. Don’t entertain false teaching; run from it.

Romans 16:18 (NASB)

For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

Paul says these people aren’t serving Christ; they are slaves to their own appetites—their own bellies. They want what is palatable and comfortable at the expense of the truth. And they are dangerous because they use “smooth and flattering speech.”

Now, smooth speech isn’t just a bad pickup line like, “Do you have a Band-Aid? Because I scraped my knee falling for you.” (Ladies, please don’t fall for that!) In this context, smooth and flattering speech is a focus on self-righteousness. It’s someone telling you that you don’t need Jesus, that your works are enough. It makes you feel good about yourself while leading you away from the sufficiency of Christ.

Paul says they target the “unsuspecting.” The Greek word there implies someone who is naive enough to believe that evil doesn’t exist. It’s the person who thinks, “Oh, that guy on TV is so nice, why would he deceive me?” Paul says that is exactly who they are going after.

Romans 16:19 (NASB)

For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

He encourages the Romans, saying he is proud of their obedience, but he wants them to be wise in what is good and innocent of what is evil. Don’t see how close you can get to the line; stay far away from what is false.

Romans 16:20 (NASB)

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

Then he gives this great promise: the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. This takes us all the way back to the beginning of the Bible.

Genesis 3:15 (NASB)

And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.’

In the middle of the chaos of the fall, God promised that one day someone would come to crush the head of the serpent. Jesus did that, and what is true of Jesus is true of His church. We don’t have to worry about Satan running loose forever. God is going to put evil down once and for all.

Greetings and a Final Doxology

In verse 21, Paul gives shout-outs from the people with him in Corinth. There’s Timothy, his “son in the faith.” And then there’s Tertius.

Romans 16:22 (NASB)

I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Tertius was Paul’s scribe. Paul dictated the letter, and Tertius wrote it down. Paul basically says, “Hey Tert, you want to say hi?” and Tertius gets one verse in the eternal Word of God.

Then there is Erastus.

Romans 16:23 (NASB)

Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.

Erastus was the city treasurer. Can bankers be saved? Yes, they can! Erastus is proof. Finally, Paul lands the plane with a doxology—a short liturgical praise of God that encapsulates everything he has written.

Romans 16:25-26 (NASB)

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, [leading] to obedience of faith;

He says God is able to “establish” you. That word means to cement or create a foundation. How does God cement our faith? Paul lists four things: the gospel, the preaching of Jesus, the revelation of the mystery (the church), and the Old Testament Scriptures. Paul is saying that God has notarized this letter. This is His Word, and it will establish you.

Romans 16:27 (NASB)

to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

Only the infinite wisdom of God could have come up with the plan revealed in Romans. If you or I had written it, we would have put ourselves at the center. But God put Jesus at the center to redeem a broken humanity. To that only wise God be glory forever!

The Full Picture of Romans

That’s the book of Romans. Twenty-four weeks. It was all about God.

Think about the arc of this book. Romans 1 tells us we have a problem. The world is broken and fractured. Everyone agrees it’s broken; we just disagree on why. God says the problem is sin. It started in a garden, and because of that rebellion, we all deserve the penalty of death. None of us can fix it. No amount of social justice, morality, or “pulling up our bootstraps” can make us righteous before a holy God.

But then, in chapter 3, God says, “I found a way.”

Romans 3:21 (NASB)

But now apart from the Law [the] righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

He offered up His Son, Jesus, to take the penalty we deserved. Through His death and resurrection, the righteousness we could never earn is given freely to us through faith.

In chapters 3 through 5, we see that the penalty of sin is paid. In chapters 6 and 7, we see that the power of sin is being defeated in our daily lives. In chapter 8, we see the hope that one day the presence of sin will be eradicated. Because of that, in chapter 9, we rest in God’s sovereignty. In chapter 10, we are mobilized to be the “beautiful feet” that carry this news to the world. In chapter 11, we see that God’s plan will never fail.

And then, in chapters 12 through 16, Paul says, “In view of all those mercies, go and live it out.” Let the gospel transform how you relate to yourself, the church, and the world.

A Call to Surrender

I want to leave you with a few questions as we close this series.

First, have you put your trust in the sufficiency of Jesus Christ for your salvation? Or are you still holding on to your own righteousness? If you stood before God today and He asked, “Why should I let you in?” and your first thought is a list of your accomplishments, you haven’t understood the gospel. You are on a treadmill of performance that leads nowhere. I invite you to the radical call of surrender. Transfer your trust to Jesus alone. He doesn’t love you based on you; He loves you based on the sufficiency of His Son.

To those of you who have trusted Him, how are you living in light of that gospel? Are there areas of your life you haven’t surrendered? Jesus doesn’t “rent” from His church; He owns it. He purchased you at a price. There is no greater thrill on this earth than living for a Kingdom that can never perish.

Finally, what has God shown you in these twenty-four weeks? Take some time to journal this week. Ask yourself what areas you need to respond to in obedience. Invite others to pray with you so that we might pursue the gospel in every area of life.

And church, preach it boldly.

Romans 1:16 (NASB)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

I am not ashamed of this gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Amen? Amen.

Let’s pray. Father, we thank You for twenty-four wonderful weeks in what may be the most significant ideas in our entire Bible. Thank You for finding a way to take a defiled, broken people and make them new. Help us to be cemented in the gospel and to preach it boldly all the days of our lives. Use this church for Your glory and our good. It’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.