Title: What Are We Known For?
v19 “For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf;”
Of all of the themes that Paul has taught, of all the doctrines he’s outlined in detail in this letter to the Romans, the thing that makes him most proud of this congregation (a congregation that he has yet to meet in person, remember) is not their generosity, it is not their willingness to have Jew and Gentile work together, it’s not their righteous behavior, it’s not even their holiness, rather, it is summed up in on thing: Their Obedience.
And Paul says that their obedience has become stuff of legend. Paul knows about it, and though he’s never met this church personally, he’s traveled the Empire, and, apparently, the Roman church is known for it’s obedience.
Now, in a moment, I’d like to look closer at the concept of “obedience” and what exactly that may involve. But before we do that, I’d like to propose two questions, one historical, and another personal:
I. Two Proposed Questions
Historical Question: Do you suppose that one reason Paul wrote such a deep, challenging letter to the Church in Rome was because their obedience suggested to Paul that they were ready to receive such a rich teaching?
Now, I fully understand that what Paul writes to the church in Rome is fully inspired by the Spirit, but Romans is a really unique letter. Consider:
1. It is, by far, the longest of Paul’s letters.
2. It is the most comprehensive of his letters.
3. The majority of the instruction is universal, not specific to their church. (Perhaps suggesting, unlike the Corinthian letters, that this church in Rome “had it together”)
It just seems that, perhaps, Paul couldn’t have written Romans to the churches in Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, Colosse, or Thessolonica, because maybe they had other, more direct issues to deal with. Just a theory, but worth considering.
Personal Question: Paul says the church in Rome is known for its obedience. What are Churches known for today? (Take answers)
1. Size
2. Denomination
3. Worship Style
4. Leadership?
Wouldn’t it be great, wouldn’t it be God-honoring, if the church you attended was known for its obedience to God’s will?
What is “Obedience”?
1. To Scripture?
Possibly, but, remember, this was a mixed church, and many of the Gentile converts would have a hard time because they knew little, if any, of the O.T. Law.
The New Testament was not complete, although many of the letters were being circulated, and on the basis of the authority of the authorship, they were treated as scripture. We see this alluded to when Peter includes the letters of Paul, “with the rest of scripture” in 2 Peter.
2. To Leadership?
Possibly. But remember, that a large church of what Paul talks about in Romans is the ability to distinguish between right and false teaching. Perhaps the Roman church, in their obedience, have even had to ask people to leave the fellowship who are unrepentant of teaching false doctrine.
3. To the Spirit?
This is my best answer, both because it encompasses the first two answers, and because Paul teaches over and over that it is by the Spirit that the veil is lifted for us to understand scripture, and by this same spirit that we test leaders to see if they are worth being followed. So my best answer is, they are obedient to God.
Wouldn’t it be great if the church you attended had that reputation? That other Christians from other communities would hear the name Heritage and say, “Those people are obedient to God.”
II. Both Wise and Simple.
I love the second half of v. 19. Paul’s instructions are so clear and eloquent, and I fear that many of our churches today would do well to remember what Paul says here.
To “be wise in what is good” is to simply know what it good. Paul says this elsewhere.
Consider Phillipians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things [are] noble, whatever things [are] just, whatever things [are] pure, whatever things [are] lovely, whatever things [are] of good report, if [there is] any virtue and if [there is] anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.
Then Paul follows this with his instruction: be simple concerning evil.
Simple. Does this sound at all like last week? Indeed the word “simple” here is from the same Greek root word as “hearts of the simple” from last week’s Greek lesson.
Akerios has two definitions:
1) unmixed, pure as in wines or metals
2) of the mind, without a mixture of evil, free from guile, innocent, simple
And Paul says we are to be simple concerning what is evil. What does he mean? Well, if you
look at these definitions, it means we can’t let any imperfection (or rationalization) come into what we see as good. Good must be separated from evil, black must be separated from white, we can have no shades of gray, no compromise.
Because of compromise, because of rationalization, American churches have painted evil gray instead of black, and have given the enemy a foothold within our congregations.
Most American churches are a joke today. You know it, I know it, and we rarely say it, because we don’t want to offend our neighbor who goes to a church where they think they are learning, but they really are not. Where they think they are being taught what it right and wrong, but they are not, where they think scripture is the center of what they do, but it isn’t.
Most American churches would call Heritage an extremely conservative, even fundamentalist, church. I don’t know what to do with all of these labels, especially when most of them are shot like a laser, intended to sting, or even injure.
I can tell what you what I want to be. I want to be obedient, not well-liked.
Obedient, not on the cutting edge of ministry.
Obedient, not relevant.
Obedient, not cool.
I want to be simple concerning evil.
I want to call a spade a spade, and be done with it.
III. “Shortly”
Paul leaves this passage with a great word of encouragement in verse 20. (Read)
Soon, the enemy will be crushed, just as God said he would be in Genesis Three, by the very heel of Christ.
And look at Paul’s clever use of the language. This “God of Peace” that the world is so fond of saying they like, will turn to a God of War, and destroy all of his enemies.
Soon, as Christ calls the Church his bride, we will be crushing Satan under our feet.
I can’t emphasize enough the theological intensity of that statement. Genesis 3 shows that the son of Man (Christ) will put an end to evil, and we play a role in that? How? That’s an entirely other sermon, but perhaps some of it has to do with knowing what is good, and what is evil. (I don’t think these verses were put back to back by Paul by mistake.)
Soon, there will be a judgement, and a call to holy justice.
When is soon? Don’t make the mistake far too many do and ask such a grand question with only your mind. Ask that question with you heart.
When the full number of the Kingdom has come in?
When the father has had enough of our Godlessness?
When the work is done?
“Soon” is when it is time. Between now, and then, there is much to be done. Let’s pray.