Romans: Learning Grace

Our journey through Romans is coming to an end, and I hope you have learned to embrace God’s grace towards you and been challenged to extend it to others. Be encouraged with Paul’s parting words.

Paul really cared about the believers in Rome. He hadn’t come to visit yet, but that wasn’t a sign of his lack of concern. Paul hoped to visit Rome one day - and we know he did under different circumstances (see Acts 27-28). For now, he sent Phoebe, a deaconess, to the Roman church. 

He sent greetings to a number of people he had previously met and who were now ministers in Rome. He mentioned both men and women who worked hard for the Kingdom. Several others who are currently with Paul sent greetings to the Roman believers as well. I love the feel of the united Church you get from these lines of greetings. As believers, we are brothers and sisters in Christ no matter where we serve the Lord.

Paul’s parting words are these: 1. Guard yourself against division. 2. Stick to biblical teachings. The writers of the epistles often warned their recipients against false teachers. 3. Continue to obey God as is your reputation. 

Paul ended with his focus on the gospel, the center of his letter and ministry, and gives praise to God, the One who saves us from our sin because of His wondrous grace.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, let’s commit ourselves to unity for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God! Let’s live in accordance with God’s standards and see the world through His eyes so that we may win many to the Kingdom.

Let’s close with Romans 16:25-27:

Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with the gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith - to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.