Congregational handout; outline sermon text on following pages SERMON NOTES Not Division But Peace Romans 16:17 20 A. Introduction: 1. true unity, true peace comes from August 29, 2004 B. Divisive Persons 1. their actions:... Romans 16:17 a. they cause D b. they cause O c. ways in which people can do this in a church (A) 1 Corinthians 1:10 13; by setting up P or factions based upon human leadership (B) Luke 17:1 2; buy setting S B before others, particularly young believers or children; this could be by false teaching (C) A common evidence of false teaching is that which teaches that, yes, we are saved by the death of Jesus for our sin PLUS 2. their character... Romans 16:18 a. they serve (A) NOT J C (B) BUT their own A as is to be found in such Bible verses as Titus 1:11, 3 John 1:9, John 12:43 b. their purpose is to lead astray those who would follow them (A) by S words (B) by F speech c. and they particularly prey upon the I 3. their treatment (how to treat them)... Romans 16:17 a. avoiding divisions is not to treat doctrine as U b. quite the opposite; to preserve true doctrine (teaching) Christ gives to His church (Ephesians 4:11-13) c. 2 John 1:7 11 tells us that we are not to R such false teachers into our houses or we are taking part in their evil d. we are not discussing here the non-essentials upon which godly teachers and students legitimately differ e. here in Romans 16:17 we are told that with such people we are to... f. Ephesians 4:3 7 shows that true Christian U is to be based upon the facts (truths) of Scripture C. Rather Peace 1. Overcoming such divisiveness 1... Romans 16:19a a. Romans 1:8 commends the Christians at Rome for their F b. Here they are commended for their O c. Hebrews 11:8, 17; Abraham showed his F through his O when God called and tested him 2. Overcoming such divisiveness 2... Romans 16:19b a. Romans 12:2 tells us that we are to submit ourselves so that we are transformed by the R of our M b. Philippians 4:8 and this verse show that dissension-proofing our minds is to be accomplished by concentrating on the G c. we are also to be unpractised in the ways of E 3. Continuing overcoming (victory)... Romans 16:20 a. comes from G b. Isaiah 26:3, this is the Source of real, true P D. Conclusion: Philippians 4:7 The only way we can have peace is in Christ
{1}. Romans 16:17 20... Not Division But Peace A. Introduction 1. It is a rainy day in Peanuts-ville {2}. a. even Charlie Brown is home instead of on the pitcher s mound waiting vainly for the rain to stop b. Lucy van Pelt stands forlornly at the window looking out her face in a frown far worse than any of her clients at her psychiatric clinic, and she is looking even more worried c. it s raining cats and dogs outside and Lucy asks the most profound question of the day: d. What if it floods the whole world? e. Linus the resident theologian is present. He is fully up to the question: f. Lucy, he says, A world-wide flood is impossible. In Genesis, chapter 9, verse 11 we read that God said to Noah, And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. g. Lucy is obviously relieved: You have taken a great load off my mind h. then Linus sums up, Sound theology has a way of doing that! 2. in today s passage that we read from Romans 16:17 20 we discover that same truth a. unity, true unity; peace, true peace; b. comes by making sure that you have nothing to do with any false teaching c. it comes by the pursuit of true doctrine, of sound theology B. Divisive Persons 1. their actions are described in Romans 16:17 a. they cause division or dissension (A) you have probably heard the expression of setting the cat among the pigeons (B) but there are people who do not seem to be content unless they are stirring up trouble and strifet, causing dissension or difficulties among others b. they cause offenses, hindrances or obstacles (skandala) (A) now there are many ways in which people can be divisive in the church, causing dissension (1) as I was preparing this, I glanced across the page in the Bible I was using to the first chapter of first Corinthians you may need to turn the page (2) there we read of another type of divisiveness; that of the party spirit or the setting up of factions (3) 1 Corinthians 1:10 13 (NAS): 10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of
Cephas {or, Peter}, and {the really spiritual ones!} I of Christ. 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (4) and there are other divisive ways such as cliques, as rumor-mongering and so on (B) but, the particular action about which Paul is here concerned, is those who would put stumbling blocks before these believers in Rome (1) this is the same word, skandala, which is used in Luke 17:1 2, when Jesus taught His disciples (NAS): 1 And He said to His disciples, It is inevitable that stumbling blocks should come, but woe to him through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. (2) and, I believe in the light of the words that follow, what is being addressed here it those who teach that we are saved by the gospel by the blood of Jesus shed for us PLUS something that we must do that it isn t by grace but includes works 2. their character is revealed in Romans 16:18 a. what they serve (A) not OUR Lord Jesus Christ (1) He obviously is not their Lord (2) their motive is no His exaltation, but (B) their own appetites (1) the King James bellies is blunter as is the Greek (2) the self-serving motivations of false teachers (a) can take place on many fronts (b) maybe simply greedy of filthy lucre Titus 1:11 (c) maybe wanting the preeminence, 3 John 1:9 (d) or seeking the praise of men, John 12:43 b. what they purpose (A) seducing followers (1) by smooth words (a) I like how William Tyndale translated this: with sweet preachings (b) false teachers, whether those in Paul s mind here, or the many other species there are (c) have no compunction in making their doctrine palatable, pleasant, tasty, ear-tickling, and coup (2) by flattering speech (a) their purpose is the (B) deceiving the innocent (1) this word means those who are blameless, those who are without guile (2) these are the people who are the prey of the door-to-door hucksters, proposing to fix their house, taking the
money, and folding up their trucks, their wallets and vanishing into the night (3) because, the innocent, being innocent themselves, are unaware of the vile motives others may hav (4) such easy prey then are the target of these divisive persons, false teachers 3. their treatment as instructed in Romans 16:17 a. to avoid divisions is not to tread doctrine as unimportant (A) An executive had a collection of paintings in his office which included one of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Every morning when he came in the picture was crooked. Every morning he walked over to the picture and carefully straightened it. Then he met the cleaner who did his office. (1) Do you move this picture so it is lopsided every night, he asked. (2) Yes, was the answer, I have to hang it crooked to make the tower hang straight! {3}. (B) You must not twist the Bible and the Christian faith to hang crooked just so the church appears in un (C) no; these verses say it is quite the opposite (1) doctrine, that is, teaching based on what we learn (a) from God s word through the Holy Spirit, and (b) through those Ephesians 4:11b 13a describes, that Christ has given to the church (NAS): some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith (2) here we read that we should discriminate against such devisive persons because their words and actions are contrary to the teaching which you have learned it is Biblical doctrine that is the test (D) hear what John the messenger of love has to say on this subject, 2 John 1:7 11 (NAS): 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. (E) but, before proceeding, let me point out that the doctrine or teaching of which we are speaking (1) is not that in the area of non-essentials which we covered in looking at Romans 15, where we are to curtail our liberties out of love for those who feel bound to certain practices (2) nor is it in the areas where godly Bible students and teachers legitimately differ, as for example, in the details not in the fact, but in the details of the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (3) but rather, those who deny the fundamentals of our faith, who deny undisputed Biblical truth b. so, we find here in Romans, (A) that with such divisive persons
(1) having examined their doctrine (2) having found it deceitful and lacking (B) we read that we are to (1) avoid them NKJV (2) keep away from them NIV (3) turn away from them NAS (4) habitually to shun them Weymouth (C) for these people will destroy true unity (1) the unity based on the facts of Scripture (2) as described in Ephesians 4:3 7 (NAS): 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ s gift. (3) divisive persons, false teachers, then, can have no part in the unity intended by Christ for His chur C. Rather Peace 1. Overcoming divisiveness a. though we shun such people, how do we avoid the tainting that their words may cause to our lives? (A) for there is no question but that even when we reject such false teachers and their doctrine (B) their actions can have had an influence on our minds, disturbing them from the pursuit of godliness b. well, the last two verses of our text this morning have something to tell us of this; of the antidote to divisi 2. The obedient faith, Romans 16:19a a. Paul s commendations (A) In Romans 1:8, Paul commends the Christians in Rome (NAS): First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. (B) here, he commends them, For the report of your obedience has reached to all (NAS) (C) these two are strongly related b. one aspect of the heroes of faith found in God s word is that they so trusted God, they so believed in His promises, that they often would argue with God about some intention that He had revealed to them (A) and we might be tempted to think that in these things they were not being obedient (B) but, I think that you will find when you examine these arguments with God, that they nearly always fall into two groupings (1) the child of God cannot understand why God is acting as He is and is seeking an answer, or, (2) the child of God is acting in the role of a priest and is pleading on behalf of others (3) and neither of these can be called disobedience
c. on the other hand, the mark of the faith of such heroes is that when God commanded they obeyed (A) Hebrews 11:8 (NKJV) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (B) Hebrews 11:17 (NKJV) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son d. so, the first antidote to divisiveness is keeping our eyes in simple, obedient faith upon our Saviour, listening to His voice rather than that of men or the Tempter 3. The renewing mind, Romans 16:19b a. to avoid the bitterness that can come because of the teaching of those who foment division and dissension b. we need to be engaged in twin exercises of mind renewal which is what Paul exhorts in Romans 12:2 c. one, to be wise in what is good (A) part of the dissension-proofing of our minds (B) (C) is the learning, understanding, practising of good Philippians 4:8 (NAS): Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. (D) this is the positive side of this antidote d. two, to be innocent in what is evil (A) this does not mean that we should not know what evil is indeed, being human, how can we avoid it (B) but this is not our college major; this is not our field of study; and even though we are labelled naive (C) we are to be ignorant & unpractised in the ways of sin 4. The continuing victory in Christ, Romans 16:20 a. God will soon crush Satan under your feet (A) here we have the real origin of division and dissension (B) here we find who is behind such false teaching (C) here is why we are to shun such people (D) and here we find whence the ultimate victory will come (E) it is from God b. it is from the God of peace (A) for the believer, for the one who has trusted in the work of the Son of God on the cross of Calvary, for the one who is no longer at enmity with God because his sins have been forgiven and taken away forever (B) God is a God of peace; who keeps His promise that (C) Isaiah 26:3 (AV): Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (D) and such a peace will overcome the divisive lies of the evil one, will bring joyful unity to God s people
D. Conclusion 1. The Lord Jesus Christ a. gave His life that we might be one with Him and with one another; this He prayed in the garden of Gethsem b. and this, as with every other blessing that we receive from God, is a result of His gracious love for man c. of His death on the cross for our sin, that we by His grace may be saved to eternal life 2. and so we pray, as does Paul in this passage a. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen b. and how we earnestly desire this morning that each an every one of you may know this tremendous grace in your own lives, because you are one of the redeemed, because you are daily walking with Him and seeking His will. c. that each and every one of you may know the wondrous reality of the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7a)
1. 2004 by Garth Hutchinson, Faith Fellowship Baptist Church of Aurora (Ontario): may be distributed or quoted freely, only let this be done to the glory of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). Various English versions of the Holy Bible are used in this sermon. Some (for example, the AV, ASV, and NAS) seek to be strictly translations, while others (and especially PHIL) contain paraphrasing which involves a certain amount of subjective interpretation. Nevertheless, there is little material difference in meaning among these. Some prove slightly clearer on some verses than others. Looking at more that one version sometimes sheds additional light on any particular verse. Explanatory additions to the Bible text are shown in [square brackets]. The versions are identified as: ASV American Standard Version of 1901 AV Authorized (King James) Version NAS New American Standard version 1975 The Lockman Foundation NIV New International Version 1984 by the International Bible Society NKJV New King James Version 1979 Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers PHIL New Testament Translation 1972 by J. B. Phillips RSV Revised Standard Version 1946, 1952 by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U. S. A. WEY The New Testament in Modern Speech 1902, 1912 R. F. Weymouth Further sermons and illustrations may be found at the web-site, www.holwick.com. Materials in this sermon from Rev. David Holwick s database are identified by Holwick followed by a sermon or illustration number. 2. Peanuts cartoon by Charles M. Schulz United Feature Syndicate, Inc., adapted from summary in Holwick Illustrations#20948 3. Adapted from Holwick Illustration #21080