Read Ro. 16
Paul concludes his letter with commendations for all the people that have labored with him. Some of the phrases he uses to describe them are "servant of the church, my helpers, well beloved, my kinsman, my fellow prisoners, my beloved in the Lord, and approved in Christ". And in the midst of all his accolades he drops some nuggets. First a warning in verse 17-18 to mark people who cause divisions and offenses different from the truth. They don't serve Jesus, but themselves. They deceive the saints.
I remember when Dave and I were first married we would watch this preacher on t.v. who operated in the gift of knowledge and healing. He would call people out of the audience and tell them all about themselves then pray healing. It looked great until we went to see him in action and something just didn't jive in our spirits. We found out later that he was a con. He would interview the people ahead of time and ask them about themselves and set them up to deceive the people. It was very disappointing and damaging to the Body of Christ.
After Paul lists his helpers that have served with him he commends them for their much-spoken about obedience and tells them that he wants them to be wise concerning good and innocent concerning evil. Eph. 5:11, 12 says "and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret." That cuts out most of our popular magazines and most television shows. We are a people that love the bad and the ugly of reality. Instead we should be reproving them and resisting them. Because soon we are going to bruise Satan with our heal just like God promised in Gen 3 and like Jesus did on the cross.
Through Christ we are able to see the mystery which was kept secret since the world began. The prophets all told about it but now it is manifested through Jesus and his saints.
"To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
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