Romans Chapter 16 Vs. 19

 

Final Instructions and Greetings

For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. Rom 16:19

For your obedience... You can always detect true leaders from the false by their godliness, unselfishness, and faithfulness.

but yet I... I desire you to show your wisdom by discerning and choosing good from evil.

1Kgs. 3:9 “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”

It takes great understanding to be able to run a church.

1Cor. 14:20 “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”

This is the way to keep from being deceived by a talebearer.

Eph. 1:15-17 “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,” “Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;” “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”

Do not listen to talebearers, but check out all things with the word of God.

Paul hastened to assure the Romans that he did not consider them naive. Their obedience (to Christ; cf. Rom. 1:5; 15:18; 1Pet. 1:2) was well known and Paul was glad for them. But he was concerned that they be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil (kakon). The word for “innocent” is akeraious, “unmixed, simple, pure.” In Greek it was used of wine that was not diluted and of metal that was not weakened in any way. The word is used in the New Testament in only two other places: Mat. 10:16 (“innocent”) and Phlp. 2:15 (“pure”). Christians should be innocent about evil, not following the ways of the world (Rom. 12:2).

Ezekiel Chapter 43 Vs. 20

The Altar

And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it. Eze 43:20

put it on... This spreading of the blood on the horns is a cleansing for the altar. Horns signify strength.

After seven days of offering bulls, goats, and rams the priests will present the people’s burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar. 

Romans Chapter 16 Vs. 18

 

Final Instructions and Greetings

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Rom 16:18

that are such... Anyone who mars the unity or harmony of the local church does not serve the Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of his claim. He puts his interest above the welfare and interest of the local church.

but their own... Some are driven by self-interest and self-gratification, often seen in their pretentious, extravagant and immoral lifestyles.

Prov. 14:15 “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent [man] looketh well to his going.”

and fair speeches... We see in this that some simple people believe whatever is said to them. The simple will fall for anything. Be wise, don’t listen to gossip and be sure to test the spirits.

Mat. 7:15: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Believers are to keep away (pres. imper., “keep on turning away”) from such false teachers, who were not serving (douleuousin, “serving as slaves”; cf. Rom. 14:18) Christ, but were slaves to their own appetites (lit., “bellies”; cf. Phlp. 3:19). They were selfish gluttons. The problem, however, was that by smooth talk and flattery they deceived the minds (lit., “hearts”) of naive people (akakōn, “innocent, unsuspecting”).

Ezekiel Chapter 43 Vs. 19

 The Altar

And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering. Eze 43:19

seed of Zadok... The priests on duty. These priests will be descended from Zadok (cf. Eze. 43:19; 44:15; 48:11), the high priest in Solomon’s day (1Ki. 1:26-27). The tasks of the Levites in Solomon’s temple were more extensive (cf. 1Ch. 15:16; 16:4; 23:28-31). (see 40:46 and 44:10).

a young bullock... Exact offerings, in language just as definitive as the literal descriptions in Moses’ day, are also just as literal here. They are of a memorial nature; they are not efficacious any more than Old Testament sacrifices were.

As Old Testament sacrifices pointed forward to Christ’s death, so these are tangible expressions, not competing with, but pointing back to the value of Christ’s completely effective sacrifice, once for all (Heb. 9:28; 10:10).

God at that time endorsed Old Testament offerings as tokens of forgiving and cleansing worshipers on the basis and credit of the great Lamb they pointed to, who alone could take away sins (John 1:29).

The tangible expressions of worship, which the Israelites for so long failed to offer validly (Isa. 1:11-15), will at last be offered acceptably, then with full understanding about the Lamb of God to whom they point. The bread and the cup, which believers today find meaningful, do not compete with Christ’s cross but are tangible memorials of its glory. So will these sacrifices be.

The individual brought the sacrificial animal to the priest to be sacrificed. Zadok is mentioned because they all remember him and his ancestry. This is saying, leave the ministry in the temple to the family God had chosen out to do it.

A seven-day ritual will be employed by the priests… of Zadok (cf. Eze. 40:46) to set the altar apart to the Lord. This consecration service will be similar in some ways to the services followed by Moses (Exo. 40:10, 40:29) and Solomon (2Ch. 7:8-9) to sanctify their houses of worship to God. After seven days of offering bulls, goats, and rams the priests will present the people’s burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar.

Romans Chapter 16 Vs. 17

 

Final Instructions and Greetings

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Rom 16:17

mark them which... Greek: skopeo, look out for. Be alert for those who cause divisions and have no religious fellowship with them that the flock may be protected (Rom. 16:17; Phlp. 3:17). Also translated "look at" (2Cor. 4:18); "look on" (Phlp. 2:4); "take heed" (Luke 11:35); and "consider" (Gal. 6:1).

Ten Marks of False Teachers:

1. They cause divisions among Christians.

2. They cause offenses against truth (Rom. 16:18).

3. They do not serve God (Rom. 16:17-18).

4. They serve their own bellies (Rom. 16:18; Phlp. 3:19).

5. They use slick tongues to deceive (Rom. 16:18).

6. They are enemies of the cross (Phlp. 3:18).

7. They walk contrary to the gospel (Phlp. 3:17).

8. They glory in their shame (Phlp. 3:19).

9. They mind earthly things (Phlp. 3:19).

10. They bring in heresies (2Pet. 2:1; see, Mat. 7:15).

This is speaking of doctrinal falsehood and unrighteous practices.

Gal. 1:7-9 “Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” “As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

We can see from this Scripture, that Paul says not to fellowship with those who would cause divisions in the church. We are not to accept any other doctrine than that which has been established in our church.

Final words

Paul could not resist giving a final word of warning that they watch out for spiritual enemies: those who are divisive and seek to hinder the Lord’s work (who put obstacles [skandala, “traps, snares”; cf. Rom. 14:13] in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned).

Ezekiel Chapter 43 Vs. 18

 The Altar

And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood. Eze 43:18

These are the... These verses (18-22) give the rituals in the ceremonial cleansing of the altar. Blood of a bullock is to be used on the four horns, four corners of the settle, and the border around it (Eze. 43:20). The bullock is to be burned in the appointed place without the sanctuary and thus the altar will be clean and ready for use (Eze. 43:21). On the second day the same will take place, except that the blood of a kid of the goats will be used (Eze. 43:22).

These Israelites, who had been in captivity, had lost all contact with the ordinances of the temple and the altar. The sprinkling of blood was an important part of the worship. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. It was the shed blood of Jesus Christ which atoned for our sins.

A seven-day ritual will be employed by the priests.

Romans Chapter 16 Vs. 16

 

Personal Greetings

Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you. Rom 16:16

Salute one another... Peter isn’t mentioned once in this list of greetings to the saints in Rome. According to the papal catalogue of bishops of Rome, Peter was in Rome at this time. Since he is not once mentioned by Paul, it is certain that he was not there; and this makes the very foundation of apostolic succession by the Roman bishops fall to the ground. If he had been at Rome as the bishop, he would have been the FIRST one Paul would have referred to. It is, therefore, a waste of time to consider further such a groundless theory. It is very likely that Peter never saw the city of Rome in all his life.

an holy kiss... It was customary to greet each other with a holy kiss, as a token of peace, friendship and brotherly love. This was the custom of all eastern people, not just Christians. Shaking hands is our custom of greeting. The holy kiss custom is referred to in Rom. 16:16; 1Cor. 16:20; 2Cor. 13:12; 1Thes. 5:26; and 1Pet. 5:14. People who seek to continue it are simply carrying on a custom which is still being practiced among eastern people. We notice here that this kiss was to be a holy kiss. This was not a passionate kiss, but a friendly kiss. Paul is explaining how the church must be together in Christ. We will list four of the Scriptures that speak of this greeting with a holy kiss.

1Cor. 16:20 “All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with a holy kiss.”

2Cor. 13:12 “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”

1Thes. 5:26 “Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.”

1Pet. 5:14 “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace [be] with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”

Kissing of friends on the forehead, cheek or beard was common in the Old Testament. The Jews in the New Testament church carried on the practice, and it became especially precious to new believers because of the spiritual kinship it signified, as they were often outcasts from their own families because of their faith.

churches of Christ... There is much controversy among different denominations as to what the name of the church really is. Some have chosen one name and some another, all contending they have the Biblical name of the church. The tendency among such people is to think they are the original church and that they are the people referred to in Scripture because of having a Biblical name. There are over one hundred biblical names describing the believers in the New Testament. Any one or all these names for an organization on earth today does not make it the New Testament church or body of Christ. See, Acts 7:38.

Of all these individuals only Priscilla and Aquila are mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament for certain; yet Paul knew them all individually and sent personal greetings to them and their associates. Paul cannot properly be charged with not being “a people person.” He closed this section with the command, Greet one another with a holy kiss, the mode of salutation similar to the handshake today (cf. See, 1Cor. 16:20; also cf. 2Cor. 13:12; 1Thes. 5:26; 1Pet. 5:14) and with a general word of salutation, All the churches of Christ send greetings (lit., “greet you”).