Lessons

The lesson on August 9, 2009 opened up with chapter 16 of Romans . We are reminded that Romans was written in Corinth while Paul was on his third missionary journey. There are three books in the New Testament that are critical when dealing with doctrine . These are Romans, 1 Thessalonians, and Ephesians. Some really think that Romans is the most important. Chapter 16 starts with a saint called Phebe who was chosen to be the postal carrier for this letter of greeting to the saints in Rome. Apparently, the church has started to see some divisions because Paul addresses this in Romans 16:17 (Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.) Notice that this warning comes at the end of the book, while divisions were more prominent in the book of Galatians because Paul addresses this in the beginning. The third part of this chapter is a prophetic overcast (Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.) Paul reaches out to Genesis 3 where the this promise was made. The fourth part of this chapter begins in verse 25 and deals with a mystery (this is not The Mystery that was revealed in Ephesians 3:9) but a mystery and that will be studied in the next lesson. This lesson covers the witness of Phebe, who was a woman that stood behind Paul and helped him with all his ministerial work. This lesson could study all the people that are mentioned in this chapter but uses Phebe as an example of Christian witness because Paul really sets her out. In verse 1 Paul commends here to the saints in Rome. The word “commends” is the the same word found in 2 Corinthians 6:4-6 translated as “approving” (But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,). The second part of this lesson involves the people that cause divisions in the church (Romans 16:17). Divisions are categorically condemned by God because they are promoted by people who are self servers as it says in Romans 16:18 “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”. We have people in the church today that are causing divisions.