Romans 16:17

Romans 16:17 says, Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  After Paul had asked that those he was writing to acknowledge certain individuals for their faithful service to Christ, he then warned them to avoid those who would cause divisions and try to change the gospel.  We today must be the same, uplifting those who are truly proclaiming the gospel and avoiding those who want only to cause divisions in the church.  Verse eighteen adds, 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.  Paul was warning them that some would profess to be followers of Christ simply to benefit themselves materially. Paul also said they would deceive the hearts of the simple with good words and fair speeches.  I believe that this is a warning to us that we must be grounded in the scriptures.  We are not to judge fellow believers, but we are to judge what those who profess to be believers in Christ proclaim.  If anyone presents anything other than forgiveness through the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross as a way to being restored to God, we are to avoid them.  Many people will use fair words, those things that sound good or are maybe simply what we want to believe to draw us away from God.  Verse nineteen continues, 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.  Paul said that their obedience to Christ was noted abroad.  We need to live so that our obedience to Christ will be noted by those around us.  He again warned them about false teachers who would lead them away from the gospel.  We simply must avoid evil to be effective in our witness for Christ.  When we are effective witnesses for Christ, we can expect to come under attack from Satan. That is why we must always remain grounded in the gospel.  Verse twenty concludes, And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Paul reminds us that God is victorious over Satan. God is the God of peace, and as His followers we are to let our lives reflect that peace. Paul said God would bruise Satan under their feet shortly.  We need to remember that with God, any amount of time can be shortly. We are to live by faith in Christ continually and not be overly concerned about when Christ is going to return to claim the church. Verses twenty-one states, Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.  Verse twenty-two adds, I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.  Verse twenty-three continues, Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.  Paul was not the only one who cared about the Roman Christians, nor was he alone in his ministry.  We should note that Tertius was the scribe of Romans, not the author of the book. The author was Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  We today need to care about the welfare of Christians everywhere and to realize that we are not alone in our work for God.