Romans 16:24

Romans 16:24 says, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  In this verse, Paul states what should be our prayer for everyone at all times, especially our fellow Christians.  We need the grace of God with us each minute of the day if we are to be effective servants of God.  Verse twenty-five adds, Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,   The necessity of Christ coming to die for the sins of humanity was not a new thought.  God knew that this was the only way to redemption from the time of creation.  This was pointed to throughout the Old Testament, but the truth of the fact, the exact details, was still hidden.  Paul tells us how we are to be able to be effective followers of Christ, and that is through the grace of God, present in us through the Holy Spirit.  Paul knew firsthand the power of the gospel to change lives, and if we are followers of Christ, we know this same power of transformation in our lives.  We are new creatures, born again into the kingdom of God. Verse twenty-six continues, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:  This is really a continuation of verse twenty-five.  Paul tells us that what was once hidden is now made manifest.  The death, burial and resurrection of Christ was and is an accomplished fact. Though even the Jews, God's chosen people, were still somewhat in the dark, not to mention the Gentiles, concerning the exact nature of the awaited Messiah, through Christ everything was made manifest.  The coming of Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament, but that does not mean that the Old Testament is no longer relevant. We still need to learn what it tells us about God, but we can now understand the Old Testament in light of the accomplished fact of its prophecies in Jesus Christ.  God completed His salvation plan through Christ, and it is the eternal, everlasting plan of redemption.  We do not need to look for a new way or a further revelation.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.  Paul reminds us that God alone is wise enough to know how to redeem us. We cannot do it through our own understanding but must come to God through faith.