"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but there own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 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. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." Romans 16v17-20
Having expounded such a gospel, with such widespread results, Paul is constantly aware of the danger of false teaching. False teachers are a danger to all churches; it was true back then it is true today and we need to be on our guard, although Paul is fairly confident that the character of the Roman believers was such that they would be able to cope with this problem. The appeal is for vigilance in the matter of teaching. He opens the appeal with the words "now I beseech you brethren." This is his third appeal of this nature; the others in chapter 12v1 concerning sacrificial living and again in chapter 15v30 concerning their prayer partnership in the work.
In Acts 20v30 the apostle made a similar appeal to the Ephesian elders "also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them." The overall object of such false teaching is to divide the saints of God by means of the satanically inspired ploy of "divide and conquer." We have to be clear what Paul is saying here. These are people seeking to divide "contrary to the apostolic doctrine." Their teaching is such that it deviates from the true doctrine of Christ and the gospel. Not all divisions are wrong, and this text has been misused to tarnish the character of true servants of God preaching the truth. Paul himself separated from Barnabas, and in Acts chapter 18 he separated the Corinthian believers from the synagogue. The issue here is divisions and stumbling blocks caused in the church assemblies by false teaching. There are four things said about these people:
- Their mission is to divide the believers and bring snares before them; Paul does not specify these deviations and spiritual traps that people bring in, but simply points them to "the doctrine which you have learned." This is the normal way of scripture, dealing with such problems, by focusing on the truth by which all believers can determine the error. He has already alluded to this teaching in Romans 6v17 "Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you."
- The method of these people is to deceive; they achieve their objective to divide by introducing deception. This deception is normally targeted towards those who are less educated in the things of God, perhaps younger people, perhaps those lacking in understanding. He says "by good words and fair speeches they deceive the hearts the simple." Smooth talking is always the characteristic of the doctrines of evil.
- Their motivation is self pleasing; "they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly." Their motive is totally selfish, they have no concern for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. A similar thing was said of the false shepherds of Israel in Ezekiel chapter 34 "Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; woe to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flock? (verse 2). We must beware of false shepherds who are in it for themselves. We are to "mark them" (keep a close eye on them) and avoid them. They desire people to follow them for self-aggrandizement.
- Their mastermind is Satan "the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly." Romans 16v20. Clearly what Paul is saying here is that all false teaching, all deviation from the truth of scripture, from apostolic doctrine has its origin in Satan. In his mind, in the language of this verse he goes back to Genesis chapter 3v15, where God said at the very entrance of sin into the world that the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. Satan is still deceiving, and still dividing but God is against them and His end is sure. Each and every time he raises his ugly head in the sanctuary of God's people, he will find the God of peace opposing him.
Now in chapter 16 he speaks about the God of peace whose work it is to remove every impediment to to peace by destroying the works of Satan and ultimately Satan himself. His closing message is to them the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with, Amen. The God who will ultimately bring universal peace will supply us with sufficient grace to bring us through the times of trouble. Meanwhile keep a close eye on the teaching!
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