9/29/24 “Closing Credits”
“Closing Credits”
Romans 16:1-27
Back in 2008, a movie called “Iron Man” was released that introduced millions of people to a cinematic version of a comic book series that went by the name of….Marvel.
Since that time, there have now been literally dozens of Marvel movies featuring the likes of superheroes such as Captain America, Thor, the Incredible Hulk, Spiderman, and Black Panther.
This movie franchise has been extremely successful over the past 16 years with many millennials – people my daughter’s age – literally growing up with these films….
…Much like how some of us grew up with the original Star Wars series of movies.
One interesting aspect of these wildly popular films that feeds into their popularity has to do with something that happens after the movie is over….
As a way of motivating people to stay watching through the closing credits of each movie, Marvel has traditionally placed short clips of future movies half-way through – or sometimes at the very end – of the credits.
These have become known as “Mid-Credit Scenes” and “Post-Credit Scenes”…
…With many of them providing a little nugget of insight into what will be happening in future Marvel movies.
So, not only were these short scenes entertaining, but they also usually provided a nugget of information that helped viewers anticipate what was going to happen in an upcoming movie.
By doing this, Marvel succeeded in holding people’s attention through the very end of the move – even the “boring” credits.
In some ways, Romans chapter 16 – our passage for today - is similar to that of credits running at the end of a movie.
And, sadly, many people ignore this chapter of Romans because much of it is a list of names of people who had assisted Paul in his ministry over the years.
Much like credits after a movie, the people who Paul mentions by name worked diligently behind the scenes to enable the more prominent figures of the New Testament Church...
...People like Paul, Barnabus, Silas, and Apollos – to do their ministerial work more effectively and efficiently.
AND…in a similar fashion to Marvel movie credits…Paul slips in a couple of spiritual credit scenes in amongst the names of those who he is acknowledging…
These 2 passages are also very important as the first one reminds the reader how to properly deal with false teachers within the church
…and the second passage deals with the gospel of Jesus Christ and how salvation has been made available to every nation, tongue, and tribe on earth.
These are two very important topics, and people who ignore chapter 16 miss out on the blessing of instruction that Paul provides the reader.
Now, before we take a closer look at these two spiritual credit scenes, let’s learn about some of the people who Paul credits with assisting him in his unparalleled ministry…
In verse 1 (Romans 16:1) we are introduced to a woman named Phoebe.
Paul praises this woman for her deep dedication to the church in Cenchrea – which was a small town located near the larger city of Corinth…
....Sort of like LaValle’s proximity to Reedsburg.
Phoebe obviously was of great help to Paul....
....Enough so that Paul considered Phoebe’s contribution to his ministry as important enough to warrant her name being listed before anyone else’s name in this chapter of gratitude……Did you catch that?
It’s also interesting to note that the Greek word for ‘servant’ here in verse one is translated ‘diakonos’….
And ‘diakonos’ is where we get our word....Any guesses?..... ‘Deacon’.
So, it is generally assumed that Phoebe was a deaconess in the church at Cenchrea.
In the early church, Deaconesses were instrumental in caring for those in the congregation who were sick…
…They would also distribute resources to the poor, visit people in prison, and disciple new converts to the faith.
It is also recognized by many Bible scholars that Phoebe was the individual who most likely delivered the letter of Romans to the church that bore its name.
This task would have been reserved for only the most trusted of individuals....
...Paul would have known of the letter’s inspired message for not only the church in Rome – but for all future believers….including you and me!
I also love the fact that Paul highlights a woman as one of the most important assistants to his ministry…
This is a reminder that women were regularly afforded a great deal of responsibility within the early church....
...And…that Paul was not some cold, misogynistic individual obsessed only with doctrine and theology... as some people erroneously claim.
Lastly, the name ‘Phoebe’ means ‘Bright and Radiant’....
Attributes that seemed to perfectly exemplify this woman who loved her savior…and who generously displayed the love of Jesus to others.
The next two individuals Paul highlights in verse 3 (Romans 16:3) are a married couple named Priscilla and Aquila.
Paul describes them as ‘fellow workers’ in the faith – and that they had, at some point, risked their lives for Paul’s sake.
You know someone is a true friend when they are willing to risk their lives for you, right?
For example, one time our family was eating at Culver’s when our daughter Lindsay noticed a bit of pink in the middle of her butter burger…
She was very concerned that her beef was not fully cooked...and that, by eating it, would immediately drop over dead before even getting her free scoopie cone.
So, like any good father would do, I took a few bites of her sandwich...risking life and limb for the sake of my child!
We waited about 2 minutes...I didn’t keel over...the butter burger was then pronounced clean – and Lindsay enjoyed whatever portion her dad left for her 😊
Ok...so that really wasn’t risking my life for someone else...
But, maybe some of you this morning actually have experienced a situation where a friend risked their life for you….
Or perhaps you have risked your life for someone else…
Well, as believers, scripture informs us that we should be willing to give up our lives for others in the church – if called on to do so.
....Have you ever really thought about that?
Jesus teaches in John 15:13 that: “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
Remember Paul’s words in Romans 12:10….”Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
These passages are reminders that this sacred assembly of believers here this morning is…. family – in the deepest sense of the word.
In fact, Jesus tells us that we are to consider other believers - who are spiritual family - as closer than blood relatives who are not of the family of God.
When Jesus is asked about his relatives by blood, he responds with these words: “…Who is my mother, and who are my brothers? Pointing to His disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’” (Matthew 12:48-50)
Brothers and sisters in Christ – we are family.
…And we are to live in such a way as to view each other as members of God’s family.
…this means sacrificing for each other.
…this means providing for each other’s needs.
…And, yes – in some instances - this may mean suffering for one another.
Aquila and Priscilla….husband and wife….devoted followers of Christ…close friends of Paul.
Originally from Rome themselves, Aquila and Priscilla fled under Jewish persecution from the Roman Emperor Claudias.
They eventually settled in Corinth and met Paul there while on his first journey to that city.
They became close friends – with Aquila and Priscilla assisting Paul in numerous ministerial activities over the course of many years.
Reading further on in today’s passage, Paul continues to provide a list of names that are less familiar – but were nonetheless people of great importance to Paul.
For example, verse 5 (Romans 16:5) mentions a man named Epenetus who was Paul’s first convert from the region of Asia Minor – which is modern day Turkey.
Verse 7 (Romans 16:7) mentions two people by the names of Andronicus and Junias.
They may have been husband & wife...we aren’t sure.
...But Paul does disclose that these two people had spent time in prison with him on account of their faith.
...he goes on to describe them in verse 7 (Romans 16:7) as “Outstanding among the apostles.”
Andronicus and Junias were obviously not members of the original 12 apostles, but they perhaps served under one or more of the ordained apostles while living near them in Jerusalem.
The term ‘Apostle’ literally means ‘Sent one’....
…and these two individuals served in such a way as to be just as effective in ministry as any of the original men chosen by Jesus.
This is high praise from Paul.
...and it reminds us today that we too can serve our savior in such a way as to be considered ‘Outstanding’ in our desire to live out our faith and point others to Jesus.
It’s a reminder that even though our works don’t earn us salvation, they do provide a barometer as to where our heart is concerning our relationship with the savior...
The more we understand the magnitude of God’s grace and forgiveness, the more we will want to please our heavenly Father through a life of obedience...
A person who is on fire for the Lord is a person who knows how much they’ve been forgiven!
In verse 12 (Romans 16:12) Paul mentions two women by the name of Tryphena and Tryphosa who labored hard for the Lord.
Many theologians believe these ladies were twin sisters...it makes sense given their names, doesn’t it?
By the way, the name Tryphena means ‘delicate’ and Tryphosa means ‘dainty’...I wonder if they appreciated the meaning behind their names?
In verse 13 (Romans 16:13) Paul mentions Rufus, another worker for the Lord, whose mom was also like a mother to Paul at some point in his life...
Then comes verse 17 (Romans 16:17) where we encounter the first of two “Credit Scenes” so to speak, in this chapter.
In this important passage that runs from verse 17 to verse 19, Paul provides some specific instructions on how to deal with false teachers…
….As well as those in leadership who are simply masquerading as genuine Christians attempting to derail the work of God in a specific church community.
The first of Paul’s admonitions is to “Watch out for those who cause divisions…” (Romans 16:17)
First of all, just to be clear, these potential divisions do NOT revolve around minor preferences….
…such as the carpet color in the sanctuary, or the style of music played during worship service…if personal preferences cause actual division in a church – that congregation has some serious issues.
Paul is also NOT talking about disputable matters that we looked at back in chapter 14…remember those? Things like eating certain foods or worshipping on a certain day of the week.
Look with me at the back half of verse 17 (Romans 16:17) where we see these words “….contrary to the teaching you have heard.”
In other words, we all need to be on guard against smooth talking, persuasive speakers who preach doctrines of the faith that are contrary to what God’s Word explicitly teaches.
Just because a preacher is on television, or they are the lead pastor of a large church….that does not mean they are necessarily preaching the truth of God’s Word.
For instance:
If someone teaches that Jesus was a created being rather than a full-fledged member of the eternal Trinity…That is a false teaching – therefore they are a false teacher.
If someone teaches that Jesus just wants you to be materially rich and to never suffer pain for the sake of the gospel….that is a false teaching – therefore they are a false teacher.
If someone teaches that marriage can legitimately be something other than one man and one woman…that is a false teaching – therefore they are a false teacher.
If someone teaches that it is alright to purposefully end the life of an innocent human being, no matter where that individual may be between conception and death…that is a false teaching – therefore they are a false teacher.
If someone teaches that it is proper to pray to any entity other than God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit…Or that we are required to go through another human being in order to reach God….that is a false teaching – therefore they are a false teacher.
If someone teaches that you have to perform certain works or duties in order to obtain salvation…that is a false teaching – therefore they are a false teacher.
As you can see…there are more false teachings – and teachers – in this world than one might think.
There always have been….and this is why Paul tells us to be on guard against such doctrinal heresy that can affect one’s salvation.
We are to be like the Bereans and validate what we hear by comparing it with God’s Word.
By the way…Please do that with what you hear from this pulpit as well!
I want all of you to verify that what you hear on Sunday mornings is indeed supported by the Word of God.
And…If I am ever biblically mistaken about a major tenet of the faith, I want - and I need - to know about it!
So, what are we to do when we encounter someone who is teaching a doctrine that is blatantly in violation of God’s Word?
Back to the last four words of verse 17 (Romans 16:17) “…Keep away from them.”
Interesting.
Paul doesn’t say to engage them in a discussion…he doesn’t say to schedule a debate…he doesn’t even say to try and change their mind.
..He just says to stay away. Stay away from a teacher who professes something that is contrary to God’s Word…..don’t even give them a listening ear.
False teachers can be very, very manipulative and persuasive – even for those people who have a good handle on biblical truth.
Therefore, Paul tells us to just stay away.
Stay immersed in the truth.
Just as the only way to recognize a counterfeit bill is to be completely familiar with the real thing, the only reliable way to recognize false doctrine and heresy is to saturate our minds with God’s Word.
False teachers are like a malignant cancer that can easily spread throughout a body of believers causing people to think erroneously about God… and live in such a way that will affect their eternal destiny.
So….what about a situation in which a church is accurately teaching and preaching God’s Word…but someone comes in to the church espousing false doctrines - and is attempting to persuade others of their validity….
….what are we to do then?
Fortunately, like for everything else in life, the Bible has an answer.
Matthew chapter 18 provides a very detailed and effective way to deal with situations like this. At first, they must be confronted one-on-one…if nothing changes, then church leadership gets involved…if still nothing changes, then the entire church becomes involved – and as a last resort, the unrelenting and unrepenting individual must be removed from the church body for the sake of unity within the congregation.
It’s been said that light always attract bugs.
When you turn on the porchlight after dark in the middle of summer, it doesn’t take long for the moths, beetles, flies, and mosquitos to find it…does it.
Such is also the case at times with churches that are teaching the truth of God’s Word….being bright lights of orthodoxy to their communities.
Sadly, there will aways be individuals looking to sew disunity and dissention amongst churches where God’s truth is being proclaimed…
I heard a pastor say one time that each church needs to be a porchlight for the community – but at the same time – make sure it’s a bug-zapping porchlight!
At first, I thought that was a bit harsh, but the more I think about it, the more it rings absolutely true.
Individuals who approach churches with evil intentions must not end up succeeding.
Unity around proper doctrine in the church is absolutely essential…and here at this church we need to make sure it stays that way.
So…After this mid-credit teaching, Paul then goes on to list a few more names of individuals who have assisted him in ministry over the years including:
Timothy (his young protégé) Tertius (his scribe) and Gaius (Someone from Corinth who Paul baptized personally)
Finally, Paul wraps up the entire letter with a beautiful benediction that you’ve heard me end our services with for the past 5 months.
We’ve heard it many times by now, so I won’t dive into it too deeply this morning…
except to say that it is a perfect summation of how God’s plan all along was to have His Son, Jesus, come to earth and sacrifice himself for the sins of humanity…
…That – as verse 26 (Romans 16:26) states: “…All nations might believe and obey Him.”
At the end of the day, it’s all about having a relationship with Jesus Christ…
Trusting in who He is and what He has done for you…
And allowing that relationship of love to flow over into willing obedience.
As we wrap up this amazing letter that contains such a rich and vast array of doctrinal truth and practical application, I’m reminded of the lyrics to a hymn I used to sing at the little Baptist Church where I grew up.
The first verse goes like this:
“When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His word, what a glory He sheds on our way….While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.”
Let’s Pray.