Claiming My New Life: “Using The Elevator” – Romans 16

The other night I stayed in a hotel with a large twelve floor glass elevator. It was fast, and it was visually open to a vast lobby. We use elevators so often we don’t realize how ingenious they really are. I was staying on the sixth floor, and that elevator got me there faster than I could have ascended a single floor! It also did something else – it allowed everyone in the lobby to see the people in the elevator as they went up. In fact, there was NO PLACE TO HIDE in a glass elevator! In some ways, the best place for a believer and the message of his Savior is “sticking up above the crowd”.

Churches teach about many things – because the Bible has a wide variety of subject material! Sometimes we look at our INDIVIDUAL NEEDS – like fulfillment, love and acceptance by both God and people. Other times we look PROBLEM AREAS – like raising a Godly family. Often we are discussing from the Scriptures the relationship a believer has with BOTH GOD AND THE WORLD. In the final analysis, the church is supposed to be effectively connecting people to God and each other by lifting up the Person and Work of Jesus the Savior. We are called to “raise the Gospel up” – the good news that Jesus has paid for salvation because He was the able provision of the Father by virtue of His “Son-ship”. Jesus said: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” (John 12:32).

The method of drawing men, women and children to Jesus is lifting Him up so they can see Who the Bible actually, carefully portrays Him to be. The question is: “How do we (in practical terms) lift Him up?” What should we do to “raise the profile” of Jesus. Paul offered to the first century believers the best way to elevate Jesus in their city – at the heart of the Roman Empire. He didn’t command it – he offered a personal example in his final chapter of the letter of Romans – he SHOWED THEM how to raise up Jesus’ public profile. He demonstrated three ways – three strong legs that would elevate the Gospel before men – so that Jesus could be clearly seen. What three legs?

Key Principle: There are three “legs” that elevate the Gospel on a platform to be seen by those who are without – family ties in which believers were connected, carefully recognized and guarded truths around which the core values of the believers are founded and a celebrative and vibrant worship that proclaimed God’s character and majesty.

Each of these three legs holds up the message of the church. Each exalts Jesus. Each needs to be in balance with the other.

• In some circles the FAMILY is so emphasized that the body of Christ becomes the local manifestation of a CLUB of FRIENDS – more keen on fellowship than any instruction. In extreme cases, like at first century Corinth, the relationships even trumped a commitment to truth – until Paul corrected them.

• In some churches the TRUTH is all there is that holds the body together. They don’t like each other, and they don’t care for one another. They emphasize preaching and teaching, but there is no body life. Sadly, I have been in a number. They don’t laugh together. They are gone minutes after the end of the service. There is no reason to “hang around”. Something is obviously missing from the DNA strand.

• Finally, some churches are out of balance when it comes to their notions of WORSHIP. They equate style with substance, emotion with Spirit, and they are deeply in love with a Jesus they barely know. The truth is not well explained. They have zeal, but little knowledge. They sing and cry out desperately for a Christ Who has been carefully revealed in the pages of a Bible that is wholly unfamiliar. They draw people by the band, but not the Savior. Spirit is exchanged for soulishness – and all done in sincerity.

Paul offered a balance in the model of his life. Look at the way he closed out the lengthy discourse to the believers at Rome in Romans 16:

Romans 16:1 “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. 17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. 19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. 21 Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. 22 I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother. 24 [The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.] 25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”

Keep in mind two things:

• Rome at the time of Paul was a vast empire, and the Roman church was at the heart of it. “In recent years, questions relating to ancient demographics have received increasingly more scholarly attention, with estimates of the population size of the Roman empire at its demographic peak now varying between 60 and 70 million (“low count”) and over 100 million (“high count”).  Adhering to the more traditional value of 55 million inhabitants, the Roman Empire constituted the most populous Western political unity until the mid-19th century and remained unsurpassed on a global scale through the first millennium. (Wikipedia: The Roman Empire).

• Rome’s Christians, shortly after Paul were a persecuted lot. “The Christian experience of violence during the pagan persecutions shaped the ideologies and practices that drove further religious conflicts over the course of the fourth and fifth centuries… The formative experience of martyrdom and persecution determined the ways in which later Christians would both use and experience violence under the Christian empire. Discourses of martyrdom and persecution formed the symbolic language through which Christians represented, justified, or denounced the use of violence.” – Gaddis, Michael (2005). There is no crime for those who have Christ: Religious Violence in the Christian Roman Empire. University of California Press.

Because of the sheer size of the task of reaching people, and the likelihood that many would die for their faith – they needed tenacity, preparation and power. They needed a connection to God that would be unshakeable and unbreakable. How would they get that from a group of ordinary Christians? Paul SHOWED THEM with his example.

Paul’s example showed clearly the first LEG of the PLATFORM THAT EXALTS JESUS AND THE GOSPEL as CONNECTED BODY LIFE: Building Grace in body life relationships (16:1-16).

This chapter “winds down” the letter with these three recognitions of their “body life” that are recorded because they are extremely important:

A “Grace” relationship in the body includes the recognition of our LINEAGE (relationship), our LABOR and our LINE (that is the exclusive nature of our connection to one another).

Believers have to understand that we are connected. This is becoming even MORE IMPORTANT as our country strips away the CORE VALUES of our Founding Fathers. Let me offer an example: “Some missionaries in the Philippines set up a croquet game in their front yard. Several of their neighbors became interested and wanted to join the fun. The missionaries explained the game and started them out, each with a mallet and ball. As the game progressed, opportunity came for one of the players to take advantage of another by knocking that person’s ball out of the court. A missionary explained the procedure, but his advice only puzzled the friend. “Why would I want to knock his ball out of the court?” he asked. “So you will be the one to win!” a missionary said. The short-statured man, clad only in a loincloth, shook his head in bewilderment. Competition is generally ruled out in a hunting and gathering society, where people survive not by competing but by sharing equally in every activity. The game continued, but no one followed the missionaries’ advice. When a player successfully got through all the wickets, the game was not over for him. He went back and gave aid and advice to his fellows. As the final player moved toward the last wicket, the affair was still very much a team effort. And finally, when the last wicket was played, the “team” shouted happily, “We won! We won!” That is how the Church, the body of Christ, should be. We’re a team. We all win together.” (adapted from A-Z Preaching illustrator).

• Believers need to RECOGNIZE OUR LINEAGE: Paul began our passage by recognizing Phoebe (her name means “bright”) and he “commends her” – sunistao: is to “stand together with” her in the relationship (“sister” 16:1). This same idea is conveyed about the early convert Epaenetus (manes “praiseworthy” in 16:5); Ampliatus (16:8); Stachys (means “head of grain” in 16:9b) “called beloved” (agapetos: “one I direct active love toward”); Rufus (16:13 “a choice man” Greek:elecktos or selected, name means “red” in Latin).

We hurt ourselves when we fight, rather than trying to aid one another. We must be found ACTIVELY BINDING ourselves together in relationships of practical love for one another. The early church spread more by caring for each other’s needs and then using that as the platform to get people to hear of Jesus than any sophisticated concert, program or brochure. The way we treat each other is FAMILY, but we mean that in the positive Biblical model – not the modern family.

Abraham Lincoln was once being criticized for his attitude towards his opponents. “Why do you try to make friends with them?” a colleague asked. “You should try to destroy them.” Am I not destroying my enemies,” the President asked gently, “when I make them my friends?“

• Believers need to RECOGNIZE THE LABOR that goes into living for the Lord and keeping the Body alive and well. We should be recognizing the work of those who sacrifice for is (“servant” is diakonos- 16:1). The same is said of Aquila and Priscilla (16:3: “fellow workers”); Mary who worked hard (“kopaio” is the term GROWN WEARY FROM TOIL in 16:6); it is also used in the cases of Tryphaena and Tryphosa (likely twin sisters- 16:12). Urbanus (16:9) and Persis (16:12) were to be heartily greeted on behlf of Paul.

He not only cited the WORK of people, but he recorded specifically the practical assistance to one another (16:2b: help her, as she helped): a major characteristic of the first century believers is how they cared practically for one another. Further, he especially highlighted the extraordinary sacrifice of some in the body (16:4 “Aquila and Priscilla risked their own necks”). Junias and Andronicus were (16:7) “fellow prisoners and famous among the Apostles”.

Paul and the other men leading the first century church paid attention and publicly commended labor, practical help and extraordinary sacrifice. They recognized and awarded (at least verbally) tokens of love and respect.

• Believers need to RECOGNIZE THE LINE that is drawn around them. We need to stand together and acknowledge there is a special relationship between us that does not exist in the world. Recognizing the exclusive nature of body life (“receive in manner worthy” – 16:2): raises the standard of how we respect and treat one another. It is more intimate, personal and connected than that of those in the world! This is the reason for a special family greeting (16:16).

Remember, it is not the job of a Christian to SEEK recognition, but it is the job of the body to offer it!

We share as a family who deliberately CHOOSES to exalt Jesus and the Gospel by PRACTICING LOVE in very simple and practical ways to one another! Jewish Proverb states: “Among those who stand, do not sit; Among those who sit, do not stand; Among those who laugh, do not weep; Among those who weep, do not laugh.”

Relationship alone (CONNECTED BODY LIFE) will not exalt Christ completely, though it is a good start. A second equal quality that Paul demonstrated was the priority of CAREFUL BODY GUARDS: Vigilant overseers of truth (16:17-24). We are about FAMILY, but we are also very much about TRUTH. Guarding includes:

• Keeping an eye on (skopeo: to scope out; mark and identify) those who seem to be raising divisions (dichostasia: “to stand apart”) and setting up people to walk away from the Biblical teachings (“hindrances” is skandalon: from “the stick trigger of a trap” – 16:17a). We must guard the church to be a “safe place” for the young believer – who is easy prey when no one is watching over them.

• Individually keeping away from (ekleeno: deviate away from them) those who divert people into false teaching. They are slaves to their own bellies (koleia: related to the idea of colon- 16:17b-18a). Each of us need to measure the fruit of leaders before we follow them. We need to ask – “Are they leading people to the Mastery of Jesus, or into license and self will?

• Individually stepping away from those who would lead away by cunning (“smooth”: craestologia: plausible though untrue words and “flattering speech”: eulogia – false praise) the innocent (akakos: “unsuspecting” are those without suspicion through innocent nature -16:18b). Do you see an agenda that is not holy in their words? Back away.

• Individually making wise choices between things that are “good” (agathos: generous and good natured) and “innocent: (akherias: wine term for unmixed, pure) and evil (kakos: of defiled nature – 16:19). Satan is behind this destructive work, but he will be defeated (16:20).

JB Phillips, “I want to see you experts in good and not even beginners in evil”

The Enemy’s strategy is sowing tares among the wheat, inhibiting the sharing of the Gospel, enticing believers to fall into sin that will negate their credibility, distracting churches and Christians from their true mission by focusing on side-issues, creating societies and cultures that make the Gospel sound absurd or make it difficult for Christians to live Christ-like lives, breaking up families….doing whatever he can to distract from God’s glory….

From time to time I hear believers explain why their kids need to be educated in the sin sickness of the world system. I don’t buy it. They’ll catch on to sin soon enough!

We are about FAMILY (CONNECTED BODY LIFE) and TRUTH (CAREFUL BODY GUARDS), but we have another leg to the platform that elevates Jesus: CONTINUOUS BODY CELEBRATION: Blessing God for body life worship (16:25-27). Worship includes:

• Proclamation that God is able (dunamis: He has the power) to bring stability (“establish” is sterizo: probably from a nautical term to lash down for a storm – firm, bring stable foundation to) in accordance with the message of the Gospel. God, who began the with bringing the world salvation through sending His Son (Gospel = euangellion), and then guided the message to our ears is able to take my wobbly faith and inconsistent behaviors and lead us to our redemption (kerugma= proclamation). We praise Him for what the Gospel does, and for Who He is! (16:25a)

2 Timothy 1:12 “I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation F3 in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

• Proclamation that God’s plan is made known (PHANEROO – clarified, displayed) in His Word, revealed by the move of the Spirit, not “cleverly devised myths of men” (16:25b-26). The verses offer five details:

Romans 16:26 but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.”

• • God’s plan is in writing (graphic).
  • God’s plan came by prophets.
  • God’s plan was according to His command.
  • God’s plan was open to all.
  • God’s plan leads to heeding to the Master’s voice.

Peter also testified to this: 2 Peter 1:16 “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

• Proclamation that God knows what He is doing (“wise” – 16:27). We need to sing and praise, pray and proclaim that we might remember that God is always good, always working and always doing things right! God  ALONE (monos) is WISE (sophos is skilled and knowledgeable). OUR WORSHIP MUST SHOW CONFIDENCE THAT GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING!

• Proclamation to glorify (reflect the after image) God (16:27). We reflect God’s attributes to honor Him with a mirror of Himself.

Honor, praise, renown, distinction – all are words synonymous with glory. As a manifestation of the work of His hands, all creation brings glory to God. In Genesis 1:31 we read, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.” Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” God’s very work praises Him and brings Him glory. Glory to God is displayed through His mighty actions. Psalm 111:3, “Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.” In Psalm 138:5 we read, “May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.” Exodus 15:11 says, “Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” No one can accomplish what God can. He is above and beyond our comprehension. (allaboutGod.com)

There are three “legs” that elevate the Gospel on a platform to be seen by those who are without – family ties in which believers were connected, carefully recognized and guarded truths around which the core values of the believers are founded and a celebrative and vibrant worship that proclaimed God’s character and majesty.

One of the hardest things to do if you are not an expert carpenter is to level the legs of a table. What is true of carpentry is true of church body life. Family, Truth and Worship must be balanced and used to exalt Jesus – not our church. It isn’t about OUR FAME, but about HIS STORY!