Paul ends with words of praise (vs 25– 27), celebrating the gospel proclaimed throughout Romans: namely, that the Gentiles have been incorporated into God’s people, as was God’s intention from the first promises to Abraham (Romans 4:16–18). But before he launches into praise, Paul cautions those in Rome to be wary of those who cause divisions and throw up obstacles (v 17). 

We may be surprised: Paul’s already indicated there’s liberty for practices that aren’t required if they’re sincerely intended to honour the Lord (Romans 14:5,6). But there the differences were between people who all accepted Jesus as their Messiah, and the centrality of the Cross – they were just trying to work through their differences as to what that meant in practice. Here the differences are about what is contrary to the gospel. 

Paul simply states that they have the standard of what constitutes gospel truth: measure everything by that and turn away from everything else, trusting that God will help them defeat the enemy (v 20). It’s not clear whether Paul has certain teachers in mind, but what’s clear is that he suspects their motivation: to gain power or influence over the churches in Rome (v 18). Paul wants them to turn such teachers away, judging them by their substance rather than their appearance (v 18b).

‘The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you’ (v 20). Receive his grace into your life now.

There is a change of tone following the warmth of Paul’s greetings to friends. Phoebe is waiting to take the letter, Tertius is thinking about packing up his writing tools (v 22), Gaius and his family perhaps wait to share one more meal (v 23). What is it that Paul really wants to emphasise to the young Roman church as he signs off his letter to them?

Yes – he seems to have acknowledged that there will be disputes that are not important in the scope of gospel truth,¹ but here (vs 17–20) Paul seems to be warning them about a different level of division and evil. Rather than the ‘holy kiss’ (v 16), Paul unequivocally tells them to ‘keep away from’ evil behaviour (see v 17). He is intentionally mysterious about knowing exactly what is evil; it’s enough to say that if you suspect that which is not good, then ‘flee’.² Paul’s words echo Jesus’ teaching about wisdom and innocence (v 19).³ How then can we know how to make decisions about right and wrong? John Stott draws out three tests which are helpful here. Is it biblical (v 17)? Does it serve and glorify Jesus (v 18)? Does it promote what is good (v 19)?⁴ We may not always get things right, but in the end God’s victory is sure. Paul’s reference to God’s eternal story (v 26), draws him back to his main theme in Romans.

‘My dear friends’, we can hear him saying. All that I have written to you is about Jesus, whose story is writ large through all time, all history, all scriptures (vs 25,26). The good news is that through Jesus, God has made it possible – and it always was the plan – that we all, including Gentiles, are able through faith to become one in Christ Jesus. 

‘… to the only wise God be glory for ever through Jesus Christ!’ (v 27). Praise God for the unspeakable truths in this letter.

¹ Rom 14:1  ² 1 Tim 6:11  ³ Matt 10:16  ⁴ John Stott, The Message of Romans, IVP, 1994, p400