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 their 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 16:17-20

As we come to the end of the Epistle of Romans, the Apostle Paul urges a strong warning once again. “Mark them which cause division and offences contrary to the doctrine you have learned and avoid them” As Paul said to the Church of Galatia “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8) Anyone who is preaching or teaching doctrine against what Christ and the Apostles taught, let them be accurssed!

However we live in a time period in the Church, where false doctrine is rampant! It’s harder to find a Church that actually preaches the Word of God, yet many so called “Christians” have compromised. Instead of marking these false teachers, as instructed by Paul, they conform to them. Many people attend these false Churches, for the sake of peace and unity, however this is very dishonering to your Lord.  As Paul continues “For those who are such, do not serve our Lord but their own belly (flesh)” These “Churches” are carnally minded, not being led by the Holy Spirit but by the flesh. 

Think about it, why would a Church embrace sin? Well the only reason is because they want to satisfy the flesh. They are not Born Again (John 3:3) , they are not led by the Holy Spirit, they are led by their carnal flesh like an animal. “By smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple” But you say “they are so nice”, “they are so friendly” Don’t be deceived, God will not be mocked, what you reap is what you sow” (Galatians 6:7)

So how do you respond to these fake Churches? As the Apostle Paul said, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Avoid them, stay away from them, (v17) This idea that we can have “Liberal” and “Traditional” Christians together is a lie from Satan. There is no such thing as a Liberal Christian, because its “contrary to the teachings of Christ” It’s an abomination in the house of God, yet many bow down to the Satanic agenda, and I fear many will lose their soul because you have rejected the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

“For your obedience has become known to all” (v19) Have you compromised your soul? Or are you obedient to your Lord Jesus Christ? The important thing is not whether your on the Church membership list, the important thing is your name written in The Lambs Book of Life? (Revelation 3:5) Many people have sold their soul, to please their family, to please their neighbor, to please their flesh

But the God of peace, our Lord Jesus Christ has crushed the head of Satan at the cross! We have victory in Christ, because Christ has already overcome the world (John 16:33) Don’t fear the temporary persecution right now, because we have eternal victory in the Kingdom of God, Amen!

And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:14-16

If The Apostle Paul was around today, he would be writing Churches a letter, he might even be writing your Church a letter. And instead of Christians receiving these letters with great joy, as Paul was an Apostle filled with the Holy Spirit. Christians today would mostly dismiss Paul as a “legalist” and “judgemental” , however the Apostle Paul wrote these letters, not to condemn his brothers and sisters, but to remind and enlighten them with the wisdom of God

Paul begins with a positive note, “my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able or competent to instruct or admonish one another” Imagine the hours and years Paul had to pour into this Church to get them to this point! This is what Jesus instructs us to do “Go Make Disciples” (Matthew 28:19) Yet most Churches today, most Christians don’t want to be discipled or make disciples. This has been the downfall of the modern Church, the lack of love and discipline to The Lord. Paul has labored with many Churches, making many disciples, and He’s ready to let the Church of Rome on their own, as Paul is coming to the end of his life in prison.

But next , since Paul loves these brothers and sisters in Christ, he must tell them the truth, he must rebuke them. As scripture says “For The Lord disciplines those he loves” (Hebrews 12:6) Yet most Christians today don’t want to be disciplined, they don’t want to be discipled, they don’t want to submit to any authority, because most of the Church today is Luke Warm,  it’s carnally centered false religion. The Apostle Paul states “Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God”

Paul admits he had to be hard on the Church sometimes, just as a parent sometimes has to show tough love to their children, not because Paul wanted to condemn the Church, but because he loves the Church and wants them to grow in sanctification. However the flesh for most overcomes the spirit. Many have rejected Pauls instructions, just as many Christians still do today. The Apostle Paul was preparing the Church to be a spotless bride before The Lord (Ephesians 5:27)

The Apostle Paul continues “that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Let me ask you , are you Born Again? (John 3:3) And if so, are you being sanctified by the Holy Spirit? Looking back in the past years, have you really grown in The Lord? Or have you become a dead branch? Have you produced fruit of the Holy Spirit? Or are you a dead tree waiting to be cut down and thrown into the fire? (Matthew 7) Answer the calling of our Father,  Submit to The Lord, submit to the Church, be sanctified by the Holy Spirit, Amen

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. Romans 14:19-23

Satan wants to divide and destroy the Church, the Apostle Peter described him as “a roaring lion looking to devour” (1 Peter 5:8) Be careful of divisions started over non-essential issues, don’t allow them to destroy the local Church. With that being said, we must also be careful not to cause divisions ourselves. Satan is looking for any reason to destroy your Church, destroy your family and destroy you! 

The Apostle Paul instructs us here, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “let us therefor follow pursue after these things which make for peace, and things which one may edify one another” The Church should be edifying one another, are you edifying to your Church or causing division? The word edification in the Bible, greek word “oikodomes” means to build up one another.  The Apostle Paul said to the Church of Thessalonia “Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

I’m going to give an example again at my local Church, there is a family that chooses not to celebrate Christmas, another family brought it to my attention that we should try to correct them. Based on Romans 14, I told them back then everyone has the freedom in Christ whether to celebrate Christmas or not. If they don’t want to celebrate Christmas that’s OK, and if they do want to celebrate Christmas, that’s OK also, everyone will be lead by their own conscience. When I said this, the other family was like, yeah that makes sense. And so we moved on without making an issue or division about it. We could have easily blown this up into a bigger issue, and probably caused division within the Church, however its not necessary. Let us edify one another as the body of Christ and not try to destroy one another

The root of the problem, Paul addresses with a question “Do you have faith?” (v22) Is your salvation so weak that eating pork or celebrating Christmas will send you to Hell? Or is our salvation in the works of Christ on the cross? When Jesus said “It Is Finished” (John 19:30) Do you not believe him? Many of these issues are due to weakness in faith, we must truly put our salvation in Christ alone and nothing else!

As the Apostle Paul ends with a strong rebuke, “for whatever is not from faith is a sin” If we are not living by faith in Christ, then we are trying to live by works, which will not save us! Edify your brothers and sisters in The Lord because Christ Is Risen! The debt has been paid, repent and become Born Again by faith in Christ, Amen!

Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Romans 12:14-16

So you think its easy to be as Christian? Just say a few words and vola , the golden ticket to Heaven. Oh how quickly the false convert will fall away when faced with opposition. Consider the words of the Apostle Paul here, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Bless them which persecute You, bless and do not curse! What did you say Paul? Has the Apostle lost his mind?

Well lets consider what our Lord Jesus Christ has to say, “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44) Wait a minute, the Apostle Paul is not crazy, this is what The Lord commands from us! This is true Christianity, but how can we fulfill these requirements? Its only by us crucifying the flesh, its only by us being Born Again, filled with the Holy Spirit, the flesh can’t love their enemy, oh the spiritual battle that is within!

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep! This is one of the many reasons for the Church, if you are not part of the body of Christ, who will you rejoice with? If you forsake the assembly of the Church, who will you weep with? Brothers and sisters, you were not made to live alone (Genesis 2:18) Christ has built His Church (Matthew 16:18) a community of believers for you to rejoice and weep with, to share your spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10), to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12)

“Be of the same mind toward one another or live in harmony with one another” Many will say I can’t “go to Church” because this person is rude or that person doesn’t agree with me, Brothers and Sisters, if you are to love your enemies, don’t you think you should also love your brethren? Don’t you think this is part of your sanctification? The Church needs you just as much as You need the Church! “Don’t set your mind on high thing or don’t be proud associate with the lowly” In other words Get over yourself! 

Again I will ask the question, do you think being a Christian is easy? No of course not, we need Jesus every hour, every minute, every second, to crucify our flesh, to walk worthy in our calling as the Church, Amen!

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Romans 12:9-13

So what does it mean to live as the Church? As a Christian you don’t live like the world, or for the world, you live for Christ. The Apostle Paul teaches us, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “Let love be without dissimulation or hypocrisy/be sincere” How did Christ demonstrate his love for you? (Romans 5:8) Jesus died on the cross for You, even though we were still sinners, even though we were still in rebellion with God. That’s true love, love with action not just words. 

Again going back to saying you love Christ, yet neglect His Church, is hypocritical love. You love in words, yet not in action, your life doesn’t reflect your heart. “Abhor to what is evil, cling to what is good” The problem with modern day Churchianity, is alot of self professed Christians love what is evil and hate what is good! Woe to them who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20) It’s very easy to detect a false Church from a true Church, as Jesus said “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16)

A true Christian should adhor or hate what is evil, but yet many Christians want to conform to the ways of the world, but we need to be transformed by Jesus Christ (Romans 12:2) Cling to what is good, that’s the gospel of Jesus Christ, the only way you can be saved (John 14:6) A true Church doesn’t need worldly entertainment, they need to cling to the gospel of Jesus Christ, they need to cling to the sacraments instituted by The Lord, they need to cling to prayer, they need to cling to one another in Christ!

“Be kindly affectionate with one another in brotherly love” While the world is “dog eat dog”, the Church loves one another. This is why the Church is strange to the world, why do we love one another? Why do we gather and worship? Because Jesus is our Lord, there is nothing like the Church, that is why Satan tries to destroy and fabricate a false Church. 

“Never be lacking or slothful in business, not lagging in diligence, fervent in Spirit, serving The Lord” This should be the motto of the Church, not lazy but on fire for The Lord serving The Lord. If Jesus is truly your Lord, then why don’t you do what he says? (Luke 6:46) If your going to talk the talk, you must walk the walk, a true Church serves The Lord our God “persistent in prayer” Amen!

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8

There are many “Christians” today who will claim they don’t need “The Church”, they don’t have to go to “Church”, but the reality is , if you are truly a Born Again Christian, then you are the Church, to forsake the assembly of the Ekklesia, you are denying yourself, you are denying Christ since the Church is the Body of Christ. As the Apostle Paul states here, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” Many “Christians” will claim they are too good for that Church, they know more than the Pastor, they don’t like the music, but if you are part of the body of Christ, you are part of them in Christ

One of the biggest of neglecting the Church , is the neglect of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. “For as we have many members in One body, and all members have not the same office or function” If you are a Born Again Christian, you have a gift of the Holy Spirit, maybe multiple gifts, however if you forsake the Church, you can’t utilize your gifts from God because of your disobedience. One of the reasons the Church needs each other, is because together we are strong when we combine the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But when the Church is separated, it becomes weakened and more vulnerable to the attacks of Satan 

“So We, being many are One Body in Christ and individually members of one another” You are not your own, you were bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20) If you are a Christian you are part of the Body of Christ, and you belong to the Church in Christ. If you continually forsake the assembly of the Church (Hebrews 10:25) are you really a Christian? Are you really Born Again in Christ? If you are then you are part of the Body of Christ, the Church, this is not negotiable. 

 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us” When you forsake the Church, you forsake your gift of the Holy Spirit, which was intended for the Church. What an awful thing to “bury your talent” (Matthew 25:14-30) When The Lord returns will ask you “What have you done with this gift given to you”? Will Jesus say “Well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23) Or “You wicked and lazy servant” (Matthew 25:26) Serve The Church, because the Church needs You, and You are a servant of Christ, Amen!