Plague in the Church

If not, people would take their
Bibles and turn back to the book of Romans, Romans chapter 16. Romans chapter 16. We are in Paul’s, essentially,
his final readings. He has clearly begun to wrap
up. He looks at that lengthy list of saints whom he greets
and commends to the church there in Rome. And then, seemingly
out of place, there is this severe warning that he gives in verses
17 through 20. And then he resumes, without
missing a step, and he gives greetings. Greetings from Timothy
and others. And so that has led many commentators
over the years to say that this passage is abrupt and entirely
out of place, that Paul had really meant to insert this earlier
and now he’s just inserting it as an afterthought. I have an
idea about that that I’ll share in a moment. Some say that somewhere
near the end, the pages got jumbled. Maybe the pack got off of the
camel and the pages went flying and putting them back together
got them out of order. It’s just silly, some of that
kind of criticism of scripture. I think this is exactly the order
and I’ll tell you why. Why would Paul, Obviously in
the midst of closing out this epistle, obviously in the midst
of his final greetings, why would he insert this solemn warning
and why would he do it here? All I can say is I know why. The elders of this church know
why. Likely the saints of this body
Christians of any congregation know why, because they no doubt
have known and experienced what we have. That division harms,
and sometimes even kills, churches. So Paul, as he courses through
this greeting to beloved saints whom he commends, whom he sometimes
doesn’t even seem to know personally, but sends heartfelt greetings. I believe that that prompted
in Paul’s heart a thought of who they were. And the very thought
that someone or some issue could come in and tear them apart was
so grievous to Paul that he inserts one of his most solemn warnings. One of the most solemn warnings
ever recorded in any of his epistles. You see, Paul knew what one commentator
characterized in these terms. He said, such divisions and scandals,
when they prevail, devour the very life of religion in individuals
and churches. We have known that as a body. We have known trouble. We have
known the heartache. I’ve shared in times past that
the elders of this church are absolutely on fumes because of
the last three years of difficulty. But the saints know it as well. We’ve lost people simply because
they were weary of difficulty. They were weary of division.
Paul knew division. And he knew the pernicious nature
of it. He knew what it would reap if
it began to take foothold in Rome. And so he sends this solemn
warrant. The saints read along, beginning
in verse 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. For such
men are slaves, not of our Lord Jesus Christ, but of their own
appetites. And by their smooth and flattering
speech, they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. For the
report of your obedience has reached to all. And therefore
I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what
is good, and innocent in what is evil. And a God of peace will
soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be
with you. Paul knew. Paul didn’t lose his
place. Paul didn’t bring up an afterthought. I mean, Paul inserts this difficulty
absolutely because he sees this precious institution, this church
in Rome, this institution that was so beloved, so near to his
heart, and he knows that division and even death is entirely possible
for them. I think Paul knew that. And I think that’s exactly what
prompted his writing. We’ve heard much in recent days
about one disease or another. Ebola is now the most popular
in the news. May I suggest to you that Paul,
in writing to the Church of Rome, is addressing spiritual Ebola? I’m not trying to make minimum
or to take away from the seriousness of that physical disease, but
I’m telling you I’m telling you, what Paul has in mind here, spiritually
speaking, is far worse than any physical disease. This kills
churches. That’s why I would entitle this
section, Plague in the Church. Plague in the Church. But Paul,
Paul’s not going to give in. Paul wants to give us procedures
for preserving a healthy body. And by body, I mean the very
body of Christ. Procedures for preserving a healthy
body. First of all, if the church would
be virus free, we must first diagnose the disease. Look at
the passage. Now I urge you, brethren, keep
your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances. The word dissensions, that’s
the disease. Dissensions and hindrances are
the disease. That is what will kill the church. That word dissensions, the only
other time this word is used, it’s only used one other time
in Galatians. I’ll share that in a second.
But it’s the word from where we get dichotomy. To cut in two. And the divisions of which Paul
referred here, and of which he has such a bitter experience.
Paul knew what it was like to see a church in turmoil. So when
he wrote to Galatians, before he ever addressed the fruit of
the Spirit, remember that glorious passage? He talked about the
deeds of the flesh. Remember that ugly list of things?
That’s the only other time this word is used. Paul talks about
such things as idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts
of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions. Factions pointing to
those disputes that are specifically born out of heresy. It literally
means standing apart. And so you can almost picture
a group of people pulling off and standing apart, whether within
the church or without. And what Paul gives us here is
a short, very short, but intense warning about evils that Paul
has seen in many places. This division that are ultimately
the fruit of spirit, of strife and rivalry, that is so common
to the Church. Paul knew this. He wrote to the
Philippians, speaking of his own experiences, some, to be
sure, here in the Church of Rome. Now Paul’s writing from personal
experience. Before, he was essentially forecasting
to the Romans. Now, as he writes to the Philippians,
he tells them what is taking place. Some, to be sure, are
preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from
goodwill. The latter do it out of love,
knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. The
former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than
from pure love, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.” So this word called forecasts,
known only here as divisions, we don’t have much more to go
on. But it is a dividing of the body of Christ. So Paul uses
another word to color it. Not only dissensions this disease,
but hindrances. Hindrances, that’s a very general
word. But it points specifically to
teachings and ideas, ideologies, that just throw difficulties
in the way of a brother. Lifestyles, choices that we make,
our so-called witness. You know what the word is here?
Scandal. From where we get our word, scandal.
It’s scandals. Do you remember the parable of the
soil? Four different soils into which
the seed fell. The seed fell on a hard path. The seed fell in a thorny area. It says when it fell in a rocky
area, it grew up quickly and then it stumbled and fell. It was a scandalous fall, just
like it is when people fall away from the Lord. Scandalous. What
Paul in here refers to is offenses. stumbling blocks, difficulties
that other believers oftentimes even put into other believers’
paths. It’s something that is warned
against, Paul appeals to it, Paul sees it as something terrifically
destructive in the life of other believers, and yet it happens.
It happens time and time again. As one described it, The offense
here is not simply an insult, but an incitement to anger. It
is a betrayal into any sin, whether by temptation or by angering.
It is any interposed impediment in our pursuit of the truth and
righteousness. So you think of all that that
could entail. It could entail the way people
live. It could entail people’s habits. It could entail people’s personality
when it’s left unchecked. You might remember that this
is the recurring indictment that Paul has of the Jewish nation.
That they tripped, stumbled, took offense over the Messiah. Romans 9.33, 11.9, 14.13. They
repeatedly tripped over this truth of the identity of the
Messiah. But it’s also this word It is
viewed much more generally of a spiritual difficulty, a stumbling
block, an offense, that sometimes even believers can throw in the
path of another believer. Because of that, our Christian
progress is affected, negatively speaking. And Paul says in chapter
14, we want to avoid every occasion for causing a brother or sister
in Christ to stumble, don’t we? So Paul here has issued this
general command. He’s telling us about the disease. And we’ll talk specifically about
the identity of those who are spreading the disease. But he
says in quite general fashion, keep your eye on those who cause
dissensions and scandal. J.C. Ryle, writing about scandals,
said this, Professing Christians cause offense whenever they bring
discredit on their testimony, by inconsistencies of temper,
of word, or of deed. We do it whenever we make our
Christianity unlovely in the eyes of the world, by conduct
not keeping with our profession. The world may not understand
the doctrines and principles of the leaders, but the world
is very keen-sighted about their practice.” Wilde continues later when he
says, the sin which our Lord brings before us is very unhappily
very common. The inconsistencies of professing
Christians too often supply the men of the world with an excuse
for neglecting spiritual things altogether. An inconsistent believer,
whether he knows it or not, is daily doing harm to souls. His life is a positive injury
to the gospel of Christ. Every believer in the room ought
to say, God forbid, God forbid that that would be named of me. the plague and our myths. It’s
a pernicious disease which, if left unchecked, will do serious
harm. And he begins to clarify that
disease at the end of verse 17. What kind of disease is this
exactly? He just says, keep your eye on
those who cause distinctions and hindrances contrary to the
teaching which you have learned. See there, it’s document. Maybe not. The clause here, contrary
to the teaching which you have learned, clearly refers to both
dissensions and hindrances. This is dissensions, which are
contrary, and hindrances. It modifies both. These divisions,
these hindrances, were both completely contrary to what they had learned
in Christianity. And so is the focus of this passage
on doctrinal error alone? We could identify this as being
that of false teachers that apply their wares and sow their false teaching. You
see, there are some arguments to commend that viewpoint. Teaching
does refer to doctrine. It can mean doctrine. And so
some would say that proves that he’s talking about some heretical
teaching, but I would say not necessarily. See, there’s also
the teaching that the Roman Christians would have been fully aware of. Paul had just finished commending
them for that very thing. They were fully aware of the
teaching of the doctrine, if you will, of Christian living.
The doctrine of the Christian life. which the Roman Christians
also were not fully aware of, but certainly they were aware
of doctrine, although Paul takes the greater measure of the Book
of Romans to give them essentially a theology, a doctrine of sin,
a doctrine of salvation, a doctrine of sanctification. He gives that
to them. But Paul is talking about here
I’ll begin to make my argument. I think it’s much bigger than
that. I don’t think that it’s limited to just false teachers.
If they came into the midst, no doubt they would bring division.
But I think there are others who can divide us. You see, the
church knew how they were supposed to live. They knew that they
were supposed to live peacefully. They knew that they were supposed
to be harmonious. They knew that they were supposed
to be gentle towards others. Paul, when writing, so often
will do these doctrinal sections first, and then he’ll turn to
practical matters. It’s not either or, it’s both
and for Paul. We not only need to have right
doctrine, we need to live rightly. Paul writing to the Ephesians.
After he finished three chapters of heavy doctrine, he says this,
Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk
in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance
for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity
of the body from the bond of peace. It’s important how we
live. It’s important that we live humbly
and peaceably and gently before our Oh, writing to the Philippians,
likewise. This is one of the key elements
of the book of Philippians. Therefore, if there is any encouragement,
if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship
of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete
by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in Spirit,
intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or
anti-conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as
more important than yourselves. The Roman Christians knew this.
That’s Christianity. So when Paul says, beware of
those who would come into your midst and cause division and
bring hindrances, It’s not necessarily that we conclude that this is
only some heretical false teaching which the average Christian would
hold back to identifying. This is behavior that is inconsistent
with calling yourself a Christian, pure and simple. And that’s why he describes the persons
here in such general terms. So what is their identity? Some
have suggested that these were false teachers. I’ve already
hinted at that. Judaizers, perhaps. Antinomians,
which means that they were against all kinds of rules. We have those
people in our day and age, don’t we? Gnostics. We’ve studied Gnosticism
in times past. Just this higher knowledge, this
secret club mentality. We have those in our day. All
here, one set. in pointing to the identity of
being false teachers, he said, he’s warning about those who
challenge and undermine the teaching which you have learned, the divinely
revealed apostolic teaching they have received. And I agree with
that. I absolutely agree that false
teachers are in this mix. It’s certainly possible that
false teachers could come in and divide and grow hindrances,
but I don’t think it’s limited to that. Paul, when he wrote, when he
met with the elders there on the shores, he met with the elders
of Ephesus, and he warned them about wolves, false teachers
that would come in to their midst, not sparing the flock. Absolutely,
he’s talking about false teachers there. Because it says, from
among your own selves men will arise speaking perverse things
to draw away disciples after them. I think he’s absolutely
talking about doctrine there. Writing to Titus, there on the
island of Crete, clearly a warning there in the opening chapter
about false teachers. He says, there’s many rebellious
men, empty talkers, deceivers, especially those of the circumcision
who must be silenced because they’re upsetting the entire
family. Doctrine. False teaching. Paris is going
to come in and divide the church. But I think there’s more here
than just that. One pastor in describing these
kinds of people says, these are not those who entertain particular
views on subjects of secondary importance. They are not satisfied
with stating and defending. In other words, these people,
a lot of times, on what they say, are right. How they go about
it. But they elevate them into matters
of primary consequence, they wish to press them upon their
fellow Christians, and if they cannot succeed, use their influence
to create factions in the church. And so you have group one, those
potentially causing dissension and stumbling blocks are the
false teachers, but there are others. Sometimes they are just
divisive people. people that are eager to cause
stumbling blocks, careless of throwing stumbling blocks in
other people’s way, not necessarily because of any theological particulars,
just because they want to please themselves, just because they
want to gain a following. So this general warning gives
way, and this is particular, doesn’t it? Not only Paul’s teachers,
but those that are just stubbornly self-centered. Paul writing to Thessalonians,
to the Thessalonians the second time. We have a second, just
turn to this one if you would. Second Thessalonians, chapter
three. Second Thessalonians, chapter
three, where Paul gives almost exactly the same advice, not
about a false teacher, but to about a profligate man. Pick
it up in verse 6 of chapter 3, 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, look
at verse 6. For Paul says, Let me command
you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you
keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life, and
not according to the tradition which you received from us. He’s unloving. He’s ungracious,
and he’s not humble, and he’s not peaceable. For you yourselves
know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not
act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s
bread without paying for it with labor and hardship. We kept working
90 days so that we would not be a burden to anyone. Not because
we did not have a right to do this, but to offer ourselves
as a model for you, that you would follow our example. For
even when we were with you, we used to give you this order,
if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat either. For we hear that some among you
are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but
acting like busybodies, for Paul knows enough to say, you know
what? This is a man who is in your midst causing dissension
and hindrances. Such persons we command and exhort
in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet passion and eat their
own bread, but as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
All I have in mind here is not so much people, not just people
that are in our midst sowing heresy, but people that are in
our midst living like unbelievers, practically speaking. James Boyce
nailed it on the head when he said, often these people who
show up in a congregation suddenly, usually from another church where
they’ve also caused trouble, they are knowledgeable. They
usually have considerate abilities. considerable abilities. They
have enthusiasm and get to know people and follow them easily.
Generally they are used to teaching, they want to fill this role in
their new church, but problems develop quickly. They begin to
push a particular point of doctrine. They are critical of people who
do not see things as they do. Paul says that the church would
be virus free. We must diagnose the disease.
Secondly, we must recognize the cause. Look at verse 18. Paul says, I urge you, brethren,
keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances. Contrary
to the teaching which you learn, turn away from them, for such
men are slaves. They want what they want. Life for them is all about them. It’s only about them. It’s only
about pleasing themselves. Now this clearly points in a
direction towards those false teachers who were only in it
for the money. those that are just so self-centered
they don’t mind causing division, even in the brightest crisis. Paul wrote this, wrote about
this rather, to the Corinthians. 2 Corinthians 11. I am afraid
that as the serpent was deceived thee by his craftiness, your
mind to be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion
to Christ. For if one comes and preaches
another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different
spirit whom you have not received, or a different gospel which you
have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. You know, this is
the average Christian. They’ll go in, they’ll read any
book that somebody hands them, they’ll go to any seminar, listen
to any message, go to any church. My point to them is being false
apostles, deceitful workers. Those people that these are so
inclined to follow. selfless desires, self-indulgence,
self-interest, self-gratification. Paul says that we’re going to
keep the body healthy. If the church would be virus-free,
we must not only diagnose the disease and recognize its cause,
but understand the incubation. Thirdly, Understand the incubation. Look again at verse 18. Such men are slaves, not of our
Lord Jesus Christ, but of their own appetites. By their smooth
and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
That’s the way they operate. The first word just presents
this pious talk. And the second is just such reasonable
speech. These are good speakers. They’re
good with their mouths. They’re good with words. In fact,
the very nature of both of these Greek words talks about just
good speech, fair speech. When you go to a funeral, you
hear a eulogy. That’s the second word. Good
words. These guys, they spare no good
word. They’re good talkers. They flatter
with their tongues. But they’re operating with deception.
They deliberately set out to deceive and draw in other people
for their own ends. One Puritan describes it in these
terms. He says, to separate such as
agree with the truth of Christ is an impious and sacrilegious
divorce. Did you hear what he said? The
very idea to go in to the people of God and to separate them for
your own purposes is unthinkable. But to defend a conspiracy for
promoting lies under the pretext of peace and unity is a shameless
deceit. I’m not justifying their existence,
but even the most insidious false teacher, you know, the average
Christian can see it. I mean, you can tell immediately. But this guy comes into our midst. It’s a Judas kiss. He comes in
pretending to be one of us. He acts like that. He pretends.
And he goes through all these emotions and all these words
and all these flatteries. It’s false. It’s a trick only for his own
ends. He’s the only one that will benefit. Paul shied away, feared to be
caught in with those who were walking in craftiness and adultery,
in the words of God. Paul said, never, never would
I want to be in that class. These men, they go out and do
their own thing for their own purposes and their own ends. And so if the church would be
virus-free, not only do we have to diagnose the disease and recognize
the cause and understand the incubation, we have to remember
the stakes. What’s the big deal, you say?
Let everybody come. God will sort it out in the end. For the report of your obedience
has reached too long. Therefore I am rejoicing over
you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent
in what is evil.” When he says, the report of your
obedience, Paul returns to a word that is used repeatedly throughout
this epistle, obedience, obedience. Remember, that was his very driving
force to take the Gospel to the Gentiles, was to bring about
obedience of faith in the Gentiles. Paul talks about obedience as
being part of our call in Christ in Romans 6. In 15, 18 rather,
he returns to this idea of reaching out to the Gentiles and calling
them out to obedience in faith. And so obedience is high on the
list of Paul’s ideas here in this epistle. When he says to
the Romans, your obedience, the fact that you have obeyed the
gospel, that you are on the path of righteousness, you are purposing
to follow Christ into heaven. What a great testimony. Paul
says, remember, that’s what’s at stake. If you allow someone
to come into your midst and tear you apart as a church, You’re going to lose that precious
testimony. The precious testimony that God has begun in you. It’s an incentive. It’s a motivation. It’s a prompter to continue obedience
towards Christ. To continue faithfulness in Him
and to Him. And that’s why Paul says, I want
you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.
I’m not saying that you haven’t been faithful thus far at all.
I just want you to know that evil exists. That troublemakers
exist. That trouble can come from all
different sides. Jesus It is said that essentially
these same words that Paul is echoing. Behold, Jesus said,
I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be shrewd as
serpent. Innocent as dove. What good advice. There’s a lot at stake. If we allow the
church to be torn apart, Paul says, We lose our testimony before
a watching world. Can’t allow it. So if the church should be virus-free,
we must diagnose the disease and recognize the cause, understand
the incubation, remember the stakes, and take drastic action. Look at the passage. Look at
the beginning in verse 17. Paul says, now I urge you Our
words there are paraphileppo, to come alongside someone, and
it can be used for anything from exhort to admonish. I am appealing
to you in the strongest terms, Paul says, brethren, keep your
eye on those who cause dissection and hindrances, and turn away. First of all, keep your eye.
Literally, the older versions used to call it mark them. Mark
them, note them, mark them, and I think not only is he talking
to the shepherds in the midst of any church, Paul is addressing
this, remember, to the generality. Absolutely this was required
of the shepherds, but it’s also required of the saints. Keep
your eyes open. Watch those. And the word has
this intensity to it. It carries this very direct idea
of not just looking, casting a passive glance at someone,
but looking at them and observing them intensely, scrutinizing
them. One described it in these terms,
be exceedingly particular about, get acquainted with, search out
thoroughly, pay close attention. Paul uses this word frequently,
Galatians 6.1, Philippians 3.17. Observe those who walk according
to the path. Don’t just make a passive, casual
approach to Christianity. Dig into it with everything that
you’ve got. Be careful who you emulate. Be careful who comes
into your midst. Season. Pastor, commentating
on this passage, said, persons of this description, often for
a season, carry on their plans secretly. And we live without
being observed. This mischief is done before
danger is apprehended. Such persons should be marked
as soon as their character begins to develop, that proper methods
may be employed to counteract their efforts and defeat their
purposes. That’s our calling. And it is as much your church
as it is my church. Paul is unfinished. He says not
only mark them, watch them, but get this, this is so un 21st
century Christianity. an effective way of resisting.
I’m not going to let you ply your wares here. I’m not going
to let you do your thing here in this place. I’m not going
to let you bring your division. I’m not going to let you throw
stumbling blocks before the very saints of God. I’m not going
to let it happen. This word is used negatively.
In Scripture, you’ve seen it before. Romans 3, 12, all have
turned aside. Together they have become useless.
They turned aside. And in a very real way, sin is
a wandering away, a departing out of what proper way. 1 Peter 3, listen to this. 1 Peter 3, to sum up, all of
you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, humble
in spirit, not returning evil for evil or insult for insult,
but giving a blessing instead. For you are called for this very
purpose, that you might inherit a blessing. For the one who desires
life, to love and see good days, He must turn away from doing
evil. This is a decisive action that
Paul insists upon the church. They are to avoid these people. They are to mark them, and they
are to avoid them. One shepherd said it this way,
purely from the view of exalting themselves, endeavored to sow
division in the Church, are more to be shunned than if they were
infected with pestilence. And those who are connected with
and not from their confidence in their own steadfastness expose
themselves to their conversation, in other words, have nothing
to do with people like that. That’s why we ask the saints,
when they desire to join with us, Don’t be part of causers
or causes of division, because it’s deadly. It’s a deadly disease
in the church. We’re close with this, and what
a hope. What a promise. What an encouragement. Paul’s
talking about procedures for preserving a healthy body. Listen
to this. If the church would be virus-free,
we must diagnose the disease, recognize the cause, understand
the incubation, remember the stakes, take drastic action,
and rest in God’s promises. What are they? Look at verse 20, where
Paul says, and the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your
feet. Paul is not suggesting that these
people that are or would come into the Church of Rome are necessarily
Satan in disguise. He’s not Satan. In fact, I don’t
even believe that he’s saying or suggesting that they have
to be unbelievers. One of the sad realities presented
in Scripture is that even though saved, we can live and conduct
ourselves in such a way as to aid the enemy, even the devil
himself. What Paul is saying is that this
little skirmish that you’re having right now, this difficulty, this
division, even if it kills the church, this is just one battle. But in the end, God wins. In
the end, God will crush Satan under his foot, and he will do
so using the foot of the saints. As one characterizes it, this
is the very first promise of redemption. The devil has already been bruised
by the Redeemer in his triumphal work, and that victory would
be, in due time, realized in a personal triumph over sin and
death, and final deliverance from all trial. We have that
hope. children of God, that God will
crush Satan. He will crush him under the feet
of God’s people, and he will do it speedily. It’s coming. The devil has it coming. In all
these troubles, in all these difficulties, we can see the light at the end
of the tunnel, and it’s glorious up. No wonder Paul says, you’ve
got to persevere. You’ve got to press on. The grace
of our Lord Jesus do it. God love you. Our merciful God, we humble before you. We humble ourselves before you.
And we thank you for this clear passage. A passage showing the
love and the high regard that Paul had for this precious institution,
the Church of the Living God. Father, we thank you and praise
you that Paul marked out for us the steps that we must take
to keep the Church diseased and virus-free. Grant us the grace,
Father, to be faithful in that call. It’s in Jesus’ name.