DIVISIONS AND OFFENCES CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE YOU HAVE LEARNED
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 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.
Today there are many churches around the world that teach and preach “contrary” doctrines in the name of Jesus Christ, but even though these people declare that they are preaching the truth about Jesus Christ and God’s word of truth, if it is not taught according to the way that God designed then there is no truth in it at all. In fact, they all believe they are preaching and teaching God’s word in truth, but they get their doctrinal foundation from theological schools and from whatever by-laws their denomination has implemented. But as we will see, God the Father has the Apostle Paul lay our foundation for our education in the establishment of His word. The book of Romans is the foundational epistle for the saints to get their edification properly underway, and this is the main reason there is so much confusion in the world today about the bible, man has taught doctrine “contrary” to the doctrine that God has Paul teach in the book of Romans. We will take a look at the doctrine that is found in the book of Romans that many churches are ignorant of:
1. Chapter 1:
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
Rom 1:2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Most churches are ignorant of the Apostle Paul’s special “apostleship” and how that he was “separated unto the gospel of God.” It is Paul who God “separated” aside from the other Apostles to preach, teach, and establish all nations for the “obedience to the faith.” And as recorded in Acts chapter 9, the Lord raised up Paul to be His “chosen vessel” to proclaim the gospel of God reconciling the heavenly places back unto Himself through the “one new man” to the unsaved Jew and Gentile. But ignorance to this truth has caused many to assume that it is the Apostle Peter whom we must follow for the “obedience to the faith.”
Rom 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
Rom 1:12 That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
Rom 1:13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
Rom 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Rom 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
The Apostle Paul makes it plainly clear that he is a “debtor” to the whole world for their establishment in the gospel and this meant that he established the saints in Rome also, so why do we find today’s Rome saying that they are established by the Apostle Peter?
2. Chapter 2:
Rom 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Rom 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
Rom 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
After declaring the wrath of God against all ungodliness in chapter 1, Paul shows that the “man” is without excuse; meaning he has no excuse to say that God is unjustly judging him unworthy of everlasting life, but that his damnation is just because all sin is an abomination in God’s sight; not just the sins that seem worse than the others. This type of doctrine is taught as a comparative righteousness where the “man” thinks that God will over-look the minimal sins that he has done, and it will be out-weighed by his good works, but God will “render to every man according to his deeds” since that is how he wants God to deal with him, but his self-righteous attempt will not be good enough in the sight of God, but on this earth, this type of “man” has a holy, and righteous standing in the eyes of men, but in God’s sight this type of “man” is vain, and ungodly.
3. Chapters 3-5:
Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Many churches are ignorant of the righteousness of God being by faith alone without works of any kind at any time, but these churches require you to declare ‘your’ righteousness for “the remission of sins that are past” by asking God for forgiveness when the noticeably obvious sins are committed, but this is not how the justice of God operates. It is the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ that we are to have to be declared righteous in the sight of God because we all will come “short of the glory of God” if we use the justification method that man uses to self-justify himself. And if this were the case we would never have the ability to utilize our “faith” regarding our forgiveness (the issue of faith is trusting in something unseen or trusting that someone is going to do something for you that you can’t do on your own).
4. Chapters 6-7:
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
After the saint has just been taught the glorious gospel about his justification in chapters 3-5, he now begins to learn how and why he is to be “dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God,” and that he has a grace motivated walk as one who has received this grace “freely.” But most of today’s church teach before one can become saved he must first put off sin and maintain a consistent walk of a certain ‘do’s and don’ts before God will accept him and his works, but this is a “contrary” doctrine that has the man self-sanctifying himself in his vain attempt to please God. God would have the saint to walk in the new man as a sanctified saint after he places his faith in the finished work of the cross, but man would have some to try to sanctify himself as the ‘first-things-first’ in his Christian life.
5. Chapter 8:
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Romans chapter 8 goes over our adoption as “sons” by God our Father and how our attitude ought to be concerning the “sufferings of this present time,” and that we ought to understand and appreciate that we, and “the whole creation” are going to experience the effects of the “sufferings of this present time.” Moreover we are taught the love of God, and that He is “for us” when we suffer, because we have been given “the Spirit” (His word of truth) to help our “infirmities” when we experience the “sufferings of this present time.” But this is “contrary” to this world’s teaching, not only are they ignorant to the doctrine of sonship, but they preach a doctrine that says that God will physically deliver the blessed ones from their sufferings, and this is how God shows His love to His beloved saints, but when they experience sufferings for an unexpected long period of time, then they will say that God is giving them ‘a test,’ but this “high minded” way of thinking is an ungodly and selfish doctrine being taught today among the church world.
6. Chapters 9-11:
Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Rom 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Many are ignorant of Romans 9, 10, and 11 where God shows what happened to Israel, and that His judgment of His nation is “just” by showing Israel had many opportunities to accept the righteousness of God, but because of their desire to self-justify themselves, God suspended His program with them. But God has“zeal” to once again offer the kingdom to His nation, and that He has not “cast away” His nation. But there are many who call themselves ‘spiritual Israelites’ who are ignorant to the fact that God is not dealing with ‘Israelites’ in this dispensation, but that He has set His nation temporarily aside until our “fullness” be “come in.” It is this dispensational change that many are “ignorant” of and it has caused many to mis-handle their bibles because of failure to understand where it is that they ‘fit’ in God’s will today.
7. Chapters 12-14:
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom 12:3 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.
Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Here we find the truths of how we are to not to be “conformed to this world,” and that we are to love one another as being saints baptized into one body, and that we are to value and esteem each other more than ourselves. But this world teaches a doctrine that conforms the hearers to this world; they teach that you have to strive to be #1 in the eyes of God, and in the eyes of men. Furthermore, man has obtained a desire to “glory in men” by exalting men (their pastor, spiritual leader, or any one that they assume has a great bible understanding) over other members in Christ’s body, when this is not how God would have us to think.
8. Chapters 15-16:
Rom 15:16 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.
Rom 15:17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
Rom 15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Rom 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Romans chapters 15-16 makes known the Apostle Paul’s authority as our apostle in this dispensation of Gentile grace and God’s desire that we are to be established by the Apostle Paul with the doctrine that Paul calls “my gospel.” It is God who kept this gospel hidden within Himself “since the world began,” and later revealed to Paul as our apostle to establish and make the world “obedient, by word and deed.” And it is sad to say that most of today’s church is ignorant of this doctrine; which is the preaching of Jesus Christ “according to the revelation of the mystery,” but instead, Jesus Christ is preached in regards to His offering the kingdom to Israel and all the promises, signs and wonders, and the things that He gave for His nation to understand about the fulfillment of their kingdom being “at hand.” Therefore, failure to understand this gospel has left many ‘in the dark’ to the Jesus Christ that Paul preaches about, and the way we are to bring honor and glory as being ones who are members of His body, and this leaves them to only know Jesus Christ as He is presented to Israel in the ‘four gospels,’ and in “ages to come.”
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 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.
Rom 16:19 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.
Finally, as the Apostle ends the epistle, he explains that if anyone comes along and teaches something contrary to what he just set forth in the 16 chapters of Romans, he ‘beseeches’ that we “mark,” or ‘identify’ that person as one who ‘serves’ the purpose and will of Satan, and not Jesus Christ. And it is vital that we understand the dangerous nature that we place ourselves in when we do not “avoid them” when we have identified them, we ourselves end up cooperating with the policy of evil by our association with them, we are told to “avoid,” and “shun” these ungodly people, because our association with them would be as if we are in agreement them, and with their corrupt doctrine, and our association with these deceitful men is seen as ungodly in the sight of God because it goes against His design and will for us today in this dispensation of Gentile grace.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
2Ti 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
Rod Jones