Romans 16:25-27
Scripture: Romans 16:25-27 (ESV) “Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.”
Devotion:
Imagine stumbling upon a treasure map, hidden away for centuries. As you read it you suddenly realise that it is a map to a stash of riches. That is the kind of vibe one gets when Paul writes his closing doxology to his letter to the Romans. The grace of God was once a mystery, a great hidden treasure, but now we have the treasure map – the great treasure has been revealed. The treasure is the glory of God through Jesus Christ!
The word doxology means an expression of praise to God. This doxology is a grand tribute of praise to God. As we have walked through the entire book of Romans together, it is entire appropriate for the Romans to end with this grand expression of praise. The mystery, which Paul speaks of is the gospel itself, hidden through the ages but now laid bare before humanity. It’s the story of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection fulfill the long-whispered promises of the Scriptures, offering salvation to all people, across all nations. Having walked us through how this works, why it is important, and what it means for us, Paul now turns to giving God praise for his wonderful work through Jesus. We should be shouting Amen, and Verily!
But often we don’t do we?
Haven’t we become a bit numb to the grandeur and scope of God’s plan? Haven’t we become so used to “Salvation in Christ Jesus”, and the “Gift of Grace, through Faith”, that we forget exactly what that means for us? It is easy to shrink our faith to fit our personal needs, to make our salvation only personal. But when we forget that the gospel is both historic, personal, and world altering, we don’t give God the glory He is due. The Gospel story spans all ages, breaks through all cultural barriers and has been the single most powerful positive force for good in the world. And yet we reduce its place in our lives to an hour of power on Sunday morning.
Jesus really is the Son of God, he really was born as a baby and he really did live a perfect life. He really was sinless and he really did die a condemned and cursed death. He really did go to the cross and he really did suffer God’s wrath at sin willingly. And it really matters and impacts how we live our lives now.
Paul reminds us that this revelation, this great treasure is meant to bring about the “obedience of faith.”
This isn’t just a verbal or intellectual agreement to the theory of Jesus. Rather, it is a transformative, active faith that engages every part of our lives, compelling us to live out the truths we profess.
If you haven’t changed because of your faith in Jesus, you have missed the whole point of the book of Romans. And perhaps, you should go back to the start and start again, until you get it.
Because when you get it, it really does change everything.
Prayer:
Lord Almighty, thank You for revealing the mystery of the gospel to us. Help us to grasp the breadth and depth of Your plan, not only for our lives but for the whole world. Strengthen our hearts in faith, that we might not only believe in but actively live out Your truths. May our lives reflect Your wisdom and may Your name be glorified through us, now and forever. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge for the day:
Take a moment today to consider the global and historical impact of the gospel. How does this perspective change the way you view your own faith journey? Choose one way to share this expansive view of the gospel with someone else, perhaps by discussing it with a friend, writing about it, or simply reflecting on it in your personal study.