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.
18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
19 For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
V. 17 - “keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances” - Paul is warning against two type of opposition: false teachers and persecutions. Paul knew of persecution because of his faith in Jesus. (For example, see: Acts 4:3; 5:17; 6:11; 8:58; 9:1, 23, 29; 12:1; 13:45, 50; 14:2, 19; 16:22; 17:5, 14; 18:12; 19:28; 20:3; 21:28; 23:2; 25:3 - to list a few.) You can generate a similar list for opposition to Jesus in the Gospels.
He reminds them they have learned the Good News about Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and they are to hold fast to those teachings and turn away from false teachings. Compare what is being taught by these people to what Paul has just written to them in this letter. Do not follow deviations from Christ and Him crucified and resurrected!
V. 18 - “such men are slaves... of their own appetites” - Look back to the first chapter of Romans - “professing to be wise, they became fools” (1:22); “they exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (1:25); “although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death...” (1:32)
"By their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” - These men are listening to themselves, urged on by Satan, rather than listening to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads us to the truth, and it is our choice to hear and obey the truth or reject and die. Do not follow the ones who reject the truth of Christ as Lord.
V. 19 - “the report of your obedience has reached to all” - The Roman church has a reputation of hearing and believing in the Lord. Paul is happy and praises them for their steadfastness.
“I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil” - The quality of being morally wise, not just intellectual smart. James writes, “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (Jam 4:17) In Proverbs, there is distinction between the ‘wise’ and the ‘foolish’. The wise man learns the morally right way to behave and holds to that. The foolish man knows the wrong way, and does it anyway - guilty of knowing the way and turning from it. (For example, see: Prov 10:1, 8, 13, 14, 21, 23, 32)
V. 20 - “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” - Be patient. Be faithful. Victory is yours in Christ Jesus. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote “To leave everything behind at the call of Christ is to be content with Him alone, and to follow only Him... This exclusiveness of this adherence is the only power which can overcome evil.” (From: “A Testament to Freedom” - 317)
“The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” - Peace cannot be manufactured within you. It is a gift of God through the power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ! His grace will grant that gift to you. Claim it. Live it.
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