Romans 16:17-20

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.

*** 

We’ve seen that friendship and fellowship was a desired component in the early church body of Christ, and Paul quickly inserted a warning here to watch out for anyone who would try to divide them or hinder them from the teaching they’d learned. When these people were identified, they were to be avoided.

There are people, even in the church, who aren’t serving the Lord but their own interests, and some who purposely try to deceive those who are not aware of their intentions. Paul was happy to hear of their obedience to the gospel yet wanted to be sure his readers were “wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.”

From the very beginning of the establishment of the church, Satan has been trying to stop what God is building. He uses people who are not committed to the Lord to try to destroy those who are. Little do they know that they are pawns in the hand of the enemy and he will have no mercy on them. He has no promises he can keep. He is a deceiver and liar through and through.

Paul ended this warning by saying the God of peace would soon crush Satan under their feet. This was an encouragement for them to persevere in their resistance of the enemy as well as offering hope that God will take care of Satan, crushing him under their feet. Believers in Christ are to have the victory over Satan, which is the very purpose the Lord came (1 John 3:8, Genesis 3:15). Therefore, we must watch out for those who try to bring division between believers, leading them away from the message of the gospel. While at the same time, judging our own hearts to make sure we are not one of them.

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