Paul’s Parting Blessing – Romans 16:24

 I confess that I have borrowed this outline from C.H. Spurgeon. This is not his sermon, but it is his outline. And he certainly would never have begun any message with this kind of introduction.

Sports FANS are prone to think that they can perform better on the field than the teams they are watching. “If I was down there I would have turned differently, caught the pass, and scored easily.” Of course, they wouldn’t have, but they believe that they could. The same thing is true, when it comes to the teaching and preaching of the Word of God. Those who have never preached, and never pastored, would do both perfectly if they had the chance. For example, sometimes they can’t understand why one subject is preached and another isn’t. Usually, they have their favorite subjects, but there hasn’t been a sermon on that subject in months. And yet here is another lesson on a subject about which they already know all-that-there-is-to-know.

For those of you with better memories than I have, we had a message similar to this two years ago. In August 2007, when we first began our study of Romans, we addressed Paul’s benediction. “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” I pointed out in at that time that Paul loved this kind of phrase and used it very often – meaning every word. And it is like “aloha,” in the sense that could be used either as a greeting or as a conclusion. In fact I took you to some of Paul’s epistles where he both opened and closed some letters in this way. We have it twice here in Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians and elsewhere. But then in other cases we find it only once, either at the beginning or at the end of the letter. And this is just the point – if Paul could use it twice in a 16 chapter letter, or in a mere 6 chapter letter, then it is well-worth our time to think about it once every couple of years.

To some degree I am using the Epistle to the Romans to determine what to preach each week. But the truth is – that isn’t exactly true – because I have skipped over subjects for various reasons. For example, I didn’t preach from Romans 16:20 – “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” – because I intended to preach the same subject from verse 24. And so here we go….

If you had a big pot of stew or soup, simmering away on the stove, and I came to you really, really hungry, would you be willing to dish up a bowl of that soup for me to eat? I believe that you would. If you had abundant wealth, and I had a need of $1,000 would you write me a check? Sure you would. Some people give out of their penury and poverty, because it is their nature to do so. But nearly everyone would give out of their plenty, especially when the need is great enough. But what do we do when we don’t have any ability to help? As Christians, we always have the Lord – “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Paraphrasing Spurgeon, “When we can’t be beneficent, we ought at least to be benevolent.” If we can’t be personally and practically helpful, we need at the very least to be concerned.

WHAT does Paul mean when he says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”Grace, of course, speaks of some sort of “unmerited blessing.” As we have been taught in chapter 11 – if something is of grace, “then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Paul is hoping and praying that the Lord would bless those people Rome in a positive way, not because of anything that they have done, & not because they have in any way earned a blessing. He is praying for God’s kind beneficence, because our God is a kind and generous God. Of course the highest expression of grace is seen in salvation from sin. Divine forgiveness is an act of grace. For the sinner, who is dead in trespasses and sins, to be regenerated – quickened – made alive – is a miracle of grace. For any of us to be taken to Heaven, when we deserve Hell, comes out of God’s sovereign grace.

But notice that it is the grace “of the Lord Jesus Christ” to which Paul refers. Let’s say that winter hits us with a fury in a couple of weeks. And for some reason, you are forced to walk several blocks during a blizzard. If the wind stopped while you taking your walk, that blessing could be a gift of grace. Yet most people, including us, probably wouldn’t recognize it as such. But this, to which Paul refers, is a bit more special – this is grace which is revealed in CHRIST. Jehovah has displayed grace towards His creation for thousands of years. When winter changes into spring is a gift of grace. That there has been food enough to sustain us through that winter is grace. That an asteroid hasn’t destroyed life on earth is an outworking of divine grace. And yet these things are all general and universal, hardly recognizable as gifts from God. But when God sent His only begotten Son into the world in human flesh – that was a demonstration of grace that has never been duplicated. It was grace revealed in the person of Christ. And more than that, there was grace provided through the Lord Jesus. As I said the greatest of all gifts of grace is salvation from sin. And salvation would be impossible apart from Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” God has been gracious toward millions of wicked sinners, but in a very special manner which could only come by way of Christ Jesus.

I think that it’s important to notice the names and titles which Paul strings together here in regard to this Christ. The Jews were quite willing to talk about the Old Testament Messiah – “the Christ.” But they were very unwilling to admit that JESUS was that Christ. Whether Paul was trying to emphasize the fact here, or if it was incidental, he reminded us all that Jesus is the Christ. Furthermore, he is “the LORD Jesus.” “Lord” is not just a term of respect like “boss,” “sir,” “your honor” or “pastor.” I am absolutely convinced that when Paul used the word “Adoni” – “Lord,” he was using it in the same sense that the Old Testament speaks of “Jehovah.” The grace, to which he refers here, is revealed and transmitted through the divine Son of God, whom we know by the human name “Jesus.” But of course this doesn’t demean or diminish either the glory of either God the Father or God the Holy Spirit.

But isn’t there something kind of strange in beseeching the Lord for grace on behalf of people already saved? I read an article the other day, in which the author spoke of holding a conference in a new church. There was a small prayer meeting before the first session, and several people were called upon to pray. One person asked God that despite the bad weather every one would arrive safely. Another prayed about the technical aspects of the service. A third mentioned the speaker’s family back home. Just before the host pastor, the visitor prayed, saying something like, “God, we invite you here among us.” Then the pastor closed with something like: “Lord, we know that we do not have to request your presence, because there is nowhere you are not. So we celebrate the fact that you are already here with us now.” The visitor understood the pastor to be rebuking and correcting. Who was right, the pastor or the visitor? Actually, they both were. The Lord is omnipresent and there is a sense in which we can never leave His presence. But the visitor was asking the Lord to bless the meeting with a demonstration of His presence with power.

There is a sense in which life could not continue for a single moment without the ongoing grace of God. And there is another sense in which the saint of the Lord especially enjoys the Lord’s grace in salvation. But in addition to these, there will never be a moment when we have too much of God’s grace. There will never be a day when we have enough of the grace of the Lord. We need more, and every Christian, should want more of the grace of God.

It was Paul’s wish that the people in Rome would be filled with all the grace that they could hold – That the Lord would open the windows of Heaven and pour out His blessings, so that there wouldn’t be room enough to receive it.

WHAT was it that Paul was hoping for and praying for?Grace and mercy are usually not very far apart. They aren’t identical or siamese twins, but they are fraternal twins, who spend much of their time together. I hope that you’ve heard it so often that you are anticipating my next statement. So let me try to express it just a little differently – Grace is the positive side of the Lord’s kindness towards us. It is the Lord’s blessing us and doing for us what we do not deserve. Mercy is also positive, in the sense that God restrains Himself and doesn’t give us what we do deserve. For example, despite God’s eternal and guaranteed salvation, there is not a person in this room who doesn’t deserve to be severely judged for his past sins. When I drive to Spokane I usually set the speed-control on my car to about 72 mph. I have passed dozens of police radar traps, and I feel confident that I won’t be ticketed for that speed. But there have been occasions, when I was forced to go faster in order to avoid certain situations. On various roads through many years, I could have been stopped dozens of times but I haven’t been. You might say that it was because of God’s mercy that I haven’t been ticketed when I could have been. And this is just a small thing. I’m sure that the Lord could produce a lengthy list of far worse things in His sight for which He was merciful. It was Paul’s prayer that the Romans would continue to enjoy the Lord’s grace and mercy.

In fact, he was thinking of the source of both mercy and grace – God’s love – Christ’s love. Do children ever think that their parents don’t really love them? Do parents ever think that their children don’t love them? Does the passion between spouses ever undulate? The answer to all of these may be “yes,” but the actual love may only increase and grow. Is it possible for the child of God to fall away from God’s love? Absolutely not. God is not a man – with oscillating passions. God is not a man – with emotions that are dependent upon the subject of His affections. If God’s love depended upon any of us, we’d never have felt the smallest drop of His love. Jehovah’s love is rooted and embedded in His own heart and will, undisturbed by anything in us. But that doesn’t mean that we silly creatures don’t sometimes think otherwise. And what a dangerous condition that is. When disaster or disease strikes, it is easy to think that God doesn’t love us any more. But that is precisely the time to remember that nothing can separate us from the love of God. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” With the realization that Christ’s love cannot be broken or diminished, there is strength and ultimate victory. This may be “tough love” through which I am suffering at the moment. This may be something that my loving God may be using for His glory. This could be something that God, through love, is using for my ultimate benefit. “I can do all things through Christ which (loveth me and) strengtheneth me.” Paul was praying that his friends in Rome would remember and feast upon God’s love for them.

And similarly, grace produces peace. Quite often as the Lord Jesus’ earthly ministry came closer and closer to its conclusion, His conversations with the disciples became more intimate and affectionate. Take for example John 14:25-27, which seems to exude with His love for them. “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” The Roman church had been experiencing persecution, and it would intensify. One of the great needs of that church was the calming influence and presence of the Comforter. And every time that Paul prayed for God’s grace it meant, in part, God’s peace.

And it was also a desire for the outpouring of God’s power for the work of the Lord. Christ hasn’t saved our souls, bringing us out of our Egypt, simply that we might enjoy the Promised Land. We have been given ordinances to follow, setting us apart from the Canaanites around us. We have territory to occupy and conquer, acknowledging that we owe it all to the Saviour. And we have personal demons to exorcize. But there will never be victory in any area of our Spiritual lives, unless the Lord is there in His power and His grace. Do you long to bring your family to the Saviour? Then Paul’s prayer is for you. Do you desire to be free from that long-time, besetting sin? Then pick up Paul’s benediction. Do you want to belong to a church of note and power? This is about what Paul was praying. “Lord we yearn to be subject of your power and work.”

Perhaps we need to consider FOR WHOM Paul was concerned. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Quite obviously, it was about all the saints there in Rome. This on-going grace isn’t something that only pastors and missionaries need. The people who had opened up their homes to the preaching services of the church, need grace. And the people who give of their wealth to support the church needed grace as well. Those who tithe and those who give above their tithe for the work of missions need grace. The people who make their homes available to the Christian traveler needed grace. The children who have recently trusted Christ need special grace. And the older folk who are approaching the grave, need it as well. The fact is, every child of God needs the grace of the Lord. And since Paul gave this benediction to the people in Ephesus, Corinth, Galatia and many other places, we might assume that you and I need it as well.

Note too that this was not an unattainable dream. You need it, and you may have it. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” This is a very positive and important blessing for the children of God.

But let me turn it around as you consider what Paul said in his conclusion of I Corinthians. The last five verses of Paul’s letter back to the church, from which he is now writing, is fairly typical. “The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” As I say this is fairly typical of all Paul’s letters, but I deliberately omitted one verse, which I’ll add right now. “All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” When Paul asked the Lord to bless the saints in Corinth, or Rome or where-ever, it was only of the saints that he was thinking.

“If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” “Maranatha” is a positive word which speaks of the return of the Lord – “our Lord cometh.” If I was going to start a new mission somewhere or a new church, I might call it “Maranatha Baptist Church” – “our Lord cometh.” But “anathema” is as far from positive as the wrath of God. It speaks about a curse. If any man love not the Lord Jesus, let him be accursed at the Lord’s coming.

What I want you to see is the proximity of these two verses and thoughts. “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” The grace of God for which Paul pleads is not to be given to those who love not the Lord Jesus Christ. Rather it is Paul’s doctrine that upon those people God’s eternal curse and judgment will fall .

And here is our concluding question for the morning: “Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?” Can you say with all your heart that you’d delight to see the Saviour today? Can you say that you have met him at Calvary, and that you have humbly bowed before Him? Did you in love and humility acknowledge Him to be your Lord and your God? Are you living in accordance with His will, seeking to bring glory to His Name? If not, then it was Paul’s prayer that you be anathema maranatha. At the soon coming of the Lord you will be cast into the Lake of Fire. You need grace – we all need grace. But you may be in need of saving grace this morning. Will you admit it and bow before the Saviour?