The Big Read – Daily Read
Romans 16
v1-16: “Although Paul felt daily the burden of caring for all the churches… he could still retain the memory of so many people.” He was able to greet them with “particular descriptions of them, expressions of love to them and concern for them.”
v17-20: Jesus, the offspring of the woman, has crushed the serpent’s head. The proof of this is seen every time we are enabled by Him to resist and overcome the temptations of Satan. Christ enables “all his faithful servants and soldiers to put their feet on Satan’s neck, to trample on and triumph over their spiritual enemies. Christ has overcome for us; he has disarmed the strong man armed, broken his power, and we have nothing to do but to pursue the victory and divide the spoil. Let this encourage us in our spiritual conflict; let it encourage us to fight the good fight of faith—the enemy we have to deal with is a conquered enemy, and the victory will soon be complete.”
v21-24: Tertius wrote Paul’s words down in this letter. “The least bit of service done to the church and its ministers will not pass unremembered or unrewarded.”
v25-27: The gospel is to lead us to the obedience of faith. “The obedience of faith is the obedience given to the word of faith and produced by the grace of faith.” The right kind of faith is that which leads to obedience, and the right kind of obedience is that which comes from faith. The purpose of the gospel is to lead us to both.
Quotes from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
(Photo: Brad Neathery)