The Romans Doxology

Temple Baptist Church - 7-28-2019

Romans 16:24-27

Introduction:

A.  As we finish the Book of Romans, we find Paul’s:

1.  Encouragement – Grace in verse 24.

2.  Exhortation – Gospel in verses 25-26.

3.  Exaltation – Glory in verse 27.

B.  I want to take a short look at the importance of the ending of the Book of Romans.

1.  Encouragement in Grace.  Verse 24.

a.  Paul knew the predicament that these Roman believers were in.  In the First Century, Rome ruled most of the known world and ruled with great cruelty.

b.  I have a list of the Roman Caesars who ruled in the first century.

1)  Augustus 29 BC-14 AD (The Birth of Christ.)

2)  Tiberius 14 AD-37 AD  (The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ.)

3)  Caligula 37 AD-41 AD  #1 on the Cruelty List of Caesars(The Acts of the Apostles: the great persecution of Rome and Saul of Tarsus.)

4)  Claudius 41 AD-54 AD (The Caesar unto who Paul appealed.)

5)  Nero 54 AD-68 AD  #5 on the Cruelty List of Caesars  (The Caesar to whom Paul appeared and was martyred.)

6)  Vespasian 69 AD-79 AD (The Caesar who had Jerusalem destroyed under Titus in 70 AD)

7)  Titus 79 AD-81 AD  (The Roman General who destroyed Jerusalem who became a national hero and eventually Caesar of Rome.)

8)  Domitian 81 AD-96 AD  (The Caesar under which John the Beloved was boiled in oil and exiled on the Isle of Patmos.)

9)  Nerva 96 AD-98 AD

10)  Trajan 98 AD-117 AD

c.  We are familiar with three of these 10 Caesars:

1)  Augustus Caesar – decreed that all the world be taxed around the birth of Christ.

2)  Claudius Caesar – chapters 11, 18 when there was a great dearth or famine throughout the world.

3)  Titus Caesar – under the rule of Vespasian, destroyed Jerusalem to the ground and, as a national hero, was elevated to Caesar 9 years later.

4)  Nero Caesar – the Caesar during Paul’s later years and listed as the 5th on the Cruelty List of first century Caesars.

d.  Nero Caesar:  Nero was Caesar when Paul wrote the Book of Romans as well as the year Paul was martyred.

1)  Cared nothing for the welfare of his people, much less dispersed Jews and Christians.

2)  Nero had his own mother executed along with anyone whom he believed could not be trusted.

3)  Nero reigned 15 years and, though he did not fiddle while Rome burned, he did blame the fire on Christians whom he greatly persecuted.

4)  Nero arrested, impaled, and burned to death as torches Christians.  As they burned, they lighted Nero’s gardens in Domus Aurea.  He is said to have breathed in the stench of burning flesh and laughed.

5)  It was under Nero’s reign that the Apostle Paul was executed by beheading.

6)  Nero had his grave dug while repeatedly saying, “What an artist dies within me!”

7)  Nero stabbed himself in the throat and bled to death.

8)  Many scholars believed Nero to be the Great Beast whose number was six hundred and sixty six.

e.  Through these terrible years, God’s Grace would be both available and sufficient.

1)  It is Sovereign Grace.  “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Grace begins and ends with God!

2)  It is Saving Grace.  “For by grace are ye saved!”

3)  It is Sustaining Grace.  “Grace to help in time of need.”

4)  It is Satisfying Grace.  “My grace is sufficient!”

2.  The Exhortation of the Gospel.  Verse 25-26.

a.  Paul began the Roman Epistle with the importance and power of the gospel.

b.  Romans 1:15-17  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  (16)  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  (17)  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

c.  Though greatly persecuted, along with Paul the Roman believers were debtors to their “Jerusalem.”

d.  They were never to forget that it was the gospel that bought their eternal salvation and EVERY CREATURE NEEDS A PREACHER.

3.  The Exaltation of The Glory of God.  Verse 26-27.

a.  The Wisdom of God’s Word Published.  “made manifest … by the scriptures.”

b.  The Wisdom of God’s Person.  “To God only wise.”

c.  The Wisdom of God’s Plan. “through Jesus Christ.”

Jude 25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.