Romans Chapter 16

Back in my younger days without the internet, I used to write many letters to my friends who had gone abroad for their studies. The joy of receiving a physical letter is hard to describe and there are days when one reads the letters repeatedly because it just brings you closer to the person who wrote the letter.

Sadly, short messages or DMs nowadays fall short of this experience.

We have come to the last chapter of Romans and we see Paul mentioning many people by name.

What goes through your mind as you read the names? Here are some things that I learned as I look at this chapter and reflect on the end of an epistle.

Personal Relationships in Church

While Paul was a spiritual leader of the church, often dishing out hard truths and the mysteries of God, it was not beneath him to have a real and personal relationship with the members.

Paul cared for the people and knew the names of many of the saints in Rome even though he had yet to visit Rome.

Do we even know the names of our brethren in church? And beyond their names, things that are happening in their lives? Who their families or relatives are? Paul, despite his busyness, knew.

It reminded me of the late Elder John Yang, who used to come annually to Singapore to lecture in the Short-Term Theological Training. Despite his age, and being in Singapore only once a year, each time he came, he could greet us using our names. Even we who are young teens or kids! You cannot imagine how thrilled one feels to have a very respected preacher who knows you by name.

It was said that he made the effort by writing down the names of all members in a book of his. And each time he flies into Singapore, he will go through the book to refresh his memory of the flock in Singapore.

This effort to establish personal relationships in church is something that one must strive to cultivate.

Church – Made Up a Diverse Group of People

As you read through the names, one is also struck by the diverse group of people.

Some were slaves, others were ordinary servants or workers, and others were wealthy. Some were men, and a number of women were mentioned.

What was common among this diverse group of people?

Did you noticed one phrase that Paul continually uses as he mentions the names?

“In the Lord” or “in Christ”.

This was mentioned more than 10 times.

Paul in Romans 8:37-39 says this:

³⁸ For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

All the members of the church in Rome were united in the same promise that nothing can separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That is what the church was and is today.

Today in church, we have also members from all sorts of diverse backgrounds and situations… let us not forget that we all one in Christ Jesus.

The Gospel is for All

The letter to the Romans is one of the deepest theological letters. And yet, we find that this letter was addressed to all those in Rome – not just the apostles or fellow workers there. Or to the learned and wealthy ones only.

We mentioned already that there was a diverse group of members in Rome and this letter was to all of them.

It may take quite some effort to understand some of the profound teachings but if we are willing to put in the effort, we can certainly learn from it.

That’s where the Morning Bible Reading & Prayer sessions can be helpful as our ministers help us understand each chapter with their sharing. Should you miss a session, you can always view the recordings on our facebook group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/closerdaybyday.

Members Working Together for the Church

Paul continually mentions how the members were serving Christ in the house of God in this final chapter.

And Paul also mentioned both men and women who laboured for Jesus.

When you cast your minds back to Romans 12, Paul was urging all believers to offer up our reasonable service to God and that each of us have spiritual gifts that we should use in church.

Peter encourages us in 1 Peter 4:10-11…

¹⁰ As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The church in Rome had many members who used their spiritual gifts to serve in the work of the Gospel. Men and women. Ordinary and wealthy people. Families.

May we also continue to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.

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