Living Room Study

Romans 16

“Now to Him who has power to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the sacred secret kept silent for long ages, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God, to advance the obedience of faith among all nations – to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ – to Him be the glory forever!  Amen.”   Romans 16:25-27

What is a “sacred secret”? It is a secret, which belongs to the Lord, Whose prerogative it is to withhold or dispense at His will.

The particular secret Paul is speaking of today is: God saves all people, who by faith believe through Jesus. The prophets spoke often of this “secret”, but its understanding was not accepted most of the Jewish people, until Jesus’ resurrection and the Holy Spirit’ filling of believers on the day of Pentecost. Here is an example from Isaiah:

“All nations will stream to Zion and many peoples will say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob.  He will teach us His ways that we may walk in His paths.”  Isaiah 2:1

When I was in college, I read the original ‘Wizard Of Oz”. A professor told me the story was a parable of American politics. All the images shifted. Up till then, I had believed it was a magical story of a girl and her dog. Now, for me, the Tin man represents the oppressed iron worker, and the Scarecrow was the desperate farmer. The Lion represented William Jennings Bryan (Bryan-lion). Dorothy is a parody of “Theodore” (Roosevelt)…and so on. It changed my whole understanding of the story!

Consider how Israel viewed (and mostly continues to view) the images, prophecies and promises of the prophets. They saw them as pertaining exclusively to Israel and its restoration. The sacred secret, now revealed, is that salvation for the entire world comes exclusively through Jesus.

Notice Paul’s closing statements are absolutes. 1) It is God’s command that the obedience of faith be advanced among all nations. 2) The God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob is the only wise God. 3) The “obedience of faith” comes through Jesus.

Apart from the absolutes of God, no true foundation for worship exists.

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins