SERMON TITLE: Final Warnings and Blessings
SCRIPTURE: Romans 16:17-20, 25-27 (ESV)
SPEAKER: Josh Hanson
DATE: 11-16-25
Sermon Discussion Guide
Take notes here
As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And there’s one thing I want you to know — and this is true if you’re worshiping with us for the first time — if you’re joining us at our North Main Campus or are with our friends in Bucyrus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.
Can you believe it? Today we finish the book of Romans.
So — if you’re newer to Gateway — maybe today’s your first day with us — obviously you’re coming in at the end of a long investment for some of us. But know that you can catch up on all that you’ve missed by going to our website — gatewayepc.org — where you’ll find all of the sermons that have been preached from the book of Romans.
And since you know what’s ending today — here’s what you can expect for the rest of the year. Next week — one of our elders — Matt Heft — will be preaching as part of our Westminster Shorter Catechism series. A catechism — if you don’t know — is a resource that has questions and answers that focus on what we believe. I find catechisms to be a very helpful resource because — often — a question I’m asking is answered in a catechism.
That’s next week. Then we’ll begin our Christmas series — which will take us up through Christmas Eve. And — the final Sunday of the year — December 28th — we’ll have a combined campus worship service. Only one worship service that morning and we’ll all gather at our County Road 9 Campus. That morning will be focused on prayer and — you won’t want to miss it because — one — it won’t be live-streamed — so no online option that day — two — we’ll be taking the Lord’s Supper together — and three — we’re going to have some Gateway family members visiting with us who we sent out earlier this year to serve in a country that — in 2025 — is ranked as the tenth most dangerous place for Christians. I’m going to interview them during the service so you all will get to hear directly from them. But — since we’re live-streaming right now — I won’t say their names or their location — but — if they’re watching — we love you and look forward to seeing you soon.
So that’s what you can expect in the coming weeks. But now let’s turn to our final verses in the book of Romans. Here are Paul’s final words to the Christians living in Rome. We’re in Romans chapter sixteen — beginning in verse seventeen.
Romans 16:17–20 ESV
17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And skipping to verse twenty-five we read…
Romans 16:25–27 ESV
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
In Paul’s concluding words to the Christians in Rome we find his final words of warnings and his final words of blessings to them. Final warnings and final blessings. This is Paul’s focus as he ends his letter — and it’ll be our focus for our final sermon in Romans.
First, his final warnings. We’re in verse seventeen.
Romans 16:17–19 ESV
17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
After praising so many in the church — which we looked at last week — Paul takes an abrupt turn here. “Watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you’ve been taught; avoid them.”
Watch out! Be careful! Don’t be duped — because — there are people in the church who cause division and create obstacles. These people don’t serve Jesus — regardless of what they say — they don’t serve Jesus — they serve themselves. And these people are cunning and are able to deceive those who are naive. Paul’s final warning to the Christians in Rome.
But this isn’t the only time Paul shared such a warning. To the Christians in Corinth Paul wrote…
2 Corinthians 11:12–15 NLT
12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. 13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.
To those in Philippi he writes…
Philippians 3:2 ESV
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
And later he tells them…
Philippians 3:18–19 ESV
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
And notice the similar language between Paul’s description — of the kind of people we’re to watch out for — and what’s found in the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs 6:16–19 ESV
16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
About Paul’s description — that these people use “smooth talk and flattery” — one pastor has said, “The word for flattery [means] blessing. And smooth talk…means pleasant and plausible. So the reason we must be so vigilant over biblical doctrine is that those who depart from it take simple people with them by pleasant, plausible speech that presents itself as a blessing. False teachers don’t get a following by being rough and harsh. They get a following by being nice.”
Be vigilant in knowing what you believe — don’t be naive or simple — because the naive will be led astray by the pleasant, nice sounding words of false teachers.
But here’s my question for us: How do you know when you’re dealing with someone who’s misguided versus someone who’s using smooth talk and flattery to be divisive so they lead people away from the truth?
Meaning — how do you know when someone’s a false teacher versus a mistaken teacher? There is a difference!
But it’s so hard to know who’s who, isn’t it? Perfection can’t be the standard — for we all make mistakes — even doctrinal ones. But how do you know if it’s not a mistake — but is intentional deception meant to lead people astray?
Here’s something I’ve learned having been a pastor for nearly twenty years: Rarely does the conversation go well when someone says to me, “Pastor, this book (or this sermon or podcast or whatever) has changed my life. Would you read (listen or watch) it and tell me what you think?” Because — when whatever they share is bad — meaning it’s deception or heresy or the like — me saying so doesn’t go well.
Here’s a real life example. A few years ago I was given a book by a member of Gateway. He handed it to me and said, “This book has changed my life!” Now I know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover — but — by the title I knew it was a health, wealth, and prosperity kind of book. If you’ve never heard of that phrase before — it’s a false gospel that teaches that God always wants you to be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous — usually accompanied by a request for money to be sent to their ministry so that God’s blessing on your life can be guaranteed. And — if the blessing seems to be delayed — well — you probably need to send a bit more money — to their ministry, obviously — so the blessing gets to you faster. I so wish that wasn’t an exaggeration.
But I read the book. And I told the guy — who gave it to me — that I’d read it, had some concerns, and would like to talk to him about it. We met on my front porch. And do you know what happened? Every concern I brought up — even with Bible passages to back up my concern — he dismissed because, “He had discovered the truth and I just wasn’t willing to accept it.” After all, that’s exactly what the author told him would happen — the author literally wrote to expect that your pastor is going to disagree with the “truth” found in this book. Talk about a worker of Satan.
But here’s the sobering part to this story: The guy who was duped by the book wasn’t a new Christian. He’d been at Gateway longer than I’d been. He’d sat under solid Bible preaching for years — and yet — was deceived by the smooth talk and flattery of an author. And he left Gateway because I disagreed with an author that had changed his life.
I bring this up to let you know what’s become my ministry philosophy when it comes to the true gospel versus false gospels. It’s based on a well used preaching illustration that — turns out — is actually true! The illustration is about federal agents and how they’re taught to spot counterfeit money. They’re taught to spot counterfeit money by studying — not counterfeit — but real money.
Here’s how this relates to my ministry philosophy: Instead of warning you of false teachers that are writing books, preaching sermons, and producing podcasts — my goal is to make you so familiar with the true gospel that you’re able to spot an impostor without my help. That’s what grieved me about the man who left Gateway. Somewhere, somehow he’d not become familiar enough with the true gospel to not be deceived by that wicked imposter.
And my ministry philosophy is also why I emphasize the difference between the essentials of our faith and the non-essentials. False teachers go after the essentials. And I don’t want you to mislabel a true teacher of God’s Word — who you disagree with over a non-essential — as a false teacher. Disagreements over a non-essential doesn’t mean someone’s a false teacher.
Another reason why I have this philosophy of ministry is because there’s just not enough time in my day to make exhaustive lists of who are the false teachers and who are true teachers — but would disagree over a non-essential — and who are true teachers — who agree with all of our non-essentials — and so on. There’s just no way to keep up in our day and age with all of the books, podcasts, and sermons that are out there.
So I do my best to teach you — as clearly as I can — the true gospel — and what’s essential to the Christian faith versus non-essential. And — I do so — so you’re equipped to recognize the true gospel — and its false imposters — as you follow Jesus.
But — let’s do the even more difficult task — and move from out there — to the people out there writing books, preaching sermons, and producing podcasts — and let’s move in here — to us — to Gateway. For Paul’s writing to a local church — and he warns them about divisive and obstacle-creating individuals who were among them. What are we to do about such people?
In one of his other letters — Paul gives a clear biblical command as to what we’re to do with such people. He tells Titus…
Titus 3:10–11 ESV
10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
First warning. Second warning. Then have nothing more to do with a divisive person in the church.
Now — think about it: Who really does this? Have you been part of a church that’s this swift to act? There’s some sort of expectation — isn’t there — to not be so “strike one, strike two…you’re out!” — when it comes to divisive people — especially in the church, right? Why?
Because no one’s a fan of church discipline — which is the topic we’re now talking about. Where someone in the church is creating division — they’ve been warned about their behavior — and they’ve been warned a second time — and now — instead of obeying Paul’s words — we give them a third warning. Maybe a fourth. A fifth.
We start to think, “Maybe if we ignore them this will all go away.” Church leaders wrestle with, “What will the rest of the congregation think if we actually do something about this individual? Some will definitely get upset — remember — smooth talk and flattery wins people over. Others will leave. Some will want to know more than they need to know. Others will think anything we do is heavy handed and anything we say is gossip.”
What I’m pointing out to us is how the church has lost her ability to practice church discipline. Not just Gateway — but God’s Church has lost this important skill.
Do you know why church discipline is a good thing? The purpose of discipline — according to our church constitution — is…
When Paul — in verse nineteen — tells the Christians in Rome “to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil” — I wonder if he had something like the purpose of church discipline in mind.
And when we realize that excommunication — or removing individuals from the fellowship of the church — is only reserved for the most grievous and unrepentant of sinners — which should be on the rarest of occasions — we see that most discipline that happens in the life of the church is actually what’s called discipleship. Where individual members commit to grow in Christ-likeness and holiness and purity so that God is honored in our lives. For — and I think this is obvious — the words discipline and discipleship are similar in their spelling — because — they’re words that are related to one another.
Discipline is what happens to disciples who — instead of growing in Christ-likeness and holiness and purity — head off in a sinful direction that brings dishonor to the Savior who gave his life for them. And — the practice of discipline — helps all who follow Jesus — catch a glimpse of how easy it is to head off in a sinful direction: that fleeting lustful thought that caught your attention, that desire to switch to private mode in your browser to search for porn, the ease it is to tell a lie and to believe the lies you tell, how good it feels to gossip. None of us are beyond sin — thus discipline is God’s gracious way of keeping us from destroying our lives for all eternity by giving into sin.
This is Paul’s final warning to his readers.
And — now — his final blessing. We’ll begin with a verse we’ve already looked at — verse nineteen.
Romans 16:19–20 ESV
19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And skipping to verse twenty-five we read…
Romans 16:25–27 ESV
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Paul’s final words of blessing. Words of blessing which include, “Your obedience is known to all — so I rejoice.” What wonderful words to write to the Christians in Rome. He writes a similar praise to the Christians in Thessalonica when he tells them…
1 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV
8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.
This verse has become one of the prayers I pray for us as a church. For I regularly pray that “reports of our faith in God will spread and be an encouragement to others. Not for our glory — but for God’s glory.” A prayer that I’d encourage you to join me in praying for us — so that our testimony of what Christ has done for us — and is doing in and among us — encourages other churches and Christians to live more faithfully for Jesus. Where our obedience to Christ — both individually and corporately — would inspire other Christians and churches to live in obedience to Christ. That our example would spur on others to do far more for Jesus than they might have ever dared dream is possible.
But what an opportunity to rejoice. When we recognize — even more than we do right now — how God’s hand of blessing is upon us.
Yet there’s even more blessings for us to recognize. For — in verse twenty — Paul writes…
Romans 16:20 ESV
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
A few weeks ago we looked at God’s covenant promises to his people — including us today. One promise is found shortly after Adam and Eve rebelled in the Garden. When God says…
Genesis 3:15 ESV
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
As I told you in that sermon — on the cross — though Satan bruised Christ’s heel on the cross — Jesus crushed the head of our foe — for on the cross our victory was secured. Yet — as of now — our victory isn’t fully experienced. For Jesus must still return for that final day of victory to be inaugurated. But the blessing Paul reminds us — in his closing words — is that: The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.
So the day is coming soon — and it’s a reason for us to rejoice. But what about this: God will crush Satan under our feet.
“Under our feet? Under my feet?” Yes, under your feet. “I thought Satan was crushed by Jesus’ feet.” He was. But dear Christian — the blessing here for us is in knowing that every step of obedience we take — every moment when you choose holiness over wickedness — faithfulness over rebellion — joy in Jesus over joy in the things of this world — each and every one of these moments is a step closer to the Serpent being finally and forever defeated. Every step of faithful obedience that you take is another blow to the head of our enemy.
Which — with such blessings bestowed upon us — is it any wonder that Paul ends his letter with worship? That’s what he does — he ends Romans with praise — what’s called doxology.
Romans 16:25–27 ESV
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
To him — the only wise God — to him who is all powerful — which means he’s able to strengthen you by his power — which he does through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To him who’s revealed what was once a mystery — that his plan has always been to save people from all nations. To him the only saving God — who brings people to faith and obedience so that his Son looks glorious to the world — to this only wise and all-powerful and saving God — be glory forever, and ever. Amen. Let’s pray.
Father, what more can we pray than what we just heard. You are the only wise, all-powerful, and saving God whose plan has always been to rescue people from all nations.
Holy Spirit, you shine the light of the gospel into the hearts of people as the Good News is faithfully preached — as you do the wonderful mysterious work of raising spiritually dead people to eternal life.
Jesus — all of this is possible because you gave your life in love for us. Crushing the head of the Serpent on the cross. Shedding your blood for our sins. Clothing us in your righteousness.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — to you alone be glory forever and ever. Amen.
May you go knowing that the only wise God has — and is — making you wise and strong for his glory. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. You are sent.
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