Mark Them which Cause Divisions and Offenses Romans 16:17

Paul the apostle continued his final words to the believers in Rome, and he instructed them, “Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.”. In chapter sixteen and verse seventeen of Romans, Paul instructed the believers to, “mark them which cause divisions and offenses” where we read:

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them.

The verse begins, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned;”. Paul began with the word, “now” which means “moreover and” “I beseech you” which means “Paul called to his side, addressed, exhorted, entreated, comforted and instructed the believers in Rome to”, “mark” or “look at, observe, contemplate, fix one's eyes upon and direct one's attention toward” “them which cause divisions” which refers to “the people who make, produce, prepare, shoot forth, acquire and provide sedition, dissensions and disunion” “and offenses” which refers to “stumbling-blocks, occasions of stumbling or falling” “contrary” or “opposition and aside” “to the doctrine” which means “to that which is taught or instructed” “which you have learned” or “that the believers in Rome have increased in knowledge, heard, been informed and are accustomed”. Paul implored the believers in Rome to “observe and fix their eyes upon” people who cause “dissensions” and “stumbling-blocks” to what they already knew as the truth.

The verse continues, “ and avoid them.” Paul added the words, “and avoid” which means “deviate, turn aside from, keep aloof from and shun” “them” or “the people who cause “divisions and offenses”. Paul instructed the believers to “shun and turn aside” from people who cause “divisions and offenses”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see the importance of the integrity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul told the believers in Rome to “shun” anyone who promotes any doctrine that is contrary to the teachings he provided. There are false teachers in the world, and they attempt to persuade people from understanding that salvation unto eternal life is only obtained by believing in Jesus Christ's finished work on the cross for the penalty of sin. Jesus died, was raised from the dead three days later, and those who “rely upon, cling to and trust in” Him shall be saved. All teachers and teachings contrary to this must be “avoided” and rejected.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome, “they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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