SATURDAY November 27, 2021
God’s Grace Be with You
Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Romans 16:21-24
Previously, Paul seemed to close the letter by saying, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen (Romans 16:20). Paul was not finished––he had more to say. I believe he had a hard time closing the book, as he had a further list of believers whom he loved and did not want left out of his last letter. Tertius mentioned he was the one who wrote down every word of the book of Romans. Paul dictated the letter to him.
Interestingly, the name Erastus was found by archaeologists in some ruins. Erastus was the treasurer of the city, and incredibly, he was born again of the Holy Spirit. We can see that, Paul was a people person––he loved people. He had a good memory in dictating all these names. He made sure every person was known as a part of the fellowship. They would continue to carry on the work of the Gospel after Paul’s death. Paul ends his letter with a benediction:
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen (Romans 16:25-27).
Paul left us on a good note. He reveals the mystery of the Gentiles. Since the beginning of the world, the Church was a secret in the heart of God. This truth has now been revealed to all the nations. The Church gives the message of the Gospel to the world. By God’s grace, may we carry on the work of reaching the world for Jesus Christ together––as the family of God.
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
~Mark 16:15~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!