~ Now to Him who is able to
establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ... to
God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. -Romans 16:25, 27
Paul
had never met the followers of Jesus who lived in Rome. According to the first chapter of his letter
to them, he had often heard about them and often prayed for them, but his
desire to travel to Rome had not yet worked out.
What
would he have done if he had visited them? Paul's words way back in Romans
1:11-12 gives us the answer: "I long to see you... so that you may be
established—that is, that we all would be encouraged together by our mutual
faith." His whole intention was to establish and encourage these
Christians.
This
letter was a stand-in for the visit Paul had not been able to make. It teaches the core of Christian faith,
illuminating God's righteousness, mercy, grace, wisdom, and authority. In a
sense, Paul's desire was fulfilled through this letter, for it teaches so much
of God's truth that the Roman Christians—to say nothing of 21st century
Christians!—were indeed established in the truth.
And
now, as the Roman letter concludes with today's "God is able"
passage, Paul restates his certainty that the only wise God is able to
establish us. This is a firm, unyielding word. When Jesus was "steadfastly
determined" to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51), and when a great chasm was
described as "fixed in place" between heaven and hell (Luke 16:26)—these
phrases use the same word as being established. The Christian who is
established is not going anywhere.
The gospel that attracts new followers to Jesus every day is the same gospel that establishes them. Whether you have been learning about Jesus for a few days or for eighty years, God says, "You don't have to go anywhere. I am able to make your feet firm."
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