ROMANS 16:17-20 FALSE OR TRUE Smooth talkers and deceivers have always been around trying to undermine God's truth and deceive His people. Books that are written and deceitful words spoken sometimes seem to be reasonable at first. There are deadly foes aligned against God's people. They are enemies of the plain Gospel that has been expounded in the book of Romans. Many will claim to have newer and better "revelations" of the Word of God than we have in the scriptures themselves.
Bo not give place to them. Do not investigate their teachings to try and find some good in them. "If that light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" The scriptures are plain: "Avoid them," "keep away from them," "touch not the unclean thing," and there are other injunctions to heed lest we be contaminated by their teaching or even associating with them. The beautiful, trusting innocence of new believers is often misguided and misled into a mixture of law and grace, works added to faith, modern thought with scriptural simplicity.
Behind the confusion that results from giving heed to these smooth-talking people is an implacable enemy - Satan, who is either disguised as an angel of light, or challenging truth as a roaring lion. The day is coming when Satan will be crushed beneath the feet of the saints of God. God will do this by means of using the truth of His Word and the Gospel of peace. It is the "God of peace" who will bring this to pass. We cannot expect to be free from these challenges against God's free grace until this age is past and the Lord calls us home. We are to be alert and aware of the various forms of opposition we will be called upon to face.
The benediction promising the blessing of grace reminds us that the One who was rich and for our sakes became poor, has made us rich by His grace. That grace comes from God through the Lord Jesus Christ and is passed on to us by the work of the Holy Spirit.
They are gone to some far and distant land They are there it is true, but are also close at hand To interfere and challenge, their purpose is to defeat - And will be successful to a point if we aren't at the mercy-seat.
Strength is given and does apply to efforts made to defend The truth of God that smooth talkers challenge, when on God we depend. We know what is right, for the scriptures give what is divine light Our response to deceitful men is to avoid them, not to fight.
To use our efforts to win an argument gives to their platform an ear. When public conflict arises, passers by will stop to hear The two opinions and then will choose, based on what seems right to them Instead of being taught by the Spirit and the Word, guided into truth by Him.
"Good words and fair speeches" appeal to the natural man who won't face his sin. Honest words giving God's own truth are resisted when they condemn him. To debate what is true can sometimes defeat the purpose of Gospel preaching, Because people don't like discomfort, and will be attracted by false teaching.
Behind all of this it is easy to see a power there that is stronger than men. Satan will deceive in whatever way possible; our appeal is to One stronger than him. Greater is He that in us than he that is in the world. We are to obey our Master, that the flag of God's truth will be unfurled.
Some things we must leave up to God and go about our given tasks. We are to be ready to give an answer when an honest seeker asks. But to engage in contentious arguments is not our work, we leave to God alone - What needs to be done knowing that His truth will always take the throne.
"Father, this benediction is such an encouragement because it makes plain that these religious contentions will not be going on too long. I look anxiously for the day when the Lord will crush Satan and the laborers will all be safely home. Even so, come Lord Jesus! Amen."