Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20080511.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Romans: Charter Of Salvation Grace
Part VI: The Practical Application Of God's Spiritual Provisions To Living
I. Applying God's Spiritual Provisions For Protection From Satanically Influenced People
(Romans 16:17-20, 21-27)
  1. Introduction
    1. Even conscientious Christians can be shocked to hear that people who may initially seem to them to be godly and with whom they open up in friendship can prove to be influenced by Satan! However, such a trial is a reality, one that is addressed in Romans 16:17-27!
    2. We thus study that passage for God's direction and our edification (as follows):
  2. Applying God's Spiritual Provisions For Protection From Satanically Influenced People.
    1. The people about whom Paul warned his readers in Romans 16:17-20 were folk who were evil, those who were influenced by Satan, cf. Romans 16:20; Bible Knowledge Com., New Testament, p. 501.
    2. Now, Satan is such a formidable spiritual foe that even the archangel, Michael dared not oppose him in his own strength or authority, but he rather relied on God's Word and authority, Jude 9.
    3. Thus, Romans 16:17-20 shows we must use care in responding to them by trusting God and His Word:
      1. We believers must rely on the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God to identify and beware of people who are influenced by Satan, Romans 16:17a, 20 with Romans 8:3-4: the term, "mark" (KJV; "watch out" NIV, ESV) comes from skopeo and literally means "look" and translates, "beware", cf. Arndt & Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 1967, p. 764.
      2. We can discern such parties by the following characteristics and activities, Romans 16:17b,c, 18b:
        1. Satanically influenced parties cause divisions and traps, or pressured circumstances or teachings to get people to oppose Biblical teaching, Romans 16:17b,c [The word "offenses" (KJV) ("obstacles" ESV, NIV) is from skandala, and means "traps, snares," Ibid., Bible Know. Com., N. T.]
        2. Satanically influenced parties use "smooth, plausible speech" (chrestologias, Ibid., Arndt & Ging., p. 894) and flattery (eulogia, cf. Theol. Dict. of the N. T. , vol. II, p. 763) to deceive unsuspecting believers into accepting their errors (akakos, Ibid., Arndt & Ging., p. 28), Romans 16:18b.
        3. Since the God of "peace" crushes Satan's influence through such folk (Rom. 16:20a), we know that Satanically influenced people produce unrest in believers opposite the rest produced by the godly!
      3. We are to turn away from, to shun, such ungodly people, Rom. 16:17d (ekklinete, Ibid., p. 241).
      4. The reason why we must respond this way is that such parties do not serve Christ, but their own lusts [of the flesh, the eyes and the pride of this life], Romans 16:18a [1 John 2:15-16]. Note: James 3:14-16 NIV, ESV similarly describes false teaching that is marked by selfish ambition and lusts as being demonic, sensual, unspiritual and disorderly! Accordingly, the presence of significant disorder, sensuality and personal ambition in people or circumstances are warning signs of Satanic influence!
      5. Thus, we believers must go beyond merely obeying the Lord and His Word to discern those parties that are Satanically influenced and who lead others to disobey God and His truths, Romans 16:19a,b!
      6. In the end, Satanic influence must be halted by God: like the archangel Michael in Jude 9, we must wait upon God in faith to crush Satan's power that is behind such people rather than address this need in our own power and wisdom, Romans 16:20a; this involves trusting God and using His Ephesians 6:10-18 spiritual armor, cf. Romans 16:20b.
      7. In giving his closing greetings, Paul expressed confidence about the welfare of his readers, Rom. 16:21-23; he was confident God's power could strengthen his readers against Satanically influenced foes by what he had taught them, Romans 16:24-27. Thus, we can apply the information supplied above and the rest of Scripture truth for victory over formidable foes influenced by Satan!
Lesson: Satanically influenced parties can deceive and influence well-meaning but unsuspecting believers who initially intend to obey God, getting them to err. Thus, in the Holy Spirit's power, may we watch for such folk, and identify them by the characteristics named in Romans 16:17-18, and avoid them, trusting God to deal with Satan's influence upon them! Then the Body of Christ will be edified!

Application: May we watch for Satanically influenced folk, and respond by faith in God and His Word!