Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
I am sitting in the library at Seminary looking at my great grandfather’s periodical, The Bible Champion. He was a fighting fundamentalist who did not always defend the gospel with love and respect. The book of Romans is often used to prove one right and the other wrong. Division is the logical result of such a debate style. Paul ended Romans with this benediction and my professor used it as the proper response to divisive arguments. We often argue to be right and glorify ourselves. Paul, in explaining the gospel, ascribed glory to the author of the gospel, Jesus Christ. All we can say is, “Amen!”
There are many opportunities to be divided over issues of theology. There is one reason to be united. The gospel calls us to God and he has built his church. Paul demands in Ephesians 4 that we be in unity on the major points of the gospel and the finer points we disagree on, not to start a new denomination. Today, let us study the word and then gather together to discuss what we learned.
Dear Lord, thank you for the Bible, for Jesus, and for the Holy Spirit. Help us to be united in our love for you and that our love for you would unite us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church