“25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages 26 But now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles — 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ — to him be the glory forever! Amen.”
In the previous devotional, we started unpacking all that Paul is telling us through his closing statement. Today, we’ll pick up where we left off, starting in verse 26.
“…and made known through the prophetic Scriptures…” (v. 26a) Paul is arguing that the mystery of the gospel and all that God would do through His Son Jesus Christ was made known to everyone by word from the prophets. Remember that Paul makes a case for this in his opening statement of this very same letter:
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God — which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures — ” — Romans 1:1-2 (underline added)
There are many Old Testament scriptures that refer to the coming of Christ and what He would accomplish in His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Here are some of those passages that we covered back in chapter 1: Genesis 3, Isaiah 11, Isaiah 53, Ezekiel 33, Ezekiel 34, Jeremiah 23, Jeremiah 33, and Micah 5.
“…according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles…” (v. 26b) Why would God choose to strengthen His people? Why would God choose to send and sacrifice His only Son so that we might have eternal life? It was at God’s command that the mystery of the gospel be carried out. Paul tells us here that it is in order to bring those who are God’s elect to a saving faith in Jesus, that they might live lives of obedience to Him. In Paul’s life and ministry, this is specifically being accomplished among the Gentiles. Paul started his letter to the church in Rome with a very similar statement:
“Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles,…” — Romans 1:5
“…to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ – to him be the glory forever! Amen.” (v. 27) The very last verse in Paul’s letter to the church in Rome has a very appropriate ending. What is the purpose of what God is doing through Jesus Christ, both among the Jews and the Gentiles? What is the purpose of Paul writing this letter to the church in Rome? What is our motivation to be obedient to our God? To God be the glory forever! Amen! Our God is indeed the only wise God.
As Paul has taken us on this journey through Romans, it has become clear that our God is the only God who recognizes us for what we are: sinners, condemned under the law, in total rebellion against God, and in need of salvation that must come from outside of ourselves. Our God is the only one that has provided a permanent solution to our sinfulness. Thanks to Jesus, no one will ever need to die for our sins again. All who repent of their sins, confess, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in His resurrection are saved, being forgiven in Christ Jesus. God has made our salvation possible through Jesus Christ, so that His name may be glorified. Now we must respond in obedience, not because it will save us, but because we long to honor and glorify the God of the universe, who provided the way for our salvation.