Romans 16:25-27 - Established Doxology
- Chad Werkhoven
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
God strengthens & establishes you through the gospel.
Romans 16:25–27 (NIV)
CONTEXT: For this final week in our year long study of the Canons of Dordt, we will be reading some of the Bible's greatest doxologies - words of praise & glory given to our Sovereign God.
25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Canons of Dordt
Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints
Article 15: Contrasting Reactions to the Teaching of Perseverance
This teaching
about the perseverance of true believers and saints,
and about their assurance of it—
a teaching which God has very richly revealed in his Word
for the glory of his name
and for the comfort of the godly
and which he impresses on the hearts of believers—
is something which
the flesh does not understand,
Satan hates,
the world ridicules,
the ignorant and the hypocrites abuse,
and the spirits of error attack.
The bride of Christ, on the other hand, has always
loved this teaching very tenderly
and defended it steadfastly as a priceless treasure;
and God,
against whom no plan can avail and no strength can prevail,
will ensure that she will continue to do this.
To this God alone,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory forever. Amen.
Summary
Yesterday we read those amazing words from Ephesians 1 upon which the entirety of the doctrines of grace we've studied this year could be founded. Although today's opening line isn't as familiar, it too does a good job of summarizing everything we've learned this year:
25Â Now to him who is able to establish you... (strengthen you... ESV, LSB)
This is exactly what God in His grace has done for you: He unconditionally elected you to salvation, atoned for your sin and depravity, regenerated your heart and mind so that His grace became irresistible, and preserves you in His grace forever by strengthening / establishing you in the gospel.
This doxology that closes this magnificent book of Romans also praises the way God has made this good news known. Look at all of the words that get used to describe the gospel:
The message proclaimed (NIV) / the preaching of Jesus Christ (ESV / LSB) - There are multiple ways in which people come to know of this grace - think of how Jesus overwhelmed Paul with a massively bright light on the road to Damascus; many others have come to know Christ as they silently read Scripture in a dark room. But the ordinary way God calls people to Him and continues to keep you established in it is through the ongoing proclamation and preaching of Jesus Christ.
This gospel that was a mystery but is now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings - God works to strengthen / establish you through the full counsel of His Word, both the Old and New Testaments.
God uses the gospel so that all the Gentiles (that's us) might come to the obedience that comes from faith. This faith is more than just a declaration of 'I do, God helping me.' Being strengthened / established leads to an entire lifestyle of obedience (literally: listening).
 Dig Deeper Â
We've come to this ancient Latin phrase often as we've read the Bible together, and you often see it inscribed on institutions you've come to respect:
Soli Deo Gloria - Glory to God alone
These words are the only appropriate way for Paul to finish a letter like this one we call Romans, which explains the gospel in such wonderful detail. It's final words are simply:
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ. Amen.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the eternal and only wise God;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that God would continue to strengthen / establish you through the gospel so that you remain rooted in the obedience that comes from faith;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Revelation 22
