Love for the church means intolerance to false doctrine (Proverbs 19-21; Ps 40; Rom 16)

What does it mean to love your church? As Paul comes to the end of this great book of Romans his love for the church and desire to see it continue leads him to warn very strongly against those who would lead the church astray.

Paul tells the church in Rome to “watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” (Romans 16:17-18)

So who is the church to watch out for? Those who are divisive, those who create division by moving away from sound doctrine. Such people may be hard to spot, since they are very respectable and seem to have very reasonable arguments. Paul says they talk smoothly, flattering people and deceiving people.

Maybe Paul was thinking of those who would come into the church and say things like “God is love, and because He is love, he’ll accept anyone, Jesus may be one way to God, but there are many other routes as well.”

Perhaps they will argue that because God is love, he wouldn’t send anyone to hell. Or they might argue that the church needs to do whatever is popular so that we don’t put anyone off.

Who are such people serving? Well, Paul says, they are not serving the Lord Jesus Christ (v18), but they are serving their own appetites. What should we do about such people? Paul says “avoid them”. Don’t allow them to get a foothold in the church. If they are going to lead people away from what the Bible teaches, then for the sake of the church, they must not be allowed an opportunity. Paul says avoid them.

This cannot mean avoid everyone who is confused or unsure. Such people may be willing to listen to sound teaching. But it means, avoid those who are divisive and are deliberately teaching something that is contrary to God’s Word because it suits them. The church is too precious to Jesus to allow people to move away from His teaching. He loves the church so much that He laid down His life for her.

After his warning, Paul encourages the church, they are a good church that he rejoices over (v19)! And I think that makes the warning all the more relevant, if they are a good and obedient church, then every church needs to listen to this warning, none of us can be complacent. We need to be wary about divisive people who want to change the teaching of the church. How would you feel if you went to a doctor and they said, well I don’t really like what everyone has said about medicine for the last 2000 years, I like to try new things! I think you’d be looking for a new doctor. How much more important is it to stick with Jesus’ unchanging teaching that affects not just your body but your soul. Paul says “be wise as to what is good, and innocent as to what is evil.” (V19).

Paul encourages them to keep going for the battle is nearly over “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet”. Satan is the one behind division and false teaching. And Paul says, he won’t last forever. He will be crushed. He has been defeated by Jesus at the cross, and when Jesus returns he will end all opposition. Until that time “the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.” God’s grace is sufficient, stick with Him.