To Him Be Glory Forever [Romans 16]

²⁵Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, ²⁶but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; ²⁷to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

As I read the greetings to different people in this chapter I wish I knew each one.  Paul exudes love and appreciation for the part each one played in sharing the gospel.  The sweet thing is, I will get to meet and know these people as I spend eternity with them.  I will have a chance to hear their whole stories of how God used them in the church's early, formative years. And now that we are at the end of the letter to the Romans I find myself wishing it wouldn't end.  What a wonderfully rich mixture of doctrine and personal encouragement we have had the privilege of reading together.  I hope you have been as blessed as I have been as the Holy Spirit has ministered the truths to my heart.

Appropriately, Paul signs off with praise to God.  Join me in praising Him through these wonderful reminders:

• God is able to establish me according to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ

• He has revealed the mystery of the gospel that had been kept a secret for a long time

• now He has opened it up to all nations

• eternal God commanded it and revealed it "through the Scriptures of the prophets" and confirmed it through Jesus Christ

• He is the only wise God and to Him be glory forever

What an awesome God we serve! How great a salvation He has provided for those who believe! Thank You, Lord, for the book of Romans!