Romans 16:26-27 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.
The final blessing of the letter continues. God had plan for the salvation of humanity. Israel’s prophets were able to peer into this plan through divine inspiration and wrote about it in our Old Testament. They could not see the whole plan but all the major pieces were already there. They were given insight into the coming Messiah. All the major elements of the gospel can be found in the prophetic writings. The early Christians were able to use the Old Testament Scripture to lead people to Jesus.
This gospel is intended for “all nations.” This term is the same as “Gentiles” used elsewhere. The context of these closing verses is inclusive of all people. The gospel is meant for all people everywhere, every tribe and every nation. This gospel has been mediated through Israel’s prophets and the story of Israel. It is the fulfillment of Israel’s purpose statement found in Exodus 19:5-6. This has been God’s plan before creation. What God commands will happen. God’s plan of salvation will go out to all the world.
The outcome of this message is “the obedience of faith.” Paul began the letter with this phrase in Romans 1:5. Since the letter begins and ends with this theme, the implication is that it is at the center of Paul’s thinking and purpose for writing this letter. Faith is the open door to the new life promised in Jesus Christ. Faith accepts God’s offer of grace. Baptism symbolizes the act of faith through consecrating ourselves totally to God. The result is the new life of holiness. Faith grows as the mind is transformed through the Holy Spirit. Faith is an act of obedience and leads to obedience. Faith allows God to make us righteous and to empower us to live righteously. Without obedience, faith remains only intellectual. Without faith, obedience is empty legalism.
Paul ends this significant letter with one final statement of praise. Glory, honor, and praise must be given to God for this plan of salvation. It is incomprehensible, beyond our ability to fully grasp. God’s plan through Jesus Christ shows his wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18-32). Although once fallen from this glory (Romans 3:23) and unable to be in God’s presence because of sin, we now have the opportunity to be restored to this glory and to be in relationship with the eternal God. All of this is only available through Jesus Christ. This is the essence of the gospel, the good news that Paul has laid out clearly in this letter.
The final word of Romans: Amen!
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