Romans 16:17-20 (KJV)
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
There are those who we should avoid because they will cause divisions and offences in the body of Christ (Church). To discern we should not be naive but need wisdom not just any wisdom but GOD’s wisdom. The wisdom from GOD will show us what is good and acceptable as our mind is renewed “Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”. With this wisdom we then know to do good and can also discern those who serve themselves and not Jesus Christ. As we are watchful we can observe the fruits (Matthew 7:16-20). If they cause divisions and offences (teaching things contrary to sound doctrine), we are to have nothing to do with them. Wuest translates 17-18 in the following way “Now, I beg of you, please, brethren, be keeping a watchful eye ever open for those who are causing the divisions and the scandals which are contrary to the teaching that you learned, and be turning away from them. For they are such as are not rendering service as bondslaves to our Lord Christ, but to their own stomachs; and with smooth and plausible address, which simulates goodness, and with polished eulogies, are leading astray the hearts of the innocent; ”
We need to be obedient to Jesus Christ, His word, the faith and those who walk godly before Him “Ephesians 5:21 (KJV) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” But we should not obey sin (“Romans 6:12 (KJV) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”) and those described above but on the contrary we are to avoid both.
We are to be simple and pure in regards to evil “1 Corinthians 14:20 (KJV) Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” Finis Dake describes part b of verse 19 as “I desire you to show your wisdom by discerning and choosing good from evil.” And the Jewish New Testament commentary states “There is no need for a believer to occupy himself with the details of evil or how it is accomplished.” We should not follow the ways of the world as in (Romans 12:2).
Satan is the ultimate source of all opposition towards God. Here the promise of Christs victory is reiterated from Genesis 3:15 (KJV) “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”. In the midst of all the difficulties we have Christ’s peace and grace. In We can rest assured of His victory that He gives to us “1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (KJV) But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” The faith that GOD gives us helps us to overcome the world with the devil and all his schemes and deception “1 John 5:4-5 (KJV) For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Let us praise and thank Jesus Christ our LORD and Saviour, looking to Him, Who is the author and finisher of our faith.
“Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”