Greet good friends, deal with division, don't prevert the Gospel

Greetings to Precious people Romans 16:1-16

    Paul spends a little time here at the end of the book greeting those who were important to him for one reason or another in the ministry and work of the Lord. Some we know from our study of the book of Acts, while others we have never met in Scriptures and some are only mentioned here. In verse 13 he mentions Rufus. Is this the same Rufus that is mentioned in Mark 15:21 (Son of Simon, who carried Jesus cross)? We have no way of knowing, but it is possible. Then again Rufus may have been like Bob in our time (could be a blue million of them).
    To those mentioned, the specific call of their name was important, but to us it is simply to realize that recognizing people does matter. People who have played a specific role in your life deserve to have their name called. Don't forget to express thankfulness all the time to those around you, and at times give recognition (public recognition) to those that have had an impact. It is good for us to remember we did not do it alone and for those who helped to receive the exhortation of being recognized for their efforts. Of course when it is all said and done God gets the glory and Paul recognized this in the final verse of the book.

Dealing with division Romans 16:17-18

    Right on the heals of the thankfulness and greeting to all those he held precious he gives a warning about those who cause division. This is one of the things that God hates.
 Proverbs 6:16-19
¹⁶ These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
¹⁷ A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
     It is no patty cake warning either. Those who cause division are to be noted and avoided. Many a church and church leader (including me) have been stung and deeply hurt because they did not properly deal with people that caused division. The Greek word for note is skopeō and it is where we get our word scope from, like a scope on a rifle or a telescope. So, we are to get those that cause division in our sights.
    Then we are to avoid them. The Greek word here is ekklinō and it means to turn from or shun. We are to avoid them, but the mistake that has been made is that people have ignored them. That is, we just try to pretend they are not there and mean while they keep on causing division. So what kind of procedure should we follow.

1. Make sure they are really a trouble maker and not just deceived. This basically involves communication.

Matthew 18:15-17,
¹⁵ “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ ¹⁷ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
Titus 3:10,
Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition.

2. Take Action. First there is communication, but if that does no good the church should take action. You don't just sit around and let e trouble maker keep causing damage.
1 Corinthians 5:6-7, 11-13
⁶ Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? ⁷ Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, ... ¹¹ But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. ¹² For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? ¹³ But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”    Some would argue that we should love this person and not avoid them, but the reality is that avoiding them is loving them. Follow the scriptures on this and it will work. We can not allow several lives to be destroyed because of one persons passion to cause division.

Don't turn to another gospel Galatians 1

    Paul here warns the Galatians who were being deceived into adopting a form of works salvation, that they should not turn to another gospel. He even said that any other gospel than the one they had already been taught was not really a gospel at all (6-7). Simply put, salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and what he did on the cross and through his resurrection. Add or take away anything and you have perverted the gospel. Let's just let it shine in all its glory. Undeserved forgiveness is available in Jesus apart from works, but simply through faith.