Simple concerning evil

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 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.
Rom 16:19 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.
Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.


Being among contention is never pleasant, or at least it isn't pleasant to me. Would I knowingly put myself among those who only wish to cause division and offense ? I hope not. Some consider jumping into the fray of witnessing about their beliefs a noble thing. Some could careless what others think and long for the fight just to be able to say they stood up for their beliefs. It is a good thing to be able to stand up for what you believe in, but it's not a good thing to purposely insert yourself into a situation where you know others have already decided against your beliefs. For them to have decided against your beliefs they most likely have had enough information to make that decision - the witness was already given to them, maybe not by you but by others. Am I saying we shouldn't witness? No. Our lives are to be a living witness to others. To purposely try to incite those who choose not to believe as you do is NEVER a good thing.


Here Paul is beseeching his brethren in Christ telling them to MARK- to take note of - those who cause divisions, those who commit offenses that are against the truths they have learned. Why is Paul telling them to make note of these people? So they can AVOID them. Not so they can continue to witness to them. AVOID.

Webster's terms Avoid as follows--

Avoid
AVOID', v.t. [Eng. side, void, widow; L. vidua, vito, evito. See Void.]

To shun; to keep at a distance from; that is, literally, to go or be wide from; as, to avoid the company of gamesters.

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Shun them, keep away from them. That doesn't sound very Christian like, but it is. There will ALWAYS be those opposed to our Savior, opposed to Christ's way, opposed to the truth and we aren't to put ourselves purposely into situation with them thinking by some miraculous way they'll suddenly convert. If we happen to find ourselves in that situation that's a different thing but to purposely enter into a situation of contention with those who have already had access to learning the truths of Christ is us only asking for trouble.


Rom 16:18 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.


They serve their own belly…


Belly-
G2836
koilia
koy-lee'-ah
From κοῖλος koilos (“hollow”); a cavity, that is, (specifically) the abdomen; by implication the matrix; figuratively the heart: - belly, womb.


They serve their OWN heart, their own desires and not Christ's. Whenever any one of us serves ourselves before we serve Christ we are in danger. We need to avoid those whose only concern is themselves. We need to avoid those who speak eloquently in deception pointing other away from Christ.


I've had the opportunity to catch a few- not many, but a few- late night Christian television programs - watching bits of them and I was saddened to listen to these VERY eloquent people using Christ's name to support self-serving, self-advancement, self-wealth, self-love. They twist things to make them appealing to those who want to put self first and have an advantage in life through their pretended, and deceptive walks with Christ. Many love to listen to these preachers, they absolutely LOVE them because they placate them that they are fine and walking in God's plan by being prosperous and serving themselves first and foremost. God will grant them riches, God will bless them if they follow simple rules. There is nothing in their sermons about adhering to the 10 sacred commandments of God, and if they are mentioned it's only to subvert their true meaning to make them more acceptable to the sinners who want to keep on sinning and still be saved. Men and women everywhere are deceived- the hearts of the simple are deceived! We are NOT to put ourselves into situations that are contrary to the truths we've learned of our Lord and Savior. We are NOT to tempt God that way. And it is tempting God to do something He clearly would have us not do and expect Him to keep us from being deceived. We have to FOLLOW God, not test Him. If we find ourselves in a bad situation without purposely seeking that bad situation- yes, God will protect us. But we can't 'throw ourselves down off a wall' figuratively, any more than Jesus could when He was tempted to do so.


Rom 16:19 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.
Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.


Wise unto that which is good.
Simple concerning evil.
God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us.


Wise unto that which is good.
Simple concerning evil.


Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


We aren't to think on the evil things. Evil surrounds us daily in many, many forms but we need to think on the good things, be wise to the good- whatsoever is TRUE, HONEST,JUST,PURE,LOVELY, GOOD REPORT, VIRTUE, PRAISE- think on these things.


If we spent more time in our day to day lives seeking to think about the good things do you think our lives would be different?


Too often our minds focus on the evil things. I'm not saying we are to be UNAWARE of the signs of the times around us- we must be. I'm not saying we aren't to note the evil in the world, we have to. I'm not saying that we can't be concerned about Satan and his deceptive way- we have to watch and be ready. But we have to WATCH not study , not participate in, not delve deeply into the evil. We are to note the evil and be *simple* concerning the evil- not absorbing it into our lives. We are to be WISE to the good. We are to knowledgeable, we are to study, we are to participate in, we are to delve very deeply into the good things of God.


It's so much easier to be caught up in the depressive sickness of our corrupt, very evil world, than it is to find the good in this horrifically evil existence. If we keep Christ ever before us that means keeping the good before us, the salvation that is found with our Savior is the most wondrous thing we can be wise towards. The righteousness of Christ, not the hopelessness of self-salvation should be our focus.


Satan is defeated! Praise God! All the evil works of Satan are defeated. The head of the serpent will be cut off soon and death will be swallowed up in the victory of Christ, our Lord, our Savior!


The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.