For your obedience has become known to all.

.... Therefore I rejoice on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.  And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly (Romans 16:19, 20).  The very last part of these remarks by Paul to the Roman church, is surly recalling the word of Jesus in Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” And in many ways the rest of this morning's quotation is a description of what needs to happen in order for us to take up that authority. It starts with obedience. Though we certainly do not do good works before men in order to be seen by them (Matthew 6:1), nevertheless the difference in behaviour from those who do not walk in obedience to the faith (verse 26),  needs to be obvious to all.  Indeed, surly part of what James means by “Faith without works is dead” is that faith without obedience is dead.” It is certainly powerless, and disobedience takes away the legal rights given to us in Luke 10:19 (quoted above).

Paul with John, and all who mentor “have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (3 John 4). But Paul also wants them to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil (verse 19). Obedience, wisdom and truth are all related.  Truth is suppressed by unrighteousness  (Romans 1:20), and in particular by disobedience. On the other hand the deeper things of the Spirit and the Word (including wisdom) belong to those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). Not everything is either black or white,  and part of the wisdom we need to exercise is by practice (and sometimes getting it wrong). We also need to learn to choose the best over the good, and to “abstain from every appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22 ). The word for “simple” in verse 19 means “unmixed,” “uncontaminated” (in this case by evil).  In the context of this passage,  it has to do with the growing discernment of one who has come in contact with evil, and is still uncontaminated by it; who by the Spirit has learned to resisted all the plots and schemes the Devil has laid for us; and whose love for what is good and hatred of evil, has  been strengthened by our  obedience. 

It is about consistent obedience, and growing in maturity. Human nature is such that if you do ten things right,  and one thing wrong, that will be remembered is the one wrong thing.  The Lord will redeem our mistakes of course, but it is better to be consistent. “Growing in maturity,” is what the Hebrews reference is about, practice, practice, practice. Finally, about Satan being crushed under our feet, we need to remember that while we have authority when we are walking in the light, ultimately it is “the God of peace” who will crush him under our feet.

Father, clearly peace is an offensive weapon to crush the enemy. Lord, as we seek to walk in full obedience and to grow in discernment, please give us both the faith and confidence to take authority, and to believe that You will indeed crush him under our feet, and to take back what he has stolen from us. And Lord, please do it soon in Jesus Name Amen