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For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n It is important for all Christians to be growing in our faith daily by reading and studying the Bible.<\/p>\n \u201cObedience<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek noun hupako\u0113<\/em><\/span>. This is a compound word made up of hupo<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cunder or beneath\u201d and a form of akou\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto listen or to hear.\u201d It is a picture of a student listening under the teaching of an instructor. In common usage, it means \u201clistening attentively\u201d or \u201cbeing obedient to a teacher or master.\u201d<\/p>\n The expression \u201chas become known<\/span>\u201d is from the verb aphikneomai<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of apo<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cfrom\u201d and a form of hikanos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto arrive.\u201d So, this word means \u201cto arrive from or to reach a destination.\u201d A literal translation of the opening part of this verse would be, \u201cFor your obedience reached to all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSimple<\/span>\u201d is translated from akeraios<\/em><\/span>. This word is made up of the privative a<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cwithout\u201d and the verb kerannumi<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto mix.\u201d Thus, akeraios<\/em> <\/span>means \u201cwithout mixture,\u201d that is, \u201cwithout any deceit\u201d or \u201cinnocent and pure.\u201d<\/p>\n You will recall that Paul has just told the Christians at Rome to be on the lookout for people who cause division within the body of Christ and who cause others to stumble in their walk with the Lord. A classic example of this is the type of people who come to your door with pamphlets and other literature proclaiming them to have the truth about God when, in fact, they are spreading false doctrine.<\/p>\n Part of Paul\u2019s concern for these Christians in Rome is based on the fact that they have a reputation for being attentive listeners and applying themselves to the teachings they learn. It is good for all Christians to want to learn more about God and how to have a closer walk with Him. But it is just as important to be able to discern between teachings that are truth and teachings that are deceptive. One kind of teaching builds up the body of Christ while the other tears it down and divides it. One sure way to identify these false teachers is that they often claim to have teaching and truth that most other Christians don\u2019t have, sometimes in the form of additional books of Scripture.<\/p>\n Paul warned the Christians in Ephesus in a similar manner when he taught them about the spiritual gifts and the gifted people that God provides in each church so:<\/p>\n that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,<\/span> (Ephesians 4:14<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Instead of falling prey to such false teachers, Paul tells the Romans to be wise in what is good and to be innocent and pure concerning evil.<\/p>\n There are some Christians who want to learn everything they can about false religions. Instead of that, Paul says we should learn all we can about true faith in God. The best way for us to do that is to read and study His Holy Word. Let\u2019s commit to seeking a deeper relationship with God by spending time each and every day reading and studying the Bible.<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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