SUBJ: The final words of praise and adoration for the Lord shared by the Apostle with the Romans and the pattern given us therein for understanding and practicing true worship.

AIM: That we might be given over the more to such praise as both a matter of thought and with spontaneity.

INTR: Having set forth the glorious Gospel, its source, its power, and its effect, Paul would deliver up one final word of Praise and adoration as both his desire and the desire for them.
1. It is certainly for the things contained in this whole book that we give thanks; the revelation of need; the news of justification by faith; the sovereign workings of God to bring to us that which is acceptable to Him, and the means whereby these things are enabled in us. It is because of these things we can praise Him from whom all blessings flow.
2. We do well to cultivate such a view of God in Christ as to provoke and promote praise.
3. We compare: For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Romans 11:36 and seek to find even greater hope in that He assures all things to Himself and that includes our salvation.

THESIS: We would so approach the things of the Gospel; the revelation of Christ to us and in us so as to cause such eruptions of praise and to be so caught up in Him as to experience a continual foretaste of glory divine.

I. Unto Whom (v. 25)
1. There are many descriptions of God in scripture; here He is presented in terms of His power (ability) to accomplish His will.
2. The specific application of His power here is in the establishment of His people in terms of redemption assured and the state of heart and mind wherein they function as His and in the way of Christ our Lord. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:5
3. In using the thought, “my Gospel,” Paul embraces first that it was His by possession, profession, and commission – he was saved, he declared it to be so, and he was to preach it.
1) The terms and application of the power of God are clearly declared in the Gospel and
2) God was able to anchor that in the actions of His people.
3) The preaching of Jesus Christ (How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Hebrews 2:3) is that which He spoke and that which is thus spoken of Him in preaching unto all – Jesus.
4. The mystery is understood in various ways such as:
1) The inclusion of the Gentiles
2) The incarnation: See 1 Timothy 3:16
3) But, all the revelation of God in the fulness given us in Christ is a mystery revealed in His appearance, and the subsequent effect accompanying the preached word.
4) Salvation is a mystery as to both its origin and it nature.

II. By Whom (v. 26)
1. Two related thoughts are seen here. The mystery is made manifest and it is made known.
2. Consider the scriptures of the prophets: But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 2 Timothy 1:10 AND And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27.
3. And the commandment or eternal decree of the “Everlasting God.”
1) The commission to Christ in coming into the world – the Gospel of the Kingdom
2) The commission to all who follow – Apostles, pastors and all who would dear witness.
3) Nothing has or ever will change!
4. To all for the obedience to the faith:
1) To believe and therefore submit to the righteousness of God which is by faith in Christ.
2) To profess it openly
3) To be subject to the will of God expressed in the Word – trusting Him as all-wise.
4) To live accordingly: Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Titus 2:12.

III. Through Whom (v. 27)
1. From Matthew Henry: “In thanking God we fasten upon His favors to us; in praising and adoring God we fasten upon His perfections in Himself.”
2. Two of those perfections are brought before us: His power (v. 25) and His wisdom (v. 27)