“All’s Well that Ends Well” is one of William Shakespeare’s lesser known plays. It tells the story of Helena, the low-born servant of a French countess, who is in love with the countess’s son Bertram, but he has no absolutely no interest in her. When Bertram goes to Paris to replace his late father as attendant to the ailing King of France, Helena follows Bertram, presumably to offer the King her healing services. The King is skeptical, but she guarantees the cure with her life: if he dies, she will be put to death, but if he lives, she may choose any husband from the King’s court.

            Well, you guessed it! The King is cured, and Helena chooses Bertram. But he rejects her because of her poverty and low status. The King forces him to marry her, but after the ceremony Bertram immediately runs off to war in Italy without so much as a goodbye kiss.  

            In Italy, Bertram is a successful soldier and even more successful seducer of local virgins. Helena follows him to Italy, befriends Diana, a virgin with whom Bertram is infatuated, and they arrange for Helena to take Diana’s place in bed. In this way, Helena, without Bertram’s knowledge, consummates their marriage.

            After another set of outrageous plot twists, including Helena faking her own death, and Bertram trying to marry a local lord’s daughter, Helena finally appears and explains the whole mishap; Bertram, impressed by all she has done to win him, swears his undying love to her. Thus, the title: All’s Well That Ends Well.

But among the play’s many plot problems, the biggest one is that it actually didn’t end well! Bertram’s convoluted conversion in the final scene is utterly unconvincing. Although Shakespeare is undoubtedly the greatest poet and playwright in the English language, most literary critics agree that this play is rubbish.

            I’m certainly no Shakespearian savant, but I agree with the critics on this one. For me, I just can’t buy into a story where a man consummates his marriage by mistake!

Whereas Shakespeare failed to end his play well, the Apostle Paul succeeded in ending his epistle well. Romans 16:17-27 is a masterful ending to Paul’s greatest masterpiece.

As Paul sat in Gaius’ home in Corinth thinking about how to conclude his letter, he settled on three final instructions to ensure that our lives end well. He urges us to avoid doctrinal deceivers, embrace faithful friends, and enter the doxological dance.

Avoid Doctrinal Deceivers (17-20)
            In verse 17, Paul urges the church in Rome to avoid doctrinal deceivers. Look at his words closely: “watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught.” This was a passionate plea for the Christians to steer clear of any false teachers who would try to pervert or pollute the gospel that had been handed down from the Apostles. We don’t know if Paul was responding to a particular heresy (false teaching) that was already circulating around Rome or if he was posing a general caution to protect the doctrinal purity of the church. Although there were many heresies floating around the ancient Mediterranean world, Paul doesn’t mention any specifically.

Paul knew that manipulative false teachers, who use smooth talk and flattery to deceive the minds of naïve people, posed an immense threat to this church and churches everywhere. These wolves dress up in sheep’s clothing teachers and pretend that they are serving the Lord Jesus Christ, but they are actually serving their own egotistical appetites. So, Paul emphasizes two words in response to doctrinal deceivers: avoid them!

In verse 19 he commends the church at Rome for their faithfulness to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Their obedience to God was well known in the Christian world and this caused Paul to rejoice. But he wanted them to maintain this doctrinal obedience by being “wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.” As they continued their ministry, he wanted them to be theologically savvy!

Paul goes on to offer a word of hope in verse 20. He reminds the church that the God of peace would soon crush Satan under their feet. This is an image that goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. After Satan deceived Adam and Eve into disobeying God’s Word and eating the forbidden fruit, God made a promise to Satan that he would: “put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. (Gen. 3:15) God partially fulfilled this promise at the death and resurrection of his Son Jesus; he will completely fulfill this promise when Jesus returns, and that old deceiver is thrown into the lake of burning sulfur. (Rev. 20) But until that day comes, the church must avoid doctrinal deceivers.

            Some of you may be sitting here wondering if doctrinal deceivers are still a threat to the Christian church today. The answer is a resounding “YES!” There is a myriad of heretical hazards that we should avoid! Let me highlight a few of them.

            Beware of the false teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses! They deny the doctrine of the Trinity. They don’t believe that Jesus is God, which is country to the Bible and historic orthodox Christianity.

            Beware of the false teachings of the Mormons! Yes, they use the Bible and appear to be Christians, but they also believe the Book of Mormon. This book contradicts the clear teachings of the Bible on many issues! Among other things, they believe that we can all become gods.

            Beware of the heretical prosperity gospel! This is the false belief that financial blessing and physical well-being are always God’s will, and that faith, positive speech, and donations to religious causes will increase one’s material wealth. Millions of people all over the world have been duped by this false doctrine!

            Beware of the heresy of universalism! This heresy denies the biblical doctrines of final judgment and hell. It teaches that everyone will go to heaven regardless of belief or behavior!

            Beware of the false teaching called pluralism! This belief affirms that there are many paths to heaven and you just have to find the right one for you. This is a direct contradiction of Jesus’ words.

            And finally, beware of the dangerous doctrine of legalism. This is the belief that you will go to heaven if “you obey God’s law, are a good person, live a moral life, or do good works for others.” In my opinion, this is the heresy that is most common in our world today. Millions upon millions of people believe this, but it is completely unbiblical!

            All of these heresies are gross perversions of the gospel, which Paul has painstakingly clarified for us throughout the Book of Romans. It is no surprise to see Paul ending his epistle with a plea to avoid doctrinal deceivers and hold firm to the true gospel of Jesus Christ! If we want all to end well, let us avoid doctrinal deceivers!

Embrace Faithful Friendships (21-24)
            After Paul warns the church to avoid doctrinal deceivers, he moves on in verses 21-24 to send greetings to the Romans from his companions who were with him in Corinth. Timothy, Paul’s spiritual son and closest ministry colleague, sends his greetings. Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater were all fellow Jews whom Paul met on his missionary journeys; they send greeting to the church at Rome. Tertius, who identifies himself as Paul’s amanuensis, that is, the trained scribe who wrote down the words of this letter that Paul dictated to him, sends his greetings. Gaius, who provided hospitality to Paul and other visiting Christians in his home, hosted the Corinthian Church in his home. He greets the Romans. And finally, Erastus, the city treasurer and brother Quartus, whom we know nothing about, send their greetings as well.

In the ancient world, it was common to place greetings at the end of a letter. These greetings highlight the fact that Paul embraced faithful friendships throughout his life. He is with a group of faithful friends in Corinth writing to another group of faithful friends in Rome. He embraced friends who were young and old, male and female, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile; he had friends in low places and in high places. Paul knew that one of the secrets to ending life and ministry well was embracing faithful friendships along the way.

            Do you have some faithful friendships? Have you embraced some friends who help you walk with the Lord—who love you, talk with you, spend time with you, support you, challenge you, and help you to grow in your faith? I hope so! Unfortunately, I have met many people, even Christians, who seem to burn every bridge they have ever built. Some Christians have embraced a “Me and God” mentality, but this is completely unbiblical. Biblical Christianity is always about “God and Us!”

            If you want all to be well and end well, avoid doctrinal deceivers and embrace faithful friendships!

Enter the Doxological Dance (25-27)
            Paul appropriately concludes his letter with a doxology. A doxology is a short hymn or song of praise to God. Every week when we gather for worship, we sing “The Doxology” as our ushers come forward and we present our offerings to God. This is just one of many doxologies that have been written and are used in worship.

As Paul came to the end of his epistle and reflected back through its content, he decided to compose a doxology to glorify God and summarize the key themes we’ve seen throughout the letter. Each line highlights a movement of God’s character or his work in the world. Look at it! God’s power is most clearly seen in the giving of the gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ that was preached! This revelation of the mystery was kept a secret throughout the Old Testament era, but it has now been disclosed through the prophetic writings that point to Jesus Christ. The prophecies of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection all came to pass according to the command of the eternal God so that the gospel would be know to all nations. This all came about because of the command of God, who is eternal, all-powerful, and all-wise! For all of this, God deserves all the glory forever and ever!

            As we come to the end of our study of the Book of Romans and reflect on this doxology, Paul wants us to remember everything that we have learned about the gospel! 

           Do you remember back to chapters 1-3? Paul taught us about our sin that separates us from God, thus establishing the need for the gospel!

• Do you remember chapters 4-5? He taught us about salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, thus showing the provision of the gospel!
• Do you remember chapters 6-8? He taught us about sanctification—that process whereby the Holy Spirit conforms our character and conduct to Christ, thus illustrating the goal of the gospel!
• Do you remember chapters 9-11? He taught us about how both Jews and Gentiles can gain salvation for their souls, thus revealing the scope of gospel!
• Do you remember chapters 12-15? He taught us about Christian sacrifice, service, and civility—thus emphasizing our proper responses to the gospel!
• Do you remember chapter 16? You better—it was just last week! Paul has taught us about those wonderful relationships that exist in the church, thus celebrating the community of the gospel!

             Along with the church in Rome, Paul is now inviting us to enter the great doxological dance whereby we rejoice in the gospel of Jesus Christ! If you are not a Christian yet, I urge you to enter the doxological dance by putting your faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ!

            If you are a Christian, keep on dancing! Dance because the God of the universe revealed himself to you! Dance because Jesus hung on the cross for you! Dance because he rose on the third day! Dance because your sins are forgiven! Dance because your shame had been washed away! Dance because you’re going to heaven whenever you die! Dance, dance, do the doxological dance!

            If you want your life to end well, avoid doctrinal deceivers, embrace faithful friendships, and enter the doxological dance! Yes, all’s well that ends well!