Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them, because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words. (Romans 16:17-18)
Paul concludes his letter to the Romans with greetings to specific Roman Jew and Gentile Christians. He offers them messages of thanksgiving and encouragement for their faith in Christ, all in the name of unity as God’s family. Paul pauses his greetings to warn the Romans against individuals who try to break that unity. I believe Paul felt that a letter filled with truths about God’s righteousness and needing Jesus to be reconciled with God, would be incomplete without mentioning false teachers and their words. After all, isn’t a better friend one who speaks hard truths than a “nice” person who kisses with “smooth talk and flattering words?” (Prov. 27:6; Rom. 16:18)
Paul asks us to “watch out” and “avoid” those who speak in such manner. Jesus Himself tells us to be on our guard against false prophets who are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt. 7:15-16). Yes, this includes turning away from what sounds or feels good to us if it’s not good to God, and fixing our eyes to Christ through the Word and God’s children.
By “avoiding,” Paul is not contradicting his charge in Romans 14 to love and build up one another, but to avoid those who teach false doctrine. Even if it may feel uncomfortable or awkward to break superficial unity with truth, it is more important to seek truth for the sake of unity, as John Piper has described Paul’s warning.
Let us pray that as believers of the truth, we may not be ashamed of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16) and not serve our appetites (Rom. 16:18). Instead, may we boldly proclaim the truth of Christ’s work of paying the price for our sins through His death and resurrection. We lift this prayer up to our Father, the “God of truth” (Ps. 31:5).