Every great story has a moment when the mystery is revealed, when the pieces fall into place, and what was hidden suddenly makes sense. Paul ends his letter to the Romans with that kind of moment. What was once a secret, a mystery known only in part, has now been fully revealed in Christ. Salvation is available to all, Jew and Gentile alike.
He writes, “Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time” (Romans 16:25, NLT). The gospel isn’t just another piece of news. It is the Good News, God’s completed plan of redemption.
For centuries, people longed for clarity. The Old Testament saints trusted in God’s promises, anticipating a Messiah whose name and timing were still unknown. But in Jesus, the mystery is solved, the promise is fulfilled, and salvation is revealed for everyone who believes.
This is why Paul ends with a doxology—a burst of praise. The Greek words doxa (glory) and logos (word) remind us that God is worthy of all our words of glory. Twice in this chapter, Paul declares, “All glory to God” (Romans 16:25, 27). That’s the proper response when God reveals His will.
But Paul doesn’t stop with theology. He reminds us that this secret demands action. Phoebe risked much to deliver the letter. Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives to help Paul. And others worked hard and even went to prison for the sake of the gospel. The Good News is not meant to stay hidden; it must be proclaimed. That’s still true today. The mission to share the gospel doesn’t belong to governments, schools, or businesses. It belongs to the church. We alone carry this message of life and hope to a broken world.
And we don’t carry it in fear. Romans 16:20 promises, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” The first hint of this victory goes back to Genesis 3:15, where God promised that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. On the cross, Jesus delivered that fatal blow. Satan can still wound us, but he cannot win. Light always overpowers darkness, and Christ has already secured the victory.
So what does this mean for us today? It means we live unashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power to save. It means we guard the church as a place of safety for the vulnerable while boldly sending people into a dangerous world to carry the Good News. It means we face opposition with courage, knowing Satan’s power is limited and Christ’s victory is certain. The secret is out. Salvation has come. And the church must declare it boldly: “All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen” (Romans 16:27).