ROMANS: "Note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil!"

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17-18)

Paul concludes this letter to the church in Rome with a very important lesson that we all need to learn, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.  Don't argue with them, don't try to convince them, don't even spend time with them; just avoid them!  We as Christians often lose our credibility because we don't speak up when we should, but then we speak too much when we should stop.  

The only way to know when to do either is through prayer and fasting, and the guiding of the Holy Spirit.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,... (James 1:5-6) "Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist." (Luke 21:14-15) But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13:11)

The Holy Spirit will guide us when to speak and what to say, because He will speak through us.  But towards those whose beliefs and words are contrary to the doctrine which you learned, Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. (Titus 3:10-11)  If we so desire and are lead by the Holy Spirit, we can try to convince someone more than once, but if they become divisive after a few attempts, reject them.

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. (I Timothy 6:3-5)

We must understand that we'll have to deal with two separate groups of people, the saved and the unsaved.  There are many people who profess to be Christians, but their actions don't support their profession.  Paul instructed the church in Corinth, I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” (I Corinthians 5:9-13)

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside?  The unsaved are the ones we're supposed to witness too.  Remember Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Mark 2:17) Yet again, we don't argue or try to convince, but just “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16)

However, for those who claim to be saved, anyone named a brother in Christ, we do judge those who are inside, and put away from yourselves the evil person.  And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (II Thessalonians 3:14-15)  The purpose in treating someone who claims to be saved so harshly is that because of [them] the way of truth will be blasphemed. (II Peter 2:2)  deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (I Corinthians 5:5)

Although, they don't have to wait until the day of the Lord Jesus to be saved. But if anyone has caused grief, —not to be too severe. This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. (II Corinthians 2:5-8) Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)

Remember, it's God's job to judge, and when Christ returns He will judge in the day of the Lord Jesus. But while He was here He said, "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17)  Our job like Christ's is to preach repentance and restoration to God, the forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ Jesus. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Paul concluded by telling the church in Rome, 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. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. (Romans 16:19-20) How powerful this is!  We don't have to know everything that the world teaches.  We don't have to read every book and watch every program and talk to every person.  

We don't have to be "enlightened", as the world calls it, yet they are still in darkness.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another... (Colossians 3:16)   Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life,... (Philippians 2:14-16)

Paul's closing salutations: Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you. I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle [as Paul dictated, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit], greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Romans 16:21-24)

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. (Romans 16:25-27)