Romans 2:13 - Righteousness According To The Law

Romans 2:13

...for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

Message: Righteousness According To The Law 

Time: Romans was probably written during Paul’s third missionary journey from Corinth to a Jewish/Gentile church in Rome (around 56-57 AD).

What the Lord is Saying:

Thus far I have identified that everyone is a sinner and because of this we are all guilty before God of violating what He has commanded. The Law reminds us we are sinners, but on our own we cannot cover this guilt. We often think we can cover this guilt and penalty of sin by living a good life. This is noble and good to do but it does not excuse our sin. 

The story of Adam and Eve begins with the idea that doing good will mean we can receive eternal life. They were created, put in the garden and could live their life doing good and receive eternal life. What changed? They sinned one time. 

That's tough. That assaults us because no where in life does one mistake nullify your entire worth. I think of my work in local city government. Employees are protected, even from mistakes. In my department, one has to really mess up to be fired. It is seen that one mistake would have to be done seven times with each time bringing it to light, before a person could be let go and if the person starts showing improvement they get to start over. Now in the private sector is generally, a mistake and then a second chance, but on the third offense that is it. So in essence you have one chance to get things right and even with this there is give and take. 

Romans 2:13 emphasizes that is the doers of the Law who will be justified. I think how this likes to be interpreted is any type of law doing justifies us and each person gets to decide the level at which they are obedient. And so what religions do is come up with checklists that must be done to be seen as pious and worthy before God. But these checklists vary. Religions will even say that what makes their checklist the best is they are the only true church and therefore what they say is only valid. 

Leviticus 18:5 says -- So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the Lord. But even in this verse we would rather infer "most of the time" versus "all of the time or perfectly." 

In James 2, James makes the point that we cannot simply be partial in our obedience to the Law. Yes, it is good to love our neighbor, he says, but we cannot show partiality, meaning we must be completely loving to all neighbors at all times. And he says in verse 10 -- For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. He goes on to say that if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, then you are a transgressor. One failure makes us guilty of the entire law. 

That's a compelling text and a good reminder that sin is sin.

Promise: The Law teaches us what it is to be righteous, but our sin condition prevents us from doing it to be righteous, not because we are not obedient to it, but because we are not perfect in our obedience. Thus, the Law condemns us. 

Prayer: Lord, these are lessons that are the opposite of what I learn as I walk in the world. And I recognize that Satan has confused people further by erecting faith systems that confirm the partial keeping of the Law or keeping it according to their rules and ways. But you remind me of the whole truth in this book, not just the one's we like to sample. You are complete and I need to be a complete reader of the Bible and not simply a sampler. Keep me centered on this truth for the voices in the world of another way is deafening. I want you to stay number one in my life Jesus. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

 - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned.