Romans 3:10-11 - No One is Righteous

Romans 3:10-11 -
10 as it is written,

“There is none righteous, not even one;
11 There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;

Message: No one is righteous; no one is right before God on their own and no one seeks for God.

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Paul now begins to explain verse 9 and what it means that all men are sinners. This message is only of value if God's standard is perfection. If all man has to be is good enough then it isn't important to show that no one is righteous.

Why are these verses so important? To me, they are here because people quickly think they are good. Partly, because there is so much in life that reinforces that we are good. The hardest thing to do, it seems, in sharing Christ with others is helping them to see that they are not completely good and that none of their good merits God's acceptance. [The other big problem I see is people misunderstand God's forgiveness and think that when God forgives their life doesn't have to change very much because God will always be there to forgive them of their sins.] 

Verse 10 begins with "as it is written." I think this is important because what Paul is saying is this thinking didn't originate with him. But, he is simply bringing forth something already taught in scripture (the Old Testament). And so for 9 verses Paul will quote from various passages:

• Romans 3:10-12from Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3
• Romans 3:13 from Psalm 5:9 and Psalm 140:3
• Romans 3:14 from Psalm 10:7
• Romans 3:15-17 from Isaiah 59:7-8 and see Isaiah 48:22
• Romans 3:18 from Psalm 36:1

As we begin in verses 10-11, Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3 states, "The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good. 2 The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God. 3 They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one."

Verse 10 is a complete statement. Nothing more really needs to be said. This lecture could end at verse 10. "There is none righteous, not even one." To be righteous is obviously the goal here. It is the standard. Paul originally told his readers or hearers in Romans 1:16-17 that the "righteous person will live by faith." And in Romans 2:29 it is by the Spirit that man is declared righteous.

So from verse 11 on, Paul will do what Paul does and that is further clarify what this means when he says that no one is righteous.

On a side note, this message of none righteous is not a popular message nor a message prevalent today. We would much rather talk about how great God is or even how we are to be a better person. And sometimes I feel like that what is missing from my church is the weekly reminder that we are sinners. God is great but man is also not simply, "not great" but more specifically man is a sinner. Sin and hell seem to be subjects that are not talked about very much, so it seems.

The Greek word for "understands" is suniemi and here it is in the present tense, to indicate that no one continually puts it all together to comprehend the truth about God and His demand for righteousness.

And "there is none who seeks for God." John 6:44, Jesus said, "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent me draws Him." Our tendency is to pat ourselves on the back and say, "look how spiritual I am" but the rightful perspective is to thank God for bringing His light to us. This should, therefore, make us want to pray. It is through prayer that we talk to God and request of God to save sinners. This is why Jesus came, to save sinners.

Do we really seek for God or are we instead seeking for the Lord's benefits in our lives? Do we really want Him or do we really want His blessings?

Promise: None righteous, none who understand, none who seek for God. That is a promise.

Romans 3:9 - What Jews and Gentiles Share

Romans 3:9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

Message: No one person is better than another person.

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Background
For verses one through eight of chapter 3, Paul has defended the faith. He used questions from an imaginary objector (a diatribe) to put forth questions about what the Jew was probably feeling at the time.

1. What advantage is there in being a Jew?
2. What is the benefit of circumcision?
3. If some did not trust in God, their lack of belief will not reduce to inactivity the One in whom we place complete confidence in, will it?
4. If a person's unrighteous behavior (practicing sin) then causes God to be shown as righteous, then how can that person receive wrath?
5. If God's glory comes about through my lie, why am I being judged (as a sinner)? Why can't a person just do evil that good may come?  

In my opinion, what shines forth in Paul's responses to these questions is two things, (1) The Jew is still God's chosen people and because of that has a special responsibility to protect and carry forth the Law of God and defend the principles of God on this earth and live a life consistent with the Law throughout the day, while with God's people and when not with God's people. (2) Man's sin and God's character stand on opposite corners. God's character isn't dependent upon man's sin. Man is a sinner and God is the judge, but man's sin does not make God righteous nor does it make Him any less of our great God because of the Jew's rejection of Him.

My meaning for this verse
The focus of the first 8 verses has been squarely on the Jew as it was in chapter 2. To me, at first glance, it is unclear who the first part of chapter 9 is speaking of when it says, "Are we better than they?" It could be the Jew, though Paul has been clear over and over that the Jew is not better than the Gentile. Romans 2:11 told us that God has no partiality. And then the Jew was shown that possessing the Law was not good enough, nor circumcision, nor teaching others. And now most recently, the Jew's claim that disobedience in being a sinner does not change who God is. One could say that over and over the Jew has already be told there is no advantage given the Jew to merit salvation because of simply being Jewish. And so one could then say that this question of being better is speaking now of the Gentile with another imaginary objector question from the Jew going to Paul saying, "Okay, since the Jew is obviously not any better than the Gentile, is the Gentile any better than the Jew?"

That said, "Are we better than they?" does to me still have the idea that the Jew is still wondering if just by being called the chosen one may mean that in some way or another, the Jewish person is still better off than the non-Jew. It seems the "better" take on a more elementary definition. In the previous persons, better was expressed in circumcision or possessing the Law or confronting others from the Law of God or teaching others from the Law. But, the notion was continually because of what God has given us and commanded us we seem better where now in verse 9 is just the blank statement of maybe we are still just better off.

And once again, to me, the Gentile or even the Christian today, may still think of himself as better than others because the Christian attends church and/or is one of God's called out ones. And so, as I have stated previously, the Christian needs to clearly see that all people are under sin and so no person is better than another.

And now Paul (or really God) will go through 9 verses to clearly specifying the offense of man and how he is a sinner. Paul does now transition to speak of all men now to clearly show that all of us are sinners. The message has been clear thus far in that righteous deeds don't hold up at all before God as anything of value before God in earning salvation. 


Promise: From Tabletalk, "All have failed to meet His righteous demands no matter what their earthly parentage."

Romans 3:8 - That Good May Come

Romans 3:8 - And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.

Message: The continued saga of man's contention that God's ways are dependent upon man's ways.

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Fifth Objection
This builds off of verse 7, "But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner." Man is looking for an out to being judged. And even more here, man is looking for an out to be able to keep sinning. 

It is funny because this is what a Mormon said to me once. He stated I hold to the once saved, always saved belief where a person only has to accept Jesus into their heart and then they can do anything that they wanted. But, there he combined bad doctrine with bad doctrine to make a conclusion. It is slander that salvation by grace means then a person can just keep on sinning.

It is true that the idea of salvation by grace lends itself to this idea.

Paul's response to the objection
In this fifth and final objection, Paul answers it, not with a refute, but states that the condemnation of the evil one who sins repeatedly and repeatedly plays word games with God is just. This is the response of all of the antagonists complaints to Paul and ultimately to God, that we don't play word games with God. It is not man that makes God more righteous. Man's guilt and God's position as righteous judge stand in separate corners. God can excuse man not because of anything that man has done, but through what Jesus has done. Paul will expand upon this further in Chapter 6. 

Conclusion: How we converse with people
I think what is interesting is that Paul in these verses recognizes the ease at which people can misconstrue the Gospel and he also readily recognizes how defensive people will get when they are told that they have not done nor can they ever do anything to merit God's acceptance. Man is a proud person and is proud of the works he has performed. Often the cars we drive, the houses we live in, the things we purchase, the lifestyles we have, are our way of showcasing the hard work that we have performed in our life. If these things display this, then why can't also my eternal life in Christ. living for eternity in heaven, be the showcase of my good deeds? Thus, the Christian needs to never belittle the thinking of the person struggling to make this understanding and connection. Man is very susceptible to this thinking because everywhere he is trained in this thinking. It is pervasive in man's life.

As ambassadors of the gospel of Christ we need to be extra sensitive to the life of the unbeliever and be clear what the Gospel says but never belittle the thinking of the person our conversation is hopefully benefiting.

Promise: The Gospel can be be misunderstood. But the Gospel cannot be changed. It is offensive and must consistently be communicated.

Romans 3:5-7 - Is God Unrighteous?

Romans 3:5-7 - 5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) 6 May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?

Message: The Fourth Objection is offered: God isn't really righteous, is He?

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Background

Paul is using a diatribe in his writing thus far. This is where he is speaking like he is having a conversation with an imaginary objector. Chapter 2's focus was not on how God judge saves, but how God judges and he gives no free pass to any man based upon their affiliation. So, the Jew as God's chosen people don't get a free pass, not because of their affiliation with the recipients of the Law nor because of their act of circumcision. God is not partial to anyone. He judges everyone equally. A man must be justified by his perfect obedience to the standards that a person has received. For the Jew, that is the Law; for the non-Jew, that is the standard the person knows (i.e. conscience). 

And so now in chapter 3 Paul clarifies that there is something special about God choosing His people. They do have a responsibility before God to care for the commands of God. They have a responsibility to live a life worth living and represent Christ on this earth. Not to save themselves through those acts, but they live in a righteous way in response to God making them righteous. God is God and he is not simply God because of a person's righteous behavior or obedience. He is God no matter what. 

The Fourth Objection

Paul poses the fourth objection from his imaginary accuser in verse 5. If a person's unrighteous behavior (practicing sin) then causes God to be shown as righteous, then how can that person receive wrath? 

Unrighteousness is adika, a dike or "without what is right." It is injustice behavior that injures another person, such as theft, fraud, sexual crimes, deceit, or lying.

Why is God responding to our unrighteousness with wrath when it actually seems that we can then more clearly see that God is righteous?

This is another very important question to examine here because this is a question or statement that often comes up in our lives. Men take commandments of God and then make them out to be something they are often not. Satan's desire is to do anything he can to take the focus off of God and sometimes what he does is very subtle. Sometimes it is very apparent, but other times it is very subtle. I think of the phrase, "money is the root of all evil" which is quoted from I Timothy 6:10 and man often uses this to say evil is the result of a love for money when in actuality God is simply saying that evil can spring forth from a love of money. Money doesn't cover all evils, but it is a root or it plays a part in evil, but not all parts. It is important always to read God's word in context. And even here Paul is showing the tendency of the Jew to take his words and then sort of twist them. Isn't this what Satan did when he tempted Jesus?

The Antagonists Response to the Objection

In the remaining part of verse 5, the antagonist actually gives an answer to his own question, but again it is falsehood basically saying, "So, Is God doing something wrong here as well?" This Jewish antagonist is trying to punch holes in Paul's arguments. Paul uses the statement, "I am speaking in human terms" to show that natural man is always making attempts through natural man's thinking to rationalize a holy God. To go back to Romans 1:25, "For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." Man thinks he can rationalize the things of God. Man uses man language to try and describe God. 

I Corinthians 2:14 states, "But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." Man must submit or surrender to God first and then God will reveal Himself to man. Only then can we understand God's mysteries. 

The Real Response to the Objection

Verse 6 begins with "May it never be" which I saw in verse 4 to mean basically, "that's impossible." Basically, the objection that is raised is man stating he does not like to be judged. The verse that men over and over take out of context is "don't judge me." Man is stating over and over, don't throw a light on me and tell me that I am wrong for what I am doing. Again, they take a phrase in the Bible and they use it as they see fit. And people everywhere don't want to see that they have done anything wrong. I see it everyday at work and even at home. Responsibility for one's actions is very hard for some people, but everyone shy's away from it. Adam himself in the Garden stated, "The woman that Thou gavest me led me astray." 

God administers justice not because man is unrighteous, but because God is just. God is righteous. God must judge, condemn, and punish because He is Holy. So Paul is saying, "Man, don't try and bridge the two (man's sin; God's righteousness), for they are separate. God is just. God must punish sin." 

The quick response to the Response

In verse 7, a quick response by the objector to Paul's response, in a way setting up verse 8, is that through my lie (or unrighteous act toward my fellow man as learned in verse 5), God is shown to be true, why am I being judged. Again, I look here at natural man. And he hates the target on his back. He hates accountability. 

I have been in a men's accountability group now for the last 8 years and through that time I have encouraged other men to do the same. I have seen what value there is in men meeting with other men and sharing their sin and their praises and seeking scriptural help from other men to correct their behavior and be accountable. And through this process, other men I approach to be in a group dodge this accountability. They don't want it. They run away from this. They think of every excuse possible so as to have to meet with other men. They don't want to be accountable to other men. I often don't want to be accountable. I can show up at times at my meetings thinking, "I don't want to share the sin I have been in this week." But sometimes I do because of the transparency of others. And sometimes I continue to try to frame myself as different that who I really am.

I watched the movie Phone Booth this past weekend. While I know the director didn't mean anything scriptural when he directed this story written by another, the content yet was very biblical as this man was basically being held hostage by another and the only way out was to admit his secret sins or the sins he thought he was the only one that knew about. It was interesting to see Hollywood say, "no man can be an island." Man needs to be authentic. It's unfortunate the movie had so much bad language, but the message was still very clear.

I am reminded of this in verse 7, even after the answer was given in verse 6, man quickly responds with another quick objection giving the impression now that my lie results in God's glory and yet I am being judged a sinner? God is good. Man is not. They are distinct. It is not that God is good because man is not. God is holy and demands perfection. Man is unholy and lawless. God is always the answer to man. Yes, God can be glorified through man's sin, but this doesn't exempt man from judgment nor from his sin.

Promise: God always judges righteously.

Romans 3:3-4 - The Faithfulness of God

Romans 3:3-4 - 3 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.”

Message: This is the third objection which is can God be faithful when His chosen people are not.

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Background
In the diatribe of Paul's words, this is the third objection. First, what advantage is there of being a Jew? Second, what is the benefit of circumcision? Paul's response to the imaginary objector is that there is a great advantage in being a Jew and that there is a responsibility given to the Jewish people to possess the Law. 

Third Objection
In verse 3, to "not believe" is to not trust in God. It is giving the opportunity to believe and then not believing or rejecting. "Their unbelief" or their lack of belief "will not nullify" or reduce to inactivity "the faithfulness of God" or the One in whom we place complete confidence in. So, What then? The literal reading of this verse then is, "If some did not trust in God, their lack of belief will not reduce to inactivity the One in whom we place complete confidence in, will it?"

The question that I think Paul is asking (as for some reason this verse has always kind of stumped me, though I think I may understand now what he is asking) is based upon this premise: If God's promised people or chosen ones are not trusting in Him, doesn't this mean God is not faithful? Or Is who God is contingent upon His people's response of Him? Or If the Jews have failed as God's people, then how God then must be powerless and He is unfaithful? God would not choose a people that would then not trust Him, would He? 

The response to the Objection
Verse 4: May it never be. This is the strongest statement that could be made and denotes impossibility. God's faithfulness is not conditioned upon man's response. And all men or people includes Jews. 

Paul then turns to a quote from the Old Testament, Psalm 51:4 which states, "Against You, You only, I have sinned; And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge." I believe Paul is stating here that God will always be justified to judge man of sin. This was Paul's main point in chapter 2. God is true. Every man may be a liar, but God is true. The Jew's disobedience didn't somehow make God not true and not the judge. Yes, He chose the Jews, but God's character is not dependent upon their response to Him.

God is faithful to bless and God is faithful to curse. For God to be justified the payment for the injustice committed is decided by the one that has been wronged. Once I sin, I am a sinner and have therefore broke God's standard or His Law. I don't get to decide what will be acceptable to God in order to be counted as excused from being a sinner. As an example, if I hit someone's car driving, I don't get out of the car, look at the dent and then tell the person, "well, that's not such a big deal, here's $50, apply this to your damage." No, instead the person whose car I hit gets to decide how much I am to pay. To be justified then is according to His Standard of the prescribed punishment. And when the payment is then made, the person is paid in full. 

And Paul is stating once again that payment of sins is faith in God so man can then be declared righteous.  

God is the perfect judge.

Promise: God is always true though every person may be a liar.

Romans 3:1-2 - The True Advantage of the Jew

Romans 3:1-2 - Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Message: There is an advantage in being in Jew (necessary to state this after chapter 2)

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Background
In chapter 2, the Jew was basically told, "you think that because of a Jew you have a free pass to God because of the Law that you know and circumcision that you have performed, but these things are really meaningless because God's standard and thereby His acceptance is based upon complete obedience or doing the Law. And so whether Jew or Gentile, justification is through being a doer of the Law. This could be the Law of Moses if you have received it or it could be the law that God has given every person, namely the conscience. We should not be so focused on what God has given, but more focused on what we have done with what we have."

Transition
So, at the conclusion of chapter 2, the Jew probably felt beat up. Verse 1 of chapter 3 is a beautiful and apt next statement from Paul, "Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?" It is a great statement because the Jew has just been told, in a way, that circumcision is of no value. However, it has value just not value by itself. The purpose of chapter 2 is to show that God's judgment is impartial and no one, not even a Jew, can claim that they have a special privilege in and of themselves to escape God's judgment. But, the Jew still has a special distinction under the eyes of God and this is what Paul wants to make sure the Jew understands, so there is no misunderstanding.

Diatribe Speaking
The first 8 chapters of Romans 3 is Paul utilizing diatribe speaking where he is, in a way, speaking to an imaginary objector. He is carrying on a conversation with an imaginary, questioning person.

First two questions
Because chapter 2 showed us that there is no special privilege that the Jew has in having the Law or being circumcised, then what advantage is there in being a Jew. This is Paul's first question. A non-Jew church attender might ask the same question. What is so great about being in a church, getting baptized, church membership, or being raised by a Christian family? If we know that these things don't save us, then what is the advantage of being associated with them or in them?

Paul's second question then is what is the benefit of circumcision. In being circumcised the Jew was being obedience to God's commands. So, they had followed through on obedience. But, what Paul is telling the Jew is that circumcision can't save them. Romans 1:17 told the Jew and all of mankind that it is accepting God's righteousness through Jesus Christ and His Gospel that makes us right with God. He just mentioned in Romans 2:29 that circumcision is inward. It comes about not by the might of man, but by the Spirit. We don't say, "Hey, look what I did" but instead all of our praise is toward God and what He did for us.  

Responsibility vs Special Privilege
In verse 2, Paul states, that the Jew being a Jew is great. He reminds his Jewish reader that there is greatness in being a Jew. And this is first denoted in the fact that they were responsible for the securing of the oracles of God. They had a responsibility to hold onto the commandments of God. They were to preserve these commandments. The Jew is special to God and so the Jew must live a special life.

Both the Jew and the Christian have a responsibility from God to live there lives in a separate and distinct manner, but it needs to be clear, that this holy life that is lived doesn't then save that individual or allow that individual to be exempt from God's judgment. We still must be changed from the inside/out. While we are accountable to standards, we are more accountable to the standard maker.

God entrusted the Jew with the commandments of God. I am always amazed at how much the word revival is through around the church today and I continue to wonder if when church people say they are praying for revival they are primarily targeting the world and its drifting away from God and the clear abandonment of the Word of God in society. It is true this nation began as a Christian nation and our forefathers were from Christian backgrounds and wrote into the constitution things that are consistent with God's word. But, for me, the revival that needs to occur first and foremost is in the lives of those attending church. It needs to occur for those that are already calling themselves Christians. They show their affiliation to the church and yet they are living their lives in a contrary manner. I am living my life in a contrary manner at times.

The Word of God must be paramount in my life. More so as a man, the leader of my home, I need to hold to the truth's of God's Word.

One of the things that I'm hearing about more and more as I converse with people online through the ministry, Global Media Outreach, is how many women are in marriages where the man has not been obedient to God's command to "love their wives." And the ramifications that then occur because of the man not being obedient to this.

I see it in my life continually. When I am obedient to God's Word, good things happen. And yet, that obedience is not what has saved me. 

These verses amaze me because at first glance they don't seem real compelling, but in light of what Paul has already stated they are huge. And they have major ramifications.


Promise: The Jews is very special to God and the Jew needs to understand the special responsibility they have before God for there are great benefits of following through on these responsibilities.

Romans 2:28-29 - Circumcision of the Heart

Romans 2:28-29 - 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Message: The Spirit of God is the author of circumcision in a person's life. It is the Spirit that does the true circumcising.

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:

Chapter Overview
Paul concludes his message in verse 28 and 29. I don't think he could be any clearer in his presentation. After stating his position before Christ at the beginning of chapter 1 and then exposing the sin of the Gentile in the last half of chapter 2, he now turns his attention to the Jew in chapter 2 to first state the way in which the wrath of God will come down on man and then to show the Jew that their preconceived ideas of what God deems acceptable are off-base. God wants obedience and not just some obedience, God wants complete obedience to the Law.

Verse 28-29
Here in these verses Paul concludes his point that true obedience starts from the inside, then goes outside. In verse 28, circumcision is not that which is outward. But to be truly a Jew, verse 29, there must be an inward conversion. And the change that takes place in man is a work of the Spirit, not a work of man, so that God will be praised.

I just noticed how verse 29 is a retelling of Ephesians 2:8-9 which states that, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. It is a gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." Grace is what changes us and makes us whole. Works or the letter (of the Law) is not what truly changes us. And no one can boast or seek the praise of men by their deeds, but all praise goes to God. 

Promise: God wants a circumcised heart in order to be truly circumcised.

Romans 2:26-27 - The Place of Circumcision

Romans 2:26-27 - 26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?

Message: The Gentile can be circumcised

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:

Paul continues in chapter 2 to build the case that what the Jew has erected over the years as the things that a Jew sets them apart from other people and makes them acceptable to God, namely association with the Law of Moses and having circumcision -- is not what God really wants of them. And he shows how a Gentile can actually be a Jew.

Verse 25 showed them that an outward act won't save them. And now in verse 26 and verse 27, as is Paul's custom, he drives the point further by stating that a Gentile, who hasn't been circumcised can keep the Law and be better off from a Jew that has simply been circumcised. So, the outward ritual is not significant, but obedience is significant.

Paul is not saying that the Gentile is able to be saved by keeping the Law. He is communicating to the Jew that their preconceived ideas of what God wants from them are wrong. There is value in being a Jew, but Paul will get to this in Chapter 3. Paul has said that everything depends on obedience. Again, he is using sort of a hypothetical statement to show that the Law points us toward obedience and complete obedience to the Law is what God wants and therefore if someone has that complete obedience then they are truly circumcised (whether or not there has been an actual cutting away of the foreskin).

There isn't anything magical about being circumcised. Circumcision should be a sign of an inward change. A label on a can tells us what is inside the can. But, it is possible that what is inside the can contradicts the label. What is ultimately important is what is inside the can. What is inside will end up marking the outside significant before God.

These verses probably made the Jew very defensive. And remarks of "How dare you?" might have been exclaimed. In verse 27, Paul again repeats partly what he has already said before, like in verse 13 and verses 17 through 20. He states that it is not significant to simply known what the Law says and have circumcision, but significance is in doing the Law and so this is what stands out. 

Promise: The heart is always what is most important to God.

Romans 2:25 - The Value of Circumcision

Romans 2:25 - For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

Message: The value of circumcision or how the inner much match the outward.

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:

At its most basic level, we can substitute the word "circumcision" for any sacrament in the church. Circumcision was the identifying mark of being a Jew. Often for the Christian, it seems the identifying mark is someone that goes to church or prays or reads their Bible or tries to practice what they preach. It could even be baptism or receiving Jesus into your heart.

That said, the point of this text is a message to the Jewish people. Since verse 13 the message has been the Jew that believes hearing the Law or being associated with the Law or being taught by it or informing others of it, give people a special pass or exemption before God and His acceptance of them. Paul is over and over eradicating this notion and letting the Jew know that if their desire is to focus on the Law above all then they must in their life obey the Law above all. Obedience can't simply be a partial thing or a part time thing, but it must be complete.

And here with circumcision is something the Jews felt like every Jew must have, despite the kind of Jew that they are. Circumcision resulted in justification.

Paul takes the two things that for every Jew they felt like if they have they were accepted by God: the Law and Circumcision. 

But Paul shows that circumcision must be coupled with complete practice of the Law and if that doesn't occur then it nullifies the circumcision from ever having occurred. If our quest is legalism then it must be total obedience and anything else completely nullifies in righteous deed that may have been performed.

Paul is stating that once we sin we are sinners then no amount of goodness in us can nullify this fact. More clearly, he is seeing that the outward has no meaning if their has been no inward change. How quickly do I want to put on a good show often in my faith and have people be impressed with my outward piety, when inward I may be living a different life. If we have no inward change then our outward changes don't mean anything. 

Some of the hardest people to reach with the Gospel are those that think they already have the answers. Religious people already are prodigy's of religion. They already possess the acumen of their faith. Whether they be Catholic, Mormon's, Jehovah Witnesses, Islam, Hindu, or even Protestants, they have tenure in their religion and they think through their deeds and beliefs they are safe.

For the Jew, circumcision was the golden ticket. For Catholics, it is baptism. For Christians, it is a sinner's prayer. For the Mormon's and JW's, it is belonging to a church. All faiths think that if I just get this one thing, then I am safe.  

Promise: None of us is saved unless personal trust in Christ resides in our hearts.

Romans 2:24 - Blaspheming God's Name

Romans 2:24 - For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.

Message: Our creed is to represent Christ the best way we know how and yet, through our sin, God's name is used by us in vain. 

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:

This is probably, in my opinion, one of the most compelling verses in the Bible. After the Jew is confronted with their words of upholding their faith, Paul shows them that their lives don't mirror their talk and ultimately, because of this, God's name is profaned among the very people that the Jews know need God the most--the Gentiles. And this is the problem today of so many Christians (and me).

How often in my life do I do things, in front of others, that are contrary to the person I am (or should be) in Christ? How often do my actions not reflect Christ? Or in any way present Christianity? I do things and then immediately regret them. And there are hidden sins I commit that I just hope no one finds out about. And yet if even my immediately family discovered them I would be ashamed. But, the bottom line in all of this is not that my name would be dragged through the mud and I would look bad, the fact is My Savior and Lord's name would be profaned. That is the biggest problem.

Now, it is very true, that no one can be perfect and so on one level, no person should be looking at another person expecting them to never sin.

I remember when I worked in the summer of 1989 in Myrtle Beach at the International Golf Club. The managers knew the three of us coming to work there were from a Christian organization and they loved to catch us doing things they defined as sin. We might have gotten angry or hurt ourselves and cried out with a word exclaiming our pain. But, there was one man especially, Jerry, that would always giggle a little when we said something that he thought was not an attribute of being a Christian. 

I remember my dad sharing with me that while he was working at the hospital one of the pastors at the church we were attending made the comment to him regarding a patient he was visiting in the hospital and how he could talk to my dad because the "person was going to die" and my dad took it as it wasn't necessary for him to be in a hurry with this patient.

I think of the atheist friend I speak to online that has told me that he doesn't like the way people present themselves as being so pious in the church when he knows their lives don't mirror this presentation. Or he states that Christianity can't be real when there are all of these people throughout history killing others in the name of God.

So, while I don't think Paul is saying that Jesus should be judged by the actions of man because no man is perfect. Nevertheless, man should be trying to live his life the best way possible.

I notice myself acting in a comprising way often at work where I might say something negative towards my boss or gossip in the workplace in order to be in agreement with someone or even get a laugh. I need to see that God's name is blasphemed because of my behavior.

Promise: (From TableTalk) -- The Bible is clear that until we are glorified, we will always fail at some level to practice what we preach. Non-Christians will take advantage of this and always use our failures as cause to blaspheme the Lord, and there is not much we can do about it. However, if we are open about our failures and are careful to never promise sinlessness in this life, we can render their criticisms wholly illegitimate.

Romans 2:21b-23 - The Jews Failure to Keep the Law

Romans 2:21b-23 21b You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

Message: The Jews Failure to Keep 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:

The Jews were exposed in verse 17-20 for looking and sounding religious, but lacking an authentic faith. 3 Commandments are listed here: (1) Being a thief; (2) Being an adulterer; (3) Being an idolater. And then a summary statement of verse 23 in which the Jews overall stated that they boast in the greatness of the Law and yet break it.

In college we used a phrase often, "Walk = Talk." Paul's complaint toward the Jew is their creed contradicts their conduct. I need to continually ask myself, "Is my Christianity authentic? Does it pass the test?"

In verse 21b, the Greek word for steal is klepto. It is where we get the word kleptomaniac. Paul here uses three sins as examples of the Law that the Jews broke. He didn't just pull these sins out of his hat, but they were sins that the Jewish people had experience committing. Yet, this really isn't a shock because these are commandments that everyone breaks in thought and/or deed.

Interesting the phrase, "You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?" Why the second part? What does robbing temples have to do with abhorring idols? I think an idol is anything in our life that we place at a higher level than God. The Jews stated they hated idols, and yet, in practice did they tithe correctly, thus robbing God. Do I give God everything or what I can afford?

Can anyone keep the commandments? No. But, the Jews stated that trusting in Christ was not necessary and so therefore, they must keep the commandments completely to earn God's acceptance. This is the problem. If a person does not trust in the finished work of Christ and what He did on the cross. Justification by law-keeping is possible only if one never fails in obedience to the Lord. 

Promise: For those that reject Christ, their standard is complete adherence to the Law of Moses (or the law given them through their conscience).

Romans 2:17-21a - Teaching Oneself

Romans 2:17-21a - 17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, 21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?

Message: A person can have all the right ingredients in their life, in appearance, but are they complete? 

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:


Just as verses 14-16 expanded on verse 12, now verses 17-21 expand on verse 13. As a reminder, verse 13 stated, "for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God (the Jews), but the doers of the Law will be justified."

The reminder here is that it is still important to uphold the truths of teaching the Law and upholding the things of God, but teaching is not just for others benefits, it is also placing a mirror before us so that we can see ourselves. We are also shining a light back at us.

Yes we need to:

• rely upon the Law
• boast in God
• know His will
• approve the things that are essential
• be instructed out of the Law
• be a guide to the blind
• a light to those who are in darkness
• a corrector of the foolish
• a teacher of the immature
• knowing that the Law embodies all knowledge and truth

Yet, as we live to revel in these things, the greatest thing is to teach oneself. Yes, we want to serve others and know the truth, but most importantly, I need to realize that the standard is for me. The Law is for me. I boast in God so I don't boast in myself. I know His will so that I don't live life according to my will. I approve of those things that are only of God. My instruction comes out of the Law of God and His word. I am there for others, guiding those that can't see. I am to uphold the Word of God continually  in my life as there are so many living in darkness. I am to correct those that make foolish, unwise decisions. I am to teach those that can only handle milk. Again, I am to train myself by the Word of God for it embodies all that I need.

John MacArthur message - False Security
I read a message by John MacArthur on False Security which is what he had titled a sermon on verses 17-20. He states that every person places their security in something. Every person desires to believe that what they have decided to be true is true for them.

The first security here for the Jew was their heritage, "But if you bear the name Jew" in verse 17. For the Jew, just being called a Jew is often their security. For the non-Christian, growing up in a religious family is their security. But, God is clear that association to heritage isn't enough.

The second security is the Jews "rely upon the Law and boast in God, and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law," verse 17 and 18. This security is knowledge. They had the Law of God, they were instructed out of it, they had discerning, and they knew the difference between good and evil. To be instructed out of the Law is to receive the Law orally. The Greek word is katecheo or oral repetitious teaching or catechism. They had great head knowledge, but very little life change.

[It is interesting because this is what I perceive in many of the people that I associate with in my life. They can explain the gospel. They can explain grace. They can explain the necessity of confessing our sins. And yet there is very little life change.]

Just knowing is not our security. Our security is in doing. Verse 13 states that "it is not the hearers of the law that are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified."

[I'm thinking about this right now in the life of many of the people I know and in the life of my kids. One of the things I have noticed lately is the tension they live in, in the world of their church friends and non-church friends. And the way they dance between the two. I remember doing it. And I remember thinking it was no big deal. I felt like I could have both. I had the security of my faith and knew I needed that. But, I also enjoyed the time with the friends in my life. I even had non-Christian girlfriends that I dated, never thinking it was a big deal. And the reason I felt okay with being with the non-Christian is I focused on the relationship and the friendship and the comfort in that. And I think I believed that I could have both and be fine.]

The third security was their confidence in what they did. Verse 19 mentions "confidence." Verses 19 and 20 mention ways the Christian should live, but here, for the Jew, there security rested not in Christ, but in what they did. Paul mentions that "you yourself are a guide to the blind." Is there anything greater than taking someone who doesn't know and is blind to truth and showing them the right way? It is so easy to do this and then pay myself on the back for what I think I have done in giving them truth. But, what happens if what they are leading a person in is not correct?  And then they were "a light to those in darkness." This is very similar to being a guide to the blind. What is the big danger of a cult or starting a religion? It is being to take something and then convince someone else it is true. Verse 20, they saw themselves as "a corrector of the foolish." When someone can't make a right decision, they are corrected. And again great confidence comes about when a person corrects another. And also "a teacher of the immature." Education is taking a young mind that has little knowledge and giving them understanding. And finally, "having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and the truth." They had the sketch or drawing of what was right.

However, they lacked something, a changed life. Verse 21 turns a corner for Paul to ask the question, when you teach others, do you teach yourself? The true worshiper is one that has experienced a complete life change. This doesn't mean that everything in their life is lined up with God and doing His will, but the person has a desire for their life to be this way.

[This reminds me of people in my life. I have heard the story of the person who went to church, was a deacon, taught Sunday school, and then discovered at one point in their life that they weren't really a Christian. It is great to be a Sunday School teacher or go to church, but a life must be changed completely. I quickly think about the Mormon who has a knowledge and then seemingly has a changed life. And yet what I see is the concern that there changed life is out of duty rather than out of a relationship. I'm not saying completely with the Mormon because the family time that they have and focus on, I don't think is because they are trying to jump through a hoop necessarily and earn something. But, I also think of the person I was speaking to (Vero) and how he mentioned that he still loved mainstream music and things of the world. Yet, I see the same thing in me at times and in people I know.]

I must examine myself. I look at my life and I often expose things in my life that are not proper. I want to always be a teacher, but more importantly teach myself.
 
Promise: When Christ changes a life, he changes the entire life, inside and out. AND We must judge ourselves first before we go and judge others.

Romans 2:14-16 - The Work of the Law on the Heart

Romans 2:14-16 - 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

Message: Everyone has a law written on their hearts. Everyone.

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:

Verses 14-16 are a clarification of verse 12. Here is a further clarification of the light or the standard that the Gentile has received. The Gentile can't say that they are not accountable to God because they are not the chosen people and therefore did not receive the Law. The amazing thing about God's law is that it is in written on our hearts.

When I speak to people, using the 10 commandments, it is amazing that in talking about lying, stealing, adultery, murder, or disobeying parents, these are all things that people realize they should not be doing. Thus, the Law is written on their hearts. No one has to tell them that lying is bad or stealing is wrong.

The Unheard
Verse 15 also reminds me of the answer to the question that I often hear and that is, "What about the person that has never heard of Christ?" Well, it is clear here that all people have a standard inside. The Jews were given the Law and are clearly accountable to it, but all other men have a written law on their hearts, their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them and so they are accountable to the law in their hearts.

And so, in my thinking, just as in Romans 1:20, everyone knows that there is a God based upon the testimony of creation, man should always know there is something greater than himself. Could salvation be for someone that hasn't ever heard of Christ the simple recognition that there is something beyond themselves? That they are accountable to their own law and yet there is still something above them.

Coveting and the secrets of men
The last commandment or the sin of coveting is one that has always stood out to me and in verse 15 and 16, it is mentioned. It reminds me that my thoughts are acting as judge and jury often when I consider what to do. And ultimately, God's judgment will fall on my secrets.

This is really a major thought that man really can't comprehend. The scripture is clear that it isn't just what comes out of a man in their actions that is a problem, but it is what is on the inside that sometimes never comes out. Just because I would never say what I'm thinking or do what I'm thinking doesn't mean I am not accountable for what I am thinking. 

The Changing World
One of the biggest problems I see as time goes by is the standards of scripture are no longer accepted in the world as standards. 100 years ago, stealing and lying were also judged in life, but now they are not held in the same level of wrongness. They are excused. When we don't spend our time training ourselves by the Word of God, then we get trained by the world and the world's standards are becoming more blurry. 

Promise: It is a great promise that the standards man are consistent for everyone, the Gentile, the Jew, the religious, the non-religious, those aware of the Law and God, those that don't. Everyone is accountable for the Law is written on their hearts.

Romans 2:12-13 - Is Possessing the Law Enough?

Romans 2:12-13 - 12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; 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: Every person has a standard and so every person is accountable. No one gets a free pass to escape judgment.

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:

Reviewing Paul's message thus far
Just to review a little now. Up to this point in Chapter 2, the focus has been on the wrath of God and God's judgment on man, based upon his desire at the end of chapter 1 to exchange the truth of God for a lie and serve the creature (himself often) rather than creator. The turning away from God all began by man deciding to not give God thanks for everything He had done in creation and for man. And so man carried to his devices turns from God and though he thinks there is nothing wrong with his life, the reality is he is engaging in evil because anything that is not with God is against God and man is thinking his good deeds will be enough.

Paul also is reminding the Jews that they are not somehow above the judgment of God because of their role as Jews. God will judge them just the same and they are under the same standard. There are a few verses which seem to be kind of a play on words regarding doing good, meaning they give the idea that a person can receive eternal life by doing good deeds, but those are in a way utopian thoughts and they are really there to show us that the only way to God is through repentance and there is no way to be completely perfect or even completely imperfect. But, again, the standard is not man and his righteous acts because man can never be completely righteous, but we must yield to the power of God (1:16) for that is salvation. We must have the righteousness of God and God is the only supplier of that.

One thing that is so clear from Paul thus far is how he hammers points. He wants to make sure people understand and there is no ambiguity.

Verse 12
Verse 12 is interesting. And the writing here also reminds me of CS Lewis. The message of verse 11 was God is not partial, meaning no one has a free pass when it comes to judgment or how God treats them. Paul continues to clarify that point by saying that whether a person subscribes to the Law (Jew) or not (Gentile), their outcomes are no different. In verse 13, he then mentions that justification is not found by simply hearing what you should do, but true and complete justification can be found by complete obedience to the Law (yet no one can achieve this).

Misunderstanding this text - not about salvation, but about our need for it
I guess for me I can see how a religious group or person would make the inference that a person could achieve something like eternal life or a reward through the good deeds of a person because there are several verses which do say this. And yet these verse are speaking of the standard it would seem because the Bible states that eternal life is found by being righteous.

Thus, as scripture is read, many verses can't simply be pulled out in order to build a case upon some sort of ideology. For example, we have read that:

• God will render to each man according to his deeds (verse 6)
• Those who persevere and do good will receive eternal life (verse 7)
• Those who are selfish and do not obey will receive wrath (verse 8)
• Tribulation for those that do evil (verse 9)
• Glory, Honor, Peace for those that do good (verse 10)
• Doers of the Law will be justified (verse 12)

Again, in a way in these messages is the admonition to do good and get good results, do bad and get bad results. As I have shared with people at the mall and other places, I often mention that this is the way the world trains us. The ways of the world are of the notion that you get what you deserve-- meaning our good deeds should merit a good result and if we do bad consistently we should also get what we deserve on the inverse.

But, we can't use the above verses alone. We must put them in context and within the context of all scripture. We can't simply say that good words merits eternal life because this then contradicts other scripture. I think we must continue to run back to Romans 1 and what he stated in the beginning, that the Gospel of God is Jesus Christ. Romans 1:1-17 makes this distinction.

------------

As I turn back to verse 12 and think about the meaning of this verse, Paul seems to be making a proclamation in this verse that God will judge man based upon the light or type of light or type of information the person has in their life. The Gentile did not receive the Law directly, but the Gentile still has a conscience or a recognition of right and wrong written on his heart (Romans 1:20) and the Jew, who has been given the Law, both will be judged. So once again, Paul is getting the point across that no one is exempt. The Gentile may have not been given the Law, but they still have their own standards and so they are still accountable to those standards. When the Gentile sins, the Gentile will perish. And then the Jew is given the Law, so the Jew needs to be prepared to be shown the Law and have adhered to it completely at judgment.

Note: Definition of Law by Joseph Beet: a prescription of conduct by an authority claiming to determine what men are to do or not to do.

I still have a question about this verse that, at the moment, I don't have a clear explanation. As I think of verses 12 and 13, I think of the non-Christian, the person questioning God, or the person wanting to know what is meant by the Gentile who doesn't have the Law and yet will be judged according to what that person has received. I know in the next set of verses, it will speak of the fact that man has a conscience, knowing good and evil. Man knows the right way and when man doesn't do the right way, then man has broken his own law (though it may not be The Law). 

Verse 13 states that it is not enough to hear the Law. I think you could say also it is not enough for a church attender to listen in church. The standard isn't how well one has listened, but the standard is doing. Who is justified? Not the hearer, but the doer. 

I think what I quickly lose in this chapter is that God is not explaining the way of salvation. The focus of this chapter is on the judgment and wrath of God and therefore, man's need for salvation. The gospel message has already been clearly put forth in chapter 1. There is no question that it is all about Jesus and nothing about man and his deeds. The point of these verses is then to say that there are no free passes, but every man has a need for salvation. 

The phrase: "doers of the Law will be justified" must be really understood. It is not saying that simply doing the Law, whether some or all will merit justification. Someone may think this, but the idea of justification in Scripture is that a person is justified and made right with God when all the requirements of God are met. When a person is justified that person is made fully righteous. These verses are not about the way of salvation, but the need for it.

The other compelling thing of verse 13 is it is, either/or. It isn't a combination of doing the law and being justified. Always. 

The Problem with Man's Thinking
I think the problem that man has is in life we only receive a penalty when we are caught doing something we shouldn't be doing. And when we are not caught, we have gotten away with it and escaped judgment, and I think inside since we haven't been caught, we don't necessarily think at times we have done anything wrong. Man must be very careful here. Everything man does that is against the standard (right or wrong, the Law) is accountable before God.

I think this is the danger that has resulted over the many centuries of mankind. I enjoy the show Dragnet and Adam 12 and what is fun about those shows sometimes is to see the type of calls that the detectives or police officers performed. For instance, to see them show up somewhere in which there was simply arguing and yelling and bursts of anger going on. Or to see them show up when a fight was going on between two people.

Police officers today are not showing up to houses because of these situations, but normally just when a big theft has occurred or a murder. Gone are the days when the fire department shows up to get a cat out of a tree.

It seems that when man can easily get away with something, it stops being a sin. This takes me back to chapter 1 again, because what we see there is the Gentile man that over time repeats his bad habits and suddenly what man has called bad is no longer wrong to him.

How can we ever look at prostitution or pornography and think it is okay. And yet when the act is repeated over and over, does the person start to think it is okay?

Promise: God is fair.

Romans 2:11 - God's Impartiality

Romans 2:11 - For there is no partiality with God.

Message: God doesn't see like man sees. He is impartial not making decisions by the outward.

Time: Written sometime in AD 57-58, probably from Corinth, at the end of Paul's third missionary journey. Chapter 2 seems to be written to the Jew though the Jew is not addressed till verse 17.

What the Lord is Saying:

I don't think it can be any clearer. Verse 9 and 10 use the word "every" to denote that all will be judged. Verse 9 and 10 also speak of the fact that the Jew first and then the Greek (Gentile) so everyone is subject. And then Paul emphasizes it again -- there is no partiality with God. 

no - Greek word ou which means absolutely not.

To be partial is to give judgment based upon outward appearance and not looking inward. This verse is saying that God does not show any partiality because of a person's position or bloodline or association. In fact, the Bible has even told us that God looks at the inward -- thoughts, motives. He knows all.

There is so much effort placed in life on self-improvement and betterment that I would think some people might struggle with the idea that God isn't partial. There is so much focus in life on distinguishing ourselves from others. And yet, God see's us all equally. I can see the comfort in this, but for many, I would think the rich and educated especially, there might be animosity in thinking that God doesn't look at the outward or accomplishments. I think the major point though to realize is God doesn't see us like man see's us. We tend to want to define God based upon what we know as humans about one another. But, God see's differently. He sees beyond the outward. I think because of this, it should remind us how we must always trust God for outcomes and results because we can't see people the way He sees them. 

Promise: God will be the judge. Not me. Trust Him for this and encourage people toward Truth.

Romans 2:9-10 - The Sequence of Salvation

Romans 2:9-10 - 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Message: There is a tension of good and evil in our lives, both being the result of our faith or non-faith in Christ.

Time: Written sometime in AD 57-58, probably from Corinth, at the end of Paul's third missionary journey. Chapter 2 seems to be written to the Jew though the Jew is not addressed till verse 17.

What the Lord is Saying:

Verse 9, There will be:

Tribulation - crushed by a weight; suffering brought on by outward circumstances; the Greek word thlipsis is used 45 times in the New Testament.

Distress - literally a narrow place and the painfulness associated with being in that narrow place, such as being in a tight corner with no way out. The idea is that the person will not know where to find relief.

4 terrifying words found in verses 8 and 9

• Wrath - Orge - God's attitude toward sin (verse 8)
• Indignation - Thumos - The expression of that attitude (verse 8)
• Affliction - Thlipsis - The result (verse 9)
• Distress - Stenochoria - The realization of entire helplessness (verse 9)

Every soul of man - This reminds me that God's judgment is equal and consistent and for everyone. It is universal. Although Paul uses the word "every", he further emphasizes that both the Jew and the Greek will be under judgment. This is important because we have already seen in verse 31 of chapter 1 and verses 1 and 2 of chapter 2 that Paul realizes that the Jewish person doesn't believe they are under the same level of scrutiny as the non-Jew. 

The word "does" in verse 9 may be the most significant word in this entire verse because it expresses the tenacity in which a person engages in evil acts. The work of this person is not just momentary, but it is consistent and continual until the evil is achieved. And I know this because of the Greek word that is used. It is katergazomai. Ergazomai means to engage in an activity with considerable expenditure of effort. The kata prefix of this verb means that the intensity of that activity is greater. Evil behavior is thorough.

This same word is also used in Philippians 2:12 where it states "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Katergazomai is also used here, but instead of the English word "does" we see the English word, "Work out."

The idea when we go to the gym to "work out" is we do something hopefully in a repetitive way in order to change something in us. In both verses, the working out or doing is speaking of intensity and repetition. 

The word evil or kakos is used 50 times in the New Testament.

The Good and Evil Tension
The contrast is clear. Man either does the work of salvation, sanctification, or does the work of evil, separation. Man either desires obedience to God or anything else, is disobedience.

The Bible repeatedly shows us clear contrasts, and yet, we just don't like living in those clear contrasts. We much more prefer standing in the middle between the two. We desire to borrow a little from each in our lives and then believe that we are safe as long as we have more of one than the other.

In addition, the chasm between the two is growing to the point that each opposite is a little less distinguishable. Gone are the days when most stores were closed on Sunday's. Now, it is rare one is closed. Chick-Fil-A is one that is always closed and there is almost this oddity about it. And because of this, the sabbath day has become more blurry and really not even distinguishable from other days. People no longer attend church with the same frequency. More and more the sins of yesterday are now seen as acceptable behavior. Atheism appears to never be more rampant than it is today and it should be because the presence of God in our lives is being pressed out. It is being overpowered.

Looking at the contrast between good and evil, right and wrong, holiness and worldliness, righteousness and unrighteousness, I need to be happy that the Bible speaks so clearly of the distinction because our lives in the world are much more grey. As the Leslie Phillips song voiced, "Black and White in a Grey World." The church needs to recognize this and train people to walk close to God and continue to live in Christ.

It amazes me how we think we can dance in both worlds and not be affected. Why do we do it? Because we love both worlds. And we think that we can.

Verse 10, and:

Glory - means to think highly of or give a proper opinion or estimate of something. The Greek word is used 166 times in the NT.

Honor - the worth or merit of an object; pay respect.

Peace - to bring together that which has been separated. Without peace there is division. It always conveys an inner rest. Peace or eirene is used 91 times in the NT. Eirene. Pamela's grandmother was named Irene.

Does - Once again this is katergazomai. A person's habitual conduct, whether good or evil, reveals the true condition of their heart.

Good - Greek word agathos. These are deeds done to benefit others.

Paul is not saying here that good works merit salvation nor is he saying that evil results in separation from God. But, we can clearly see that when a person does good, it is a testimony of who that person belongs. In the same manner, doing evil testifies of that person's allegiance. In both instances the deeds are habitual. And so the rewards that come are a result of habitual action, of which people have a heard time achieving (rather it is impossible) on either side of the fence.

Why does Scripture seemingly go back and forth? Why does it seem that one verse is speaking of being saved by God's righteousness through Jesus Christ alone, while other verses speak of living a life of good deeds. The problem thinking that it is a joint effort between God and man is then there are other scriptures that have to be punted. What I see is our obedience is part of our reward, but it isn't what brings us to the podium. We arrive at the podium solely on the basis of the perfect righteousness of Christ. 

Promise: There are always clear results to the way we live.

 

Romans 2:6-8 - Weighing our works

Romans 2:6-8 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.

Message: The judgment of God is according to our deeds.

Time: Written sometime in AD 57-58, probably from Corinth, at the end of Paul's third missionary journey. Chapter 2 seems to be written to the Jew though the Jew is not addressed till verse 17.

What the Lord is Saying:

I have been reading a book on the misuse of Bible verses. It has taught me to take extra consideration of the context of a verse. Looking at verse 6, it is one of those verses that I have often pulled out and applied it in a certain way. I have made this verse to be of the idea that God will recompense people in heaven according to their works on earth. In talking to an LDS person, I have heard them say that this verse speaks to how important our works are on earth because God will reward us based upon those deeds.

Now, it is not that our works on earth are meaningless because Jesus speaks in the parable of the talents of the importance of our gifts of service and the reward associated with them. And yet as I read and study now these verses, the focus of these verses is the wrath of God and the judgment of God. Verse 5 just spoke of the day of wrath or the day when God will reveal to man all that he has done and he will be accountable for his works. Going back to chapter 1, in verse 16 it mentions the power of God for salvation. Salvation is a power of God, not man. Man is to believe. And in verse 17, salvation is the righteousness of God in man. God makes  man righteous. This is the work of salvation. In contrast, chapter 2 begins to speak of the wrath of God. In verse 1, man has no excuse. Passing judgment on others doesn't excuse our own behavior. And then there is the opportunity for salvation briefly in verse 4 as God's kindness or patience in giving man the opportunity to repent and turn from their sin is clearly shown and yet in verse 5, man rejects this offer.

And so, under the wrath of God, in verse 6, God will render to each person according to his deeds. And then this is further spelled out and described in verses 7 and 8. Verse 7 tells us that those who do good will receive eternal life and in verse 8, those who are selfish and do not obey, will receive wrath and indignation.

Without Christ man will have to show that before God he has persevered in doing good and doing good wasn't just a momentary thing in one's life but it was always present (verse 7), for this person eternal life will be available. Revelation 20:12 also speaks of this when the book of life is opened and man is judged according to what is written in the book. And yet, we know, no one will be able to stand before God and state they have persevered in doing good. On the contrary, in verse 8, man is clearly seen as being selfish.

In essence, verse 7 is somewhat hypothetical because a person could never receive eternal life based upon his own good works and yet many will arrive before God and try to pull it off. 

Promise: The Lord will weight our works and reward those done in Christ's name, but they will not be the basis for whether He gives us everlasting life. For that we rely on the righteousness of Jesus alone.

Romans 2:3-5 - Presuming upon God's Kindness

Romans 2:3-5 3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

Message: Judgment and the Kindness of God

Time: Written sometime in AD 57-58, probably from Corinth, at the end of Paul's third missionary journey. Chapter 2 seems to be written to the Jew though the Jew is not addressed till verse 17.

What the Lord is Saying:

As a review, Romans 2 is not telling us how to be saved, but telling us how God will judge. Many Jews believed that because of the promise God gave Abraham that they would therefore escape the judgment of God, though the Gentile would be judged.

The Jews are being addressed here in verse 3 as they often were in the practice of judging others. Paul wanted to clearly show that their judging did not mean they would escape God's wrath.

Again, the purpose of this chapter and all words spoken by Paul, as we discovered earlier in chapter one is to point people to Jesus. Here, talking about judgment, should remind us that Jesus took on Himself the entire wrath of God. We can escape the results of judgment by embracing Christ and what He has done for us on the cross.

I have always struggled a little with the contrast from verse 3 to verse 4. What does the kindness of God have to do with judgment?

In studying this, I read a sermon by Brian Bill. He states:

The riches of God’s kindness and the complexities of God’s judgment are difficult to fully comprehend. This passage teaches that God is kind and He condemns; He is love and He has laws; He is just and He is the justifier of the unjust.

When God judges sin, He is pronouncing a judgment based upon the sin we have committed. We are sinners. When a judge judges a person in a courtroom. The focus is on the crime the person committed and whether the person truly committed the crime.

In contrast, it is God's desire to have people repent. If God's desire was judgment then God would judge people the moment they sin. I find it funny that people often are bothered that God allows sin to occur. People think that if God is real he should deal with bad things immediately and yet they don't want Him to do this in their own life, but just in ways that they deem appropriate.

1. But, God's kindness is wonderful. He is kind to us by not dealing with us the moment we sin, but giving us a chance to repent. Psalm 145:17 says, "The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward what he has made." God loves us so much that he wants to redeem us. Sin should produce sorrow. Sin should not produce an accusation. 
2. God is tolerant meaning he "holds back" judgment on two warring parties. Psalm 130:3, "If you O Lord kept a record of sin, O Lord, who could stand?" 
3. He is patient. He holds back what we deserve. Again, he is given us an opportunity to repent or turn from our sin. 

Yet, verse 5 presents a horrible reality of man. Man is stubborn. Man won't repent. Despite the fact that God doesn't judge us on the spot, man doesn't recognize his sin and continues in it. Thus, he is continually storing up more and more wrath from God. God's case against man is growing. And at some point God, a revelation of all the sin of man will occur and man will be accountable for his wrongdoing. 


Promise: God doesn't want to judge man. God wants man to repent.

Romans 2:1-2 - Without Excuse

Romans 2:1-2 - 1 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.

Message:  Man is judged by his works (though salvation is by faith alone);

Time: Written sometime in AD 57-58, probably from Corinth, at the end of Paul's third missionary journey. Chapter 2 seems to be written to the Jew though the Jew is not addressed till verse 17.

What the Lord is Saying:

This passage of scripture is written to the Jews; the Jews are not that different from the church today.

1. They are a people that stood before God and felt like because of their association with somebody or something or a promise, that they are accepted by God. For the Jew, this acceptance came about from the promise God made to Abraham and his descendants. God promised to be their God. And so the Jews simply felt like they must keep their connection with God by observing the Law and practicing circumcision.
2. There is always a temptation to judge others. As I learned recently, the verse "judge not, let you be judged" doesn't mean that we can't judge. But, we must first look inward to our own lives, examining our own sin before we can put the spotlight on another. Religious people and non-religious people often begin to take on a prideful attitude toward others thinking that they don't sin like others or they call out certain sins without clearly examining their own.
3. As Christians, I think we need to be quick to examine the evil first in ourselves, recognizing that all sin is disobedience. More so than the non-religious, I believe the Christian needs to be very careful about how quickly we call out the sin in others without first admitting we sin. And this is the idea of these verses in Romans 2. That we are so quick to judge and yet don't realize that what we are calling out as wrong is something we are also doing. How often to call out sin in my kids and then turn around and do the same thing.
4. The other problem we have, maybe more so in society is labeling sins in degrees of offensiveness and consequence associated with the sin. Many of our sins are hidden from others. They are internal or they are so common place that they don't stand out. And so certain sins have clear consequences versus all sin having a consequence. Man grades sins. Murder and Rape and Cheating deserve punishments, but telling white lies or gossiping about a co-worker or neighbor, undressing a woman with our eyes and stealing a piece of gum are not viewed as excessive sins, namely because it is clear that everyone does it and there are no laws broken when these acts occur. So people think they can escape God simply by staying free from the "serious" sins. 
5. People have also been trained in the idea that man is a sinner and God is a forgiver and sin can be quickly excused by asking for forgiveness because God forgives. Man is known to be a creature of sin. It is his trade, but the trade of God is to forgive that sin. How often in sharing the gospel with people do they quickly say, "well, God has forgiven my sin." 

Romans 2 then is the simple declaration of the reality of God's judgment. What we have just left is the turning away from God by the Gentile in chapter 1 or the rejection of God and His revelation. (Gentile) man decides that he has life figured out and so what God does is allows him to carry his thinking to his lifestyle of idolatry or setting other things or himself up as God. But in verse 32 there appears to be a transition. Verse 32 is in a way a summation of the Gentile's denial, but the person that recognizes God is also called out as person that does the same thing or does the same sins. And the person approves of the same sin that he had just called the sin of others. Again, as in Romans 2:1, a person is quick to call out fault in others.

Verse 32 was having the knowledge that God is real, and then practicing sin and approving sin. And verse 1 is also against those that judge others as sinners and then practice the same sin. We are to call out sin in others but in so doing we must be clear that there is still sin in us. 

A hypocrite is someone who complains there is too much sex & violence in his DVD collection! (PreceptAustin.org).

The verse 32 person knows the consequences of sin and continues to do it. Verse 1 and 2 of chapter 2 also call out the person that judges and then does the same thing.

My take is in verse 32 of chapter 1 the Gentile and the Jew are exposed and so in Romans 2 these individuals are reminded that God's judgment is not just for a select few, but it falls on all men. No one can stand before God and say, "I have an excused absence from hell" because no person's life makes him excusable. Everyone deserves it. Romans 2:1-16 is a picture of God's judgment.

How foolish I am. Lord, help me to never forget that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Help me to never forget the filthiness of my sin. Help me to admit that sin before others. I never want to appear higher and mightier than anyone. You are the high One because You have saved me. I need you. 

Wayne Barber makes an interesting note about how Romans 1 was addressing the Gentiles and Romans 2 is to the Jews. In Romans 1, the pronouns that Paul uses are "them, those, their and they" to denote the Gentile. And now in Romans 2, he changes the pronoun to "you and yours." Interesting.

Promise: The judgment of God falls upon the godly and ungodly.

Romans 1:32 - Approving Evil

Romans 1:32 - and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Message: The sin among us reminds us we are all guilty before God.

Time: Written sometime in AD 57-58, probably from Corinth, at the end of Paul's third missionary journey
 

What the Lord is Saying: 

It is interesting to pause and look at the past 31 verses before looking at verse 32.

Paul begins in this first chapter with a 7 verse introduction. He acknowledges that he is a bond-servant, called as an apostle and he is set apart for the Gospel of God. He clearly puts forth that his calling in life is to bring about faith among all people. Faith is the precipice of all he does.

From verses 8-15 he addresses the people in Rome that he is writing, thanking them for their faith and that their faith is contagious. As an ambassador of faith and truth, Paul is encouraged through the reports that these people are bringing forth truth in their life, evident by their fruit. He is praying for them and would love to see them, but irregardless the gospel is shining forth.

In verse 16-17 Paul turns a corner to once again define the message that must go out to every person. The message is man can be righteous before God. Being righteous has everything to do with God and nothing to do with ourselves. There is nothing in these verses that speaks of man doing something for it is completely the power of God. The message is entirely what God has done.

So, the flip side of being righteous is being unrighteous. But, how does man get to this point? Well, it is not that man begins life apart from God, is then educated and then rejects God. What Paul shows is God is there even in our beginning. Truth is evident in a persons life and gets suppressed (verse 18). God's power is clearly testified through everything we see and experience in our lives (verse 20). Man begins with God and then as God sees that man does not place God at the center, God is content to give people over to that which they want -- their idols.

Verses 18-32 is a progression from wholly God to wholly man. Beginning with not having a thankful heart for the things of God (verse 21), man progressively falls away and in turn, joins forces with evil. These verses chronicle the demise of man and the horrific story of man living without God.

But the Christian can also read these descriptions of sin because though the Christian has been declared righteous by God, the Christian is still a sinner and still susceptible to being a companion of sin. And so while the picture is clearly of the rejector of God, the Christian needs to look at these sins to remind oneself that this is not who they are now in Christ and not what should be in their life. I am to be about only the things of God. And there is nothing of God in these verses.

Verse 32 is the culminating thought. After the list of sins in 29-31, and even the last sin mentioned, having no compassion for your fellow man, Paul declares and reminds the saved and unsaved that the real danger part of our lives is not simply being a sinner, but it is approving of sin. People know what is right. And yet we call right wrong and we call wrong right. We all do it. And just as the Gospel message began the chapter, I am once again reminded in verse 32 of the overwhelming need of the Gospel because although I am in Christ, I am evil. I am a sinner. I need a Savior, not just once but everyday of my life. Because even in Christ, I dance with sin. I am susceptible to sin because it is living and active in this world and my exposure to it is constant.

In some ways it is a sobering and horrible picture of the Christian. Though every person knows the ordinance of God, the Christian clearly can understand over and over that unrighteousness deserves death, and yet the mark of the Christian is all to often approving evil. The ugliest people on earth are often Christians. We love to stand and say how we are not like.....whoever. But, the reality is we are still sinners. The only difference in us is we have been declared righteous. 

I will continue to sin and so I will continue to need a Savior. I will continue to need to be saved from myself. My life is to be about bringing about faith in people's lives. And that message has nothing to do with man making himself to be righteous because man is simply not righteous no matter how hard man might try. Unrighteousness is always a part of the life of a person. Let me declare the message of Jesus over and over to people's lives. Jesus saves.
 

Promise: Man is a sinner. Even in Christ, man is a sinner.