Romans 2:13 "(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified."
I've read this chapter over and over again, trying to get the best understanding of it that I can. I think the reason it might seem difficult to understand is because we are used to reading things with the chapter divisions when the Bible wasn't necessarily written that way. If you read chapters 1-2, you get a better understanding of how Paul is laying the groundwork for explaining the Gospel in chapter 3.
Chapter 2 verse 13 is really the key verse to the chapter though. Paul is making the case that the Jew and the Gentile are lost and hopeless without Christ. He is communicating to both that they have sinned, that judgement is coming, and that they are without hope if they are depending on their keeping (or ignorance) of the law.
You would be justified, IF you had faithfully, completely been a doer of the law. But no one (besides Jesus) ever has. Paul is doing the classic "give the bad news, then the good news." The Good News is coming in chapter 3.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Monday, September 25, 2017
God's Goodness Leads To Repentance
Romans 2:4 "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?"
No matter who you are, you have experienced the goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering of God in your life. God is holy, and His standard is righteous perfection. We as fallen humans could never hope to meet this standard. Therefore, we deserve damnation and we deserve it right now.
Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
His goodness is demonstrated everyday as He waits for the lost to come home. This longsuffering is why so many have been saved. Once a sinner truly realizes their position, and also realizes that God in His goodness has spared them, this goodness draws them. How can it not? How can sacrificial love and such patient forbearance not cause a response in the sinner's heart?
There are lost souls all around me. Am I telling, proclaiming this goodness that leads to repentance?
No matter who you are, you have experienced the goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering of God in your life. God is holy, and His standard is righteous perfection. We as fallen humans could never hope to meet this standard. Therefore, we deserve damnation and we deserve it right now.
Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
His goodness is demonstrated everyday as He waits for the lost to come home. This longsuffering is why so many have been saved. Once a sinner truly realizes their position, and also realizes that God in His goodness has spared them, this goodness draws them. How can it not? How can sacrificial love and such patient forbearance not cause a response in the sinner's heart?
There are lost souls all around me. Am I telling, proclaiming this goodness that leads to repentance?
Friday, September 22, 2017
Judging
Romans 2:3 "And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?"
This is a principle repeated over and over in God's Word. It is apparent that God isn't swayed by your opinions of other people. My responsibility lies first within myself.
Is there a blind spot that I see in someone else's life? My first response to this should be to carefully, prayerfully check my own life for any blind spots.
Matthew 7:3-5 "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
After I have examined my own faults and dealt with them properly, then and only then should I approach someone else who about their faults. And when I do approach them, it is to be in a loving manner, with an aim to help and not judge.
When was the last time I critically examined my own life for faults and blind spots? Have I prayer, asking God to reveal them to me? Is there a trusted friend that I can ask to be honest about this with me?
This is a principle repeated over and over in God's Word. It is apparent that God isn't swayed by your opinions of other people. My responsibility lies first within myself.
Is there a blind spot that I see in someone else's life? My first response to this should be to carefully, prayerfully check my own life for any blind spots.
Matthew 7:3-5 "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
After I have examined my own faults and dealt with them properly, then and only then should I approach someone else who about their faults. And when I do approach them, it is to be in a loving manner, with an aim to help and not judge.
When was the last time I critically examined my own life for faults and blind spots? Have I prayer, asking God to reveal them to me? Is there a trusted friend that I can ask to be honest about this with me?
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Retaining God In Your Knowledge
Romans 1:28 "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"
Our minds are never stagnant. They are dynamic, always thinking of something. Paul uses the word "retain" here, which implies an active purpose. In other words, we cannot just expect God to be retained in our minds. We must actively retain God in our knowledge.
How do we do this? Psalm 1:2 "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." The people Paul was speaking of "didn't like" to think about God, or keep knowledge of Him. But the person in Psalm 1 find delight in God and His law.
It is only a renewed, sanctified mind that can find delight in the things of God. When I think back over the thoughts I've had today, where do I find the most delight?
Our minds are never stagnant. They are dynamic, always thinking of something. Paul uses the word "retain" here, which implies an active purpose. In other words, we cannot just expect God to be retained in our minds. We must actively retain God in our knowledge.
How do we do this? Psalm 1:2 "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." The people Paul was speaking of "didn't like" to think about God, or keep knowledge of Him. But the person in Psalm 1 find delight in God and His law.
It is only a renewed, sanctified mind that can find delight in the things of God. When I think back over the thoughts I've had today, where do I find the most delight?
Monday, September 18, 2017
When They Knew God
Romans 1:21 "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."
There are four things to notice here. Four places where these people failed. First, they did not glorify God for Who He is. He alone is worthy of glory. When we know Him and yet do not respond as we should, we are denying the truth and following a lie.
Second, they were not thankful. I find this particularly interesting. Of all the virtues, thankfulness was the one that is pointed out here. Not "neither were obedient" or something like that. They weren't thankful. This demonstrates the value God places on a grateful heart. With all the blessing He pours on us everyday, it truly is the least we can do.
Third, vanity. What really matters? What is truly worthwhile? Do I follow after (using my time, effort, and energy) things that won't matter in the end?
And fourth, the allowed darkness into their hearts. Darkness is merely an absence of the Light. Replacing Christ with things of the world in our hearts results in darkness.
If I were to honestly examine my own heart, would I find seeds of any of these four failings in my own life?
There are four things to notice here. Four places where these people failed. First, they did not glorify God for Who He is. He alone is worthy of glory. When we know Him and yet do not respond as we should, we are denying the truth and following a lie.
Second, they were not thankful. I find this particularly interesting. Of all the virtues, thankfulness was the one that is pointed out here. Not "neither were obedient" or something like that. They weren't thankful. This demonstrates the value God places on a grateful heart. With all the blessing He pours on us everyday, it truly is the least we can do.
Third, vanity. What really matters? What is truly worthwhile? Do I follow after (using my time, effort, and energy) things that won't matter in the end?
And fourth, the allowed darkness into their hearts. Darkness is merely an absence of the Light. Replacing Christ with things of the world in our hearts results in darkness.
If I were to honestly examine my own heart, would I find seeds of any of these four failings in my own life?
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Manifest in Them
Romans 1:19 "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them."
God is not an amorphous concept. He is not a vague idea. Man was made "in His image". When we see our fellow man, we see a reflection of God's likeness. This reflection has been marred by man's fallen state, it is a dim, pale reflection, however the fact remains.
That spark of celestial fire called conscience is a remnant of God's image. The ability to love, to be courageous, to sorrow over evil, all of these are imperfect remnants of God's image. Paul tells us what can be known about God is manifest (apparent, evident, known, i.e to be plainly recognized or known) in mankind. What an incredible thought.
And if that wasn't enough, He gave us His Word. And if that wasn't enough, He gave us the rest of creation. All of it proclaims Who God is. Take some time to meditate on these thoughts today.
God is not an amorphous concept. He is not a vague idea. Man was made "in His image". When we see our fellow man, we see a reflection of God's likeness. This reflection has been marred by man's fallen state, it is a dim, pale reflection, however the fact remains.
That spark of celestial fire called conscience is a remnant of God's image. The ability to love, to be courageous, to sorrow over evil, all of these are imperfect remnants of God's image. Paul tells us what can be known about God is manifest (apparent, evident, known, i.e to be plainly recognized or known) in mankind. What an incredible thought.
And if that wasn't enough, He gave us His Word. And if that wasn't enough, He gave us the rest of creation. All of it proclaims Who God is. Take some time to meditate on these thoughts today.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Ashamed
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
In a time of persecution, the temptation to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ is real. It is when there is a cost associated with our belief, that we are confronted with our true attitude about that belief. When we have no persecution to fear, it is easy to believe in the Gospel.
But something with such power will not go unnoticed by our enemy. Shame about the Gospel of Christ does not come from God. Shame is timidness, fear. We have the spirit of love, power, and a sound mind.
If someone asked, I may say I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. However, God looks at our hearts, and our hearts show themselves through our actions. Do my actions demonstrate that I am ashamed of the Gospel? Or do my actions demonstrate that I understand the infinite power of God that is available to me?
In a time of persecution, the temptation to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ is real. It is when there is a cost associated with our belief, that we are confronted with our true attitude about that belief. When we have no persecution to fear, it is easy to believe in the Gospel.
But something with such power will not go unnoticed by our enemy. Shame about the Gospel of Christ does not come from God. Shame is timidness, fear. We have the spirit of love, power, and a sound mind.
If someone asked, I may say I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. However, God looks at our hearts, and our hearts show themselves through our actions. Do my actions demonstrate that I am ashamed of the Gospel? Or do my actions demonstrate that I understand the infinite power of God that is available to me?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)