“Why does man need God’s provided righteousness?”
Because none of our good works or Law keeping can give us right standing with God!
Romans 2 Introduction!
• “You who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself” [Rom 2:1]
• “God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth” [Rom 2:2]
• “God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance” [Rom2:4]
• “God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” [Rom 2:6]
• “God does not show favoritism.” [Rom 2:11]
• “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. [Rom 2:12]
• “This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ “ [Rom 2:16]
• “A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit” [Rom 2:28-29]
God’s Righteous Judgment
Romans chapter 1 & 2 Paul is establishing the current state of mankind in its reality through the eyes of God – The righteous judge. As we know in all the dealing of God has with the human race He deals with 3 categories of people. The Gentiles, the Jews and the Church. [1 Cor 10:32]. Chapter 1, 2 & 3 is dealing with the Gentiles and the Jews in relation to Gods Righteousness through Jesus Christ! The church is not under discussion in these chapters since the need of God’s righteousness is emphasized upon the gentiles and the Jews. Because the “Church is the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus”.
“Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:[1 Cor 10:32]
In Chapter 1 we have seen, how the heathen man is lost and without excuse before the God. Because the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness and God gave them over to a depraved mind “. They have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death as the penalty! [1-31,32]. So the Heathen mans in chapter 1 is in need of a redeemer who can deliver them from the death penalty!
In Chapter 2 the writer brings out the other part of the gentiles – the moral man, who does well and live righteously in their own way- and also the Jews who carry the title head of Gods treasured possession via the mosaic covenant promise! Let us study in detail to know the very truth of the Righteous judge who does no partiality in His dealings with any category of people.
Rom 2:1-3 [When you pass judgment on others, you are condemning yourself]
1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?
Chapter 2 starts by addressing about the Moral Gentiles who is passing judgment on another, condemning the actions of another. Unlike the heathen man the moral man has a moral discernment over the matter. The heathen man in chapter 1 was lost in evil conduct and god gave them up for their depravity. But in Romans 2:1 the moral man DISAPPROVES and JUDGES sinful conduct. Even though the moral man in chapter 2 condemns another for sinful conduct, he himself is guilty in his way of righteousness! [Eg] Suppose – you – a moral man – have passed a moral judgment on other person about violating a rule on public! How can you know or say that you yourself will never ever conduct such same?
Rom 2: 4-6 [God will render to each man according to his works]
4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done ”
Here the problem is not so much with judging, or evaluating, others, but the danger that ensues when we are being hypocritical in our evaluation and not necessary that our evaluation is just in Gods equation, even though in your evaluation it looks Justified and moral, it’s never based on the Truth! Only Gods Judgment is perfectly righteous and based on the Truth and this Truth is absolute. Because He himself is The Truth! Since the Judgment of God is always from the base of TRUTH and just, every man will get exactly what he deserves for sure! Because God does not show partiality/favoritism! He is a perfect Judge and each and every one will be judged impartially from the True measure of His righteousness. In other words, He will judge fairly, according to His righteousness standards, which proves “we are all guilty”
But we also have a good news to acknowledge here which is , God is Love and His Grace and Mercy is superior than any forms of lawlessness and sins of mankind which can lead one to repentance and as a result we will stop condemning or judging others and will trust God for the salvation of others too!!in other words If we leave judgment to God, we will fully benefit from His mercy and grace!
Rom 2:7-11[There is No partiality with God!]
7He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey [believe] the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.”
The above verse says that God’s righteous judgment will be revealed for all who refuse to repent – or turn to God for salvation. Because God punished those who do evil and reward those who do good. God is very clear on His verdict about the impartiality of its application! Jews and Gentiles both are treated with same parity! Here we have perfect justice at work. God evaluates a man’s works on the base of the real Truth and judges accordingly. The penalty will perfectly fit the crime. Every man will get his due reward, whether good or bad. Stubbornness and unrepentant heart is a cause of God’s wrath. God says “come near to God and He will come near to you” By doing this we receive Gods mercy and repentance will be a byproduct which is an action of your faith in God’s grace and the assurance of eternal life as a free gift from God.
It stresses the fact that God does not consider one person better than another, regardless of who they are, what they’ve done, or what talents they possess. God shows no partiality between people. In fact, what He offers to one, He willingly offers to all. The encouragement we can draw from this truth is that we, too, are chosen, invited, and loved by God. Regardless of whom we are and what we have done, God does not show favoritism. His Love and Salvation extended to all mankind. Remember! “While we were still sinners and powerless to save, Christ died for us “[Rom 5:8]
Rom 2: 12-16 [God Judges everyone through Jesus Christ!]
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
The remaining portion in Chapter 2 is specified more about the next category of mankind under the radar of Gods eyes which are Jews! Who has received the written Law from God as a covenant from God through Moses? A package of Rules and regulations to be observed! Paul is writing here to admonish the Jews that living by the law and circumcision does not make them righteous in God’s eyes. Paul stresses that living by rules and regulations only brings about judgment and condemnation! Because the Law was given to know the Sin and to acknowledge the need of a Savior! [Through the law is the knowledge of sin – Rom 3:20].Though this comes as a quite shock to Jews, Paul concludes that a true Jew is one that has experienced circumcision of the heart by the Spirit of God!
It also clarifies that even though the written law wasn’t given to the gentiles their intuitions were acted as a “default law” in their heart and thoughts as a guiding rule for them to live by! So the truth of the matter from the argument is that whether it’s a Jew or Gentile – through the written law [Jews]or the instinctive law[Gentiles] – both will be judged by God when they fail to obey it. God Has appointed Jesus Christ to judge everyone’s secret life. Because nothing is hidden or kept secret from the Righteous judge .Jesus Christ will be the final judge before whom all men will stand. So its your choice to choose to be judged or to get save through Jesus Christ while the Salvation and grace is open and available to all mankind!
“..now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” [2 Cor 6:2]
Rom 2: 17-20 [Jews – Do not Boast in keeping the Law!]
17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth.21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
The Jews who are the chosen people of God with a special covenant and God identified Himself as “Lord God Israel” got boasted on themselves considering their possession of Law and connection with God in the planet earth as His holy nation! Paul the writer of the book of Romans, who is a Jew by birth have got the revelation of the Gospel from Jesus Christ – is bringing out the realities here about the Jews in the view of their boasting reasoning!
- Jews Rely on the Law and receive instruction from Law!
Surely Jews – who has received the direct hand written letter from the God through their leader – Moses- has all the right to be proud about it – The chosen people of God – in that point in time!
- Jews Boasted in God thinking they know Gods will!
Jews worshiped the true God – Yahweh – where the gentile world worshiped false gods and idols.
- Jews were convinced that they are guides to the blind and lights to those in darkness.
Jews were the only nation who experienced the power of God in their life and supposed to be the witness for the only and Living God!
- They consider themselves educators of the senseless and teachers to the little children, because they had the Law- the embodiment of knowledge & truth!
By the Law is the knowledge of Sin- distinguishes between good and bad – Jews were all aware about the modus operand of the Law! The Rewards & Penalties system. So they were assumed to themselves as teachers and educators for the rest of the world, without knowing the Truth that by keeping the Law no one will be justified in the eyes of God. God gave His righteousness [Jesus Christ] as a free gift to All to boast and witnessing His grace [1 Cor 1:31]
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” [Rom 3:20]
Rom 2: 21-24 [Law Keeping will never save you!]
Even though the Jews were proud and boasted on their connection with God, the real assessment from God in connection with their standing in Christ and salvation is what matters the most! They have never identified the purpose of God giving the law to them – which was to acknowledge the need of a Savior who can keep all the righteous demands of God mentioned in the Law and to be free from the cursing’s mentioned in the law and stay blessed!
Also God wanted Jews to be a witness for the God in the midst of Gentiles – portraying God as a Loving and faithful God who loves Justice and kindness!
But God could only see “His name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of His chosen people [Jews] …Let us see why did God say about it???
- You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself?
- You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
- You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?
- You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
- You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
You can see here that Jews had a form of godliness but they were sinners just like Gentiles. They boasted of their holiness but this was hypocritical to how they actually lived. Because of it, others blasphemed God. So the end result which God received through them was “”God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
2:25-29 [Real Circumcision is Circumcision in the heart by the Spirit of God!]
25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. 28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29.No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
The Jewish people who kept the physical sign [circumcision] of law keeping by being circumcised shows that they were part of God’s people. But here Paul reveals that circumcision is merely an outward sign of an inward reality! A shadow pointing to a reality! And that reality or the truth is that circumcision needs to be done in the heart by the Spirit of God. It happens only when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and by the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ in you! He is also emphasizing the fact that even though the Jewish people were failed to keep the Law, the Gentiles who don’t even know the law , accomplished the law’s requirements, and so will be regarded as if they are circumcised! And the gentiles can condemn the Jews for breaking the law and still being circumcised physically! Because the “Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law perfectly 100% only”. But if you break the law, your circumcision has become invalid and circumcision doesn’t rescue anyone from the judgment.. Just because someone is circumcised on the outside does not mean that he is truly part of the people of God who will be accepted on the Day of Judgment. A person is a Jew, who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God” Because Ones you have the Spirit of Christ in you – you become a child of God. This spiritual transformation comes by being united with Christ and born again (Col. 2:11).
Summary
We may be without an excuse, but we are not without hope—our hope is Jesus Christ – The Gospel!
It is written to show us the truth that God is the Righteous judge and will give back to every man according to his deeds deserves. Because God is Righteous and His Judgment is without any partiality! In the eyes of God all the Gentiles and Jews are equally in need of Salvation! Because none of our obedience or the good works can save us. The Jews could not be justified by the Law of Moses, any more than the Gentiles by the law of nature. In other words in God’s eyes neither the Ignorance of the law will not save the gentiles nor will the possession of the law save the Jews! Living by the law and circumcision does not make any one righteous in God’s eyes.
Here’s why it is so important to tear down every excuse one could bring to God. Because when we are excuseless, then we will fall on God’s mercy and the goodness of God will leads you to repentance and will give you a permanent right standing with God in Christ Jesus. Because Jesus Christ bought for you and me “The everlasting righteousness “by His blood! The God provided Righteousness to save even the worst sinners! This is the Gospel which everyone needs to hear and believe! A single way for Gentiles and Jews alike to be saved! The Gospel – The only hope for humanity! We all need this Gospel!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).
Choose to believe and stay Righteous! Grace Grace Forever!
