Romans 3
Vs 1-2 Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.
So far Paul has gone to great lengths to show that it’s not lineage or circumcision that saves us. Just like Nick said last week, it’s not the T-shirt that makes you a UFC fan. So now Paul addresses a question from unseen objectors. We would almost expect Paul to answer, “no, there is no benefit to being a Jew or circumcision since righteousness is a matter of the heart.” Instead he says that there are great benefits. What kind of advantages or privileges were/are afforded to the Jewish nation? One great example is the way that God gives them victory in battle. There are myriad of examples of this in the Old Testament, but let's look at a few modern examples. There have been 4 modern wars initiated by the Arab nations against Israel. In 1948 Israel regained it's sovereignty as a nation. In this war Israel didn't have a single cannon or tank and they had only 9 obsolete planes. Since they had very limited ammunition they often dropped bottles filled with rocks from the planes rather than bombs. Despite these and the overwhelming odds in military numbers, Israel won it's independence and with more land than they would have had if peace treaties had been signed. In 1973 Egypt and Syria aided by at least nine Arab states, launched a surprise attack on Israel during it's holiest day of the year. The odds were astronomically against Israel. 180 Israeli tanks faced off against 1,400 Syrian tanks and 436 Israeli soldiers were attacked by 80,000 Egyptians. Israel expelled the enemy military in 2 days and were on the verge of destroying Egypt's military within 2 weeks when a cease fire was initiated. I would never ever want to be on the wrong side of a fight with Israel!
The most important honor, however, would be that God entrusted them with the truth about Himself. While this was a great privilege and honor it was also a great responsibility. If they mishandled the information or misrepresented the God they were chosen by they would be held more accountable than those to which God had not chosen to reveal himself. This great blessing could also be a great burden. Author Shalom Aleichem (Rabinowitz), is credited with saying, "God, I know we are your chosen people, but couldn't you choose somebody else for a change?"
Vs 3-4 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? 4 Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him,
“You will be proved right in what you say,
and you will win your case in court.”
The objector appears to be saying that Israel wasn’t faithful. Paul answers this by saying that their unfaithfulness does not negate God’s faithfulness. Instead, the contrast shows God’s faithfulness to be all the more great. This could be carried out to every possible example we can think of. Our lack of love shows God is love. Our imperfection shows His perfection, our impatience shows His patience. God is the ultimate, perfect version of everything that is good about us and everything at which we fail.
Psalm 51:4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just.
Vs 5-8 “But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.) 6 Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world? 7 “But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 8 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.
This seems to be the logical outcome of this argument. If God’s greatness is shown to be even more great by my sin then why does he punish me for sinning? If we are saved by faith and not by works then why is it a problem for us to keep on sinning? In Paul’s time many were accusing him of teaching this sort of Gospel. He taught so hard against salvation by works that some began to think that he was teaching that it didn’t matter how you lived as long as you had faith in God. Is it possible to have saving faith and continue to live in sin? No, if there is true faith there will be change...not perfection, but some sort of exterior indicator of what has happened on the inside.
James 2:25-26 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
We will address this topic even more when we get to Romans 6.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
It's what you do with what you know...
Romans 2:12-16 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
As we discussed in chapter one, everyone knows the truth of God whether it’s by observing the creator through His creation, the conscience inside of us, or by the written law. Not only that, but each of us shows that we are unable to live up to the standard of God. Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. The Gentiles are not held accountable for what they don’t know. They are only held accountable for what they do with what knowledge they have. I.E. If they knew by their conscience that lying was wrong and they lied then they will be held accountable for that.
It may be easy for us to look down on others thinking that we are somehow better than they are because we have heard the truth of the Gospel. Many Jews did the same thing with the law. Having the law does not make one elite. It holds us more accountable. James 4:17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
The word conscience was only a spoken term until shortly before the Christian era. It referred to the sense of being aware of what was right and wrong. Paul may be the first to use it as an independent witness that examines and passes judgment on the soul. As Christians the Holy Spirit enlightens our conscience making it’s voice stronger and its guidance better. How does our conscience affect our lives as Christians? God gives us the Holy Spirit to be our guide. Do we ignore that uneasy feeling when we join in gossip or stretch the truth? By listening to our conscience in even the smallest areas on a daily basis we can grow to be more Christ like.
Vs 17-23 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth. Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”
F.F. Bruce says, “You glory in the law, but in fact your disobedience to the law brings you and the God whom you worship into disrepute among the pagans.”
Don’t we do the same? We act as if we have all of the answers and we are here to tell everyone else how they should live their lives. One of the biggest reasons people reject God is because of hypocrites. This goes back to the discussion we had a few weeks ago about judging. There is a difference between instructing the world on God’s law and sharing the truth of the Gospel. We cannot tell a sinner to stop acting like a sinner. They don’t know any better. There are some who devote themselves to learning scripture inside and out. They can recite it, exegete it, and teach it, but they don’t have relationship with God. Knowing the Bible so well may give them a sense of superiority, but it does them no good. I Cor 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge…., but do not have love, I am nothing.
Vs 24 is a reference to Is 52:5 What is this?” asks the LORD. “Why are my people enslaved again? Those who rule them shout in exultation. My name is blasphemed all day long. The Jews in exile caused Gentiles to think less of their God. The Gentiles thought, if the Jews were enduring such misfortune than their God must be powerless. Once again the Gentiles had reason to think less of the God of the Jews because of the behavior of His people.
We explain away the things that we do wrong. My little sin isn’t as bad as their big sin. The Bible says that if you even look at a person with lust you have committed adultery. If you hate someone in your heart you have committed murder. This is not about becoming legalistic or heaping on guilt. It’s about not fooling ourselves into thinking that we have it all together. It’s about knowing that we haven’t “arrived”. We are still in the process of purification and sanctification. It’s about humbling ourselves and saying, “God’s not finished with me yet.”
Vs 25-29 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.
28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
Paul is again leveling the playing field between Jew and Gentile by letting the Jew know that a Jew who doesn’t keep the law exactly is no better than a Gentile and a Gentile who does keep every detail of the law is the same in God’s sight as a Jew.
Jer 9:25-26 “A time is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will punish all those who are circumcised in body but not in spirit— the Egyptians, Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, the people who live in the desert in remote places, and yes, even the people of Judah. And like all these pagan nations, the people of Israel also have uncircumcised hearts.” Many nations surrounding Israel practiced circumcision, but the physical act for them was not a sign of God’s covenant as it was intended to be in Israel. If Israel and Judah, however, stopped serving God in their heart then their circumcision would be no better than the neighboring people groups. Deut 10:16 So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.
Jer 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD
And remove the foreskins of your heart,
Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Or else My wrath will go forth like fire
And burn with none to quench it,
Because of the evil of your deeds."
Those who are stubborn and disobedient in their hearts may as well be uncircumcised. So Judaism and circumcision are not physical or lineage distinctions. They are determined by the attitude of the heart. The word Judah and Jew come from the Hebrew meaning praise. To be a Jew is to bring praise to God.
So what is our take home? Nick gave a great example. There are two guys who claim to be UFC fans. One walks around wearing a UFC shirt and says he comes from a long line of UFC fans. The other doesn't have a shirt or parents that follow MMA, but he watches all of the fights he can on t.v., practices Jujitsu, and goes to all of the matches in the area. Who is the real UFC fan? When someone looks at my life do they just see a title or a lineage or can they see evidence of my relationship with God in what I do and how I act?
As we discussed in chapter one, everyone knows the truth of God whether it’s by observing the creator through His creation, the conscience inside of us, or by the written law. Not only that, but each of us shows that we are unable to live up to the standard of God. Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. The Gentiles are not held accountable for what they don’t know. They are only held accountable for what they do with what knowledge they have. I.E. If they knew by their conscience that lying was wrong and they lied then they will be held accountable for that.
It may be easy for us to look down on others thinking that we are somehow better than they are because we have heard the truth of the Gospel. Many Jews did the same thing with the law. Having the law does not make one elite. It holds us more accountable. James 4:17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
The word conscience was only a spoken term until shortly before the Christian era. It referred to the sense of being aware of what was right and wrong. Paul may be the first to use it as an independent witness that examines and passes judgment on the soul. As Christians the Holy Spirit enlightens our conscience making it’s voice stronger and its guidance better. How does our conscience affect our lives as Christians? God gives us the Holy Spirit to be our guide. Do we ignore that uneasy feeling when we join in gossip or stretch the truth? By listening to our conscience in even the smallest areas on a daily basis we can grow to be more Christ like.
Vs 17-23 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth. Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”
F.F. Bruce says, “You glory in the law, but in fact your disobedience to the law brings you and the God whom you worship into disrepute among the pagans.”
Don’t we do the same? We act as if we have all of the answers and we are here to tell everyone else how they should live their lives. One of the biggest reasons people reject God is because of hypocrites. This goes back to the discussion we had a few weeks ago about judging. There is a difference between instructing the world on God’s law and sharing the truth of the Gospel. We cannot tell a sinner to stop acting like a sinner. They don’t know any better. There are some who devote themselves to learning scripture inside and out. They can recite it, exegete it, and teach it, but they don’t have relationship with God. Knowing the Bible so well may give them a sense of superiority, but it does them no good. I Cor 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge…., but do not have love, I am nothing.
Vs 24 is a reference to Is 52:5 What is this?” asks the LORD. “Why are my people enslaved again? Those who rule them shout in exultation. My name is blasphemed all day long. The Jews in exile caused Gentiles to think less of their God. The Gentiles thought, if the Jews were enduring such misfortune than their God must be powerless. Once again the Gentiles had reason to think less of the God of the Jews because of the behavior of His people.
We explain away the things that we do wrong. My little sin isn’t as bad as their big sin. The Bible says that if you even look at a person with lust you have committed adultery. If you hate someone in your heart you have committed murder. This is not about becoming legalistic or heaping on guilt. It’s about not fooling ourselves into thinking that we have it all together. It’s about knowing that we haven’t “arrived”. We are still in the process of purification and sanctification. It’s about humbling ourselves and saying, “God’s not finished with me yet.”
Vs 25-29 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.
28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
Paul is again leveling the playing field between Jew and Gentile by letting the Jew know that a Jew who doesn’t keep the law exactly is no better than a Gentile and a Gentile who does keep every detail of the law is the same in God’s sight as a Jew.
Jer 9:25-26 “A time is coming,” says the LORD, “when I will punish all those who are circumcised in body but not in spirit— the Egyptians, Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, the people who live in the desert in remote places, and yes, even the people of Judah. And like all these pagan nations, the people of Israel also have uncircumcised hearts.” Many nations surrounding Israel practiced circumcision, but the physical act for them was not a sign of God’s covenant as it was intended to be in Israel. If Israel and Judah, however, stopped serving God in their heart then their circumcision would be no better than the neighboring people groups. Deut 10:16 So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.
Jer 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD
And remove the foreskins of your heart,
Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Or else My wrath will go forth like fire
And burn with none to quench it,
Because of the evil of your deeds."
Those who are stubborn and disobedient in their hearts may as well be uncircumcised. So Judaism and circumcision are not physical or lineage distinctions. They are determined by the attitude of the heart. The word Judah and Jew come from the Hebrew meaning praise. To be a Jew is to bring praise to God.
So what is our take home? Nick gave a great example. There are two guys who claim to be UFC fans. One walks around wearing a UFC shirt and says he comes from a long line of UFC fans. The other doesn't have a shirt or parents that follow MMA, but he watches all of the fights he can on t.v., practices Jujitsu, and goes to all of the matches in the area. Who is the real UFC fan? When someone looks at my life do they just see a title or a lineage or can they see evidence of my relationship with God in what I do and how I act?
What are you storing up?
Romans 2:2-4 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
It can be so easy to sit back and point our finger at others, knowing that they are going to be judged for sinful actions. When is the last time you have taken a close look at your own life? We get so accustomed to God’s mercy because He doesn’t smack us every time we deserve it. We begin to think that we are above reproach. Look around the church. Every one of us has things that we do on a regular basis that are wrong. We may call them bad habits or just plain ignore them, but we all seem to think that we have arrived at some sort of status quo. I don’t do the big sins anymore so I’m ok. Do we read the Bible or listen to a sermon actually expecting for it to hurt a little and cause us to grow or do we think “so and so needs to hear this”? God withholds judgment because He loves us. He gives us warning after warning in hopes that we will make the right decision. If we don’t, however, we will receive the judgment we deserve. Solomon’s Book of Wisdom 11:23 says, “But Thou art merciful to all, for Thou canst do all things and Thou dost overlook men’s sins, that they may repent.”
Romans 11:22 says, “Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.”
Vs 5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
CF: Romans 6:1-2 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
Vs 6-8 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.
CF: Job 34:11 He repays people according to their deeds.
He treats people as they deserve.
Psalm 62:12 unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.
Surely you repay all people
according to what they have done.
Jeremiah 17:10 But I, the LORD, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
according to what their actions deserve.”
32:19 You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles. You see the conduct of all people, and you give them what they deserve.
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.
II Cor 5: 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
Revelation 2:23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.
20:12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
22:12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.”
Romans 14:12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
So is salvation by works or grace?
Salvation is by grace alone, but faith without works is dead. An ongoing pursuit of God and what is right displays a commitment of the heart. Those who have not been saved by grace will be judged for their actions. It is only the blood of Christ covering our sins that keeps us from the same judgment.
Vs 8-11 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.[a] 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
When you read these verses in context it is obvious that Paul is emphasizing God’s impartiality between Jew and Gentile. Cf. Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.
It can be so easy to sit back and point our finger at others, knowing that they are going to be judged for sinful actions. When is the last time you have taken a close look at your own life? We get so accustomed to God’s mercy because He doesn’t smack us every time we deserve it. We begin to think that we are above reproach. Look around the church. Every one of us has things that we do on a regular basis that are wrong. We may call them bad habits or just plain ignore them, but we all seem to think that we have arrived at some sort of status quo. I don’t do the big sins anymore so I’m ok. Do we read the Bible or listen to a sermon actually expecting for it to hurt a little and cause us to grow or do we think “so and so needs to hear this”? God withholds judgment because He loves us. He gives us warning after warning in hopes that we will make the right decision. If we don’t, however, we will receive the judgment we deserve. Solomon’s Book of Wisdom 11:23 says, “But Thou art merciful to all, for Thou canst do all things and Thou dost overlook men’s sins, that they may repent.”
Romans 11:22 says, “Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in his kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.”
Vs 5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
CF: Romans 6:1-2 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
Vs 6-8 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.
CF: Job 34:11 He repays people according to their deeds.
He treats people as they deserve.
Psalm 62:12 unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.
Surely you repay all people
according to what they have done.
Jeremiah 17:10 But I, the LORD, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
according to what their actions deserve.”
32:19 You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles. You see the conduct of all people, and you give them what they deserve.
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.
II Cor 5: 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
Revelation 2:23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.
20:12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.
22:12 “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds.”
Romans 14:12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
So is salvation by works or grace?
Salvation is by grace alone, but faith without works is dead. An ongoing pursuit of God and what is right displays a commitment of the heart. Those who have not been saved by grace will be judged for their actions. It is only the blood of Christ covering our sins that keeps us from the same judgment.
Vs 8-11 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.[a] 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
When you read these verses in context it is obvious that Paul is emphasizing God’s impartiality between Jew and Gentile. Cf. Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.
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