Romans 2:25-29

25For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?27Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Following on from his blistering attack on the hypocrisy of the Jews, Paul now reveals the root problem of their folly. Namely, the mistake easily made by those who call themselves God’ s people; that their position as one of God’s people has something to do with outward practices. Paul knows that this is ridiculous! Verse 29 is clear, A Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. You are a child of God because of inward cuttings by the Holy Spirit, not by outward cuttings according to the letter of the law. The Jews were running after the praise of men, to be with the ‘in crowd’, overlooking their real need to be ‘in with’ God. They were not really Jews, for God’s people are changed inwardly – not just outwardly.

In verses 25-28 Paul explains why this must be. There is great value in practicing outward signs like circumcision, but only if you live according to every other letter of the law. Because if you do keep the whole law, then no matter what your background, God will consider you a Jew – one of his people. There is great value in that. But even if you start out with the greatest of intentions, and discipline and severity, if you trust that your ability to keep the law will take you ‘across the line’ onto God’s team Israel, you’ll ruin everything the moment you break the law (which is quite often). Suddenly, your outward boastings, your circumcision, fasting, sacrificing etc. etc. becomes as useful as someone who is isn’t circumcised, who doesn’t fast, who doesn’t even know who Yahweh is, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision (v25). All the external boastings you may have fall to bits when your actions every day demonstrate that your heart is really set against God and his law. You’re boasting that you’re in with God because you did this or this – but you lie, covet, lust and steal. You might get the praise of man, but God sees a rebellious sinner who hates the very law you apparently glory in.   

The Jews had failed, as verse 24 said, they had brought the name of the Lord to disgrace among the nations. Rather than reaching salvation, the Jews who relied on their works were now having their privileged positions taken by Gentiles! Gentiles who saw the true purpose of the law, and the true meaning of being a Jew. Indeed, anyone who fulfills the law, despite their background, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? (v26). How can this radical switch take place? Jews becoming as in with God as Gentiles (i.e, not!), and Gentiles becoming like Jews! The secret is v28. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. Really? If you go to Israel tomorrow, you won’t find it hard to pick who are the Jews, and is circumcision really not outward or physical?

This is the mystery and heart of the law that the Jews had overlooked. The outward stuff is just a symbol of what should be sought inwardly. Otherwise, you’re just an empty shell – your outward signs are just physical marks that mean and achieve nothing. Real circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit. This is John 3 language, this is born again language, this is trusting in grace. Asking God to come into your heart and cut you, remove the heart of flesh and sin, and revive our souls to new life – to live lives of regeneration that are able to now properly fulfill the outward laws of love and worship of God. Anything you do outwardly achieve is worthless in and of itself – the works are only valuable if they flow from the renewed heart that pleases God.

So Christian, never turn from grace. If you go back to thinking your position as a child of God has something to do with outward things, tragically, your confidence in your ‘circumscision’ really becomes ‘uncircumsicion’. Heed the words of Paul in Galatians 5:2-4,6 (and all of Galatians),

Look: I, Paul, say yo you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is bound to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law, you have fallen away from grace…In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Jesus Christ has fulfilled the law for you. He was circumcised, inwardly and outwardly – so you might be able to trust in his righteousness, and have it imparted upon you by faith. Therefore, our only boast is in grace. Grace, grace, grace. You are not, and never will be a child of God because of anything you do. Nothing you have ever done, or will ever do will make you any more or less a child of God! So rejoice in the grace bought for you on the cross,  and live a life of thanks and praise – striving to fulfill the heart of the law because you love what God did for you – and you want his name to be glorified in all the earth.

Your Jewish (ex-Gentile) brother,

Matt.

Romans 2:17-24

17But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Paul now turns to his Jewish audience. Of all people, surely Paul would know the Jewish mentality of the time, and he often addresses them with such biting and personal clarity to them in his epistles. We know from Romans 9 that Paul has a great love for his people, For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh (9:3). But here in chapter 2 he unleashes a blistering attack on the hypocrisy among them in the Roman church. We don’t really know what the Jew/Gentile ratio was in the church, or how many of the Jewish Christians are being rebuked here – but in any case, Paul uncovers the deep evil of  hypocrisy within anyone.

Verses 17-20 are like a snowball building up speed and size. Paul piles the rhetoric on, mock-praising the self-righteousness present among the Jews who ”rely on the law and boast in God” (v17). The effect is powerful; “You call yourself a Jew right? You know His will don’t you? You approve of what is excellent, because you know the law, and you are sure you are a wonderful guide to the blind, you’re a light to those in darkness, you’re such a helpful instructor of the foolish, having in the law all the truth and knowledge you need – you’re an amazing teacher! (But have you ever taught yourself?)”. Paul has uncovered the disgusting innards of hypocrisy. But no-one hated hypocrisy like Jesus – read Matthew 25 and see Jesus full of righteous anger against the hypocritical Pharisees;

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to…

…You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel…

…Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

A blind guide is an apt portrayal of a hypocrite. Boldly leading others on, declaring that others are blind, and that he can see – when he is the one who needs leading. They preach against stealing, and yet they steal (v21), they preach against adultery, and yet commit it (v22). They boast in the law – but in doing so, bring great dishonour to God by breaking it every single day (v23). It is a horrible witness to the world of the character of God, and brings his name into disrepute (v24).

How I would love to apply this damning rebuke to the Catholic Church, the liberal American Anglicans, Joel Osteen, churches that boast of their lusts, Australian church leaders who shun Sydney leaders for reading the bible and believing what it says! Hypocrites the lot of them! They claim to be leaders and guides to the blind, but are hopelessly lost themselves! The name of Jesus Christ is blasted and degraded among millions because of their hypocrisy! How I would love to bring the righteous anger of Jesus in Matthew 25 upon them…

…Yet…what a hypocrite I am. You who preach against hypocrisy, are you a hypocrite?

Indeed I am. Praise God for Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

Forgive us Father,

Matt.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Romans 2:12-16

12For 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. 13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Verse 11 and the verses that preceded it, outlined and established the impartiality of God – that he did not judge according to ethnic or racial background, nor bunch all humanity indiscriminately into the ’sinner’ pile, but rather judged each fairly by their individual works. A thought which is at first comforting, and then just downright harrowing. But an objection can be raised against this; “Paul, you say that God will judge everyone according to their deeds, impartially – yet, God gave the Law only to the Jews. How can the Gentiles know what is the right and wrong thing to do if they weren’t told? He’s only told one group of people what they must do?” Paul anticipates this and answers it in this passage, verses 12-16 (and beyond).

Paul begins his answer affirming and defending the impartiality of God in v12- For (we know God is impartial because…) all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. In other words, those who have never heard the Law of Moses, will not be judged on the last day against the Law of Moses. That’s fair. Accordingly, all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law – those to whom the Law was preached, the Law will be held against them on the last day. So we know that God will not condemn the sins of the East Siberian Tribe of Husbbahshikete from 369 BC by bringing the perfect requirements of the Law of Moses against them on the last day. Likewise, and a common topic of modern apologetics, people will be judged to the measure of what they have heard about Jesus and his gospel. God is impartial – there will be no unfairness on the last day.*

Paul continues his answer in v13, making clear that whether you hear or have access to the Law or not is irrelevant – only the response to what you have heard will be counted against you. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. So, the Jews do not have an unfair advantage above the Gentiles – just because they’ve heard it, doesn’t mean they’ve fulfilled it! Each person is judged by their response to what they have actually heard. Does your life reflect what you have heard? Like v11, this is a comforting thing at first, but the spotlight quickly turns back to us – does my life reflect what I’ve heard..?

But if justification comes not from hearing the law, but from doing it – how can those who have never read it fairly have the opportunity to be saved? Paul’s answer is that all peoples have read the law – because the law is written on their hearts (v15). The evidence of this is clear and evident, for people have always had an inbuilt sense of what is right and what is wrong. There is an ultimate and tangible morality, which even the conscience of the most ardent atheist bears witness too. Concepts like guilt, justice, anger, revenge, fairness, evil, oppressive, intolerant and the like cannot exist in the atheists materialistic world – and yet their conscience does, and will on the last day, convict or excuse them, when God will judge the secrets of men by Christ Jesus (v16). Jesus Christ becomes the measuring stick and medium of judgment, and all the contents of our hearts will be on display against his perfect righteousness.

Imagine how good it would be if we could have this righteousness of Jesus simply imparted to us, apart from works? If God would graciously give me such a gift, I would surely live the rest of this life in service, reverence, love and thankful worship! 

Joyous,

Matt.

* Though, without the washing and regeneration of the Holy Spirit, their hearts will be hardened against God as chapter 1 makes clear.

Romans 2:6-11

6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11For God shows no partiality.

You often hear people say that when they come before God on the last day, he’ll probably give them the tick of approval. So far in Romans, you’d have to say there isn’t much hope of anyone getting the tick of approval – Paul has talked a lot about justice and judgement, sinners doing evil, complete depravity and God’s wrath. And we might ask the question – is God being entirely just? Has he simply thrown all of humanity haphazardly into the ‘evil sinner’ category – what if he’s overlooked some of the good people? It’s a question that touches upon a common theme in any discussion with the average Aussie about God, judgment, heaven and hell. Is God a completely, transparent and fair judge?

Paul now turns to this very question. His assessment of the character of God is clear – v11, God shows no partiality. He’s a fair judge, who does not judge based on nationality or any other category, but based purely upon their work. v6 – He will render to each one according to his works. God will not haphazardly judge humanity as a whole, potentially overlooking the good works of some – rather,  he will individually judge every single person according to their individual works. And Paul knows that, v7, those who by patience in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. What should we make of this verse? There are two main possibilities for what v7 means;

1. That works can save - those who patiently, day by day do the right thing, who seek for heavenly glory, honour and immortality - God will see their works and reward them accordingly. The good hearted Aussie, Sydney-sider – anyone in fact, they’ll get the tick of approval.  

2. It’s talking about Christians - Option 1 seems out of the question because it definitely seems to undermine salvation by faith alone. The heresy alarm bell has been rung, and so we need to find another option. The obvious choice is that the verse is speaking about Christians. Christians patiently seek for glory and honour and immortality – and we add justifications like, “The verse doesn’t say they’re perfect, it’s where the heart’s at”.

It might surprise you to hear I think the answer is definitely option 1. Works can indeed save a human being. For God to be a perfectly just and impartial judge, then he must render each according to their works. A life of good works will be rewarded with eternal life. The catch of course, is that it is the life of perfect work that is rewarded with perfect life. Notice the language Paul uses. It’s almost like he’s challenging the self-righteous, “Sure, if you’re good enough God will give you eternal life. If you patiently, day by day seek for glory, honour and immortality, and that’s all you ever do - heaven’s rightfully yours. God is a fair judge.”

Accordingly, if you fail the test, if you are self seeking rather heaven seeking, and you obey unrighteousness, you will rightfully be given wrath and fury. 

The perfect justice of God is now before us. 9There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11For God shows no partiality. 

The spotlight is no longer on whether God’s character is up to scratch – it’s turned to face right on you and me. Are you evil, or good? v11 now becomes a harrowing thought, “For God shows no partiality”.

Gulp.

Thanks be to Jesus Christ, who not only died for me, but lived the perfect life for me. He sought honour and immortality, patiently following the will of God even unto death.  I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  Galatians 2:20   

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

Thankful for Christ with you,

Matt.

Romans 2:1-5

 1Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Though I originally made a vow to myself never to address ‘outside blog’ issues inside this blog, I feel a sense of obligation considering I haven’t posted for several weeks now. Things have been very busy, and I’ve been very tired. I hope to make a full return to daily posting now till Christmas. Apologies for the silence. Please keep me accountable in this often vague ministry!

We move on now to Romans chapter 2, into biblical territory that people generally stay away from because it’s much weirder than the beautiful, easy chapters like 3-8. But we must treat all Scripture equally – especially letters that hold together as a whole.

As an overall guide, Paul’s big idea in chapter one was to introduce himself as a man of the Gospel of Jesus Christ – the gospel that saves. In the second half he began showing us why we all need saving – because we’re all awfully sinful. Now here in the first part of chapter 2 he points the finger squarely at anyone who says they aren’t included in that category of being awfully sinful. Verse 1 is blistering;

 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

Our immediate reaction to the horrible list of sins that complete chapter 1 is to remove ourselves from them, and place ourselves in a position of judgement over them. We can read chapter 1 verses 29-31 and think, “Yes, theywere filled with unrighteousness, evil and malice…hmm..yes, they are full of envy and murder…oh yes, they are gossips, yes, they are haters of God…yes they are boastful, disobedient to parents, faithless, heartless and ruthless, yes, Paul’s right, they are.” It almost seems, just almost, that Paul uses the third person in these verses to invite the sinner to exclude themselves from the list. He could have said, “You are this, this, this and this you filthy sinner!” But he uncovers the greatest self-justifying evil within us by trapping us in our own self-righteous game. Chapter 2 verse 1, “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges.” By declaring that someone else has done the wrong thing against the perfect standard of God – you open yourselfup to be judged by the exact same perfect measure, and you fail miserably! You condemn yourself.  I’m playing the point the finger game here too. I fail miserably. I condemn myself. And so do you.

Paul continues his sharp, hard hitting rhetoric in verse 2, We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

It’s painfully simple and dreadfully clear. Self-imposed righteousness is disgustingly hypocritical, and leads you, ironically, to judgment. Paul continues,

4Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

The classic self-righteous, religious, do-gooder Australian has no interest in repentance. Repentance is for sinners. Repentance would mean that I would have to say that I am inherently evil, or that there’s an absolute evil – two things that this materialistic, hedonistic self-worshipping city has no interest in doing! How telling are these verses to our day! They presume on the riches of God’s kindness – as though, on the last day, He’ll turn round like a kind old grandfather and say, “Aww, I can’t stay angry at you” – when the very purpose of God’s grace is to lead us to repentance NOW! Verse 5 needs no comment;

5But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 

Preach sinful depravity. Preach it whoever you are. Preach it to sinners, as a sinner yourself. Sydney is condemning itself, tell them that. Because until they see their own sin, they will never truly repent and find the humble sinners-joy of the gospel. And until we are faced with our own sinfulness, and are humbled, we will never be in a position to preach about anything.

A sinful hypocritical judge with you,

Matt.