Impartiality of God Part 1

Summary Statement of the Study of Romans

If we don’t get the gospel right, then everything else will be wrong in our faith and Christian life. You cannot be wring about the gospel and be right with God. To be right about the gospel is to be right about everything that truly matters. Getting the gospel right is that important.

Setting/Context

With a morbid view of those who are sinners, those who are without, we now turn our attention to those who are within the church; the self-righteous and religious crowd. Lacking mercy, God’s mercy, these who look down their noses upon the unconverted and lost, with a arrogant security in their standing with God. These whom often never take into consideration the inconsistencies of their own lives, forgetting that they once were just like those whom they are quick to judge. So, many wrap themselves in fatal confidence!

These were Jews Paul was addressing, who were priding themselves in their ethnicity. Several reason provide certain evidence these were Jews being spoken to.

Romans 2:12-16, the Law is being talked about which would be significant to a Jew.

Romans 2:17, “a Jew” direct reference to these being Jewish.

Paul’s point here in this section of Romans is this, whether you are a Jew of Gentile, everyone is guilty before God, everyone is lost, a sinner who has a need to be redeemed and saved by the death of Christ on the cross.

These to whom Paul is confronting were Jewish moralizers claiming to exist in a superior category to the lesser category of pagans caught in immoral acts, Romans 1:18-32. But while proclaiming their virtues, and lofty ideas, they overlooked the fact they were guilty of the same immorality and inconsistencies. The Jews were God’s favorite!

Statement of clarification.

God indicts all forms of hypocrisy regardless of race or religion, culture or creed! There is a need within the whole human race for the righteousness of God in order to establish a proper standing before God.

Objective of Romans 1-3

Paul’s objective becomes our objective in our study of Romans; to proclaim the power of the gospel to change people’s lives, Romans 1:16-17.

Gentiles have a great need of obtaining the righteousness of God.

Jews have a great need of obtaining the righteousness of God.

Jewish people are not God’s favorite! Jews are not an exception to the rule. They don’t receive exemption based on nationality, ethnicity, or religiosity.

Struggling with the text.

A difficult text to work through! It would seem that there are contradictions which are presented, Romans 2:13, it would seem Paul is a proponent of “Works” based salvation.

Paul’s teaching gives the sense of presenting more than one perspective.

Romans 3:1-2 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Romans 3:9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,

What is the text NOT SAYING! Romans 2:1-3:20

Salvation is by works.

Works are in lieu of hearing and responding to the gospel.

Unsaved who have not heard the gospel can be save differently from those who have heard the gospel.

Jews and Gentiles (Gentiles who have never heard the gospel) are equally responsible before God.

(Righteousness of God: Bible’s standard for all people; God’s righteousness; perfection. It is behavior that is justifiable and right!)

What the text is SAYING!

Judgment is the focus of this text, not salvation. Increased privilege brings increased responsibility, which brings harder judgment. Judgment is based on works. Works are based on the light of truth received. God’s standard for judgment —the righteousness of God, it is the same for everyone. Everyone is guilty before God of unrighteousness. Gentiles have violated the law written on the heart, while Jews have violated the law given specifically to them by God.

Partial Judgment, Romans 2:1-7.

People’s minds are so depraved that they boast about their sins, Romans 1:32; 2:1.

People willfully sin despite the fact they will be judged and stand accountable before God.

They encourage other people to do the same thing.

Boastful sinful arrogance!

Paul points out another type of such arrogance that is just as sinful; boasting of a privileged relationship with God, Romans 2:17.

If there is any room for boasting, the proper form is to boast totally in the mercy and grace of God.

1 Corinthians 1:31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 1:12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

Galatians 6:14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

“You,” is fictional, “O Man,” fictional. Common diatribe format. Paul engages in fictional yet representative, accepted way or presenting and counter opponents with different views.

Paul addresses those who wish to moralize (to comment on the right and wrong; unfounded air of superiority) another person’s life. Paul’s argument: God does not play favorites, Romans 2:11.

Four realities to the hypocrites.

Hypocrite, based upon its Greek definition, “one who pretends to be something they are not; a person who wears a mask.” The Bible has a lot to say about the sin of hypocrisy.

Isaiah 29:13 And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

1 John 2:9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Hypocrites feel that other people’s sins are always worse than their own, Romans 2:1-2.

Hypocrites always find that their sin eventually surfaces and exposes them, Romans 2:3.

Hypocrites always forget the goodness, forbearance, and long-suffering of God, Romans 2:4.

Hypocrites will face certain judgment, Romans 2:5.