Gods Law Gods Judgement

Rom 2:12-19.

In our journey through life, we often wrestle with the tension between following rules and living by grace.

This age-old struggle is brought to light in the book of Romans, particularly in chapter 2, verses 12-29.

Here, we find a profound exploration of God's law, His judgment, and what it truly means to live an authentic faith.

The apostle Paul, in his wisdom, presents us with a challenging truth: it's not enough to simply hear or know God's law – we must live it out.

This applies equally to those who have grown up with religious teachings and those who haven't.

The core message is clear: God's judgment is impartial, and His standards apply to all.

In this passage of Romans, Paul expounds on the law and its fulfillment through Christ. He illustrates that while the law reveals our shortcomings, it also points to God's righteousness and justice.

By understanding God's judgment through the lens of the law, we grasp our need for a savior. This profound relationship between law and grace challenges us to live in alignment with God's principles while relying on His mercy.

This message should speak loudly to all followers of Christ today.

As Christ is now our fulfillment of the OT Law, we still must not only know and understand the precepts that salvation, through Christ, now guides us...

We must be active participants in living those precepts out in our daily lives.

During those times that we struggle in our faith- And we all do struggle- We can find strength in knowing that we are not following just a set of rules- The do’s and Don’ts of Christianity-

Because, thanks to Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, we have been granted a true change of heart opportunity to abide in Christ, as He abides in us, through the Holy Spirit.

As we learn to rely on God’s grace and mercy, we can find the strength to follow God in spirit and in truth and be transformed by the renewing of our MINDS and our HEARTS.

The Israelites' journey through the wilderness is a historical testament to God's law and judgment.

While God provided manna, water, and guidance, their repeated rebellion led to severe consequences, including 40 years of wandering.

Each lesson in the desert emphasized that disobedience leads to separation from God and His blessings.

This history implores us to honor God's laws, acknowledging that His judgments are rooted in love and intended for our good.

Our hope is that you will come away from this episode with a greater understanding that to God’s will is not a matter of head knowledge...

But, more so, having a heart that is transformed, by Faith in Christ, leading us to live out our lives in a way that is pleasing to God and brings Him Glory, as we align ourselves with His will for our lives.

As a quick recap of last week, we finished with ch 2 verse 11, “For God shows NO Partiality.”

So lets pick it up with that thought in mind.

1- The Fair and Impartial Judge

Romans 2:12–16 ESV

For 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. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For 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. They 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 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

In 586 B.C., the people of Judah faced the consequence of ignoring God's law. Their disobedience led to the Babylonian conquest and the destruction of the temple.

This historical event serves as a vivid reminder that God's judgment is not arbitrary; it follows a pattern of discipline for turning away from His commandments.

Just as Jerusalem fell, so too can our lives crumble when we neglect His Word and choose our own path.

One thing that the Jews and Gentiles of the 1st centu ry had in common was that:

Having the law, for the Jews… Or living by ones own conscience, like the Gentiles...

Was not enough for either group. What they both missed was the importance of responding correctly when knowledge is attained.

The key being, it is simply not enough to have been in possession of the Law or heard it or had it read in synagogue...

It is all about whether or not we live our lives in accordance to its requirements.

It is also not enough to “Let our Conscience be our guide...”, since “...All have sinned” we cannot trust our own motives to be guided to do the right thing based on our conscience thoughts.

Since the OT law, specifically the Ten Commandments, revealed God’s precepts to the Jewish people, then following the Commandments was needed to fully comply with Gods law.

Still it was incomplete, as the revelation of Gods law only provided for a temporary redemption for violators of that same law.

Paul is simply stating that the Jew is not saved from Gods wrath by just being in possession of, or having knowledge of Gods law- That alone was to no advantage to the Jews over the Gentiles.

By the same token, Not having been privy to the requirements of Gods law did not excuse the Gentiles of accountability before God. Ignorance did not serve the Gentiles any better than direct knowledge help the Jews.

In Lev 18:5, we read:

Leviticus 18:5 ESV

You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.

Paul’s conclusion, then, is that since God’s law is seared into the soul of every man- Jew and Gentile- We all know in our sub-conscience what is right and wrong...

There is no excuse to not fulfill Gods requirements, whether we have the law before us or not.

We are still without excuse.

This is the reason why, when the time was right, God gave of Himself, His Son, Jesus Christ to be offered up as the Ultimate and Final sacrifice for our sins.

One Perfect and Final blood offering for the forgiveness of ALL of mankind’s sins. With one major caveat-

You must believe that it was God who sacrificed His Son.

You must believe that there was and is no other way for humanity to be brought back into right relationship with God.

You must also be willing to declare this truth with your mouth and live daily by the precepts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

These are the essential elements of the Christian faith- And there is no room for deviation from them.

To close this section we have two questions:

1- What does Paul mean when he says that it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God?

2- What role does the conscience play for Gentiles according to Romans 2:12-16?

2- Identity Does Not Equal Holiness

Romans 2:17–24 ESV

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

One of the downfalls of Human ego is the continued idea that we can live by the mantra:

“Do as I say, not as I do...”

To often family conflicts arise from this very issue, when the children, as they get older, they begin to see the hypocrisy of their parents. and often rebel against it.

In the same way, too often, too many Christians settle for “Playing” church on Sunday-

Putting on an appearance of religious piety, while failing to live up to the expected standard all week long.

Sadly, just as in the family unit- Society sees this and, rightfully respond’s with cries of “Hypocrisy”

In public life, especially if you engage in social media debates, we often cave into the pressure to lash out when others express opinions that challenge your faith...

Thinking, somehow that we are actually defending our faith.

God's law instructs us to speak truth, but also with love, compassion and understanding.

As a practical step, before engaging in a heated argument online, pause and pray for wisdom. Ask yourself how you can speak the truth in love and encourage dialogue instead of division.

Perhaps write a well-considered post that invites discussion on the topic rather than merely arguing against it. This honors God's law while promoting constructive engagement.

Soul-searching questions we can ask ourselves could be:

How might the principle of being a doer of the law manifest in our daily lives?

What practical steps can we take to avoid hypocrisy in our faith?

It should become obvious to us that to live an Authentic life in Christ is the way to go.

Empowered by the direction of the Holy Spirit we can do this-

At the same time, showing the world what it really looks like to live a life that is honoring God at every opportunity.

3- Outward Confession Comes From Inward Change

Romans 2:25–29 ESV

For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But 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.

In todays world, what we see as a common public health issue was, in the days of Antiquity, an act that set the Jewish people apart from the rest of the world. The act of male Circumcision.

And in this passage Apostle Paul is now informing the Jewish Christian converts, that they had no special place in God’s Kingdom, BECAUSE of the circumcision-

Nor did the Gentiles lack of practicing this rite of passage HINDER them from entering God’s Kingdom.

The two things that the Jews were so proud of- Their collective possession of Gods Law, and the Rite of circumcision, had no special impact on Gods regard for them- WITHOUT ACTUAL OBEDIENCE OF GODS LAW.

The second physical act is no different if there is no heart change in the spirit of the man, with submission to Gods law in his life.

What may seem like an archaic practice and argument still has current implications for us today.

We must always be encouraged to looks ourselves in the mirror and be willing to do an honest self-examination.

This does not mean we need to be constantly beating ourselves up over some misstep along the way...

But we should be humble enough in our walk with Christ to understand where our sincerity and strength of our faith comes from.

God’s desire for us is a transformed life that lives day by day by faith in Him- Secure in the fact that the promise of our Salvation will never be revoked by God.

We can always be asking ourselves questions like, “In what ways can we ensure our actions align with our understanding of God's will?”

I would invite everyone to examine your hearts, your motives and your personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

After all, He gave everything of Himself for us- The least we can do is live our lives in a way that honors that sacrifice.

It's not enough to simply hear or know God's law – we must live it out.

This applies equally to those who have grown up with religious teachings and those who haven't.

The core message is clear: God's judgment is impartial, and His standards apply to all.