Romans

As we have started going through the book of Romans we saw in Chapter 1 that God has revealed himself through his creation.

Everyone know that God exist through creation. It doesnt matter if they claim to be an atheist or some other religion. His majesty is shown in creation.

In Chapter 2 we see that he is not only revealed in creation but he also uses our conscience to reveal himself.

Now we get to talk about the Jews.

Romans 2:17–29 NKJV

Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident 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 babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written. For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Rom. 2:17-29

Romans 2:14–15 NKJV

for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)

Luke 12:48 NKJV

But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Romans: Justification by Faith Advantages and Responsibilities of a Jew (2:17–29)

SIX ADVANTAGES CLAIMED BY THE JEWS (Romans 2:17–18)

1. They are called Jews.

“You call yourself a Jew” (v. 17)

2. They rely on the Law.

“You rely on the law” (v. 17)

3. They glory in God.

“You … brag about your relationship to God” (v. 17)

4. They know God’s will.

“You know his will” (v. 18)

5. They have a right standard of values.

“You … approve of what is superior” (v. 18)

6. They are instructed in the Law.

“You are instructed by the law” (v. 18)

FIVE CLAIMS OF JEWS IN RELATION TO THE GENTILE WORLD (Romans 2:19–20)

1. A Guide to the Blind

“You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind” (2:19)

2. A Light for Those in the Dark

“A light for those who are in the dark” (v. 19)

3. An Instructor of Fools

“An instructor of the foolish” (v. 20)

4. A Teacher of Infants

“A teacher of infants [the young or immature]” (v. 20)

5. A Possessor of Knowledge and Truth

“Because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth” (v. 20)

Luke 12:48 NKJV

But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.

Luke 3:1–8 NKJV

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, while Annas and Caiaphas were high priests, the word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough ways smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ” Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Rom. 2:14-15

Romans 3:1–8 NKJV

What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.” But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”?—as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.

Rom. 3

When you talk to a person about God they already have a since of him through these two things.

However, even in the Bible Belt of America it is wrong for us to think that everyone knows about the Jesus and what He did for us.

It is up to the believers in every church to share who Jesus is and what he has done for them. When we dont do that then we are neglecting our individual calling.

Everyday you can turn on the TV or listen to the radio about how you, the Christian, are supposed to be blessed. You are supposed to be able to have all of the fun in the world. Everything that you can attain is because God wants you to be blessed.

The problem is we distort the Word. When the scriptures talk about the blessings of the believers life they are not talking about how wealthy you are supposed to be.

Did you know that the health and wealth gospel works great in the USA because you have the freedom to do as you please. But let us look at Iraq. Many Christians were there but persecution, loss of life and property has driven them out.

North Korea puts people that are believers into work camps to never be heard from again.

Why am I saying this? Do I believe that we have to be poor to live the Christian life? NO

But we need a change of heart and mind to better fix our focus on that which is true and Holy.

It is easy as believers to lose focus on what God wants us focused on.

In the USA I see it everywhere. The focus is on the possession instead of the message of the one who gave us those possessions. The focus is on our freedom instead of the freedom that others can have.

The Jews had this problem going on in their lives.

The Gospel according to Paul: Romans Contextual Insights on Romans 2:1–3:20

Chapters 2 and 3 complete the literary unit started in 1:18. This section deals with:

1. the lostness of all mankind;

2. God’s judgment on sin;

3. mankind’s need for God’s righteousness through Christ by means of personal faith and repentance.

B. In chapter 2 there are seven principles concerning God’s judgment:

1. verse 2, according to the truth;

2. verse 5, accumulated guilt;

3. verses 6 & 7, according to works;

4. verse 11, no respecter of persons;

5. verse 13, lifestyle;

6. verse 16, the secrets of men’s hearts;

7. verses 17–29, no special national groups.

C. There is much discussion among commentators about who was being addressed in chapter 2:1–17. It is obvious that 2:12–29 deals with the Jews. Verses 1–17 serve the dual purpose of speaking both to moral pagans like Seneca (societal norms) and to the Jewish nation (Mosaic Law).

D. In 1:18–21, Paul asserted that humans can know God through creation. In 2:14–15, Paul also asserted that all humans have an inner moral conscience given by God. These two witnesses, creation and conscience, are the basis for God’s condemnation of all mankind, even those who have not been exposed to the OT or the gospel message. Humans are responsible because they have not lived up to the best light they have had.

Luke 12:48 NLT

But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.