Romans 2

[Big Moose]

A Study of Romans 2
NKJV will be used with occasional NLT for optional translation in green.
Commentary will be in blue.
We just left Romans 1 discussing those God has given up to the depravity of selfishness because they reject God. Verse:
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. (Now Paul's inspiration turns the tables on those who may be thinking, "Well I'm not like those terrible people!". Just like Jesus' parable in Luke 18:9-14 of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. Measuring ourselves against other people, thinking we are doing better than them, makes us just like the Pharisee. Paul expounds on this in Philippians 2 -"let each esteem others better than himself." Also verse 1 links with Matthew 7 where Jesus gives the direction to not judge, because you will be judged with what you judge, and why do you worry about the speck in your brother's eye when you have a plank in yours? This is a strong theme for Christians. Yet hard to follow.)
2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. (So don't worry about it, let God handle it. Concentrate on the transformation of their souls.)
3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? (We seem to forget that we have done wrong also.)
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Do we really want God to stop being good? We get the "David" syndrome of, be patient with me, but let my enemies have Your wrath. I will tell of Your goodness and mercy, but let my adversaries get what they deserve. I think we all come to this place from time to time. But we need to hope for the lost to come home and celebrate when they do.)
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, NLT 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. (We must soften our hearts and be ready to love. We will be judged as we have judged.)
6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: (We will receive our wages.)
7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; (What do we make of this? Eternal life is what we receive for believing, saved by grace thru faith. Are these attributes of faith? I would say so. Later in Romans, Paul goes into what saves us and grants us eternal life. So this must be in the same vein as the surrounding text, that Paul is listing attributes of the deeds all of us commit to. Faith is not a deed inasmuch as it produces deeds. So working faith is a faith which produces good fruits in deeds. What is being discussed is not whether faith is present, but just isolating the idea of payment, wages, or recompense for our deeds whether saved or not.)
8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; (These must be those not saved and have no faith in God. But this does say on every soul of man who does evil. This warning on self-seeking must be drilled into us. Every time we venture into selfish desires, we put ourselves in dangerous territory. This self-seeking drives God away from us. I do not think being saved keeps us from falling into this realm of evil and the wages to be received.)
10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11 For there is no partiality with God. (God does not have favorites. All who believe become His children. Jesus' blood signs our adoption papers. Why not have faith in Jesus? How arrogant must one be to reject the grace which is waiting for you? Praise be to God for His grace, patiently waiting for us, suffering long, hoping we return to Him and enjoy the glory, honor and peace He has for us. What is the downside? That He knows better for us than we do? Are we such control freaks that we must maintain our own way? Lay that burden down. Please respond with what is laid upon your heart.

 

[Big Moose]

Romans 2:
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (Romans 2 is Paul's opening arguments to the case he is making for the means by which we are justified. Chapters one and two lay out some of the charges against mankind; he then portrays how some feel they can justify themselves by works. In chapter 3 he brings all of this to the truth of the matter. With or without the law, we have all sinned and are in need of the Savior.)
13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; (This is continued expounding upon the earlier: "render to each one according to his deeds" from Psalm 62:12 and Proverbs 24:12. Payment will be made for what you do.)
14 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, (If we know something to be right, then it becomes a law to us)
15 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) (Our thoughts in weighing what is right and wrong is part of the law written in our hearts. What we believe is what is really important. Our belief becomes reality. Our belief structure or system is spiritual, and becomes the impetus for what we do, accomplish and become.)
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
(The secrets of men are the hidden thoughts and beliefs we hold will be judged by Jesus Christ, and this is part of Paul's inspired gospel, or message. Do we test our belief structure? Do we consider challenges to our world view? Are we infallible? Let us get our secrets in tune with God.)

 

[Big Moose]

NKJV Commentary in (blue)
Verse
17 Indeed you are called a Jew, ( Here, Paul starts speaking to Jewish Christians, as he, in the previous verses, had described those under the law and those without it yet having their beliefs as a law to themselves.) and rest on the law, ( They were raised with the law as a heritage.) and make your boast (glory or rejoice) in God,
18 and know His will (knowing the law and embracing it leads you to know His will?), and approve the things that are excellent ( can discern the things of lasting value), being instructed out of the law, <NLT 8 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.> (The "know His will" is open ended, it is to know His will about- His purpose for His people, Jews and Christians.)
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. ( I'm not so sure this last sentence was not tongue in cheek. Meaning, you who are Jews bring with you an attitude of superiority as God's chosen, and you are held to a higher standard because of this attitude. Even though you are not all that and a bag of chips, to use an idiom, since you profess this thru your attitude, you will be held to it.)
21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (This confirms that Paul was making a point about the Jews who thought they were better than the Gentiles and knew more and were closer to God, and therefore should be listened to for direction on religious activity and how to please God.)
23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? (Calling them out for their hypocrisy.)
24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
(Unbelievers blaspheme the name of God because of our acting like hypocrites. They can say "you teach it but you don't follow your own teaching." We must be aware that the love of Christ must show through our life so we may be an ambassador and example of what God can do.

 

[Big Moose]

25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. (In Genesis 17, God called circumcision a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants. So breaking the law makes your sign worthless. Students of the Word know that we all break the law of God. Here, Paul is walking the Jewish Christians in Rome through the thought process to this fact. So circumcision does no good for anyone trying to adhere to the law as a means of gaining God's acceptance.)
26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
27 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? (Paul continues the argument laying out the logic.)
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; (Circumcision was not meant to only be an outward sign. It was a sign for the individual of the connection with God, the One who we should have our faith in.)
29 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. (We become God's people (a Jew) when we have that circumcision of the heart. We then voluntarily expose our soft heart for God to change and make new and holy. There is no law involved with this personal relationship with our Father.)

 

[Complete]

29 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. (We become God's people (a Jew) when we have that circumcision of the heart. We then voluntarily expose our soft heart for God to change and make new and holy. There is no law involved with this personal relationship with our Father.)

Hello @Big Moose,

Reading this I think of 2 Timothy 2:15, in which the Lord, through Paul, exhorts Timothy, to study (or endeavour - like a workman) to show Himself approved unto God (in Spirit), (by rightly dividing the Word of Truth). For, our praise is not from men but from God.

Praise His Name!

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Big Moose]

Hello @Big Moose,

Reading this I think of 2 Timothy 2:15, in which the Lord, through Paul, exhorts Timothy, to study (or endeavour - like a workman) to show Himself approved unto God (in Spirit), (by rightly dividing the Word of Truth). For, our praise is not from men but from God.

Praise His Name!

In Christ Jesus
Chris

This led me to read on in 2 Tim 2 and I was blessed by this :
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

--As we go thru Romans, first we learn what brings us to a relationship with God, and then how to become useful for the good works.

Thank you Chris

 

[Complete]

19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

Hello @Big Moose

I remember hearing a news report in the media, in which muslims were advocating violence against Christians, saying that they were responsible for the introduction, among other things, of drugs into the area concerned. In societies, which claim to be Christian, are seen practices which would not be allowed in muslim countries. These are not representative of true Christians: but to onlookers, who know no better, looking at media reports, and judging by what their ears hear and their eyes see, it would seem that Christianity covers a multitude of vices.

'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity'.

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Big Moose]

Hello @Big Moose

I remember hearing a news report in the media, in which muslims were advocating violence against Christians, saying that they were responsible for the introduction, among other things, of drugs into the area concerned. In societies, which claim to be Christian, are seen practices which would not be allowed in muslim countries. These are not representative of true Christians: but to onlookers, who know no better, looking at media reports, and judging by what their ears hear and their eyes see, it would seem that Christianity covers a multitude of vices.

'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity'.

In Christ Jesus
Chris

Freedom seems antithetical to Muslims. For Christianity it is a tenant. The unholy take advantage and ruin liberty.

 

[Big Moose]

IT problem.

 

[Big Moose]

Posting to refresh thread with series.