By Robert Wurtz II
THE NARROW ROAD TO SALVATION
(Revisiting the Book of Romans)
Part 2
By Robert Wurtz II
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
(Romans 2:1)
Romans Chapter two begins with a rebuke against those who are seeking relief from their own guilty consciences by the practice of condemning others. We are all guilty of sin, and it is vain to condemn others for personal relief. We are to discern, become familiar with, and deal with sin within the Church, but it must always be done for the purpose of restoring the individual(s) to a right standing with God, and never to retaliate. Love must be our motivation, not revenge. Further, this verse tells us that it is futile to condemn others, because we are guilty of similar types of sins. Not only is it futile, but we are actually condemning ourselves in taking that type of an approach to deal with our own sin. Tearing down others does not lift us up, it only attempts to bring them down on our level. That is not God's will. God wants us lifted up; not cast down and pulling others down with us (James 4:10). When we fall we need to be lifted back up. God wants us to humble ourselves by acknowledging that we are nothing without His grace, and then He will lift us up. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. He rebukes the person who denounces the sins of others in an attempt to exalt themselves. Thanking God that you are not like some poor sinner is no way to find favor in the eyes of God (Luke 18:13). Gaining relief from a guilty conscience is not found in comparing ourselves by ourselves (II Corinthians 10:12), but in the applied blood of Jesus Christ. As it is written.... How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14)?
You Got Caught and I Didn't?
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds.
(Romans 2:2-6)
Judge RIGHTEOUS Judgment!
We are not worthy of judging people in a sense that condemns them-as though we were God. We are no where near righteous to make such an unbiased decision. God judges according to truth (V2), but people are respectors of persons. We might well crucify our enemies, and pardon or acquit our family and friends. God's judgment is not based upon favoritism or bitter envy and strife, is it a judgment that is based on a record that accepts no man's person (Galations 2:6). Pride causes a man to exalt himself over a person who was caught in the act of doing-that which they had done many times unnoticed; and ignore the fact that they are equally guilty in the eyes of God (see I Timothy 5:19-25). Some men's sins go before them to judgment, while other men's sins follow after.
Sin is Sin no Matter Who is Doing It
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.
(Romans 2:7-11).
Although we are ambassadors for Christ as believers (II Corinthians 5:20), we do not have ‘diplomatic immunity.' When God said that tribulation, anguish, indignation, and wrath would follow every person who did not obey the truth, that word every is all inclusive. Just because we have a 'said' faith, it does not give us license to walk in disobedience. The church of Rome had a world renown faith, but not even that faith is enough to turn God's head when a believer sins. Eternal life as it is described in the book of salvation (Romans) is reserved for those who serve God by patient continuance. Sin is sin, whether you're a believer or not.
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
(Romans 2:12-16)
Not Under Law?
There is a tremendous misunderstanding as to the meaning of 'we are not under the law, but are under Grace,' and we will expand on that issue in a later lesson. The fact is, sin is sin no matter if you are under the law or not. Simply saying that we are not under the law does not free us to commit sin. The scripture in verse 12 reads that those who sin without law will also perish without law (perish is Greek aperchomai: total destruction).
The Purpose of the Law
The Law of Moses primarily does two things: it reveals God's personality (holy, loving, and righteous), and it reveals man's personality (rebellious, sinful, and full of iniquity). Paul said that in our unregenerate flesh (the old man) there is no good thing. But that the Law was good and holy (Romans 7:12,14, I Timothy 1:8-9). The problem with the ineffectiveness of the law is found in man's carnal mind that cannot be made subject to the law. The law offers the carnal man one thing... something to rebel against. That is why we cannot find salvation in the Law of Moses and are to use caution if we teach God's laws (see I Timothy 1:7-9). Man achieves godliness (conformity to God's personality) when he exercises faith in Christ, repents, and is Born Again. Then God begins to personally put His Law in our hearts and writes them in our minds (Jeremiah 31;33, Hebrews 8:10, 10:16). This all takes place in the new man's heart that was purged from his old sins, and the new man's mind that is renewed by the Holy Spirit and the word of God (Romans 12:2, Titus 3:5). Fulfilling the Law (becoming godly) is the result of God's working in our lives as we yield to Him; it is NOT picking up the Old Testament and trying to conform to it.
To the Jews and the Teachers
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
(Romans 2:17-24)
Romans 2:17-24 is written to address those who are adamant studiers and teachers of God's word. To those who desire to teach new converts (babes in Christ), guide the spiritually blind, and operate in the esteemed position of the five fold ministry. To the ones who desire to teach the commandments and rest in the law, to those who boast about their relationship and knowledge of God- Paul asks a simple question; Do you live what you teach? Are you believing as the ones who condemn others in their sins that somehow you have immunity to sin? Does it make you feel right with God when you teach others, even though you yourself are dishonoring God by transgressing the very word that you teach? To whom much is given much is also required as it is written (Luke 12:48). God forbid that any teacher of God would teach others and not make a commitment to practice what they preach. Paul told Timothy....No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things (II Timothy 2:4-7). Though no man or woman of God who teaches and preaches is perfect, it is required that they live the highest standard of example that is possible; lest their hypocrisy result in God's name being blasphemed by unbelievers. Think of how unbelievers have vainly described or used the name Christian when referring to what they considered a hypocrite.
Circumcision of the Heart
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God (Romans 2:25-29).
Circumcision was a sign that God gave to Abraham as an outward symbol of an inward work of grace. Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God. When God seen that Abraham was a man of faith, in believing all that God had promised (a Seed) without considering what he knew was a fact about the bodies of himself and his wife (being past age); God acknowledged him as the ‘father' of the Just that shall live by Faith. Circumcision later came to outwardly represent the adherence to the Law of Moses that the Jews had been given. However, Paul is saying that the issue was with Abraham's heart before it was made into his flesh. Abraham's heart had been circumcised of the flesh (Greek sarx, sin nature) that had held him captive. He led a life of faith that looked to the cross and resisted the tendencies of the flesh to rebel against and disbelieve God.
