week 12 Day 5

Read Romans 2


http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%202&version=NIV
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2:1–16 Deeds, not words, are the object of God’s judgment. The concept of “do” links Romans 1 and Romans 2 (1:32; 2:1–2; 2:25, “obey”; 2:26–27, “keep”). Some give hearty approval to sin (1:32), and some condemn it (2:1). But they both do it—and that is the fatal flaw that brings humanity under the wrath of God. Neither the wallowing in nor the judging of sin can overcome the universal and fatal flaw—the practice of sin.

Therefore, the wallowers and the judges receive the same condemnation (2:2–10). Paul is building to 2:29. The externals of race or the hurling of pious judgments cannot bring the internal cleanness granted by the Spirit; it is only the cleanness given by the Spirit that merits God’s praise (2:29). Romans 2:7–8 defines the concept of rewards based on deeds (2:6). God’s judgment of deeds is not partial (2:11) to Jew or Gentile. His judgment is ethically, not ethnically, defined. Paul was quite clear that good works do not save (Eph. 2:8–9) but are the product of regeneration. The Jews were first in privilege, but also first in guilt and responsibility (2:9).
God will give impartial judgment to all (2:11–16). Paul was revealing that obedience was a criterion used in God’s judgment of mankind, not because he supported salvation by works, but in order to establish that mankind, Jew or Gentile, does not have what God requires—a life of perfect righteousness.

Paul was being general here in regarding the principle of obedience as being essential before God. James 2:10 says that just one sin breaks all the law. Those who sin even though they never had God’s written law (2:12) are the Gentiles who had not been entrusted with the Mosaic Law. Romans 2:13 is key to Paul’s argument showing that it is not in hearing the law that righteousness is achieved but in the doing of it. This shows that the Jews who have heard the law are no better off than the Gentiles who have not heard it, for both have failed to do it. The Gentiles, nevertheless, do have a “law” of conscience that commends or corrects their actions (2:14).

2:17–29 Paul asked those who had the Mosaic Law where their confidence was—in words or in lives conforming to the law (2:17–25). He addressed those who relied on law (2:17, 23) and boasted in God but did not obey either the law or God. And this was precisely what the Jews and Gentiles had in common—rejection of the truth and light God had given them. Note Isaiah 52:5 quoted in Romans 2:24.


Discussion question

Is there a difference in appreciation of God’s grace with someone who grew up Christian or someone who did not grow up Christian?

Reflection question

How do you feel when seeing Christians being disobedient towards God or seeing non believers rejecting Christ?