Delighted to have
you back again at Daily Bread. When we left off at the end of the first
chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he was explaining how mankind failed
to acknowledge the invisible miracles of God, even though they were made
clearly understood to them.
You may remember
the list of unrighteous deeds that Paul recounted of man, and adds that
knowing the judgment of God, those who do such things are worthy of death
and not only do they perform these unrighteous acts, but they’re delighted
in others that do them as well.
Now before we go
snarling at all those we know who have done something unrighteous, let’s
read what Paul says next.
Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man,
whoever you are that judges,
because in whatever you judge another,
you condemn yourself,
because you who judge,
do the same things.
Just wait a minute here, you may be saying, I don’t do any
of those things.
Perhaps not, but Paul may be saying that being judgmental of those who have
is also an unrighteous act,
and may as well be included in the list.
But we’re sure that the judgment of God is right,
against those who do such things.
And do you think this,
O man that judges those who do such things, and does the
same,
that you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness and
forbearance and patience,
not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to
repentance?
But after your unfeeling and stubborn heart
keeps anger for itself
in preparation for the day of wrath and revelation
of the righteous judgment of God,
who will reward every man according to his deeds,
to them, who by patient continuance in well-doing,
seek for glory and honor and eternal life,
but to those who are contentious (headstrong),
and do not obey the TRUTH,
but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
there will be sorrow and misery for every soul of man that
does evil,
of the Jewish first, and also of the Gentile,
but glory, honor, and peace to every man that does good,
to the Jewish first and also to the Gentile,
for there is no prejudice with God.
Those who have sinned without the law,
shall also perish without law,
and those who have sinned in the law
shall be judged by the law
(For it is not the hearers of the law that are righteous
in God’s eyes,
but the doers of the law shall be justified.
For when the Gentiles,
which don’t have the law,
naturally obey the law,
these who don’t have the law,
are a law unto themselves.
Their conduct shows the law written in their hearts,
their conscience also telling truth
and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else
excusing one another),
in the day when God will judge the secrets of men
by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel.
Now Paul addresses the Jewish people.
Behold, you are called Jewish
and have confidence in the law,
and brag about God,
and know His will
and attest to things that are righteous,
being instructed out of the law,
and are certain that you yourself are a guide of the
blind,
a light of those who are in darkness,
an instructor of the foolish,
a teacher of babes,
who knows the truth in the law.
You then, who teach others,
don’t you teach yourself?
You that preach that a man should not steal,
do you steal?
You that say a man should not commit adultery,
do you commit adultery?
You that hate idols,
do you rob temples?
You that brag about the law,
do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
Because the name of God
is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you,
as it is written.
For being Jewish truly profits you,
if you keep the law,
but if you break the law,
you are made no longer Jewish.
So if the Gentiles keep the righteousness of the law,
won’t he be counted as Jewish?
And shall not those who are naturally born Gentiles,
if it fulfills the law,
judge you,
who with scripture and Jewry break the law?
For a person is not Jewish,
which is one outwardly (for appearances),
neither is a person Jewish because of the flesh
(because they are born in the Jewish bloodline),
but a person is Jewish,
who is one inwardly,
and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit,
and not in the letter (the law)
whose praise is not of men, but of God.
What do you think
Paul is getting at here? Being Jewish is an advantage to you if you keep the
law. But nobody has ever kept the whole law. Nobody ever has and nobody ever
will, because of our human inheritance of sin. Sooooo, you are a child of
God if you believe in your heart that you are a child of God, not only if
you are Jewish or Gentile. When you are born again, you belong to a new
family anyway. God is your Father, and your inheritance comes from Him. And
you will share your inheritance with everyone else who was reborn of Him.
What is your inheritance? Eternal life. And through Jesus, God provided us
with the forgiveness of sins (forgiveness for breaking the law), so that we
can obtain this inheritance, because with the law, it was unattainable.
This, friends, is yet another invisible miracle from our Father. Therefore,
seek for worthiness in God’s eyes, don’t look for honor from man because you
keep the law.
More of this great
letter from Paul is awaiting for us to study together, so come on back soon
and join in as we continue our journey through the New Testament, right here
at Daily Bread.
