Rom 2

Date: 9 February 2009 D – 13 Days

Events:

7 Feb: Easy day, Marla and I laid around the house most of the day, recovering from our huge meal Friday night. We watched Run Fat Boy, Run catchy title, right? Good movie. Otherwise we just spent quality time together.

8 Feb: Got up and went to Church. We got to be greeters and help collect the offering both of which went fine. Our Church was full because 3 kids got baptized and our pastor gave a great sermon, the sermon was based on the text of Numbers 11 and focused on our responsibility to heed the Bible as the written will of God, the Church as God’s most immediate earthly institution responsible for teaching, encouraging and disciplining the Christian and our brothers/sisters as God’s chosen vessel to give us an outsiders perspective on how the Bibles text may be applied to our specific circumstance. While I am pretty good at Listening to God’s written word, I have not capitalized on the opportunity to seek instruction from the Church or my fellow Christians as I should have while in San Antonio. Most of the reason that I remember Ft Worth so fondly is that I was deeply involved at Christ Chapel and surround by a great group of believers. I deeply regret not getting more involved with our church or friends and look forward to a new start this summer when we move to a new city. We went to yoga last night and came home and watched the Grammy’s.

Bible:

Rom 2

God's Righteous Judgment

2 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

God's Judgment and the Law

12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure 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 children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.


Bible Thoughts:

1. When I picked up my bible for the first time that pivotal August day (see yesterdays post) and was supernaturally guided to and through Romans, there were two things that brought the letter to life for me, the first was my newly regenerated soul that was now able to understand the bible as interpreted through the viewing box of the gospel, and the second was that I read through the letter in its entirety in one setting as opposed to the choppy way we typically read the bible. Remember, all verse and chapter delineations were placed in the bible not by the original authors, but years later to enable easier location and discussion of the text. The punch of the letter is lost as we pick it up one day, read a few sentences, then put it down not to be thought about again for at least another 24 hrs when we try to pick up right where we left off. We complain that the bible is difficult to understand and granted it can be, but it is not made any easier by reading one piece at a time then flipping mid-thought to another section and reading a letter from a different author, addressed to a different audience, written for a different purpose. We would not attempt to read a piece of literature this way so why do we read the bible this way? I am victim in my daily life to the same trap as it is difficult to find time to read each book in the bible as it is written, but my point is that if we get frustrated by a particularly difficult verse, the answer to it’s interpretation likely lies either just before or after it. So, before throwing your bible and having a fit (as I have before) take a second and consider the context. As we move on to “Chapter 2” of Romans, we must therefore consider it in light of what we have just read in chapter 1 and what we are about to read in chapter 3. Romans like no other book in the bible moves systematically through the doctrine of salvation (soteriology). Paul is writing to Romans “Christians” that he has never met and does not know where they stand in doctrinal knowledge or maturity. Thus each book builds upon the last and is incredibly difficult (even dangerous) to interpret alone. In light of this, I will attempt to place each verse in the context of the chapter and each chapter in the context of the letter and each letter in the context of the gospel in order to more fully illuminate Paul’s points. . Paul, in “Chapter 1” begins by describing what we learned about yesterday, the “General Revelation” whereby, because of the majesty of creation, man is without excuse if he/she denies an intelligent creator. Paul will, in “chapter 2”, take it one step further demonstrating the despite the Jews having both the law (Old Testament) and their precious traditions (demonstrated by the ritual of circumcision), they were under no special protection for the coming judgment. God’s righteous judgment was promised and would come and, the Jews would be unable to fall back on their ancestry, their law or their rituals to save them from the wrath of God due their sin. In Chapter 2 Paul will, many times hold the law up as good (which it is) and, taken out of context, people may use this as a support of law based righteousness. However, when taken in the context of Chapter 3 (perhaps the greatest discourse on the depravity of man in the bible) we see that Paul is not saying that anyone (except Christ) is declared righteous by the law, only that the law, as God’s gift, is good.

2. …For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things… Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? As Jesus criticized hypocrites, so will Paul. In the context of the beginning of Romans chapter 2, as Paul moves from his discussion of the “General Revelation” of creation to the “specific revelation” of the old testament and newly revealed gospel, he moves on from criticizing the unbelieving world for ignoring the testimony of the creation to criticizing the Jews for their judgment and condemnation of the world. Paul may not know the Romans he is writing to but he surely knows the soul of man. Paul knows that as soon as comparison starts, pride swells. Paul pre-empts this spiritual pride with a hammer. As Paul will soon make clear, “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). It was made clear by Jesus that sins external action is merely the tip of the iceberg. “21 You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder’…. 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire...27 “You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matt 5:21-23,27-29. Far from sitting in a “special” position to judge the world, the Jews and church privileged with the full revelation of grace, mercy and salvation are now without excuse when we heap judgment and insult upon the unbelieving world. The Parable of the unmerciful servant comes to mind,

“23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' 27 And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.' 29 So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' 30 He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. 32 Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart." Matt 18:23-35

Before any spiritual pride wells up in my heart, I must remember the quote, “But for the grace of God, there go I.” I was not smart enough to choose Christ, nore good enough to deserve salvation. Without God’s intervention I would never have willingly chosen Christ and without Christ’s imputed righteousness there is no true good in me. In remembering this, far from pridefully condemning the world, I can identify with the world; understanding that without the grace of God, I would be committing the exact same worldly sins (if I’m not already). if I am in anyway better than the world, all I can do is humbly thank God for his grace and if I fall short of the world, I must rely still greater on the cross because, as one who now understands the full revelation of scripture, one given the holy spirit to lead me from sin, when I fall into sin, how much greater should my condemnation be?

3. 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Thanks be to God that he did not pull the plug when Adam disobeyed; thanks be to God that he did not toss me to the wolves at my first sin or the thousands that followed each insulting glory and dishonoring his name. May I never “presume” upon God’s love like a child that has gotten away with breaking curfew so frequently that I think of my Father as a softy. God deserves, no…demands respect and promises that every word will be accounted for at Judgment and all that I will be able to do is cry out for Christ’s help.

4. …God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance… I discuss a lot of wrath and as I first mulled over this verse felt a bit convicted, I thought maybe all that lovey-dovey stuff preached in the liberal church was worthwhile. Praise the Lord for bringing me back to my senses…how are people to know the love of God without first realizing the wrath of God? How are people to be thankful for their rescue when they have no idea what they have been rescued from? A verse that has recently come alive to me like never before is Matt 11:16-17 "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17 "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' A generation that has lost consequence has no need for a savior; a generation that has lost their need has no love of a savior. Truly, “he who is forgiven much, loves much” (Luke 7) and how are we to rejoice in our great forgiveness without first realizing what we have been forgiven for. I preach a wrathful God firstly because He is the biblical God and secondly because the never-ending preaching of God’s love has so diluted God’s justice in our culture that we are no longer able to dance for our great salvation.

5. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; This is one of those tough verses that I spoke of earlier, one that requires looking forward to the next chapter to determine exactly what Paul means. The question is, how do we marry this verse with what Paul’s later point in Roman’s 3, “all have sinned,” Romans 6, “the wages of sin are death,” and later in Galatians 3:11, “11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” The key is to realize where our righteousness comes from. The law as impartial and just truly does offer salvation (eternal life) to any/all who can keep it. The problem as Paul is about to explain in Roman’s 3 is that no naturally born human can actually keep it. There was only one, born not with the taint of original sin, born not with the inclination away from God towards sin who was actually able to keep the whole law and earn for himself and the human race salvation (Romans 5, coming up) that one was Jesus Christ. Truly we do have a merit/works based religion, the works that merit our salvation are just not our own but Christ’s accounted to us through faith. Christ’s sinless life (2 Cor 5:22, and Hebrews 4:15) is called his “active obedience” by which he earned not only his own salvation but also the salvation of all who would honor him by trusting in his person and work.

6. 11 For God shows no partiality. This statement has been unnaturally separated from the paragraphs that follow it. Far from completing the prior paragraph, actually seems to serve as a topic sentence for the next few paragraphs. As we look at the next two paragraphs Paul demonstrates that the Jews and Christians are in no way preferred to the gentile simply in title, law or tradition.

7. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts... There is little doubt that even unbelievers can do good. This good is called “civic good” or “common good” because it is not true good (motivated for God’s glory), but it is still good as defined by the law. The gift of the conscience screams against “natural selection” and for a work of art, made in the image of a compassionate, loving creator. What evolutionary advantage does is confer to help others at the risk of self? No, the conscience is God’s law written on the world’s heart. Though all societies do not poses the Old Testament 613 laws, all societies do poses a conscience, an internal “moral law.” This ‘Moral law’ both testifies to a creator and against the righteousness of the self. It is the gift of the conscience that will ultimately condemn those far off nations when they deny their creator and having knowingly violated their conscience make no adequate atonement (blood) for such violation. It is horrifying to me when the Oprah’s of society falsely reassure felons that their trespass is forgiven simply because they are “sorry”, or that by some act of kindness that they may somehow atone for their evil, equaled the cosmic right/wrong scale, thus no longer need to feel guilt. Ask the guilty if this false reassurance has ever truly cleansed their consciousness? Nearly all suicidal patients that I have talked to (and I’ve talked to hundreds) have at their root excessive guilt felt over transgressions that has thus far been entirely resistant to treatment by all worldly counseling and psychiatry. We are setting people up for failure when take their justly felt guilt and tell them is has been cosmically righted because they are “sorry”, we both know that it hasn’t; our collective conscience testifies against it. You will find that the most joyful persons in the Church are those who remember the guilt they lived in (like myself) before claiming Christ’s adequate sacrifice as an atonement. As the author of Hebrews puts it, “19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Heb 10:19-24

8. 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? A scary admonition that reminds me of James 3:1 “ Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

9. 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." An even scarier statement when I consider how often my life may be use by the unbelieving world to blaspheme God. When I am branded with the title of Christian, people watch my life more closely. Perhaps it’s that inner evil within all of us that enjoys seeing people trip as they walk up stairs, crashes their stock cars and enjoys the fights at hockey games more than the goals, but the fact is that the world loves to see professing Christian’s fall. It is likely that most of this attitude stems from the Holier-than-Thou position Christians justly or unjustly are charged with. It is true, many Christians (I’m sure myself at times) may appear Holier-than-thou but this is the very attitude that this chapter argues so strongly against. That as Christians, far from being smarter or more righteous than our unbelieving neighbors, we must remember that without the external, undeserved righteousness of Christ we are no better than our neighbors and in many instances much worse than our neighbors, not only before we became Christians but even as professing Christians. Though I know the law and its consequence, and understand the full revelation of the Gospel in scripture, I am constantly contending with the “plank in my own eye,” far from being concerned with my neighbors actions or my plans for tomorrow, I should be fully occupied with sanctifying the next thought through my head, the next glance of my eyes, and the next action of my hand. Not because these actions justify me but because I realize the extreme pain to God, Christ, my earthly relationships and myself that my sins cause. The thought that I am branded with the name of Christ and the world considers my actions a reflection upon Him while humbling and terrifying is something I must never forget.

10. 25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision…28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter… Beautiful reiteration of 1 Sam 16:7-8, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Misunderstanding their own salvation, many Jews relied upon their lineage depicted in the sign of circumcision for their salvation. Circumcision was given as a sign of the Faith of Abraham, not the line of Abraham. The bible often speaks of the “Remnant” or the “True Israel”, the fraction of Israel that was truly saved by faith in God’s promise, not by external action or ritual. Even today, the majority of the Jewish faithful rely on external obedience to the law and ritual for their salvation, while there is a “remnant” that are truly saved by continued reliance on the promised Gospel of God, these are the so called Messianic Jews. The Jewish people received a special grace from God when they were given the Law, as they now had a much better understanding of God’s standards than their fellow gentiles but, as they found themselves breaking this law (as all inevitably did) they were not to rely on their ritual circumcision for their salvation but the actual covenant that their circumcision represented. The covenant that God would somehow rescue his faithful people. A salvation that ultimately was found in Christ not circumcision. As Paul later says in Gal 5:2-5 “…if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace." Paul is, of course, not saying that the Circumcised are unable to be saved, what he means is that those reliant on circumcision and law (instead of Christ) are unable to be saved. While the Jews were privileged with the Law and the sign of circumcision, neither were given to grant salvation, but to point to the one from whom salvation would ultimately come, The Christ.

Sun Tzu:

“The common people provide goods, food, and labor for the use of the military, thus losing most of their own sustenance, while the government provides equipment for the use of the military, thus losing more than half of its budget. Therefore taxes are used up, the army is worn out, and the populace is exhausted. When levies are oppressive and the people are impoverished, the country is drained.”

The Intellectual Devotion (Kidder, D. & Oppenheim N. The Intellectual Devotion, Rodale. NY, NY 2006):

“Plato’s Cave Allegory,” In Plato’s Republic he describes a scenario in which men, trapped in a cave, can see only the shadows of objects projected on the wall. They are forced to face forward while a fire burns behind them. Objects are held up in front of the fire, projecting images the men identify. For instance, the men in the cave may think they see a book, but what they see is only the book’s shadow as it is held up behind them. When a man escapes the cave to witness the true nature of things, he is at first pained by the brilliance of the sun and confused by the physical objects. But when he eventually understands the true nature of the world, he pities the masses who know only shadows. Of course, the men in the cave resist learning the truth and think their escaped friend is crazy when he tries to describe it. In the allegory, the men trapped in the cave represent the world’s ignorant masses. They see only representations of objects, the sights and sounds that can be discerned by our physical senses. To Plato the man who escapes the cave to witness the true nature of things is the philosopher.