February 11, 2022
Central Truth
Trying to be justified by works is an exhausting impossibility. The convicting language in Romans 2 reminds all of us that the gospel has never been about "do." The gospel is about "done." The finished work of Jesus on the cross sets all of us free, including this recovering Pharisee.
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 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.
1 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 practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice 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 1 2:8 Or contentious 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.
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 2 2:26 Or counted as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically 3 2:27 Or is by nature uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code 4 2:27 Or the letter 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.
Romans 1-3 reveals God's righteousness and the need for the gospel. It exposes us as sinners in need of God's grace.
In their foolishness, the people of Israel think: "It is good that God chose us from among these sinful nations. We have the law and the prophets. He has redeemed us from slavery in Egypt. We are good. We know how to live as God's holy people."
In Romans 2, Paul addressed that thought pattern. Paul points to the history of Israel and describes how corrupt and sinful Israel has been. Israel is more guilty because they have the law and the prophets, and they know better. All humanity, Paul says, is trapped and hopelessly guilty before God. But that is not the final word.
Paul's point in Romans 2 is that religion is often just a thin veneer papered over a heart that is still every bit as sinful as everyone else's and that religion by itself is powerless to change our hearts. It might change our behavior, but nothing deeper. Paul begins chapter 2 with these words:
"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." (Romans 2:1)
Paul says, "God sees the heart, and when He evaluates us, what counts with God is not external conformity in religion, but inward transformation from the heart."
For the first 20 years of my Christian life, I was a practicing Pharisee. I knew every fact about Jesus and never had any relationship with Him. My heart needed an internal revolution. My unwillingness in my heart to believe that Jesus was Lord led to a nearly 10-year prison term. Yet, God is both sovereign and faithful. With my pride exposed and my life broken apart, God met me in a prison cell. By faith, I accepted the gospel, and my life has never been the same. I have a new life in Christ!
1. What are the labels that you or others have assigned to you? How have those labels affected you?
2. What does this passage teach about humankind's equality before God? What standard does the passage say God uses to judge everyone, both Jews and Gentiles?
3. What does it mean to be "without excuse" (Romans 1:20), and why is this important for how anyone understands the gospel?