The Unrighteousness of the Jews (2:1-3:8)
The Epistle to the Romans • Sermon • Submitted
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· 12 viewsThis lesson on Romans 2:1-3:8 was taught by elder Dick Bickings on Sunday, January 2, 2022 at New Life Bible Fellowship Church, Longneck, DE
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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 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 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.
1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,
“That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you are judged.”
5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) 6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? 8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
A. EVEN THE "JUDGES" WILL BE JUDGED (2:1-11)
A. EVEN THE "JUDGES" WILL BE JUDGED (2:1-11)
1. The inconsistent judge judges himself (1)
1. The inconsistent judge judges himself (1)
Therefore (Dio) - refers to the general considerations which were suggested by a view of the whole case (God’s judgment upon sin)
no excuse (anapologetos)- without defense or excuse
pass judgment (krino) - to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong [Present, Active, Participle]
condemning yourself – Reciprocated Judgment
2. The hypocritical judge is judged by truth (2)
2. The hypocritical judge is judged by truth (2)
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
practice such things - God’s righteous judgment falls on unrighteous deeds though enveloped in righteous truth.
3. The foolish judge reasons poorly (3)
3. The foolish judge reasons poorly (3)
do you think (logizomai) - to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over [Present, Middle, Indicative]
will escape (ekpheugo) - to seek safety in flight [Future, Middle, Indicative]
He minimizes his sin by maximizing the sin of others
4. The presumptuous judge treasures up wrath (4-11)
4. The presumptuous judge treasures up wrath (4-11)
do you presume on (kataphroneo) [Present, Active, Indicative] - despise, look down upon or think little or nothing of the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience
leads you towards repentance – God’s purpose
storing up (thesaurizo) - to gather and lay up, to heap up, store up [Present, Active, Indicative] wrath
God’s Righteous Judgment
Eternal life – well-doers
Eternal judgment- evil-doers
Jew first and also the Greek - the order of judgment is similar to the order of salvation.
For God shows no partiality - Jew or Gentle incur the same judgment
B. NOT HAVING A "WRITTEN" LAW DOES NOT EXEMPT FROM JUDGMENT (2:12-16)
B. NOT HAVING A "WRITTEN" LAW DOES NOT EXEMPT FROM JUDGMENT (2:12-16)
1. Those who sin will still perish (12)
1. Those who sin will still perish (12)
sinned without the law...perish without the law...sinned under the law...judged by the law - God’s punishment seems to vary in severity depending on the sinners exposure to God’s truth
20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
2. The Gentiles DO have a law (13-15)
2. The Gentiles DO have a law (13-15)
Hearing alone does not produce righteousness
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
The true doers of the law are those who have been justified by faith
The Gentiles, though they did not have God’s written law, and because they are created in the image of God, have an innate awareness of God’s law.
their consciences also bearing witness
3. Jesus Christ will judge accordingly (16)
3. Jesus Christ will judge accordingly (16)
All secrets revealed; no stone left unturned
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
C. THE JEWS CONDEMNED BY THEIR OWN LAW (2:17-24)
C. THE JEWS CONDEMNED BY THEIR OWN LAW (2:17-24)
1. The Jewish self-portrait (17-20)
1. The Jewish self-portrait (17-20)
Rely on and instructed from the law
Brag about relationship with God
Know God’s will
Approve the superior
Guide the blind
Light the darkness
Instruct the foolish/teach infants
2. The Jewish inconsistency and dishonor of God (21-24)
2. The Jewish inconsistency and dishonor of God (21-24)
Teach but need teaching
Do not steal, but steal
No adultery, but commit adultery
No idols but rob temples (commit sacrilege)
Brag about the law but break it
Blaspheme the name of God through their inconsistency
D. THE LIMITATION OF CIRCUMCISION (2:25-29)
D. THE LIMITATION OF CIRCUMCISION (2:25-29)
1. Voided by transgressing the Law (25-27)
1. Voided by transgressing the Law (25-27)
Circumcision - This was the peculiar rite by which the relation to the covenant of Abraham was recognized
9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.
Value if you observe the law – The act of circumcision meant nothing in itself but the identification with the covenant was to bring obedience
Not circumcised but keeps the law – greater value
2. The true Jew is one circumcised in the heart, in the Spirit (28-29)
2. The true Jew is one circumcised in the heart, in the Spirit (28-29)
16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.
26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.”
9 “Thus says the Lord God: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, shall enter my sanctuary.
Note that even when the law of circumcision was in effect, the priority was a circumcised heart!
E. THE JEWISH ADVANTAGE (3:1-2)
E. THE JEWISH ADVANTAGE (3:1-2)
1. In many respects (1)
1. In many respects (1)
The objection would arise particularly from the position advanced, (Rom. 2:25, 26)
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?
2. Especially in having the "Oracles of God" (2)
2. Especially in having the "Oracles of God" (2)
Been entrusted - commit to (one’s) trust
“Unto them were committed. Or were entrusted, were confided. The word translated “were committed,” is that which is commonly employed to express faith or confidence, and it implied confidence in them on the part of God in entrusting his oracles to them; a confidence which was not misplaced, for no people ever guarded a sacred trust or deposit with more fidelity, than the Jews did the sacred Scriptures. “ - Barnes
The words of God - oracle (KJV/NASB) among the heathen meant, properly, the answer or response of a god
F. ANSWERS TO POSSIBLE OBJECTIONS (3:3-8)
F. ANSWERS TO POSSIBLE OBJECTIONS (3:3-8)
1. Unbelieving Jews will not make the faithfulness of God without effect (3-4)
1. Unbelieving Jews will not make the faithfulness of God without effect (3-4)
Nullify (katargeo) - to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative
Not at all (me ginomai) – Lit: “become not” or, “may this never be”
David acknowledges God’s “rightness” in His judgments.
Psalm 51:4b (ESV)
4 ...so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
2. God is right to be angry, even if "unrighteousness" demonstrates His Own righteousness (5-6)
2. God is right to be angry, even if "unrighteousness" demonstrates His Own righteousness (5-6)
unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly (sunistao) - to show, prove, establish, exhibit
3. Though sin might increase God's truth and give Him glory, people will still be judged for their sins (7-8)
3. Though sin might increase God's truth and give Him glory, people will still be judged for their sins (7-8)
God will be glorified in all things, whether we do righteous deeds or not. However, even though the glory of God is magnified in the contrast between God’s righteousness and man’s unrighteousness, man is still accountable and will be judged for that unrighteousness.
Paul mentions this again in Romans 6 with regard to our sanctification.
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?