Brian and Cathy Gray Bible study

Who is Righteous?

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. Rom 2:29

Paul concludes his discussion concerning the religious practice of circumcision by defining it as an outward sign of an inner commitment. It is a matter of the heart not a legal loophole to escape the consequences of sin. While religious Jews mistook circumcision as an act that produces righteousness, it was from the beginning proof of agreement to uphold the covenant that God made with Abraham. Gen 17:1-14

In Romans 3 Paul ties the subject of circumcision into some of the most common apologetic arguments challenging the validity of the Gospel.

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Rom 3:1

Paul illustrates the fact that God had to choose a people group through whom He would work out His plan of salvation, reconciliation, and restoration. Apart from the tested faithfulness of Abraham, Gen 15:6 we do not have a definitive answer to why He chose the Jewish people to preserve the scriptures for millennia. All we know is that He did. Paul addresses the first common anti-gospel argument with

Does the faithlessness of the Jewish people nullify the faithfulness of God?

Why should anyone believe the Gospel when even God’s chosen people don’t believe? A similar argument that we see today is, “Why would anyone want to be a Christian? I mean just look at how Christians behave!” This is a logical fallacy known as a False Equivalency. The validity of scripture and the resulting Christian faith is based on the life and teachings of its founder Jesus, not the failings of His followers. Hence Paul declares,

Let God be true though every one were a liar…Rom 3:4

Next Paul addresses another False Equivalency

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.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Rom 3:5-8

While I have read that he eventually repented, Martin Luther is credited with declaring “Love God. Sin Boldly”. This is heresy. Evil does not produce good any more than darkness produces light. Evil and darkness are not “things”. They are the absence of things namely goodness and light. God is a holy and just God. He made a way for all of those who are already condemned to be saved. Either we choose the gift of salvation or we don’t. That God’s truth shines more brightly amidst man’s darkness and lies only further proves God is who HE says He is and His word will accomplish what He intended. Isaiah 55:6-11

Charles A Beard poetically albeit unwittingly described God’s sovereign Rom 8:28 hand amidst the recurring pattern of man’s rebellion in real time.

“Whom God would destroy, he must first make mad with power.
The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small.
The bee fertilizes the flower it robs.
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.“

We don’t pursue darkness or do evil that good may come. We pursue God and His truth because we know they will prevail.  God will prevail with or without us and despite, anything we do. Rest assured that He will use anything and everything to further His plan of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration of His creation to its original state.

Paul says those who would slanderously accuse him of preaching this False Equivalency of evil producing good are justly condemned. That’s not to say they are condemned because they don’t understand. Rather apart from Christ, all men are justly condemned. Eph 2:1-10 There is nothing inherently good or righteous about any person or people group.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Eph 2:8-10

Paul emphasizes our state apart from Christ in Rom 3:10-20 First of all,

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have becom worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive. “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

At the end of the day the law, (Ten Commandments / Old Covenant)  is our school teacher. All of our very best attempts at being righteous and good in our own eyes only prove that we are not. Try as we may we can not fulfill the law. We are not good and if Jesus doesn’t save us we are condemned for all eternity.

Granted some of us need more time in school than others.

Paul goes on to clarify that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction. all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. Rom 3:22-25

This is where Paul addresses the next common argument against God and His plan of salvation. Namely the accusation of divine child abuse. What kind of Father offers His one and only son as a blood sacrifice? A truly omnipotent God would be able to make man perfect and sin-free from the beginning. Even if He didn’t He should simply cancel the effect of sin and allow His children to live happily ever after. The very existence of evil, they say, is proof that God does not exist. If God does exist, He cannot be good. Yet Paul declares that,

It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Rom 3:26

God is both perfectly loving and perfectly just. While I could present a long abstract theological contrast of love, justice, mercy, and grace, beginning with the Garden of Eden, I have found that an African folk tale is shorter and often more effective in explaining how God could be just and our justifier.

There once was an African King who ruled over a poor kingdom as is so often the case in Africa. One day his counselors came to him and declared that there was a chicken thief in the village where they lived. Anyone who has spent time in poor nations like Mozambique knows that chickens are a matter of life and death. As one boy in  Mozambique once told us in no uncertain terms,

You steal chickens, you die!

So the king made a decree.

“When the chicken thief is caught he will receive one hundred lashes with a cane!“

The next day the counselors approached the king. “King!” they began. “We have captured the thief.” “Bring him here!” Exclaimed the King. Much to his dismay, the thief was the king’s mother. “Tie her to the whipping pole and beat her!” exclaimed the King. “And if I even suspect that you are easing up or holding back I will have you executed!” 

“One more thing!” Exclaimed the King.

Silently he stood up and walked to his mother. Removing his shirt he wrapped his body around her.

“Proceed!” said the king.

This is a picture of what it means to show his righteousness at present so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Like the King, God had to keep His perfect word and truth. Otherwise, He would be a liar.

I’m pretty certain you all understand.

A common error today is for believers to dispense with the law entirely. “It doesn’t matter if I sin.” They say. “I’ll just confess it afterward and be good.” They aren’t entirely wrong. Still, the root of the issue is in the heart. What would these same people say if after taking the one hundred lashes, the king’s mother immediately went back to stealing chickens? “Thank you for taking my beating son. That was nice of you. I hope you don’t die from your injuries.

Now where were those chickens?…”

Once justified we are obedient because we love Jesus.

If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15

The purpose of the law in the lives of believers is alignment with the will of God, which produces holiness. We are called to be holy as He is holy. We aren’t saved by following the law. We are saved by grace through faith. Still, Paul concludes this chapter with,

Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

The law remains. Even if its purpose changes in the life of believers who are by faith in Jesus alone more righteous than the Pharisees.

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:17-20

As we’ve said in previous posts. “Fulfill” Does not mean “to overthrow or do away with”. It means “to give the correct or full interpretation.”  The law and prophets provided a proverbial photo of Jesus. His coming in person was the fulfillment. If we read the Sermon on the Mount carefully, we soon realize that the requirements of Jesus are often more stringent than the law of Moses. Mat 5:27-28 Even so, it remains an inward journey – a matter of the heart that produces fruit. Gal 5:22-23 We can know a tree by its fruit. Mat 7:15-20

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. Rom 2:29

Chew on the paradox.

Maranatha

Brian and Cathy Gray Bible study

On Hypocrisy

Romans Chapter 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. Rom 2:1

Paul is addressing what modern psychology calls projection.

Projection is the process of displacing one’s feelings onto a different person, animal, or object. The term is most commonly used to describe defensive projection—attributing one’s own unacceptable urges to another.

As we discussed in What is in Man Jesus understood the nature of all mankind according to the flesh. As much as we like to talk about all human beings beings made in the image of God, that image applied universally to Adam and Eve. Everyone who came after was a corrupted mutation of that image. But to all who did receive him (Jesus) who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 Hence all believers are works in progress on our way to becoming fully conformed to the image of God. Rom 8:29

What Jesus knew is in Man is the culmination of Romans chapter one.

every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity, envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice, gossip, slanderer, insolence, arrogance and boasting; invented ways of doing evil; the lack of understanding, fidelity, love, and mercy (as in man). Not only do they continue to do these things but they approve of (and commiserate with) those who practice them. Rom 1:29-32

It is so very important to understand that our redemption by the blood of Jesus is not a license to sin. The law and the standard for holiness has not change.

For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Mat 5:8

Many believers mistake Jesus’ last words “It is finished!” John 19:30 for all is accomplished. It is finished in Greek is tetelestai from teléō. Perhaps the best analogous context is a business transaction where a debt is paid in full. Jesus was the final blood sacrifice that paid for all sin. All is accomplished in Revelation 19-22. All means the restoration of All God’s creation to its original status before the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Victory over sin and death is just the beginning. The indwelling of Holy Spirit is a down payment toward our full inheritance. Eph 1:14 

The main error that Paul exposes in the first three chapters of Romans is one of overvaluation of identity. The Jews saw themselves as righteous by way of their Jewish bloodline. Some gentile believers regarded their newfound born-again status, or their identity, as won and done. The fruit of this error can be seen in Martin Luther’s proclamation, “Love God, sin boldly.” Jesus died for all my sins so I don’t need to worry about sin. Right?

Wrong!

…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? Rom 2:4

The riches of His kindness made possible by the Cross, are what allow us to come boldly to the throne of grace. Heb 4:16 And to be forgiven provided we confess our sins. 1 John 1:9 Those who simply take the cross of Jesus for granted and minimize or justify instead of rectifying their sins and failures through confession and repentance are hypocrites.

The Jews thought they were righteous because they had the law. Apparently like today, many Jewish and gentile believers thought hearing the law, e.g. going to church and claiming to believe what they heard made them righteous. Paul made it clear that

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. Rom 2:13

While we are not exempt from doing what the law says, we do it His help.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:14-16

At the end of the day, God is most concerned with the intentions of our hearts. Those intentions are defined by our actions.

For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity. Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him. Prov 24:16-18

Paul continues to reinforce the theme of projection and resulting hypocrisy throughout the chapter with a discussion of circumcision.

For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. Rom 2:25

Similar to baptism for believers,  circumcision was an outward expression of an inward commitment. While it might be tempting to focus on Paul’s seeming emphasis on distinctions between Jew and Gentile, it’s really not the point. Not at this point anyway. Once again, Paul is writing to the church in Rome. Hence he is speaking to both Jewish and Gentile believers. The message for contemporary believers remains the same. Pursue righteousness by doing what is written to the best of your ability with God’s help. Let us not redact scripture to fit the lifestyle we want to lead.  Don’t be a hypocrite.

The most sobering verse in Romans 2 is

You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” Rom 2:23-24

We constantly hear people justify sin, be it theirs or the sins of others in the name of grace because they errantly believe that the law is irrelevant because Jesus fulfilled it. Hence

love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Pet 4:8

Love is the crucifixion of Jesus that resulted in our justification, not our justifications that demand tolerance for our sins. This is Paul’s point when he says ...God’s kindness is meant to lead (us) to repentance…in Rom2:4

While church leaders and especially teachers are subject stricter qualifications and standards, 1 Tim 3,  James 3 Every believer impacts someone.

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. “Woe to the world for temptations to sin!  For temptations must come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! Mat 18:5-7

The word for sin and temptation here is skándalon– a trap. However, the trap here includes leading by wrong example. A person consumed by sexual sin and yet claims to represent the gospel of Jesus Christ  falls into the catagory of Romans 1:32.

Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

These are the ones by whom “The name of God is blasphemed (among unbelievers)” Rom 2:23-24

The very idea of covering up or making lite of our or another person’s blatant sin is neither righteous nor loving.

But then here is where projection can make a proverbial twist. Sometimes people errantly give what appears to be grace. We may assume their intentions are pure.  They simply misunderstand the nature and purpose of grace. “They‘re just nice,” we say. When in fact they are reticent to call out and expose worthless deeds of darkness Eph 5:11 because they are guilty of the same sins. …You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? Rom 2:21 A contemporary twist is; if I commit adultery; do I excuse adultery because I am guilty of the same thing? In covering up the sin of another with what I term love and grace; do I hope the same sins will be covered up for me?

There is no end to how those with one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom will twist God’s word to justify their behavior and the behavior of those whom they are afraid to confront. If this is how a church body or a body within a body operates the end result will at best always be but a variation of what happened at IHOPKC and multiple other ministries over the last twenty years. In the end God is blasphemed and people reject Him because of our failures.

At the end of the day, the overarching theme in Romans 2 is simple.  Right is right. Wrong is wrong. If we know what is right because we got it from scripture then we’d better be doing it. People are watching and looking to justify their unbelief by our actions. When we fail as we all do at times, then we’d best be ready to immediately confess and repent. Anything else makes us hypocrites. This is one reason why Paul said, leaders must be above reproach. 1 Tim 3 And James said, not many of you should become teachers, James 3:1

Woe to the hypocrites. Mat 23

If you are reading this and asking “Where is the love?”, consider the possibility that you have a deficient understanding of love. Why is Paul so hard? Because

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Prov 9:10

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Ecc 12:13-14

The love of God can not be understood apart from the fear of God, His goodness apart from His severity.

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. Rom 11:22

So often any mention of the fear of God, His law, and the pursuit of holiness is dismissed as “religious”. Within the charasmatic stream, the word religion has become a pejorative. The implication is that Jesus was only hard on the religious people. We are “Spirit Filled”. For the record “religion” is from the Latin  Relegere to reread and Religare to bind fast, an obligation, a bond between man and God. In a nutshell, being religious means are who we say we are, and we do what we are supposed to do regardless of who we are with. Being Spirit filled means we have the power to walk in integrity. Integrity is a fruit of being unspotted from the world. James 1:27 Among other things, our religion should produce integrity.

Integrity is the antithesis of Hypocrisy.

Maranatha!