Romans 2:1-3:20

Welcome once again to Grace Outpost.  I am glad to have you join me here today.   We will be continuing in the series on the book of Romans, slowly making our way through it.  Today we will move a little bit faster than we have in previous weeks.  I began this series with a question I had been presented with a while ago, ‘if you could only have one book of the Bible for the rest of your life, what would it be?’  For me the answer is the book of Romans because it lays out the gospel.  Last week we saw Paul explain why the unbeliever is without excuse, as they are surrounded by proof of God’s existence.  Paul also explained what life looks like without God.  This week Paul turns that critical eye to those who aim to live a moral life.  Paul doesn’t let anyone off the hook here, we are all held to the same standard, no can be saved by merit, we all are sinners.

Beginning in Chapter 2 Paul turns to the religious elite.  Maybe this sounds like some people you know or have met, who are all too happy to criticize the lifestyle of non-believers who revel in sin.  To them Paul says that they who judge are in fact condemned themselves, because though they judge others who sin, they also do those very things themselves.  Even worse, they claim to know God and follow God.  He basically asks them “who do you think you are?  You won’t escape the wrath anymore than the unbeliever with your heart of stone.”  Because of their lack of compassion and because they think they have it all together, they miss that God’s patience and kindness with them is meant to turn them to repentance and not haughtiness. 

Continuing in verse 12 he tears into the Jewish stance that by keeping the Law they will be saved.  He again says that if you believe you are saved by the Law then do it, because merely hearing the Law will not produce righteousness.  He basically says that while they assume they are fine and saved by the Law, they are themselves participating in sin.  He says to them that the Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of the attitudes and example they have shown the world.

So today as we read this, we as Christians should ask ourselves, “are we resting our laurels on growing up in a Christian home, or having gone to church our whole life, yet nothing in our life has changed?”  Do non-believers look at our lives and wonder what difference it makes whether you are a Christian or not?  Do our lives lead others to blaspheme the name of God, because of our lack of relationship with God?  Some of us may be trying to craft a perfect outward life that appears free from sin.  We might look sideways at those Christians who do not have it together or even unbelievers about the music they listen to and the entertainment they partake in, and yet we are struggling with gossip, pornography, lying, or jealously. 

Paul goes on in verse 25 using the example of circumcision, which was an outward symbol of being God’s people.  He says that circumcision indeed marks someone as God’s person if he is righteous, but the person who is not circumcised will be seen the same if he is righteous as well.  Then he flips it and says that if one is circumcised but doesn’t obey the law isn’t he condemned?  Verse 29, hits his point home saying that it is a matter of the heart.  Obedience will spring from our love of God, not by mere rule keeping without loving God. 

Chapter 3 begins with Paul raising some questions and objections so that he may answer them.  In verse 9, he gets to his point, everyone is under sin, or in other words everyone has sinned.  He finishes in verse 19 & 20 telling by telling us the purpose of the Law.  The Law was given to show man his sin and to hold him accountable to God. 

Paul’s words are important for us to remember.  No one is righteous, we have all sinned, the unbeliever, the moral man, and the religious.  As Christians, we should keep in mind that none of us will be perfect this side of Heaven and that it is not by our desire to do works, but by our love for God and daily surrender to him that we will be changed. 

My friend tells me all that time that he loves the ideas of Jesus, but his believers are crazy.  Maybe you feel this way if you are not yet a Christ follower, maybe you have been burned by Church or Church people.  Keep in mind that we are all sinners, this does not excuse poor behavior, but it does explain it.  You can see that Paul makes it clear that we all need forgiveness daily.  Paul has given us a firm understanding that all of humanity has sinned and that the Law measures us all.  Perhaps ending here seems like a place with no hope, but Paul is about to address what this bankrupt state means for us. 

"Father God, thank you so much for giving us the Law, your standard, which shows us our deep need for you!  Thank you for the gift of grace through Jesus and adopting us as your sons and daughters.  Lord some who read this are your children already, others are not, Lord I pray for each of these that they will hear your voice clearly and that their hearts will be drawn to you.  It is in Jesus' name I pray, Amen."