Righteous Judgment
Rom 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
Paul has, in chapter 1, been pointing out the sin of the obviously guilty; he now speaks to those who are generally "moral" in their conduct congratulating themselves that they are not like the people Paul described in chapter 1.
A good example of this mind set is Jesus' illustration of the Pharisee and the Publican; now Paul is addressing the Pharisee and those who are self righteous.
Rom 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
Rom 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Notice that the moralist is not condemned for judging others; but for being guilty of the same things that he judges others for. I am reminded of this scripture:
Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
As Paul said there is no good thing in myself, in the flesh we are all unrighteous.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
The answer is in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are righteous in him and through his Holy Spirit. We walk in his Spirit and we are in His will. Satan will always find weaknesses in our flesh, and remind us of them. In Christ we are free and forgiven. We cannot put on a Christian label and continue in sin, we are still in sins. But we put on Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
It is the Holy Spirit baptism, not dunking in water, though that is to be done, it is the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
People of God, we must pray for each other, prayers are powerful for those in need.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Oh Lord God, we are flesh and in our flesh we fail. Lord keep away the accusations of the enemy, we are but flesh and yet we appeal to you not as flesh but in the position of saints . Help us to see in the spirit not as judges but as those who walk in the light. We are redeemed by the blood of Jesus, he is our righteousness, in him we stand. Yes we are responsible to put on the whole armor of God, we ask you to help us do this each day, for it comes from you by your word and by your spirit. Send your angels to surround us and help us as the darkness presses in, the angels surround us, the Lord Jesus goes before us, God's Spirit is within us. amen.
Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Once again the way of God is the way of love, so much love for all. We are not to stand in judgment of people. However true love leads another to saving grace in the Lord Jesus Christ.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
It was love for you that sent Jesus to die for you, and come alive again bringing many to eternal life.
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Pet 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
It is no time to harden your hearts in sin, blinding yourself with pleasures and vices.
Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
God is a righteous judge. Listen now, listen;
1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Lord God you are a righteous judge, Hide me in the cleft of the rock that is Jesus Christ the Lord. No flesh can stand under the judgment of a Holy God. Dear Lord Jesus, you are our righteousness, we lay all rewards and crowns at your feet. Without you we perish in our sins. Amen
Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Simply it is coming to Jesus who has shed his blood for our salvation. Believe in him, learn of him, follow him.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
What of those who never heard the law? They are judged by God's standard written in their hearts.. What of those who know the law They are judged by the law, which is God's standard of righteousness. How can one be saved by keeping the law? No one can keep all the law.
Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Jesus is the only man who was without sin, the only man to keep all the law. The law pointed to the Messiah Jesus, receive him, and follow him. This is doing the will of God and the fulfillment of the law.
Lord we make choices that are of evil or good. The greatest choice we make is to surrender all to you and make you Lord and to obey you in all ways, This is the life God desires for us. Amen
Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
(RSV translation) When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.
Those without the written law, nonetheless have a God given concscience.
Rom 2:15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
The law is written in man's heart by the creator. But some have blocked the witness by drugs or alchohol or disobedience.
1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Tim 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1 Tim 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
Their conscience seared by giving heed to seducing spirits. That is happening all the time. Many listen to worldly counsel from the (barBQ) pit of hell. Some even join in with Satan, glorying in the works of darkness. The first to burn is their God given conscience "seared as a steak on a grill," and their souls will follow to hell, lest they find Jesus.
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Yes all will be judged by the gospel truth. No one will think the judgment unfair, for their restored conscience will witness to God's truth. Have you ever had an unsaved person demand more of a Christian then he is willing to give in living a righteous life? The unsaved have a standard given to them to judge by and often they are quite right. Too bad they do not follow their own conscience and repent and receive Christ Jesus for themselves. What, and be with those hypocrite Christians? Who is the hypocrite? One has the righteousness of Christ, one does not. They are holding the truth in unrighteousness.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Lord God, thank you for the witness of our conscience and your word. Especially for our super conscience, the Holy Spirit which guides us into all truth, We have no excuse if we do not follow you, we have all these witnesses to guide us. We will follow Jesus, in His name I pray, amen.
Spiritual Jew
Rom 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
Rom 2:18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
Rom 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
Rom 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
The Jew that knows the law and trusts on it, that has confidence that he is a guide of the blind, the light of the darkness. This sounds good, the word is truth and light, but is the law able to save?
Last night on the internet, a Jewish Christian was quite a nuisance, tailing me and quizing me on the details of the Torah, the first five books of Moses in the Old Testament. He was judgmental, skeptical, relying so much on the superiority of the Torah. Also quite deaf to my replies.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
The law cannot save you from sins, but it convicts you of sins.
Rom 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Rom 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Rom 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
Proud boasters of the law, are they keeping the law? No, they cannot, only Jesus did. Jesus was not at all impressed with these proud leaders who professed the law, but did not keep them.
Mat 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Mat 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Mat 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mat 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Mat 23:30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Mat 23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Mat 23:32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Mat 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
Strong language Jesus uses for the boasters in the law, the proud arrogant leaders.
Lord God, we cannot boast in ourselves, or our law keeping, but wholely trust in Jesus Christ. We can only fail apart from him. You have not given us a Spirit of division and strife, but a Spirit of unity and peace. May we be loving disciples eager to help others. In Jesus name.
Rom 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.
Rabbis taught that Abraham sat at the entrance of Hell and made certain that none of his circumcised descendants went there.
But circumcision (or baptism - or any ritual in itself) doesn't save anyone; Egyptians circumcised their boys, and Ishmael, the son of the flesh, was circumcised
Rom 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
Rom 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
This is an argument for a person who has had no contact with the law of God, or a knowledge of the savior, still God has placed in their conscience his will of right behavior. God will judge them accordingly.
We are judged by the heart, by God. An outward ritual cannot guarantee a changed heart. Nor can an outward act defile the heart and soul. If a non- Jew receives Christ and his heart is cleansed, he becomes circumcised in heart.
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Yes it is a cleansed forgiven heart made possible by our relationship with Jesus. He is our Lord and savior.
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Jesus becomes our best friend, friends are important, we become like them.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Thank you Jesus for your atoning death on the cross. It is by faith in you we are made pure in our heart. You have cleansed us from sins stain. Lord remove satan's darkness of pride, confusion, fear, ridicule, defilement and thoughts of death. Replace the bad with your Holy Spirit and your cleansing word. Jesus makes all things new and pure! Amen
Gary
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