Romans 3:21-26 - Righteousness by Faith

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,
22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

***

God's Righteousness is Shown

V. 21 - “the righteousness of God has been manifested” - God’s righteousness has been clearly shown (See: Rom. 1:17-21), and then testified to (“witnessed”) by the Old Testament scriptures. This is echoed in Heb. 2:3,4. God told us, and others saw what He has done and also told us.

V. 22 - “through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe” - His righteous nature is demonstrated again for our benefit in the advent, life, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If no one can be justified by their actions or following the Law there is no hope to come to God. Working your way to God is more impossible than jumping across the Grand Canyon on a motor cycle. 

In His righteousness, God does not require you to do the impossible. He has provided the way - Christ Jesus. Our only access to God is through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved... " (Acts 16:31) Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.“ (John 14:6 )

“for there is no distinction” - This the first part of a parenthetical statement, second part is in verse 23. When it comes to meeting God's standards there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles. "No distinction" equals you cannot tell them apart, both are lost.

V. 23 - “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” - The last half of the parenthesis. Paul spent the majority of the letter to this point on this subject. The world is depraved. The chosen people of God have fallen short. There is no excuse because we know what sin is. “There is none righteous, not even one.” (See: Rom 3:10)

V. 24 - “being justified as a gift by His grace” - This part of the sentence is tied to the first half of verse 22. All who believe will be justified. When I committed my life to Christ, a mnemonic I learned was “Justified = Just-As-If-I-had-Never-Sinned.” This does not mean I have never sinned. It means the penalty is paid - Jesus is my advocate and sacrifice. The penalty, death, has been paid; God considers that I have not sinned. It is a gift from God to me. The gift is given by His grace, not by obligation.

“through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” - In the Old Covenant, a person indentured to another could be purchased or redeemed by a relative (this is the concept of a ‘kinsman redeemer’) by making the payment of the debt. When the payment was made, the person was free from the debt. In the New Covenant the debt is our sin. That sin debt was described by as a certificate which was nailed to the cross. (See: Col. 2:14)

V. 25 - “whom God displayed publicly” - The sacrifice that satisfied God’s justice, in paying for our sin, was not done in secret. In truth, Jesus’ life and ministry was public. The trial, in the Sanhedrin, at Pilate’s palace, the torture, the execution and death were horribly public. A significant reason for the Roman method of execution was the humiliation of the criminal and his family. The crucified were often left for days after death as a grim reminder and lesson. Interestingly, even though Jesus was despised by the Jewish leaders, they were adamant that Jesus would be taken down and buried before that day was finished, so Jewish rules and customs would not be violated.

Jesus was executed on Friday, was taken down and buried before sundown (this made it possible for Him to be buried before the Sabbath day started). The high priest asked Pilate to guard the tomb so Jesus’ body wouldn’t be stolen. The Jewish leaders did not believe Jesus was the Messiah, nor that He would be resurrected, but they were taking no chances. If his body disappeared from the tomb by nefarious means His followers could falsely claim resurrection.
What irony! The very thing they guarded against - an empty tomb - happened anyway, and with credible witnesses. (Who in their right mind would accuse the Roman soldiers of lying? Think of the trouble the Roman guards were in, when the very thing they were assigned to guard against happened!)

“as a propitiation in His blood through faith” - The image here is the sprinkling of blood on the mercy-seat of the Ark of the Covenant by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. (See: Lev. 16:14-15, 30.)
His blood cleanses us from all our sins when we through faith believe in Jesus. His death paid for all sins, but is only efficacious for those who accept the gift. Compare these two verses from Isaiah: “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him...” (Isa. 53:6) “As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities.“ (Isa. 53:11b) The emphasis: all versus the many. All of human sin fell upon Jesus on that cross. "Many", but not all will be justified because they believe in Him.

“in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed” - God shows His patience. See: “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” (1 Tim. 1:16 ) God "passed over"; i.e., the sins were still there, but He does not see them.

God did not ignore sins committed. God withheld execution of His judgement on sin until after the crucifixion. In Hebrews, in the “Heroes of Faith Hall of Fame” we can see rewards delayed, so to speak: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.” (Heb. 11:13) And, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Heb. 11:39-40)
The faithful believed God would honor their faith. Note that they will be made perfect when we are made perfect. We are not perfect as yet, and must wait until Christ returns and all is completed. Likewise, judgement for sin is certain, but not yet completely executed. Sins committed before the advent of Christ, will be judged on the basis of belief and faith in God, for Jews and Gentiles. After Christ’s death and resurrection judgement is based on belief and faith in Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.

V. 26 - “demonstration... of His righteousness at the present time” - I repeat, God shows us His righteousness through Christ. He shows us now. Not ‘now’ as in 17-Mar-2019, nor in the year 67 A.D. He has done it this one time, and it counts for all time - one sacrifice one time for all. It never will need to be repeated. He has done it for me, and it is effective now, the moment I believe and accept Him.

“He would be just and the justifier” - We want an honest legal system. We do not want a criminal to go free if they have committed the crime. We reject the idea of an innocent person being convicted because the jury is rigged. God commanded that judges rule fairly. (See: Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:16-17) We also want that the Law is applied with no regard to class, race, wealth, or political affiliation - no respecter of persons. This same desire is even more true when applied to eternal matters.
God has also solved the other problem that faces us - we are incapable of meeting God’s righteousness with our own. We are as dirty rags when compared to His holiness. We are doomed. Payment must be made for sin. God therefore provided the payment. We do not need to do it; we cannot do it.
Justice must be served. God satisfied the penalty. He is the justifier. As noted above, Faith in Jesus Christ is the means. The lyric to a hymn says it well:
Living he Loved Me, Dying he saved me
Buried carried my My sins far away
Rising he justified me, Freed me forever
One day he's coming back. Glorious day.

***

Romans 3:19-20 - Bound by Law

19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;
20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

***

The Law is Still There. But, We Are Under a New System

V. 19 - “Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;

“whatever the Law says” - Gentiles are not responsible to follow the commands of the Law. The Law was provided to the Jews. The Gentile world does not need to complain about the Law, and the difficulty of following the Law - it does not apply to Gentiles. This does not mean that Gentiles may live and do as they please, violating all principles of the Law, getting away scot-free. 

all the world may become accountable to God” - How can the world be held responsible if the Law does not apply? It could be argued that people may not know and understand what God requires of us if the Law was not written down. That may be weak, but it will be used. Now there is no excuse, so shut your mouth, quit complaining. The information is available to any who would look for it. “The truth is out there.” (See note 1) What it, the Law, does show is that God has standards of behavior and living for humans. Only in the Law is it clearly spelled out. 

V. 20 - because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

“through the Law comes the knowledge of sin” - We see the foundation of moral law, starting with the 10 commandments . We see how to relate to people through the ‘civil’ portion of the Law. Sin has been defined as active rebellion or passive indifference to God’s laws. There could easily be a warning at the beginning of the Law: “Sins include, but are not limited to the following:”. 

Sinful acts are shown to be lying, murder, adultery, stealing, respect, false worship, etc.
Now you know.
If you want to say, “But, what about...” you are trying to parse the commands to rationalize your behavior.

Dr. Toussaint from Dallas Theological Seminary points out the Law has three (3) parts:
Ceremonial - sacrifices, offerings, etc.;
Civil - governing the nation of Israel;
Moral - the 10 Commandments (he calls this ‘theonomic reconstruction’).
This is the Old Testament system. Even though nine of the Ten Commandments are written in the New Testament, we are not under any of it. The New Covenant is a different system. The Old Covenant offered no enablement. What the Law could not do was provide a way to flee to grace. We flee to grace through the cross to eternal life.

***
Note 1: quoted from “X Files” TV series.
***

Romans 3:9-18 - No Fear of God

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";
14 "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";
15 "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."
18 "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."

***

All Are Under Sin

***

V. 9 - “Are we better than they?” - I struggled for a while with this statement. Who is the ‘they’? Who is the “we”? Look at the line of argument in 1:18 - 2:29. The world (Gentiles) is depraved. The Jews are without excuse. Their history, their Law and circumcision are of no benefit. The last statement is hyperbole - The Law cannot and does not save your soul for eternal life. The Law does emphasize that God's grace is needed - grace provided Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. Does that make Christians better than Gentiles or Jews? Are Jews better than Gentiles?

“Not at all.” - That was simple. Does it matter if someone is Jewish or not? No. Does it matter if you are an American, or Canadian, or German, or Arab, or Hispanic, or Indian, or Black, or Asian? Of course not. We all stand before God without hope except for Jesus Christ.

Verses 3:10-18 are all quotes from the Old Testament, Psalms and Isaiah, to show that no one is innocent of sin.

V. 10 - Quoted from Psa. 14:1-3, 53:1-3. No one does good. No one understands God.

V. 11-12 - Quoted from Psa. 14:2, 3. Everyone turns away from God. All their efforts to meet God’s standards are useless.

V. 13 - Quoted from Psa. 5:9, and Psa. 140:3. Because they do not understand God, they are lying to themselves and others. Nothing good comes from an open grave.

V. 14 - Quoted from Psa. 10:7.

V. 15-16 - Quoted from Isa. 59:7. Like marauding bandits, they cause people to die. Because of their teachings, we are led away from saving grace.

V. 17 - Quoted from Isa, 59:8. In Christ we have the peace of God and peace with God. There is no other path.

V. 18 - Quoted from Psa. 36:1. They do not understand God (v. 13, above) They do not know they are in danger. Not recognizing their impending doom, there is no fear. If you step to the edge of the Grand Canyon there is a slight frisson, for you know a misstep would lead to a fall and death. For some reason they do not sense the danger.

***

Romans 3:3-8 - Our Unrighteousness Demonstrates Our Need

3 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?
4 May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found 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 demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.)
6 May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world?
7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?
8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), "Let us do evil that good may come"? Their condemnation is just.

***

V. 3 - “What then?” - Paul asks a relevant question, “ So what if I don’t believe in God? Doesn’t that mean His judgements have no meaning or consequence for me?”

Are you kidding me?!

“nullify the faithfulness of God” - This attitude, “What does it matter if you think I am depraved? It’s just your opinion. Besides, you said not to judge. So, don’t judge me! It is only my opinion of myself and my actions that matter.” This is the stuff of folly. We think we are the ultimate end of all creation, we make the final decision. There is no other opinion to consider. In effect we “nullify” God.

The meaning of “nullify” is to invalidate, or to make an action ineffective or useless. God has said He will bring judgement to those who sin against Him. (Ultimately, all sin is against God, not just your fellowman.) Do you think your choice to reject Him will stop that judgement from being enacted?
Does God say, “Oh, you don’t believe in Me? Okay. I guess I will let that slide.” That makes no sense. God cannot go against His own rulings and laws. He has said, “The person who sins will die.” (Eze. 18:4, 20) He also said, “The person who lives righteously will live.” (Eze. 18:21) Equally important, "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num. 23:19) He said it. He will make it so.

V. 4 - “May it never be!” - An emphatic, “NO!” Or, “Not only, no, but H___ No!” Just as there are laws that govern the physical universe, there are laws that govern the spiritual universe. I cannot step off a 10th floor balcony into thin air because I decide I don’t believe in gravity. It does not end well for me, and will always be so. Denying the sovereignty of God cannot end well for us.
Do not try to convince yourself you are worthy because of how 'good' you are. God's laws are inviolable. It is only through Jesus Christ that our sins are forgiven, and there we can stand before the Lord without fear, in perfect peace. We are safe; we are saved there in Christ.

“let God be found true” - I don’t think this is an appeal to put God on trial. This is not, “Is God telling the truth?” Instead, open your eyes and see that God is true. Open your hearts and know within your soul and spirit God means what He says. Believe God is Holy and Righteous.

Are you going to believe God, or people around you denouncing God? Paul uses quotes from Psa. 116:11 (... all men are liars.), and Psa. 51:4 - (when You judge, You will be found righteous and justified. ) to answer the question.
We will only be able to meekly say, “You are correct, Almighty God!”, when we stand before His throne and He lays out our sins for all to see. At that point we can fall to our knees and worship because Jesus has paid the penalty. He died that we may live. He rose to life that we may live with Him. "And all the people said, 'Amen!'"

V. 5 - “if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God” - It does! The comparison is a 4th of July sparkler to a thermonuclear blast; a candle on a hill, to the noonday sun. Those comparisons are too weak.

We have the ‘purity of the driven slush’ (* see note 1, below.). There is no impurity in Him.

“God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He?” - What is mental image of ‘wrath’? Rage, vengeance, wanton destruction, anger run wild? God’s judgement is often called ‘wrath’ in scripture. (See: John 3:36) We want to see ‘justice’ in our American jurisprudence system. Most want the bad guys to be found guilty and punished; the innocent to be found not guilty and have no blot on their record. We want the justice system to be fair and correct. We want the justice system to be honest; the judgments trustworthy. If we think the judges are dishonest, we can’t trust the sentences announced. This brings us to the next verse.

V. 6 - “how will God judge the world?” - If God is not righteous, is He any different than a human? If no different than a human, how are His judgements valid?
l God is not a human. He is a Holy and Righteous God! (See: Lev. 11:44-45)... He will judge everything! (See: Eccl. 12:13-14; Heb. 4:13)
God is bigger than the world. We cannot pass judgement on Him.

V. 7 - “But if through my lie the truth of God abounded” - Look back to verse 3:4 where every one is identified as a liar. What is the lie? Here are a few: “We aren’t depraved.” “We don’t deserve judgement.“ “We are Jews, and therefore are good.” 
The truth is, we are all lost to sin, with no escape on our own.

“why am I also still being judged as a sinner?” - So, if God is holy and righteous and I am held captive by sin of which I cannot escape, why is God holding it against me? The cry is, “It’s not my fault!” I think Paul is guiding us to the understanding that starting or being in sin is not the only problem. Staying in sin is the problem. God has provided the means to escape the sin. If you reject His offer, the problem is you, not God.

V. 8 - "Let us do evil that good may come" - Basically, it goes like this: “If we need God’s grace and forgiveness for the little bit (!) of sin we have done, then think of how much more grace will come if we really go over the top. If forgiveness is needed because I am angry at the idiot driver on the freeway, think of how much more forgiveness is given if I kill someone. Why stop at one, why not kill hundreds, thousands? Then I will know I have ‘earned’ the grace!”

This is a perverse line of reasoning. 

The human mind reasons: “This sin is worse than that sin.” We see gradations. God does not. God does not demand we be good, but that we be perfect, blameless. We know murder is bad and deserves judgement. God's standard is beyond our reach: don’t even be angry with another person. (Matt. 5:21-22) We know adultery is bad and deserves judgement. Again, the standard is far beyond our ability to attain it: don’t even have lustful thoughts. (Matt. 5:27, 28)

We fall woefully short of perfection.

“Their condemnation is just.” - A strong, angry statement. Paul is responding to an attack on his character and authority as an apostle. Someone in Rome is accusing Paul of condoning hedonism in order to get more grace from Jesus. He has been slandered. This is similar to his letter to the Galatians. (See: Gal. 1:8-9; 5:12), and sounds exactly like a judgment. Compare this statement to Rom. 2:1,2. These false teachers may go to hell for what they are saying. They deserve it; it is not an unfair line of reasoning. Paul is not passing judgement. He cannot; he is not God. But he can speak out to warn the people of their wicked ways so they can repent and be saved. (See: Eze. 3:18-19)

***
* Note 1: paraphrased from Dorothy Parker.
***

Romans 3:1-2 - The Advantage of the Jews

Paul starts to wrap up the premise: We are all broken people, sinners in need of salvation. We cannot do anything to save ourselves, our sin stands in the way. Sin cannot be overcome by our actions.

The chapter can be divided into four paragraphs, with some sub-divisions:

3:1-8 - Our unbelief does not change God’s purposes.
   3:1-2 - Advantages of being a Jew
   3:3-8 - Unrighteousness Demonstrates Our Need
3:9-20 - No Fear of God
   3:9-18 - No one is innocent
   3:19-20 - Bound by the Law
3:21-25 - Righteousness is:
3:26-31 - Justified by Faith.

***

1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision?
2 Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

***

Advantages

V. 1 - “Then what advantage has the Jew?” - We just finished a section in which Gentiles were found to be depraved because of their disobedience. The Jews claimed to acceptable because they were Jews, and circumcision proved it. Paul says, “So what? You may have the Law and circumcision, but if you don’t obey, it is as if the Law and circumcision does not exist.”

The question immediately arises, “Why bother?” If the Jews are as guilty as Gentiles, are there any positive aspects of being a Jew?

V. 2 - “Great in every respect.” - He was proud to be a Jew, a Hebrew among Hebrews. (See: Phil. 3:4-6) Yet he knows they have failed in honoring God. So, what is the advantage of being a Jew? This is not a rhetorical question.

“They were entrusted with the oracles of God.” - Gentiles had to deduce about God from what they see around them, in the universe, in nature, in the miracle of life. The Jews did not have to guess about God. They did not have to ponder, “Is this the right way, or is that?” They did not have to come to a philosophical understanding of what was expected. We think of ‘oracles’ in terms of ‘fortune telling’, a medium who gives enigmatic answers to questions, sometimes using crystal balls, or reading palms. ‘Oracle’ can also include authoritative or wise statements or predictions. An ‘oracle’ can also be a command from God, or a revelation from God. Jews did not have to wonder. It was made fairly clear. “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Deut. 5:7)

Moses implores the nation in his last speech: "Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other. ‘So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time.’" (Deut. 4:39-40)

God gives them a choice: life or death - "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. "But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. ‘I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.’" (Deut. 30:15-20)

Later, God speaks to the Northern Kingdom through His prophets. What does God expect? See: “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic. 6:8)

And the Lord offers this lament through the prophet Zechariah, “But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing. They made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.” (Zech 7:11-12)
***

Romans 2:25-29 - Circumcision

In this paragraph Paul saws off the final leg of the step-stool the Jews use to raise themselves up to show they are superior: circumcision. (No pun intended.)

***

25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

***
To sum up how we got here:

• The whole world is depraved because God has been rejected. Instead of being wise, we are fools. (Rom. 1:18-32)
• Some object to being called depraved, but we are without excuse. We will be judged fairly, based on our behavior. (Rom. 2:1-4)
• Others will say having the Law separates them from the depraved. That is of little help for we will be judged for our sin, whether under the law or not. (Rom. 2:5-16)
• Some will say knowing and teaching the Law shows we are not depraved. Except your lives show that you have contempt for God’s laws, and bring derision upon God. (Rom. 2:17-24)
• Finally, the claim that we must be special because we have the sign of circumcision, practiced since Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So, see. We’re good.

Paul says, “Not so fast, my brothers. Hold on, let’s look at that claim.” (Rom. 2:25-29)
***

If You Keep the Law

V. 25 - “ For indeed, circumcision is of value ” - This paragraph had to be a slap in the face, a fist on nose wake up for the Jews! (See also: Jer. 4:4) I think the Jewish attitude was “We are good because we are Jews. Circumcision proves we are good. We have it. Gentiles do not.”

This is not to pick on the Jews. Christians can make the same error. If we say we are good because of baptism, communion, or church attendance the same approbation falls on us. Baptism is of value if you follow Christ. The worship song is not “You will Know we are Christians by our Baptism”. It is “They will know we are Christians by our Love” (based on the scripture: John 13:35; 1 John 3:1, 4:8, 5:2). It is fairly clear that Christians are not to put any value in the flesh. We are saved by our spiritual act of surrender and worship, not the mutilation of our bodies. (See: Phil. 3:3; Col. 2:11).

Circumcision became a symbol long before the Law was given. Abraham was commanded that his descendants were to bear this sign. Gen. 17:10; 21:4. God was not so interested in the physical act of circumcision. He wanted their hearts changed, cutting off of the old rebellious attitude and adopting one of love for God. Look at Deut. 10:16, “circumcise your hearts...” because God chose you (through your ancestors) Deut. 10:15. God wants you to love Him, and will cleanse your heart (circumcise) that you may do so. (Deut. 30:6)

“ But if you are a transgressor ” - You uncircumcise yourself. The symbol or image means nothing if you don’t follow the doctrine and faith that supports the symbol. I am not sure about the implication of the word ‘transgressor’ in the Greek; however, it seems to indicate this is not a one-time-thing. A person may make a mistake, and thereby break the Law. If you are a serial-mistake-maker it is a pattern of transgressing the Law, a way of life antithetical to the Law. This is borne out in the next verse.

V. 26 - “ if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law ” - The ‘keep’ is talking about guarding so you do not become despoiled, you are kept safe from harm. Guarding requires attentiveness and being alert. Standing watch in war time or in a battle was serious business - the lives of your fellow soldiers are your responsibility. It is a crime to fall asleep while standing watch.

V. 27 - “if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you” - WHAT! A Gentile will judge a Jew! That is insane - at least it was unthinkable to Jews. A non-person passing judgement against one of God’s own? I do not think this is about judging suitability for heaven. That is above any of “our pay grades”. Before we get self-satisfied and pleased that Gentiles may pass judgment of Jews go back to the beginning of this chapter, verses 2:1-4. “you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else... you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things. Now we know that God's judgment is in accordance with truth... do you think you will escape God's judgment?“ Gentiles have no grounds on which to be proud. We need the grace of God, we have done nothing to meet God’s justice. Only Christ can do that.

The point: no one, not Jew nor Gentile, is capable of standing before the Lord. You may not be depraved, but you are a sinner and will be judged. You think you are a special person because you are God’s people, whether Jew or Greek. This buys you nothing. If you live as if you don't believe in Christ, or live as if you don’t believe in the God of the Passover, then what good is it for you to claim to be Christian or Jew?

How we live is driven by what we truly believe in our minds and hearts. Our behavior does not happen by accident, our actions are started by a spark in our mind, formulated and planned there. The decision to act is made there. (See: Jam. 1:13-16; Matt. 15: 11, 18-20; Luk. 6:45-49) Jesus asks what good is it for you to call him Lord, and not obey His commands.
In reality, not one of us has any standing by which we can claim to pass judgment on another.

V. 28 - “he is not a Jew who is one outwardly ” - We (humans) put great value in outward appearances - otherwise super-models, actors and actresses would not be worshipped as they are. God does not worship us. (Compare: 1 Sam. 16:7 with 1 Sam. 10:23-25). Surely, David’s brother, Eliab, was to be king for he was good looking. Except, God was not paying attention to the physical appearance. By the way, King Saul was a big strapping man, regal in appearance. A lot of good that did him...

V. 29 - “circumcision is that which is of the heart ” - Paul takes us all the way back to Rom 1:17-19. That which is known about God is evident. And professing to be wise, they became fools. That which pleases God comes from the heart tuned to Him, not the outward appearances. (See: Phil. 3:3; Col. 2:11)

“By the Spirit, not by the letter” - The thousands of pages of laws written in our country are demonstrating the ‘need’ to identify in writing every possible infraction. There are ‘Speed Limit 25 mph” signs in almost every neighborhood. There are ‘Speed Limit 20 mph During School Hours’ near schools. It is not enough to tell people ‘Don’t Speed’ - their hearts are fastened on what-they-want-when-they-want-it. The safety and needs of others is unimportant. The sermon this last Sunday was on the 10 Commandments (Exo. 20:3-17; Deut. 5:6-21). The emphasis is on your relationship with God - what you can do for and with Him. The emphasis is on your relationship with other people - on how you treat them.

***
End of Chapter 2

Romans 2:17-24 - Your Actions Betray Your Lack of Faith

Or: Jews Who Do not follow law. ***

Paul continues on this thought train - we all need Jesus. Up to this point any reference to the Jews has been tangential. Paul began to focus on the Jews and the Law in the last paragraph when he notes that Gentiles may follow God’s Law without actually being Jewish. But what about the Jews who do not follow God’s Law? Paul has an answer...

***

17 But if you bear the name "Jew" and rely upon the Law and boast in God,
18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,
21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
24 For "THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written.

***

You Claim to be a Jew...

V. 17-20 - “if you bear the name ‘Jew’" - The sarcasm here is so intense, it is a wonder the ink did not eat through the paper (parchment?). Look at the accusations Paul lays before the Jews.

You Jews claim that you:
- Rely upon the Law
- You know God
- Know His will
- Approve things that are essential
- Are instructed from the Law
- Are confident you are a guide to the blind
- Are a light to those in darkness
- A corrector of the foolish
- A teacher of the immature
- Have the embodiment of knowledge and truth

There is a certain amount of schadenfreude as we see Paul grab the Jews by the front of their shirt and slap them silly. In truth, Paul’s words hit too close to home for Christians. We also take a holier-than-thou attitude in dealing with others. Look back to verses 2:1-2 - We are without excuse. Jesus also warned us. See Matt. 7:3-5; Luk. 6:41-42.

You can almost hear the Jews proclaim, “We are Jews! We cannot be depraved! After all, we have the LAW!”

V. 21 - “do you not teach yourself?” - Do you pay any attention to what you are saying? You claim you can teach others what they need to know. Where’s the evidence you have learned from your own teaching? 

Paul gives examples in the following verses:

“Do you steal?” - Example number one. Commandment number 8, (Exo. 20:15). God chastises the Jews, accuses them of stealing from Him. How? They steal when they do not offer the proper tithes. They are cheating God out of what is due Him. (See: Lev. 19:13; Psa. 50:18; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 7:11; 15:5; 23:14-20)

V. 22 - “do you commit adultery?” - Example number two. Commandment number 7, (Exo. 20:14) Is adultery a serious sin? It must be, since it is one of the 10 given to Moses to teach the people of Israel. Beyond that, we see many times in the OT disloyalty to God is treated as adultery. Adultery is sex outside of marriage - a married person having sex with someone to whom they are not married. (Sex between unmarried people is generally considered fornication. It still a sin.) Worshipping false gods is seen as adultery because it is a breaking of the close personal relationship that should exist in marriage. God describes the Jews as the ‘bride of the Father’, and the church as the ‘bride of the Son’. In this sense adultery ranks as important as “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exo. 20:3)

God considered divorce the same as adultery - the breaking of the marital commitment. Why then did divorce exist - because we are weak, and prone to sin. (See: Psa. 50:18; Matt. 5:27-29, 31-32; Matt. 19:4-9)

“do you rob temples?” - Example number three: This offense is less clear to me. God did give the instruction to the Israelites to leave the gold from the Canaanite idols alone. He did not want them defiled by the idols. (See: Deut. 7:25; Josh. 7:21) I am not sure how this applied to the Jews of the first century A.D. It is hard to imagine Jews entering temples of false gods. Perhaps the Jews were doing business, selling and buying, with the temples and cheating them in the process. (That is speculation.)

V. 23-24 - “do you dishonor God?” - Example number four: You show contempt for the Law by your selective obedience. James says it clearly: “If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, "DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY," also said, "DO NOT COMMIT MURDER." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.” (James 2:8-11)

“THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU” - (This is a paraphrase of Isa. 52:5, and Eze. 36:20.) God acts to preserve His reputation among Gentiles. They see how Israel acts and thereby lose respect for the God of Israel. God tells David directly his sin has besmirched God’s name. (2 Sam. 12:14) The punishment Israel receives in exile is the result of their dishonor of God. (See: Isa. 52:5; Ezek. 36:20ff) Paul reminds the church of this in his letter to Timothy. (1 Tim. 6:1)

God is not glorified when our actions refute our professed belief in Him.
***