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Author: Will

Romans 2:6 – Judgment of Works

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Will

who "will render to each one according to his deeds":

Truth to Learn

Everyone’s works will be judged by God.

Behind the Words

The word translated “render” is apodidōmi, which is made up of apo, meaning “from” and didōmi, meaning “to give.” Hence, it means “to give away” or “to hand out.”

Meaning Explained

By itself, today’s verse makes little sense, but when tied in with the previous verse it makes a lot of sense.

⁵But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶who "will render to each one according to his deeds":

Today’s verse is actually a quotation taken from the Psalms (Psalms 24:12 and Psalms 62:12). The day of wrath and judgment that is talked about in verse 5 is the judgment of the unrighteous (the unsaved.) This will occur at the Great White Throne Judgment spoken of in Revelation 20:12-15:

And I saw the dead, the great and the small, stand before the throne. And books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and hell delivered up the dead in them. And each one of them was judged according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire.

The “if” clause in the last verse (Rev 20:15) is expressed as a first class condition in the Greek, implying that it is true. So this could be paraphrased as: And no one was found having been written in the Book of Life, each was cast into the Lake of Fire. This is part of the evidence that believers will not be at this judgment; only the condemned unsaved will be there.

Paul, in Romans 2:6, is expressing what will happen at this judgment as well. Notice in the Revelation passage that the dead are judged according to their works. That’s exactly what Paul is saying in today’s verse: God will render His judgment to each person according to his (or her) works.

Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our personal savior and Lord will not appear at the Great White Throne Judgment. Our names are written in the Book of Life, not because of our works, but because of belief in His work (on the Cross). That is not to say that our works won’t be judged. They will be judged at the Bema Seat (the judgment seat of Christ) mentioned in Romans 14:12 and 2Corinthians 5:10, where we will be rewarded for our good works.

Application

Just because you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior doesn’t mean that you don’t have to be actively doing godly works. We all need to be busy building up the body of Christ, doing the deeds He has called us to do. Get to work for Him!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:5 – A Storehouse of Wrath

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Will

But in accordance with your hardness and your unrepentant heart you treasure up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

Truth to Learn

On the Day of Judgment God will show His wrath rather than His mercy.

Behind the Words

The word translated “hardness” is skleroteta, from which we get our medical term sclerosis, meaning hardening. It literally means “hardness like a stone” but in reference to our heart, as it is here, it refers to “stubbornness or obstinacy.”

The word translated “unrepentant” is from the Greek ametanoeton, which is a compound word made up of the privative a, meaning “not” and a form of metanoeō, which means “to have a change of heart, to change one’s thinking, to repent.”

The word translated “treasure up” is a form of thesauridzō, from which we get our word thesaurus, meaning “a treasury.” The notion is of storing up or hoarding things simply for the purpose of having them. This word is in the present active indicative form, implying present action. Paul is saying, “you are continually hoarding up wrath for yourself.”

Meaning Explained

Paul has just informed his readers that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance without which we would never respond properly to the result of our sin. All sin is abhorrent to God, and He must exact the payment for sin, which is death. Through His own goodness, however, he draws us to repentance, which is necessary in order to receive the forgiveness of our sins through the blood of His own Son. So we see that not only does God provide the payment for our sins (for which we have no one to blame but ourselves), but He also draws us to that payment by leading us to repentance.

Unfortunately there are many who will refuse to be drawn to repentance because they are too proud and will not submit to the sovereignty of God. For these, Paul now explains what will ultimately happen.

He says, “because of your stubbornness and refusal to repent you are hoarding up wrath for yourself.” This wrath will come, “in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” If you read through the book of Revelation you will see that our loving God will one day pour out His wrath upon the sinful, unrepentant inhabitants of this earth. And, the ultimate result of that wrath will be the casting of unrepentant souls into the lake of fire.

Those who refuse to submit to God’s authority will be given over to all kinds of sinfulness, as we learned in the previous chapter. They will also receive the judgment for that sinfulness in the Day of Judgment. Only when it is too late will they realize that they were wrong and that they were fighting against the all-powerful Judge of the universe.

Application

Let us not be that way! Instead, let us voluntarily submit to Almighty God and repent of our sinfulness, claiming the blood of Christ as the payment for our sins.

So, what will it be; Pride and Punishment or Submission and Mercy? The choice is yours to make today! Don’t wait!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:4 – God’s Goodness, Not Ours

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Will

Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Truth to Learn

Our salvation is a result of God’s goodness, not ours.

Behind the Words

The word translated “despise” is kataphroneō, which is made up of kata, meaning “against” or denoting evil and phroneō, meaning “to think.” Hence, kataphroneō means “to think evil of.”

“Riches” is translated from ploutos, based on a root meaning “fullness.” It refers to the fullness of possessions.

The word “kindness” is from krēstotēs, meaning “moral excellence, kindness, or goodness.”

“Forbearance” is from anochēs, which is based on the word anechō, made up of ana, meaning “up” and echō, meaning “to have or hold.” Anochēs means “forbearance, self-restraint, or patience.”

The word “longsuffering” is from macrothumia, which is composed of macros, meaning “long” and thumos, which refers to “anger, fierceness or wrath.” This word refers to God’s ability to hold back His fierce wrath for a long time.

“Repentance” is translated from a form of metanoeō, made up of meta indicating “a change of place or condition” and noeō, meaning “to think or comprehend.” Hence we see that this word refers to a change in the way we think about something.

Meaning Explained

Now, putting this all together we find that Paul is asking, “Do you think evil of the great value of God’s moral excellence, His self-restraint, and His holding back His wrath, ignoring the fact that God’s moral excellence is what leads you to repentance?” What Paul is saying is, “God is very patient and suffers the pain of our sin against Him. And because He is so good, instead of squashing us like ants, He actually takes us by the hand and leads us to an attitude of repentance!”

The picture is like that of a loving father who, when his son or daughter has done something wrong, takes the time and effort to lovingly explain the effect of their wrongful action so that they realize they have done wrong and tell their father they’re sorry, asking for forgiveness. The real beauty of this is the fact that without God’s longsuffering and patience and His loving, leading way, we would not repent. For, as Paul says, “the kindness of God leads you to repentance.”

Our sin nature is ever present and it is powerful. Without the greater power of God through His kindness and without His willingness to hold back His righteous anger against our sins, we would not repent of our sinfulness. And without this repentance we would not be saved from our sins.

Praise be to God for His kindness!

Application

If this doesn’t cause you to fall to your knees with a prayer of thankfulness to God for His kindness, then you don’t underestimate the effect of your sinfulness in the presence of a holy God. God must judge sin, but He loves you as His precious child.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:3 – The Universal Judge

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Will

And, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, do you think that you will escape the judgment of God?

Truth to Learn

God will judge us all.

Behind the Words

The word “practicing” is from prassō. As we learned a few verses back this means, “to perform an action continually, repeatedly, or habitually.” It is a picture of a musician practicing his or her instrument over and over. It is expressed here as a present participle indicating current, on-going action.

“Doing” is translated from the Greek verb poieō, meaning “to make or do.” It is different from prassō in that it implies an occasional action rather than a habitual one. This word, however, is also expressed as a present participle indicating a current, ongoing condition. Hence, it refers to ongoing occasional action.

Meaning Explained

Paul is talking about the tendency for the Roman Christians to be judgmental of the pagan Romans who constantly engage in sinful practices while these mostly Jewish Christians are guilty of committing many of these same sins. He is warning them that God will judge sin and sinfulness no matter whether it is an occasional sin or a habitual sin. To God, sin is sin!

Paul is teaching these Roman Christians (and us as well) about another condition of the human mind. He just showed us that finger pointing is self-condemning because we tend to see in others what we do ourselves. But also, we all have a tendency to excuse our own actions. After all, we know why we do these things, and we can easily excuse them in our own minds. Besides, we don’t do these things very often, and yet we see others doing these things over and over again.

Let’s not miss the point here. It would be easy to read this passage and say, “We shouldn’t care how others live and we certainly shouldn’t be judgmental.” But that’s not what Paul is saying. He’s saying that before we condemn others for their sinful actions, we need to look inwardly and deal with our own sin. Clearly the sin of harlotry is one which is easily condemnable, but when Jesus was confronted by those who wanted to stone a woman (the legal penalty for adultery) caught committing this sin, He responded:

He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. (John 8:7b)

In other words, our tendency to judge others does not absolve us from guilt and the consequences of our own sin; in fact, it increases our own condemnation.

Paul is going to teach these Christians that it is not important to prove who you are descended from; rather, it is important to demonstrate who has adopted you. That is to say, faith, not heredity nor legal obedience, is the key to salvation and a fulfilled Christian walk with God. We do not, nor did we ever, earn this salvation, either by action or inheritance. It is a gift that flows from the kindness of God. That’s what makes it so precious!

Application

The next time you see someone acting in a way that you know is wrong, remember that God is the Judge of all mankind, and He will execute His judgment according to truth, not according to appearance.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:2 – Certain Truthful Judgment

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Will

But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.

Truth to Learn

God will certainly judge sinners, and He will do so based on truth.

Behind the Words

The word translated, “we know” is oidamen, a form of the Greek word idō, meaning “to see with perception.” By implication it means “to know” or “to be aware of.” This word is used here in the perfect tense. The Greek perfect tense indicates past completed action with an ongoing effect, but the emphasis is on the ongoing effect. The best example of this is the expression, “He is risen.” Christ arose from the dead (a completed action in the past) with the ongoing effect being that He is alive today forever more. With oidamen, it’s like someone explaining something to you that you already know and you respond with, “I knew that!” What you really mean is that you know it and you have known it for some time because you learned it sometime in the past. That is, it’s not new knowledge to you.

Meaning Explained

Paul has just warned anyone who critically judges another regarding some sinful practice that they are guilty of doing the same thing. We noted in yesterday’s verse that the word for “judges” means “to judge between good and evil,” and that it was used in such a way as to imply condemnation. That’s how we humans tend to judge other people, and it’s not always based on fact but on emotion.

In today’s verse Paul says “we know that the judgment of God is according to truth.” The word translated “judgment” in this verse is from the same root as the word “judges” in the previous verse. It’s another of Paul’s frequent play on words. What he is saying is that God’s condemning judgment (unlike man’s condemning judgment) is according to truth. Those who sin against God will be judged someday, and their judgment and subsequent condemnation will not be based on God’s emotion, it will be based on the truth of their sins.

Because these Jewish Roman Christians were brought up in the Jewish tradition, they have always known that the judgment of God is according to truth. Throughout the Old Testament we see examples of God judging sinners for their sins, and we see that such judgment is always according to truth. This is portrayed so strongly that it became a fundamental doctrine of the Jewish faith.

But, to the Jewish mind, there is a secondary meaning of the expression “according to truth.” Not only is His judgment based on truth, He will truly judge. There is a certainty of His judgment and no one who sins against God will get away with it. He will truly judge everyone’s sin, if not in this life then certainly at the Great White Throne where all sinners will appear at the end of life. Thanks be to Jesus Christ whose blood paid the penalty of that judgment on our behalf! Through His sacrifice we are saved from that judgment.

Application

Let’s not wait until later to pray about our own condemning judgments of others. Let’s commit to each other that we will pay close attention to what Paul is teaching us and ask God to forgive us when we are judgmental of others. While we’re at it let us thank God that Jesus paid the penalty of our judgment!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:1 – Judgmental Revelation

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Will

Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who judges, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who are judging practice the same things.

Truth to Learn

Don’t be judgmental of others. It reveals your own sins.

Behind the Words

The expression, “without excuse” is from the Greek anapologētos, which is a compound word made up of a meaning “not or without” and a form of apologēomai, which means “to apologize or to excuse.” Anapologētos means “without excuse or inexcusable.”

“Judges” is translated from the Greek word krinō, meaning “to judge between good and evil.” It can refer equally to a judgment of innocence or of guilt.

The word “condemn” is from katakrinō, which is made up of kata, meaning “against” and krinō, which we just looked at. This word means to judge against, that is, to judge as guilty.

Meaning Explained

Because of all that has been said up to this point, Paul says, “you are without excuse” The one who is inexcusable is the person who is judging another.

But why would Paul say that anyone who critically judges another (for that’s what kind of judgment he’s talking about) is inexcusable? Here’s why according to Paul; when we criticize others for certain sinful practices, we are condemning ourselves because we do the same thing. Paul is exposing a fact of human nature of which we are all guilty. The things that we are the harshest in condemning others about are the very things that we are guilty of doing ourselves.

He has just rattled off a whole long list of sins that come from our sin nature. At this point he says, “Now, don’t be too critical of others who do one or two of these things because they are the very things that you are guilty of.” It’s sort of like that expression, “When you point a finger at someone else, there are three others pointing back at you.”

Paul is specifically talking to the (predominantly) Jewish people in Rome who have become Christians. The Jews were particularly adept at pointing out the problems with the Gentiles and the fact that the Gentiles were not of the promised seed as the Israelites were. In the previous verses the Jews of the day would have clearly recognized the Gentiles and their rejection of God. In the following two chapters of this letter, Paul will systematically explain to these Jewish Christians that being a physical descendent of Abraham means nothing, but faith means everything.

But let us not get so caught up in condemning the Jews of the first century that we fail to recognize that we, every single one of us, are also guilty of Paul’s accusation in this verse.

Application

The next time you hear a brother or sister being judgmental of someone else, stop and realize that you are learning something about that brother or sister.

Even more importantly, the next time you are judgmental of someone else, stop and realize that you are telling someone else about yourself.

Ouch! That hurts, doesn’t it?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 1:32 – Rejection Fellowship

Posted on July 28, 2017 by Will

who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them but also approve of those who practice them.

Truth to Learn

Those who reject God are comfortable with others who feel the same way.

Behind the Words

“Knowing” is translated from the Greek word epiginōskō. It is made up of epi, meaning “upon or over” and ginoskō, meaning “knowledge.” Hence it is more than mere knowledge about something, it is knowing upon something. In other words, recognizing or realizing the truth about something.

The words, “righteous judgment” are a translation of dikaiōma, which roughly means, “a righteousness proclamation.”

The word translated “practicing” is a form of prassō, meaning “to perform an action continually, repeatedly, or habitually.”

The words “approve of” are from the Greek word suneudokeō, a compound word made up of sun, meaning “together,” eu, meaning “good” or “well” and dokeō, meaning “to think.” So we see that suneudokeō means, “to jointly think well with others “or “to take pleasure along with others.”

Meaning Explained

Paul now gives a final word of condemnation concerning those who deny God. He says that those who reject Him are not only filled with all kinds of sinfulness, but they also know better. Paul says they know the righteous judgment of God. That is, they recognize, or realize, that God has already proclaimed something to be true.

And that something is explained in the next phrase, “that those practicing such things are worthy of death. “ These God haters know that those who do the things they are doing (not just occasionally, but repeatedly) are guilty of sins that are worthy of death in God’s mind.

But Paul doesn’t stop there. He says that these people not only do these things themselves, but they take pleasure in others who do the same. So what Paul is telling us is, not only do these people realize what God thinks of the things they are doing habitually (that such sins are worthy of death), but they feel gratified with others who practice such things as well. In other words, they feel camaraderie with other sinners who are doing the same things.

The interesting thing is that when these people are in the presence of someone living a life submitted to God, they don’t feel camaraderie, they feel conviction! They don’t want the light of God shining on their darkness. This is precisely what our Lord said regarding those who reject Him:

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their works were evil. (John 3:19)

When we witness (either by word or by deed) to those who are sold out to sin, it convicts them and they don’t like it (or us).

Application

Now let me ask you a question, “When you are in the presence of people whom you know are living in defiance of God, do they welcome you, or do they want you to leave?”

Think about it!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 1:31 – Paul’s Pun

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Will

undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

Truth to Learn

We all fight a battle against our own sinful nature.

Behind the Words

“Undiscerning” (asunetous) – without insight or understanding, unintelligent, foolish.

“Untrustworthy” (asunthetous) – breaker of a covenant or agreement, treacherous.

“Unloving” (astorgous) – without family love, hard hearted toward kindred, especially toward ones own children.

“Unmerciful” (aneleamonas) – Unmerciful, not compassionate.

Meaning Explained

Paul now completes his list of characteristics that fill the mind of those who reject God. But, before we look at Paul’s meaning, notice his use of alliteration (all these words begin with the Greek letter alpha). Also, his word choice of the first two (asunetous and asunthetous) is actually equivalent to our modern day pun (same or similar sounding words with vastly different meanings). Paul, it seems, had a sense of humor!

This verse ends an extensive three verse list of selfishly sinful characteristics. I dare say there are few people, if any, who display all of these characteristics. It’s bad enough that they should be filled with only a few. This is the sin nature at war against God Himself, a sin nature that we all have. And, this is a description of Rome at the time Paul was writing. Seneca, one of the purest moralists of Rome, who died in 65 A.D., says of his own time:

All is full of criminality and vice; indeed much more of these is committed than can be remedied by force. A monstrous contest of abandoned wickedness is carried on. The lust of sin increases daily; and shame is daily more and more extinguished. Discarding respect for all that is good and sacred, lust rushes on wherever it will. Vice no longer hides itself. It stalks forth before all eyes. So public has abandoned wickedness become, and so openly does it flame up in the minds of all, that innocence is no longer seldom, but has wholly ceased to exist.

Our own society is heading that same direction today. It becomes more obvious with each passing year. We Christians must maintain a witness and not be sucked into these same characteristics. But only through the power of the Spirit can we resist our natural sinful tendencies to do all of these things.

Application

Take a few minutes to go back over this entire list from verses 29 through 31 and honestly ask yourself if you have a problem with any of these things. I’m sure with most of them, when you read them you will say, “I would never do that!” But there may be one or two of these that are a problem for you.

If so, take the time to confess them to God and ask for the power of His Holy Spirit to give you victory over them so that your witness will shine like a beacon in the night!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 1:30 – Active Hatred

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Will

slanderers, God haters, insolent, arrogant, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Truth to Learn

Those who reject God and show an open hatred for Him are fools.

Behind the Words

“Slanderers” (katalalos) – One who openly slanderers others.

“God haters” (theostugēs) – (theos) God + (stugeo) to hate or abhore – one who hates God.

“Insolent” (hubristēs, from which we get our English word “hubris”) – Arrogant insulter, insolent persecutor of others, one who shames or humiliates another.

“Arrogant” (huperēphanos) – (huper) above + (phaino) to shine – arrogant and proud.

“Boasters” (aladzōn) – boaster, bragger.

“Inventers of evil things” (epheuretas kakōn) – inventers of bad things or of worthless things.

“Disobedient to parents” (goneusin apeitheis) – to parents – unwilling to be persuaded, unbelieving, disobedient.

Meaning Explained

Paul continues his list of characteristics of the mind filled to the brim once God has surrendered those who reject Him to their own sinfulness.

We can see many of the characteristics that we were guilty of ourselves before we were saved and to which we gravitate when we are not under the control of the Holy Spirit. The first one is very similar to the last one in yesterday’s list. The difference between whisperers and backbiters is primarily a matter of volume. By that I mean that whisperers go quietly behind someone else’s back and say gossipy things (it doesn’t matter whether they are true or not). Backbiters, on the other hand, are more brazen and their message is always negative.

The worst of these listed in today’s verse, I suppose, is “God haters.” This word means not just to feel hatred but to show hatred as well. That anyone would openly hate the all powerful Creator of all things and the Judge of all mankind is foolish. It is also the most self-condemning action a person can do. To disbelieve in the existence of God is one thing, but to hate God you have to believe that He exists, otherwise there is no object of your hatred. Remember that Paul began this part of his message back in verse 20 where he said,

For the invisible things of Him are clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood by the things that are made, both His eternal power and Godness, so that they are without excuse,

According to this, there really is no such thing as an atheist (one who doesn’t believe that there is a God), only those who claim to be atheists. One day at the Great White Throne Judgment they will stand before the very God they claim doesn’t exist (the one they hate) and they will be condemned to eternity in hell for their unbelief!

Application

Christians should exhibit the extreme opposite of the people being described here. The most obvious of our actions should be a love for God. Do your actions demonstrate an active love for the one who has given you eternal life?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 1:29 – Stuffed With Sin

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Will

being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,

Truth to Learn

When we reject God we are filled with all kinds of sin.

Behind the Words

“being filled with.” (plēroō) – to fill-up completely. The sense is that it is filled up as completely as possible, stuffed full. It is expressed here in the passive voice, meaning that it is something that was done to them.

“unrighteousness” (adikia) – that which is not conformable with justice, or that which is wrong.

“sexual immorality” (porneia) – The root of the English word pornography – fornication, lewdness, or any sexual sin.

“wickedness” (ponēria) – evilness, wickedness, maliciousness, of an evil disposition.

“covetousness” (pleonexia) – covetousness or greediness and, by implication, fraudulency or extortion.

“maliciousness” (kakia) – badness. That is, wickedness as an evil habit of the mind.

“envy” (phthonos) – envy or jealousy. Particularly the pain felt at the sight of excellence or happiness of someone else.

“strife” (eris) – strife, contention, or constant arguing.

“deceit” (dolos) – to bait, implying trickery, deceit, and fraud.

“evil-mindedness” (kakoētheia) – bad character or disposition.

“whisperers” (psithuristēs) – secret slanderers.

Meaning Explained

In yesterday’s verse we learned that since these rejecters of God did not what to retain God in their knowledge, He surrendered them to a condition where they became incapable of making good judgments. The result of this is that they do those things which are inappropriate.

Paul now says that these people, after they were surrendered by God to a mind incapable of discerning what is right, were then filled with a host of personal characteristics as described above. Is it any wonder that the foes of God in this world will go to any length to discredit and destroy the church and anyone who professes a relationship with God? And this is only a partial list of personal characteristics of those who reject God.

Lest we get too high on our own pedestal, however, let me remind you that all of us are capable of these things. They are part of our sin nature, and any of these things can rear its ugly head in any one of us when we get away from that close relationship with God, our Father. The difference is that we know God, and we can confess our sinfulness to Him, knowing that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one, whose blood cleanses us from all sin.

They, on the other hand, have rejected God and have no one to turn to for cleansing or mercy. And someday they will face the Judge, the One whom they have rejected!

Application

We can all think of people who are filled with one or more of these selfish sins, perhaps even people in the church! But let’s all look at our own lives and ensure that we are not controlled by any of these things. And, instead of shaking our finger at others in a condemning manner, let’s pray for them.

In God's service, for His glory,