Posts

Romans 2:22 – A Living Example

Posted on August 29, 2017 by Will

You who are saying not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?

Truth to Learn

Practice what you preach (or teach).

Behind the Words

The word translated “adultery” is moicheuō, which is based on moichos, referring to a man who seeks out a female for sex. This is distinctly different from pornē which refers to a woman who sells herself to a man for sexual pleasure.

“Detest” is translated from bdelussō, which comes from the root bdeō, meaning “to stink.” The word bdelussō means “to turn away from something that stinks” or “to detest something.”

The words, “do you rob temples” come from a single Greek word hierosuleō. This is a compound word made up of hieron, which means “temple” and a form of sulaō, meaning “to rob, to spoil, or to steal.” So, although a literal translation of this word means “you rob temples” it is used to denote someone who uses something that is consecrated to God for his or her own private use.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul chastened the Jewish Christians in Rome for needing the teaching of the Scriptures just as much as those to whom they were teaching it. In this verse he gets even more personal saying, “You who are saying not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery?”

Though many of the readers of this letter would have said, “No, I don’t commit adultery,” as Christ pointed out in His sermon on the mount,

You have heard that it was said to the ancients, “Do not commit adultery.” But I say to you, everyone looking at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27, 28)

So, even though they may not have committed an act of adultery, in God’s book they were guilty of it even if they had thought lustfully about someone of the opposite sex other than the one they are married to.

The second part of today’s verse is a little more difficult. It says, “You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?” According to the Jewish historian Josephus, it was not uncommon for Jews (and Christians) to destroy or desecrate temples of idolatry and then to plunder some of the riches which had been brought by idol worshippers. Even in Acts, when a couple of Paul’s traveling companions were brought before a crowd in Ephesus, it was said in their defense,

For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. (Acts 19:37)

Paul’s message, continued from the previous verse, is that the Roman Christians were quick to tell others what was wrong, but they were just as quick to do that which they told others not to do. Recall what he said about judging, back in verse one? He is saying essentially the same thing here about teaching.

Application

These Roman Christians were apparently fond of saying, “Do as I say, not as I do.” However, the proper Christian attitude is, “Learn what is right and wrong by watching me!” I wonder how many of us could say that.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:21 – Preaching by Example

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Will

You, therefore, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who are preaching not to steal, do you steal?

Truth to Learn

Obeying God’s Word is more important than teaching it.

Behind the Words

The word translated “teach” is didaskō, which is a prolonged form of a primary verb daō, meaning “to know” or “to teach.” Didaskō specifically means “to teach or instruct by word of mouth.”

“Preach” is translated from the Greek word kērussō, meaning “to herald, announce, or proclaim publicly.” It is especially applied to “preaching, publishing, or proclaiming a religious truth or doctrine.”

The word “steal” is translated from kleptō, meaning “to steal.” It is the root of our English word kleptomaniac, which refers to someone who has an overwhelming compulsion to steal.

Meaning Explained

As we said yesterday, this is the verse where Paul starts his toe stompin’. Previously, he has been showing the Jewish Christians in Rome how privileged they were to have had the sacred Scriptures and how proud they were because of it. Now he points out that having and teaching the Law are not the same thing as obeying the Law.

He starts off with, “you, therefore, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself?” The implication is very clear. They were in need of the teaching just as much as those to whom they were giving the teaching. Likewise, he says, “You who are preaching not to steal, do you steal?” Again, the obvious answer is that they were guilty of doing the thing they were preaching against.

When we were looking at verse thirteen of this chapter of Romans, we noted the similarity between what Paul was saying and what James said in his letter:

But become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)

But now let me take a little bit of liberty with verse thirteen and express it as Paul might have after having given today’s verse,

For not the teachers of the Law are just with God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

It’s bad enough that these Jewish converts to Christianity were more focused on listening to the reading of God’s word than on doing it. It is even worse that they were teaching others the truths of God’s word without practicing them themselves.

Christians have been entrusted with the sacred Word of God. By God’s grace our eyes have been opened and we know that the Bible is truth. Our commission is to share this truth with the world around us. But, we must be careful that we don’t simply preach and teach the truth without living it as well.

Application

Let’s continue to proclaim God’s gospel message to the entire world, but let’s also commit to redoubling our efforts to being totally obedient to God’s Word. May our obedience to God’s Word be our witness to the rest of the world!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:20 – Giving Truth Away

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Will

an instructor of foolish ones, a teacher of infants, having the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

Truth to Learn

We have the truth and we are to freely give it away.

Behind the Words

The word translated “instructor” is the Greek word paideutēs, which is the verb form of paidagogos, from which we get our English word “pedagogue” meaning “an instructor.”

“Foolish ones” is translated from the Greek word aphronos, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “without” and a form of phrēn, which metaphorically refers to “the mind” or “intellect.” Hence, aphronos means “someone without intelligence.”

The word translated “infants” is the Greek word nēpios, which literally means, “someone without words” or “someone who can’t speak.” In Biblical Greek it refers to “a baby.”

“Form” is a translation of morphōsis, which means “an appearance or an impression.” Today, when we see a computer simulation of an image changing gradually into another we say that one image has been “morphed” into the other. The appearance of the first has been changed into the appearance of the other.

Meaning Explained

Paul has been describing the arrogance of the Jewish Christians who believed themselves to be justified in that arrogance since they were Jews, descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; since they had the Law, the Holy Scriptures; and since they could know the will of God and could distinguish the good from the bad through the instruction they had from the Law. Because of all these things, they believed themselves to be spiritual guides to the spiritually blind Gentiles, and they believed themselves to have the light of the truth for the world.

In today’s verse Paul is saying that the Jewish Christians in Rome also believed themselves to be instructors and teachers of the unintelligent and the immature. Several verses back Paul said that the Jewish Christians in Rome were arrogant, and he implied that he was going to deal with that pride. Paul is now setting them up for a rude awakening. You see, any devout Jew or Jewish Christian would be nodding in agreement with Paul in these verses because they knew what Paul has been saying is the truth.

Paul now starts to turn the tables on them. In the last part of today’s verse he says that they “have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Law.” It would be clear to Paul’s readers that he was not saying that they possessed knowledge and truth from the Law but that they simply appeared to have them, while in reality they didn’t have them at all.

In the next verse Paul will begin to do a little toe stompin’ as he points out the problem with this Jewish arrogance.

Application

As we have said before, there is no place for arrogance among Christians. We are servants of His Majesty, the King of Kings. Our responsibility is to humbly proclaim His truth to the world. He has entrusted His truth to us, and we are not to hoard it but to freely give it away.

How much of His truth have you given away lately?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:19 – Shine the Light

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Will

and are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

Truth to Learn

Biblical truth is a light to those in darkness. We must share it.

Behind the Words

The word translated “convinced” is peithō, meaning “to convince.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, implying past completed action with an ongoing effect with the emphasis on the effect. Hence, these Christians are convinced themselves that they are guides to the (spiritually) blind and a light to those who are in darkness.

“Guide” is from the Greek word hodēgos, which is made up of hodos, meaning “a way or a path” and a form of hēgeomai, meaning “to lead.” Therefore, you can see that this word refers to one who leads the way.

The word “blind” is translated from the noun form of the verb tuphloō, meaning “to envelop with smoke” or “to be unable to see clearly.” This word is used to describe someone who cannot see but it is also used metaphorically to refer to someone who does not understand some truth.

Meaning Explained

Not only were these Christians in Rome proud of their Jewish heritage and the fact that they had the Law as their guide into spiritual truths, they also believed themselves to be the only ones possessing God’s truth. Because of this, they believed that they were better informed with regard to spiritual truths and, therefore, were the only ones truly able to provide spiritual insight to the Gentiles.

Boy, talk about arrogance! Unfortunately, there are a number of people in Bible believing churches today that have that same attitude. Just because we have the truth in the Bible and have been instructed by great Biblical teachers does not mean that we are any better than anyone else. Let us guard against this sinful arrogance. An interesting thing to note is that the message of salvation was first given to the Jews, according to Jesus. Here’s what He said to a Samaritan woman:

You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. (John 4:22)

However, the Jews forgot that their purpose was to share the good news of salvation, not hoard it to themselves.

The apostle Paul realized that he had a precious message (the truth of the gospel) and that he needed to share it with everyone. However he did not consider himself as better than others or even as more important. On the contrary, he felt that he had an obligation to preach the gospel and that he would be judged if he did not preach it. Here’s what he said in his first letter to the Christians at Corinth:

For if I preach the gospel, no glory is to me, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! (1 Corinthians 9:16)

He knew that the truth he had learned about God was precious, but he did not let himself get arrogant about it. Instead, he shared the gospel message to anyone who would listen.

Application

Don’t hoard the truth. Let’s all share the gospel and other truths in the Bible, but let’s do it with a humble heart, submitted to the God of the Bible and giving Him the glory.

It’s what we all have been commanded to do!

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:18 – Biblical Indoctrination

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Will

and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,

Truth to Learn

Every Christian needs to study the Bible to learn its truths.

Behind the Words

“Will” is translated from thelēma, which denotes “that which has been determined.” The word “His” is not in the Greek text, although it can properly be inferred since “that which has been determined” certainly refers to what God has determined.

The word translated “approve” is the Greek word dokimadzō, which means “to test something with the intent of finding good.” It is the word used with regard to a precious metal like gold when it is tested in fire to determine its value. In this sense it could be translated as “determine.”

“Things that are excellent” is translated from the Greek word diapheronta, which means “those things which are different.” Since the intent of the verb dokimadzō is to find goodness or excellence, it is clear that Paul means that those who have been instructed from the Law are able to discern the things which are good or excellent as opposed to those which are not.

The word translated “instructed” is katēcheō (from which we get our English word catechism). It refers to “formalized instruction in religious doctrine” or indoctrination.

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Paul began a message condemning pride. The early Christians, who were primarily converted Jews, were still hung-up by pride, believing that they were the chosen people of God. He has just said that the Jews “rest in the Law, and boast in God.” He now implies that the Jews know the will of God. By this, what he means is that they have the ability to know what God has determined through the Jewish scriptures (the Old Testament).

As we just saw in Behind the Words, Paul is saying that the Jews (because they have the Old Testament) have been able to test or to distinguish those things which are different. That is, they are able to discern which things are good or spiritual from those things which are evil or carnal. Why are they able to make this distinction? It is because they have been instructed from the Law of Moses and the Prophets. They have had the Holy Scriptures to teach them doctrinal truths.

This verse and those that follow are ones that we as Christians need to give special heed to. Just as the Jews became arrogant because they had the Holy Scriptures, the Law and the Prophets, we need to be careful that we don’t get just as arrogant because we have an even more complete form of God’s word in the Bible. Remember what Paul said back in verse 13? “It’s not the hearers of the Law who will be justified, but the doers of the Law.” But in order to be a doer of what is taught in the Bible, you first have to know what the Bible teaches, don’t you? That means reading and studying. We need to be instructed in the doctrinal truths from the Scriptures!

Application

There are many Christians who claim that they don’t like doctrine and they don’t like studying the Bible. However, if we haven’t learned the doctrinal truths of the Bible, we won’t know God very well, and we won’t understand His will for us.

How much do you study God’s Word?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:17 – No Place for Pride

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Will

Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest upon the law, and make your boast in God,

Truth to Learn

Relying on heritage and obedience to the Law is futile.

Behind the Words

“Indeed” is translated from the two Greek words ei de. Some translations use the English word “behold” as if this was the Greek word ide, but there is no evidence for this in the most reliable manuscripts. The Greek words ei de literally mean “and if,” indicating a conjunction with the previous thoughts and implying a first class conditional clause which means the statements are assumed to be true.

The words “you are called” are translated from a single Greek word, eponomadzō. This is made up of epi, meaning “upon” and onomadzō, meaning “to name.” So, it literally means “to name upon.” It refers to the name upon which other names are added, like a surname that an entire family shares. The word is expressed here in the passive voice indicating that it is a name that others call them.

“Rest upon” is a translation of the word epanapauō, which is made up of epi, meaning “upon” and a form of anapauomai, meaning “to give rest.” Paul indicates that Jews have a blind, mechanical reliance on the Law to produce righteousness.

Meaning Explained

The early Christian believers in Rome, to whom this letter was written, took pride in being descended from Abraham. Many of them believed, similar to the Galatian Christians, that one had to be a Jew and obey the Law before one could become a Christian. Paul has spent the last 5 verses explaining why obeying the Law of Moses does not lead one to righteousness. He now will show these Roman Christians why being a Jew may, in fact, be a hindrance to becoming a Christian.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul made a very bold statement regarding righteousness:

We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ (we also believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified). (Galatians 2:15, 16)

This justification (righteousness) does not come from resting on the Law, it comes by faith. Notice what he says in today’s verse, “you are called a Jew, and rest on the Law, and make your boast in God.” Do you see the condemnation of pride implied in this verse? In the coming verses Paul will deal directly with that pride and will show how it is not external appearances which are important to God, but internal attitudes.

Application

As we have said before, there is no place for pride in a Christian. Pride focuses on self instead of on God. Pride is, in a sense, the very definition of sin. God wants us humbled before Him, relying on Him. Pride does not humble, it lifts self up. Pride does not rely on God, it relies on self. We have a big God, one who will judge the whole world. Let us humble ourselves before the Judge and plead for His mercy through the blood of Jesus Christ. Pride can’t do that. Can you?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:16 – No More Secrets

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Will

¹⁴for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) ¹⁶in the day when God judges the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

Truth to Learn

Even the hidden thoughts and actions of the unsaved will be judged by our Savior.

Behind the Words

The word translated “accusing” in verse fifteen is translated from the Greek word katēgoreō, which is a legal term that means “to speak openly against, that is, to condemn or accuse.” It is what the plaintiff does in a court of law.

“Excusing” in verse fifteen is from the Greek apalogeomai, which is also a legal term. This word means “to defend or speak or plead on behalf of oneself or another before a tribunal.”

The word “secrets” in today’s verse is the Greek word kruptos, meaning “something that is hidden or concealed.”

Meaning Explained

We’ve included the previous two verses with today’s so that you will see the context of today’s verse. Remember, we are talking about the fact that even the unsaved (Gentiles) do some good things, and they know the difference between good and bad as evidenced by their consciences. Yesterday’s verse indicated that the Gentiles will be accusing and excusing one another, and today’s verse tells us when that accusing and excusing will be going on.

Paul is clearly talking about a legal setting where judgment will take place. In today’s verse he tells us when that will be. It is “in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.” This may be a reference to a verse in Ecclesiastes. At the end of Solomon’s search for the meaning of life he concluded:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this applies to all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14)

And in his first letter to the Christians at Corinth the Apostle Paul warned them not to be judgmental, because our Lord is coming who will judge even the hidden things of the heart:

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. (1Cointhians 4:5)

Paul is talking about those who deny that God exists even though there is ample proof of His existence and His power. These will stand before the One they have denied and they will have to explain their actions as well as their thoughts. And on that day even their own consciences will condemn them. They will be without excuse! And … they will be without a savior!

Application

We too will stand before the Judge, but it will not be for condemnation. We will stand before the Bema Seat of Christ where our works will be judged to determine our rewards. The fire will destroy all that was not done for His glory, and what is left is all we will have to show for this life.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:15 – Conscience Conviction

Posted on August 18, 2017 by Will

who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also giving witness, and their thoughts between themselves accusing or even excusing)

Truth to Learn

Our conscience is more effective at controlling our actions than any set of rules.

Behind the Words

The word translated “conscience” is suneidēsis, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and a form of eidō, meaning “to know.” It is that part of our mind that knows, along with our heart, whether something is right or wrong.

“Bearing witness” is from summartureō, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and martureō, meaning “to witness.” In this verse Paul says the conscience is witnessing together with the heart, where the natural law is written.

Meaning Explained

Paul is continuing on from the previous verse where he said that even though the Gentiles don’t have the Law of Moses, they still do things that are good. In today’s verse he is saying that when they do good things their conscience is clean because they know that they have done good. Likewise when they do not do what is right, their conscience witnesses to their heart that what they have done is not right.

This is a significant statement from Paul because, as he said in the first chapter of this epistle, the natural man knows and understands the nature and power of God simply from the creation around him. Now he is saying that the natural man knows, instinctively, the difference between right and wrong. He even goes one step further saying that those without the Law recognize when another person does good or bad and as a result they either accuse or excuse one another. There is a law written in our hearts, to which our conscience bears witness, and it teaches us the difference between good and bad.

Do you remember when the Scribes and Pharisees brought to Jesus a woman who was caught in the act of adultery? The Law demanded that in such a case the woman was to be stoned to death. Jesus initially responded by bending down and writing in the dirt with his finger, pretending not to hear them. As they continued to press him about it he responded by saying:

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

Do you remember what happened next?

Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (John 8:9)

Do you see that? They were not convicted by the Law, they were convicted by their own consciences.

Application

We all know when we have done right and when we have done wrong, even if we don’t know everything taught in the Bible. It’s true that there are some people who don’t seem to have a conscience. They actually have one, but they have denied it for so long that it has become ineffective at directing their actions. But they are not free of their conscience, they are trapped by their sin nature and their conscience has become ineffective.

Is your conscience still working effectively?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:14 – Moses’ Law vs. Natural Law

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Will

for when Gentiles, not having the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law unto themselves,

Truth to Learn

Even those who don’t know the Law can do some good.

Behind the Words

“Gentiles” is translated from the Greek word ethnos, which generally refers to “a tribe” or “a nation.” In Jewish writing it nearly always refers to “non-Jewish people” or “Gentiles,” though it is sometimes translated as “nations.”

The word translated “by nature” is the Greek word phusis, derived from the verb phuō, meaning “to produce from seed.” Phusis refers specifically to “natural birth” and has come to mean “that which is part of a person’s nature.”

Meaning Explained

Paul is now showing the Jewish Christians in Rome that having the Law and living by it is not sufficient reason to feel confident. As he said in the previous verse, simply hearing the Law is not good enough to demonstrate a person’s righteousness; instead one must be a doer of the Law.

Lest we get confused here, Paul is not claiming that any of us can be justified by obeying the Law of Moses or the Ten Commandments. As he will point out later, there is no one who keeps the whole Law, and if we break one of the commandments, then we are guilty of all of them. The only one to keep the whole Law is Jesus Christ. For that reason, he is righteous. In the next chapter of this letter Paul will quote from Psalms 14 as he informs his readers:

As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;” (Romans 3:10)

Yet, somehow the Jews believed that it was possible to keep the Law. This is precisely the notion that Paul is in the process of systematically proving false. To the Jew, and therefore to most of the early Christians, the Law was supreme and keeping the letter of the Law was paramount. That’s how they gauged how good they were.

What Paul is saying in today’s verse is, even though the Gentiles do not have the Law (the Old Testament), they still do some good things. And by doing so they demonstrate that there is a natural law that governs man independent of the revealed Law in the Old Testament. In the next couple of verses Paul will proclaim that the Great Judge will judge the Gentiles according to that natural law, and their consciences.

But salvation (being righteous) can only come by faith. Man is capable of doing good things, but not enough to satisfy a perfect, righteous, holy God. Whether it is the Law of Moses or the natural law, man is incapable of satisfying it completely. And Christians today sometimes develop a mindset that we are good Christians if we keep all the rules of the church. That really is no different from the early Christians believing that they could be saved by keeping the Law.

Application

Obeying God is good. It’s what He wants us to do. It’s what we ought to do, but it won’t save us because we can never be good enough. That’s why we need the grace of God, and that’s why salvation can only come through faith. As Paul will tell us later in this letter, God does not look favorably on the Christian who lives by all the rules; He looks favorably on the Christian who lives by faith.

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 2:13 – Walk the Walk!

Posted on August 16, 2017 by Will

(for not the hearers of the law are just with God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

Truth to Learn

God wants us to be doers, not just hearers.

Behind the Words

The word translated “hearers” is akroatēs. There is another Greek word, akouō, which means “to hear with attention,” that is, “to listen.” But the word that we have in the current verse, akroatēs, means “to listen to something for pleasure, such as a piece recited or sung.”

“Just” is from the Greek word dikaios, an adjective that means “righteous, just, or one who conforms to all the rules.”

Meaning Explained

In the past seven verses Paul has described the judgment that will be meted out to the just and the unjust, the righteous and the unrighteous, independent of who their ancestors were and independent of what they look like because God is not a respecter of outward appearance. He also told us that those who have sinned without the law will perish without the law and those who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law.

Now he makes his next great statement: it’s not the hearers that will be saved (justified before God) but the doers of the Law. These Roman Christians apparently took delight in hearing the Scriptures being read to them. But, it doesn’t matter if you hear the law being read every weekend as these Roman Jews have for years. And it’s not the ones who have been reading their Bibles every day for years who will be justified before God. We are not commanded to read our Bibles or even to listen to good sound doctrinal teaching. We are told to put the teaching into practice.

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

We are admonished in a number of passages in the Bible regarding the importance of doing rather than simply hearing. Here are some of them:

But become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)

Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock. (Matthew 7:24)

Whoever comes to Me and hears My Words, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like. (Luke 6:47)

And you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live in them. I am Jehovah. (Leviticus 18:5)

Application

It’s amazing how many times we are admonished to put action to our faith. Clearly, it is important for us to be reading and studying our Bibles every day in order to learn the truths that God has for us. But reading and studying alone are not good enough.

We’re not commanded to read the words and talk the talk.

We’re commanded to read the words and walk the walk!

In God's service, for His glory,