Picking things up in Romans 2 and verse 12 where on of my study Bibles give the heading of, "God's Judgment verses the Law." And this has been the bone of contention for the past almost 2000 years now. Is Israel and the Jewish faith wrong or Is GOD the Creator? Do Not for get this one important fact, Jesus stood by the faithfulness of GOD and not his obedience to the Law as He was and is the Law giver. Jesus stood by Hosea and Habakkuk's revelation of Himself and the other Prophets as well as the Psalms.
Romans 2:12-16 "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." (KJV)
Romans 2:12-16 "For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus." (ESV)
Romans 2:12-16 "Ruin and self-destruction are the inevitable results of sin, whether someone knows the Law or not. Righteousness is not a hearsay-thing, it is faith-inspired practical living, giving new definition and meaning and purpose to the (Grace and Love by faith) law. For even a pagan's natural instinct will confirm the law to be present in their conscience and though they have never even heard about the Jewish Laws. Thus they prove to be a law unto themselves. This law is so much more than a mere written code; its presence in human conscience even in the absence of the written instructions is obvious, condemning or commending personal conduct. Every hidden, conflicting thought will be disclosed in the daylight of GOD's scrutiny, based on the Good News of Jesus Christ that I proclaim." ( The ineffectiveness of good intentions and self discipline to produce lasting change, which is real change, will be exposed as being entirely worthless in contrast to the impact of the message of Christ's death and resurrection as representing humanity's death and new birth as our ultimate reference to our redeemed identity and righteous innocence before GOD! In GOD's eyes.) (The Mirror)
Okay, I cannot resist myself I must of need move forward from here with the rest of the truth, story. The second portion of Laws coverage. My own foot notes that I have written in the margin call this area, from verse 17 through the end of 29, "the Political-Religious of man."
Romans 2:17-24 "Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest his will, and approvest (G1381) the things that are more excellent (G1308), being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast (Micah 3:11) of the Law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? (Isaiah 52:5, Ezekiel 36:22-32) "For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written." (KJV)
Romans 2:17-24 "But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve (G1381) what is excellent (G1308), because you are instructed from the law; And if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast (Micah 3:11) in the Law dishonor God by breaking the Law. (Isaiah 52:5, Ezekiel 36:22-32) For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." (ESV)
Romans 12:17-24 "Your Jewish identity does not make GOD your exclusive property, even though you boast in the fact that you have the [1; G1381] documented desire of God [2; G1308] published like an instruction manual in the Law. (The word [1; G1381] dokimatso, comes from document, decree, approve; [2; G1308] diaphero, is from to carry through, to publish [look at Acts 13:49, the word was published throughout].) You promote yourself confidently as a guide for the blind, and a light bearer for those groping about in darkness. You feel yourself so superior to the rest of the world that you promote yourself as the "kindergarten teacher" to the mindless, an instructor of infants, because you believe that in the Law you have knowledge and truth all wrapped up in a nutshell. However, the real question is not whether you are a good teacher; how good a student are you? What's the good of teaching against stealing when you yourself steal? You speak against adultery while you cannot get your own mind off sexual sins. It just doesn't make sense does it? You say idolatry stinks yet you steal stuff from pagan shrines. Your proud association with the Law is ruined every time you dishonor GOD by dodging the doing bit. This has been going on for hundreds of years; it is all recorded in Scripture. No wonder the Gentiles think that your God is no better than any of their philosophers when it comes to living the life the Law promotes." (The Mirror)
In our next visit we will, the LORD willing, look at circumcision of the heart verses the flesh of foreskin. As we head forward through to the tone in chapter 3.
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