Romans 2

All of humanity stands guilty before a holy God because of our serious and problem of sin. Yet somehow, even though we ourselves do the things that we condemn in others, we imagine that somehow we need have no concern about our guilt before God. Yet when we agree that others are guilty according to God's Law and we ourselves do te same things they do, we are actually passing judgment upon ourselves.

How is it that we try to contend for our innocence? How do we suppose that we will escape the judgment of God? One possibility is that we might presume upon the fact that we are a people who have been chosen by God for his mercy. If we truly have received the Lord's mercy, this cannot be an excuse for avoiding the call of God to repentance. Is it possible that we are only storing up for ourselves more guilt for the Day of Judgment every time we condemn others for the things that we ourselves do?

Here is an amazing fact to ponder: Even though Paul teaches us that our salvation is only by grace through faith, he also clearly teaches that God’s righteous judgment will be a rendering to each one according to his works. The true man of faith receives the mercy of God given to him in Christ, and that mercy leads him to true repentance. It is never an excuse to continue in sin. His grace is not meant to be a theological hiding place for the man who simply decides to continue in licentious living. It is a new power for life and love that yields the surrender of true gospel obedience. This is the pathway of eternal life. The way of hypocritical and self-seeking immorality only leads us to God’s wrath and fury. It is a counterfeit of true grace.

This is true for Jews and for Gentiles. Again, how is it that we contend for our innocence before God and our acceptance by God? Is it through our identification with a religious tradition apart from the obedience of faith? Is simply being a Jew enough for salvation? Is it enough to have heard the Law of Moses, even if one is guilty according to the Ten Commandments? Having heard the Law does not save anyone. It is the doers of the Law that are righteous before God. If a Gentile could somehow be judged to be a doer of what the Law required, then he could be counted as righteous, even if he had never heard of the Law. Such a person would show that the Law of God was somehow written upon his heart.

A day will come when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus the Messiah, and it will not be enough of a defense for our obvious sin to say to Him, “I am a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Someone might say, “I hear God’s Law, I rely on God’s Law, I love God’s Law, I approve of God’s Law, I teach God’s Law.” None of this is enough. Do you do God’s Law? Or do you break God’s Law like everyone else? How will you stand before God? Have you had any idolatry or adultery in your heart and in your life? Do you covet and steal? How will you be forgiven for these things?

Are you counting on a religious ritual to make your defense before God? Will he be satisfied by a mark in the flesh made by some person. Circumcision was a great sign ordained by God. It was a ritual that was a commitment to keep the Law. But to take pride in circumcision while disobeying the Law is like boasting in your wedding ring while pursuing another man's wife. There is no outward ritual that will be a good defense before God in the absence of the inner reality to which that outward sign testifies.

Somehow we need to be found to be keepers of the Law in order to be right with God. We need the circumcision of the heart, a true seal of approval from God Himself. These are things that can only come to us as gifts. Jesus Christ came as the one true Jew, circumcised in the flesh, but also completely circumcised in the heart. As the real Israelite, living in the complete consecration of perfect holiness and in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, he came not to condemn the world but to save it through His own death for us. Through Him, even those who have no outward circumcision can be counted as having righteousness. By His power, we can even become living displays of faith and love.

Hypocrisy and ceremonial pride have never been acceptable to the Father. We have sinned against Him deeply. Yet a Redeemer has come from the heavenly Zion to save us. He is a true Jew, and His righteousness is full and sincere. This is the One who has willingly shed His blood for our salvation.