Romans 2:14-29 Giving God A Bad Name

Romans 2:14-29 Giving God A Bad Name

A Purposeful Digression 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) ~Romans 2:14-15

A Universal Objection How can a good God judge the lost on what they don t know and still be loving, kind and fair? e simple answer: ey know! Nobody has ever been, or will ever be judged on what they don t know but on what they know.

Planted Evidence 1. ey know through creation. What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God s invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. ~Romans 2:14-15

The Teleological Argument rough the majesty, the complexity and the orderliness of the created universe, including our planet, the logical and only conclusion man can draw is, God did this! ; therefore the Creator has right of ownership and rulership over our lives. The design of this world implies a Designer.

Planted Evidence 2. ey know through their conduct. They naturally obey the Law s commands, even though they don t have the Law [proving the law is] written in the human heart. ~Romans 2:14-15 (CEV) God s law, woven into the fabric of man s being, leads people universally to do good. But if that law is not explored, and traced back to God, then the very laws people obey will stand in condemnation of them.

Planted Evidence 3. ey know through their conscience. eir conscience bearing witness. ~Romans 2:15b Guilt is universal; it comes from conscience. The presence of conscience can only be traced to a moral Creator.

Planted Evidence 4. ey know through their contemplation. eir thoughts now accusing, now even defending them. ~Romans 2:15c Law [is written not] on papyrus scrolls or wooden tablets, but is [man s] own reason within the soul, which perpetually dwells with him and guards him and never leaves his soul bere of leadership. ~Plutarch

Here Comes The Judge God will judge the Jews who have the law on what they know of the Mosaic Law. God will judge the lost who have heard the gospel on what they know of the gospel. God will judge the lost who have never heard the gospel on what they know from creation, conduct, conscience, and contemplation the divinely planted evidence around and within them which should unquestionably lead them to their Creator.

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth

21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: God s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. ~Romans 2:17-24

Why The World Blasphemes 1. Because of our moral hypocrisy! You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ~Romans 2:21b Unjust gain Isaiah 56:11 Bribes, exorbitant interest rates, obscene profits Ezekiel 22:12 Unseemly business dealings Amos 8:5 Withholding tithes and offering Malachi 3:8-9

Why The World Blasphemes 2. Because of our sexual hypocrisy! You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? ~Romans 2:22 The circumvention of adultery laws to marry another to whom you are more attracted Matthew 5:32, 19:9 e unrestrained lust that resides in your heart Matthew 5:32

Why The World Blasphemes 3. Because of our financial hypocrisy! You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ~Romans 2:22b To divert funds meant for God s house to use for other purposes To rationalize questionable financial dealings with pagans in order to fund God s work To blend in ethically with unbelievers

In the realm of our personal integrity, our sexual purity and our financial practices, we would do God and the gospel a big favor if we would simply clean up our act. Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words. ~St. Francis of Assisi

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26 If those who are not circumcised keep the law s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?

27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. 28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.

29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man s praise is not from men, but from God. ~Romans 2:27-29

The Jews were resented for their atheism [The Jews are] a race distinguished by their contempt for all deities. ~Pliny The Jews were resented for their unsociability Among themselves, their honesty is inflexible and their compassion is quick to move, but to all others they show the hatred of antagonism. ~Tacitus

Faith That God Praises Whether Jew or Christian you can never be a missionary to others if your attitude is one of contempt for them. True faith that brings the praise of God does not come from cloistered communal living or from acts of piety that appear peculiar to the world. Authentic faith is displayed in an open heart before God and an open door before the world.