[Romans Study 6-3]
Not Just Hearing But Doing [Romans 2:1-16]
Faith And Works
“God,” said Paul, “will settle with each man according to his deeds.” To Paul, a faith that is not revealed in deeds is a travesty and a parody of true faith. In fact, it would not be a faith at all. Paul’s reasoning is that the only way to see a man’s faith is by his deeds. One of the most dangerous religious tendencies is to consider faith and works as entirely different and separate things. There is no such thing as faith that does not reveal itself in works, and there are no works that are not the product of faith. Works and faith are inextricably bound together. As we saw in the last analysis, how can God judge a man any other way than by his deeds? We cannot comfortably say, “I have faith,” and leave it at that. Our faith must have deeds, for it is by our deeds we are accepted or condemned.
Going a step further, our actions should follow our hearts. “Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ ‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.’ ’Which ones?’ the man inquired. Jesus replied, ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’ All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?’ Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Matthew 19:16-30)
Jesus teaches us when we practice the life of love, our life will remain eternal. Selling what I have and giving it to those in need, this is the practice and life of love. Jesus says that participating in the life of love rather than keeping formalities will bring eternal life.
Love And Action
If we are going to attribute our sentimental, loose, unjust and unrighteous notions of love to the everlasting Godhead, then we place ourselves in a most precarious position. The love we’re looking at is not the love of the fallen world but it is love in its purest form: the love of God which mankind should strive to resemble. The love of God is seen in its fullest in Christ’s death. Love is not just a notion but it is action. The one who loves will be responsible for his love. Just like a loving mother will do all her child’s chores, love never closes her eyes before her beloved. Love requires sacrifice. The greatest sacrifice of God was shedding the blood of His Son for sinners who could not even comprehend such an event. Love that God has shown us is action, it is sacrifice.
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 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.) 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
Written Law Vs. Unwritten Law
A man will be judged by his fidelity to the highest law that it was possible for him to know. Paul is saying that God gave everyone a law: a written law to the Jews and an unwritten law to the Gentiles. Although only the Jews had their Law written down, the rest of the world was given God-implanted, instinctive knowledge of right and wrong. That is in other words, a conscience.
There is a law written on the heart. For Gentiles, in their God-created natural disposition, they are a law unto themselves. Everyone knows something of right and wrong, good and evil.
No one can claim exemption from the judgment of God. The Jew cannot claim exemption because he has a special place in God’s plan. The Gentile cannot claim exemption because he never received the written Law. The Jew would be judged as one who had known the Law; the Gentile would be judged as one who, though he had no written law, had a God-given conscience. God will judge each man according to what he knows and has the chance to know.
Even The Secrets Of Our Hearts
“This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.” (2:16)
Paul is now talking about the world of the gospel where people’s secrets will be judged. Through the gospel all the hidden things of men’s hearts and all the inner-most recesses of their souls will be exposed. All things are laid naked and bare before God’s eyes. (Hebrews 4:13) God will judge our secrets, the sin in our hearts. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. No one can avoid His gaze, which is a part of His love towards us.
Suppose a man loves a woman dearly. Because he loves her so dearly, he does not want her to be defiled with even the smallest blemish. In the same way God loves us so much that He does not want the darkness of sin to enter to our heart. We should realize this earnest heart of God for us. He wants both the external things and the invisible things as well. He wants our inner-most thoughts and motives to be fundamentally resolved. With this love, we should sincerely repent of the deep sin in our hearts and live following His light of truth.
[Questions]
1. Based on today’s message reflect on this statement: “Paul is, in effect, saying to the Jews: ‘Do not think that the fact that God does not punish you is a sign that God cannot punish you. The fact that God’s punishment does not immediately follow sin is not a proof of the powerlessness of God; it is a proof of the patience of God. You owe your lives to the patience of God.’”
2. Based on the teaching from today’s message answer this question: “What is to happen to the people who lived in the world before Jesus came and who had no opportunity to hear the Christian message?”
3. “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”” (1:17)
“God will repay each person according to what they have done.”(2:6)
“Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”” (Matthew 19:21)
Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”” (John 8:10-11)
“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”” (1 Samuel 16:7)
Explain the meaning of the following key phrases based on what we have learned so far in connection with the above Bible verses: ‘faith and works’; ‘love and action’; ‘the Gospel and the heart of man.’
4. Share an occasion that you commit any of the sin which Paul pointed in today’s passage, if any. What are the lessons you learned today not to repeat the same sin?
[Prayer]
Through God’s word we’ve come to know of God’s love. Let us who have realized your love look into the sin inside of us and repent, so that we may bear the fruit of righteousness. We do not want to show contempt for your love and forgiveness, but give thanks for your love that knows even my deepest secrets.
As we have studied the Gospel, we have learned that it is the love of God at its fullest and that we should not take advantage of or show contempt for it.
We have learned that you will repay each person according to what they have done. On the day of divine judgment actions are decisive. This doesn’t mean that grace and faith are nullified, but rather this means that we ought to truly know the Gospel and live out the Gospel in our lives. The life worthy of your grace—this is the kind of life we must live and this is where you have led us to.
God’s love shines everyday into our hearts. It is like the Sun that shines on both the evil and the good. You are a just and fair God. Let us be not only the hearers of your word but also the doers. May we be called righteous as we accept your unconditional love for us and may our actions be fruits of our love for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Republished with permission from Dr. Christy Tran, the author of “The Epistle to the Romans: Paul’s Love Letter from God.”