Romans 3- Light To The Gentiles

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What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged Romans 3:1-4

Many people quote the previous scriptures (Romans 2:28-29) to support their idea that God is done with the Jewish people. However if you continue in Pauls teaching here in Romans 3, you see that is not the case. As we learned you can never be saved by trying to “Keep The Law” or your own works such as circumcision, you must be Born Again in Christ, (John 3:3)  you must be circumcised in the heart. (Colossians 2:11)

However God has ordained and created the Jewish people to be a light to the Gentiles, (Isaiah 49:6) to bring the Word of God into the world, to bring forth the Messiah in the flesh. The foundation of the Church began with the Jewish people, when you reject Israel and the Jewish people, you are rejecting God’s chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6) We the Gentiles, the Church have been grafted into the family of God (Romans 11), don’t let your salvation in Christ produce ignorance and arrogance to Gods chosen people

Now alot of people confuse election with salvation, just because you are elect doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to be saved. Consider the rebellion of Korah, these were Israelites, there were Gods chosen people, yet they rebelled against God and were sent straight to Hell.(Numbers 16:1-40) Consider the rebellion of the fallen angels, they left their positions with God to pursue the lust of the flesh, and they are in the chains of darkness waiting their final judgement (Jude 1:6)

So what advantage has the Jews? They were committed the oracles of God, meaning the Torah, the Word of God. They lived in the presence of the Living God in the Tabernacle and Temple, they seen the miracles and power of God, they brought forth The Christ, God in the flesh, heard his teachings, experienced his miracles, and witnessed his life, death, and resurrection. The Apostles were all Jewish and laid the foundation for the Church today, the Jewish Pharisee, who became the Apostle Paul, shared the gospel to all the Gentiles, so we can be saved. Great love and respect will always be for our Jewish brothers and sisters

As the Apostle Paul questions “Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?, Certainly Not (God forbid) God be True and every man is a liar” Don’t be confused by the blindness of many Jews today, this has been prophesied, in God’s timing Christ will save His Sheep (Romans 11, John 10) Amen

Romans 2- Circumcision of the Heart

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For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. Romans 2:25-29

The grace of God through Jesus Christ is a beautiful and mysterious thing, many have a hard time understanding it by Gods grace we are saved and not by our own works. Consider what the Apostle Paul said  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9) We are saved by Gods grace through our faith in Jesus Christ, its not by our works, its by Christ works that he completed on the cross

So many people have a hard time accepting and understanding this concept of Gods grace, so the topic of circumcision would routinely come up to challenge Gods grace. Now you can substitute circumcision and insert and work that you believe will save you, and while this was a popular debate back in the 1rst century, this same topic is still being debated today. 

The confusion begins as God required circumcision , which is a sign of the Abrahamic covenant, to be part of the Mosaic Covenant. (Leviticus 12:2-3) As the Apostle Paul is saying here “if you are a breaker of the Law (sinner) your circumcision has become uncircumcision” The Jews were under the impression the act of circumcision saves you and makes you righteous being a child of Abraham. However Paul is revealing we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), and nobody can keep the law (Galatians 3:11) therefor when it comes to salvation, the act of circumcision will not save you, only faith in Christ can save you

Many people today still have this same attitude, if I do this and that, I will be saved. But the reality is, all our good works are filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6) we are only saved by the works of Jesus Christ. Then the Apostle Paul teaches us about the circumcision of the heart (Colossians 2:11) As Jesus said “ You must be Born Again or you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) We must be regenerated by the Holy Spirit, we need a new heart and mind of Christ.

 As Paul says here “He who is a Jew (Child of God) who is one inwardly , and circumcision is of the heart,  in the Spirit, not the letter (Law) The only way to salvation is Jesus Christ (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) and not ourselves. The Law is written on our hearts, and we live for Christ because we love and obey him. Some people try to use this scripture to say the Jews have been replaced, that’s not the point of this teaching. Point is we are all Children of God (Jew and Gentile) through faith in Christ and not of ourselves, Amen

Romans 2- Nobody is Righteous

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Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, 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. Romans 2:17-20

Why is the gospel message so offensive to the world? The word gospel means “good news” so why doesn’t the world see it as good news? The reason is most of the world doesn’t see itself as a sinner, in fact most people think they are good people deserving all the blessings from God. However as Gods Law (The Ten Commandments) has revealed, we are all sinners in need of a Savior

The Jewish people believed this lie also, they believed because they were children of Abraham, they were already righteous. Jesus said to them “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32) What was their response “We are Abrahams descendants, and never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say we will be made free?” (John 8:33) Jesus revealed everyone who sins is a slave to sin, including the Jewish people. However even though they were the experts at the Law of God, they didn’t consider themselves to be sinners

This is what the Apostle Paul is saying “Indeed you are a Jew and rest in the law, and make your boast in God” The Jews were given the Law through Moses yet they didn’t even believe the Law applied to them because they were Abraham’s descendants. This is the same with us Gentiles, even though we have knowledge of the Law, as Paul addressed previously, we still sin and disregard 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 of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. Romans 2:21-24

The Apostle Paul, who was a Pharisee himself, points out their hypocrisy. The Jews teach the Law, yet they themselves continually break the Law, which is dishonouring to God. The reality is nobody can keep the Law (Galatians 3:11) The Law reveals that we are all sinners, in need of a Savior, Jew and Gentile. (Romans 3:20) As Jesus said “Nobody is good (morally excellent) except God alone” (Mark 10:18)

Your righteousness comes through faith in  Christ not yourself (Romans 3:22) This is why the gospel is so offensive to the world, this is why the entire world needs to repent and put their faith in The Lord Jesus Christ for salvation (Mark 1:15) Amen

Romans 2- Law Written On Our Hearts

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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;) Romans 2:12-15

Jesus said “Unless you repent, you will all perish” (Luke 13:3) This is a message that is highly offensive to everyone, however God is calling everyone to repentance and to turn to Christ. However the unsaved person will say “I don’t believe in God”, and  “I don’t believe in Repentance” Is this person exempt from the gospel? Can an atheist inherit eternal life simply because they refuse to believe?

The Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, addresses this issue. Paul said “For as many sinned without the law, shall also perish without the law” There are many people who have never heard the Law of God (Ten Commandments) yet they will be judged by the Law of God and will perish. The Atheist will say “That’s not fair, I thought I had an exemption from Gods judgment”  As Paul said “As many have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law”

So this brings up the question, what is the law? The Law is not just commandments, but its Gods nature, as Paul said “The Law is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24) The Law of God reveals our sinful nature, it reveals how far away we are from the nature of God. Consider when Jesus spoke to the Rich Young Ruler, (Mark 10, Matthew 19, Luke 18) the man asked Jesus “What shall I do to inherit eternal life”? What was Jesus’ response? He walked the man through the Ten Commandments, the moral law of God. Why? Because that reveals our sinful nature and our need for a Savior, Jesus Christ

As the Apostle Paul continues on “The Gentiles , who don’t have the Law, by nature do things required by the Law, because the Law is written on their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness” We are all made in the image of God, so because of our nature, we have been born with a conscience, which tells us when we are doing things that are wrong. Even though we may have not been taught the full Law of God, we instinctively know parts of the Law of God.

Let me give you an example, most of us would agree murder is wrong, rape is wrong, stealing is wrong, because the Law is written on your heart, even though many deny their Creator. If you look at most cultures or civilizations, most have the same moral rules, because we were born with a conscience of God

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (v16)

Therefore since we are all made in the image of God, we bear the responsibility of our sins because we have been born with a conscience. There will be no exemption clauses at the judgement seat of Christ, this is why everyone needs to hear the gospel, everyone needs to come to repentance and be Born Again in Christ for salvation, Amen

Romans 2- Wrath of God

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But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Romans 2:5-8

The world will ask “Why do I need Jesus”? What most of the world doesn’t understand is everyday they are storing up wrath against themselves as they continue to rebel and live in sin against God. As the Apostle Paul says here “according to your hardness , stubborn, and impenitent or unrepentant heart” People who refuse to repent of their sins, have a hard heart to God, “you are treasuring or storing up wrath” Everyday you are adding more and more wrath to your final judgement

The world will say “Nobody can judge me” the reality is there will be day of judgement for everyone. As the Apostle Paul says “the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God” People need to understand God will not be mocked, what they reap they will sow” (Galatians 6:7) People believe the lie told by Satan in the garden “You will certainly not die” (Genesis 3:4) The world believes the deception from the Father of Lies, and continues to rebel against God to satisfy the lusts of their flesh, storing up wrath daily

As the Apostle Paul states “Who (God) will render (judge, repay) everyone according to their deeds” This should put the fear of God into everyone, your actions and words will come to light and be judged. So much for the person crying “Don’t judge me”, that person is already condemned by their own sins. As it says in the gospel of John ““He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18) Without Christ you are already condemned because of your sins

However there is good news (gospel) that Christ became flesh and died on the cross to pay for the penalty of your sins (2 Corinthians 5:21) This is why it is the Good News, most people don’t understand why its the best news because they don’t understand they are condemned in their sins already. As the Apostle Paul says here “To them by patience continuance (persistence, perseverance) in well doing seek for glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life” 

Christ will give you eternal life, are you seeking him (Matthew 7:7) Jesus is the only way to salvation (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord, become Born Again (John 3:3) filled with the Holy Spirit , to make you a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7) a new heart for God to love Him with all your mind , heart, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30)   Amen