January 27, 2020

Romans
Chapter 2
NIV

Who: the Apostle Paul
What: Writing to the church in Rome
When: After Christ
Where:  commentary says he wrote while on a mission journey
Why: God is the only Righteous Judge

This chapter focuses on those who have the knowledge of the law. It is very tough. Like a steak it's hard to chew. It takes time to swallow. But it's truth. Why did God give the law? What is God's purpose? He doesn't want us looking down on each other. The purpose of the law is too bring people to God but when we judge others we are in a wrong position.....The writer is direct and firm. No matter if we sin with the law or without God has a inner way of letting us know the sin is wrong. Abel did not have to chase Cain around. God showed a difference in the way he blessed them and he told Cain while he was angry if you do good, good will come to you. We cannot abuse each other with the law. Cain and Abel was before the law.

God can help folks when he judge.

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

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 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

1. Judging others is too condemn oneself
2. God is the righteous judge
3. It's easy to see what is wrong with others but we fail at see  whatis wrong with us.
4. We do not have the ability to see another man's heart
5. We don't need a man's judgement because we have a conscience.
6. If you sin under the law you perish
7. If you sin with out the law you perish. The law is in our thoughts still. Somehow we feel and know when we are going against God's laws. 
8. Those who have the law the law  the law will condemn them when they sin ( not a man) if they have it it comes to their thoughts. 
9. If you never read the bible your thoughts and conscience would condemn you
10. The Jews had the law
11. The Gentiles had it in their hearts (right and wrong)
12. To Judge someone is too sentence a person.

The Jews and the Law

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in 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 little children, 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 boast in 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.”[b]

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 So then, 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[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

1. If you call yourself a leader or teacher it is vital to do what is taught.
2. It is not enough to have the knowledge.
3. Circumsion was According to Genesis, God told Abraham to circumcise himself, his household and his slaves as an everlasting covenant in their flesh, see also Abrahamic Covenant. Those who were not circumcised were to be "cut off" from their people.
4. It was a physical sign you belong to God. 
5. But Paul says there is a circumsion of the heart
6. Then the honor will come from God and not man.           

I just want to say we don't know why a person does what they do. We can never judge another. Life is so mean and people are born into circumstances that cause them to sin. If you use the law to bring people to God it's beautiful but if you use it exclude people as if they are not good enough it's wrong. This video is cheesy but it's true. If you saw the movie it was about a church. The elder saints judge and attack the younger saints. The younger people wanted to do better. Can we be patient with people? The heart needs to change not just the behavior. Change the heart you have won a soul. The song says I'm trying my best sometimes people are trying and stoning them makes it harder. God can work on the inside.