Romans Lessons #4 "What about 'God's People'"?

What about “God’s People”?

By Pastor Rich Paradis

Romans 2:17-3:8

Thus far in the Roman letter, we have discussed a number of relevant items. We opened with Paul introducing himself to these Roman churches by introducing the gospel message that he was “set apart” to. The conversation continued with a discussion of the sinning Gentile, the non-Jew, and his situation before God. In our last lesson, we were introduced to the ways that God judges. Those ways differ from those of the judging sinner in that His judgment is based on a foundation of righteousness. Let’s continue the discussion now as it relates to the sinning Jew and his situation before God.

I.                   An Analysis of the Jewish Position Before God – Part 1   Romans 2:17-24

a.       Paul undoubtedly had the Jews and moral Gentile in mind when he addressed those that were “judging” in 2:1. But in the passage that followed we had only a few clues that the target group included both of these groups. We had the conclusion of chapter 1 and its continuation to include the “gentile”, but we had to depend on other clues to include the Jews. We had the national pride of the Jews, that would have most likely prompted this type of judgment on others; and we had Vs. 6, which came from the Old Testament and would have been familiar to the Jewish reader.

b.      But we don’t have to wonder at all about who this portion of the chapter is written to. It is revealed in Vs. 17. The focal group here is without question the Jews, God’s chosen people. Again, there would have been tremendous pressure culturally to believe that the Jews, as God’s chosen people, would have tremendous advantage in both knowledge and position before God.

c.       The text before us makes no effort to deny that God’s people are a “chosen” and “special” people. In fact, Paul takes right off in the passage before us noting some of the advantages that the Jew would have felt that he had because of this special relationship to God. Verses 17-21 share some of the “advantages” to the Jewish mindset of the time:

                                                              i.      They were Jews! – They were in fact God’s chosen people and the “apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8)  (17)

                                                            ii.      They were the receivers of the Law – God had not chosen any other people to receive and possess the Mosaic Law given at Mt. Sinai. (17)

                                                          iii.      They were boasting in their relationship with God – Different from so many of the cultures of the time, the God of Israel was not an idol or an image. (17)

                                                          iv.      They knew the will of God – They were the ones that had special revelation from God of His plan for them. (Ex. 4:22)  (18)

                                                            v.      They approved what they thought to be superior – Dietary laws, lifestyle restrictions, and worship instructions were at least part of that discussion. The Jews had a narrower view of life than those of their neighbor; a view that they deemed superior.  (18)

                                                          vi.      They were instructed by the Law – Psalm 119 extols the merits of God’s decrees as those that direct the steps of man. The Jews relished God’s instructions, so much so that they would eventually make up hundreds of decrees of their own to go along with His, even preferring theirs over His.  (18)

                                                        vii.      They were convinced that they were the guides for the blind, the light for those that were in the dark, an instructor for the foolish, and a teacher to the children or immature. 19-20)

                                                      viii.      They felt that in the Law they had the embodiment of knowledge and truth – Psalm 19:7-9 give a snapshot of the Jewish mentality towards the Law. (19-20)

d.      It is understandable, but not excusable, that Israel could be tempted to think of themselves as better than the rest of humanity. In terms of privilege and possession, they had a chosen place. But in terms of practice, they failed just as frequently as the Gentiles. In verses 21-22, we see another listing of things that were on the Jewish “ledger” if a true accounting were to take place:

                                                              i.      They taught others, but did not teach themselves. (21)

                                                            ii.      They preached against stealing, yet they stole things themselves. (21)

                                                          iii.      They preached against adultery, yet they committed adultery. (22)

                                                          iv.      They hated idols, yet they stole robbed pagan temples. (22)

e.       This behavior would have the worst of results. Look at Vs. 23-24. The result of this behavior would be that, because of this esteemed position before God and everyone’s knowledge of it, the sins of the Jews would actually dishonor the name of God! Verse 24 is actually a combining of Isaiah 52:5 and Ezekiel 36:20, though not exactly quoted.

f.       It is worth taking a moment to consider not only the Jews and their privilege before God, but to consider our own nation’s privilege and blessing at the hand of God before continuing.

                                                              i.      Do you feel that we as Americans have enjoyed the blessing of God throughout our history?

                                                            ii.      What is the responsibility of that blessing?

                                                          iii.      How have we dishonored the name of God as a nation?

                                                          iv.      How have you dishonored the name of God as one that lives in this nation?

II.                An Analysis of the Jewish Position Before God – Part 2    Romans 2:25-27

a.       As Verses 17 – 24 described the position of the Jew before God as it related to the Law, the verses before us will continue that discussion with circumcision as focus. The circumcision of a Jewish male was an incredibly important and symbolic gesture. The Jews saw the circumcision as a sign of the covenant that God had made with His people (Leviticus 12:3). It was God’s appointed “sign of the covenant”, which signified Abraham’s covenanted commitment to the Lord – that the Lord alone would be his God. Genesis 17:14 tells us that to break this covenant would be the same as being uncircumcised and being “cut off” from his people

b.      Verse 25 tells us that this outward sign, circumcision, is only of value if you keep the Law. But if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become of no value. It gets even worse for the Jew in the following verses. Verse 26 says that the opposite of this truth is also true. While the Jew with the outward sign of circumcision, if he sins, is counted as one that is not circumcised; the gentile that keeps the Law, though uncircumcised, will be counted as one that was circumcised and in relationship with God. And it gets even worse than that in Verse 27. It says that he who is physically uncircumcised will actually “judge” the circumcised Jew in that his actions and deeds will in fact condemn the Jew who had the better set of standards in the Law.

c.       In other words, there is only one way to garner spiritual profit in God’s eyes: obedience to Him. Again, we are not talking about salvation; we are talking about how someone is judged before God. And the sinning Jew is guilty, just like the sinning gentile.

III.             The “Circumcised Heart”    Romans 2:28-29

a.       Again, the Jew is faced with the fact that his heritage will not give him a “pass” when it comes to the judgment of God. While he has some incredible advantages to his position, he is not outside of the eye of God.

b.      The verses before us show this fact with great clarity. The Jew is not in an advantageous position because of his outward gestures of obedience. In fact, genuine circumcision is not even the physical rite itself. Rather, a genuine Jew is one inwardly; and the circumcision that occurs is one that happens in the heart, by the Spirit.

c.       Some of the Jews followed the Law’s regulation outwardly, but their hearts were not right with God. The truly circumcised heart is one that is “separated” from the world and dedicated to God.

d.      This person’s praise is not the praise that comes from man. It is a praise that comes from God Himself as He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

IV.             The Bottom Line for the Jews    Romans 3:1-8

a.       With all of this discussion in the rear view mirror, Paul addresses the question that would be on the mind of every Jewish reader of this letter. That question is, “Then what advantage does the Jew have?” In connecting the previous passage to that before us, Paul answers the question from the perspective of the Law and then from the perspective of circumcision.

b.      Is there any value to being a Jew? Absolutely! The list begins here in Vs. 2, but it will not be continued until chapter 9:4-5. The list does begin here with the fact that the Jews had been entrusted with the “oracles of God”. Can you imagine the advantage of being entrusted with the “list”? But here sadness takes over in that this idea of “entrusted” has to do not only with being the ones that received the teachings of the Law from God, but it also has to do with obedience to them. On that point, the Jews failed. But this did not take away from the tremendous advantage and privilege that they had as God’s people.

c.       In Vs. 3-4, we have an argument to this “advantage”. If some to whom God’s promises were entrusted did not respond to them in trust, will their lack of trust destroy God’s trustworthiness? (Stott) In other words, if God’s people are unfaithful, does that necessarily mean that He is? Paul’s answer is “May it never be!” The outrage of this possibility is confirmed in Psalm 51:4 (quoted here) where David says that he would be judged a sinner so that God could proved right in His judgment.

d.      With the following “logic” in mind, Paul makes his final two arguments in Vs.5-8:

                                                              i.      Major Premise: When God forgives sinners, His grace is made known.

                                                            ii.      Minor Premise: I am a sinner.

                                                          iii.      Conclusion: The more I sin, the more opportunity for Him to manifest grace.

e.       Vs. 5-6 asks the question, “If God warranted sin to display His righteousness, how could He judge sin?” That argument, says Paul, could only come from a depraved mind (human). God, as the rightful judge of the world, could not do that.

f.       Vs. 7-8 continues this line of thinking by asking the question again of, “If sin somehow demonstrates the glory of God, why is He still judging those that lie?” And if the conclusion is to keep sinning that His grace might be more fully known, Paul says “NO, their condemnation is just!”

V.                An Application For All Of Us

a.       The Jew, while having incredible advantage in privilege and position, will not escape the judgment of God.

b.      America and Americans have had incredible blessing showered on them and have a responsibility before God to understand that blessing and live with gratitude.

The true Jew is one whose heart has been circumc