In the last study, God has given sufficient evidence to prove His existence and sovereign control. Then God gave warnings about all manner of sin, rebellion and rejection of the knowledge of God.This is not the only time the Holy Spirit directed New Testament writers toward this subject. In order to be righteous before God, sin must be addressed. Romans chapter 2 reveals God’s impartial righteous judgment. He is the Lord God Almighty, Holy and Just. This address is to both the Church and the Jewish community.
How can we become the righteousness of God in Christ?
God’s standard for holiness, righteousness, and ethical issues is different than the standard of the world. The only way to bring the righteousness of God into daily practice is by Christ living in us. This righteousness through the work of Christ must be lived out in our daily practice. When we live and abide in Christ, we will be transformed by the power of Christ in our lives.
Romans 2:1-3 NKJV Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
The Roman and Corinthian believers had a struggle with this.
Two things were working against them. Many people in their community were living a sinful life and there were strict moralist or legalist among them. A moralist is a person who lives a moral and clean life, but often judge others who do not live as they think they should. These moralists had strong standards, principles, and values. They were convinced they were more righteous because they did not commit every sin that those around them were doing. They were self-disciplined and self-controlled and had learned to apply their own moral and legal codes to their lives. They had been circumcised and followed their rituals. As a result, they considered themselves just or righteous before God. In addition to their self-righteousness, they were constantly comparing themselves with others and felt superior because of their lifestyles. Jesus addressed these people in the book of Matthew.
Matthew 7:1 NKJV Judge not, that you be not judged.
Matthew 7:3 NKJV And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
Romans 14:4 NKJV Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
It was very easy for them to criticize the immoral practices of others.
The people around them practiced all manner of deplorable evil behaviors and pagan lifestyles. The Bible bore witness that their behavior was evil.
Rather than comparing ourselves with the world, we should consider the righteousness and holiness of Jesus Christ.
The goal of the self-righteous is to be better than those around them. How do we measure up to Christ Who is our standard of conduct and behavior?
Ephesians 4:13 NKJVTill we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
What is the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and is it an attainable measure? Have we attained that “measure” and have no room for improvement?Have we come close to that high standard? Can this standard be realized in our lives, or is it something we accept by faith? If it is realized in our lives, does it affect the way we behave? Does it affect our thoughts and how we treat one another? The Church has been made the light of the world and living testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. If our light is a result of self-righteousness, we will never be able to win those around us. Our goal is to be like Christ and let the light of the Gospel of Christ shine through us.
Romans 2:4-11 NKJV Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.
The Holy Spirit is drawing believers into true righteousness.
Coming to Christ necessitates a true change in our lives where all things are made new.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
This message must be addressed in all of our lives.
God’s idea of “righteousness” is “sinless perfection.” Herein is the problem.
Romans 3:23 NKJV For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Since we have all sinned, how can we attain a righteousness that is valid before God?
Righteousness is not the same thing as self-righteousness.
Why is it hard for the moralist or legalist to hear this?
Self-righteousness is an attempt to please God by works, personal goodness and morality alone. They feel more righteous than the world around them because they live by a certain standard. It is impossible to become acceptable before God by self-righteousness or by looking at the failures of others. Self-righteousness always falls short of the glory of God.
God has a single standard of judgment.
He measures every action and thought by the same standard of truth and righteousness. Since God’s judgment is based on His “truth or standard,” no escape is possible. Before God, no one has an excuse, for we have all sinned.
1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
How can we attain true righteousness?
The only method of attaining true righteousness is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Righteousness is only possible by God’s forbearance, tolerance, and patience through Christ’s sacrifice.
God is good, pure, holy and true. We stand before Him in contempt, in filthy rags, in corruption, darkness and condemnation.
If God rewarded us for our actions, thoughts, or being, we would all be totally condemned, for we have all sinned.
God has been merciful, kind, tolerant and patient. By His goodness and grace, Jesus Christ our Lord suffered and died for our justification and righteousness. That is the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is a divine imperative we must not miss in this text.
God’s goodness, forbearance and longsuffering must lead to personal repentance.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
God has blessed us with His favor and goodness.
By His grace we have been saved.
In the next few verses Paul warns of God’s judgment.
Romans 2:6-8 NLT God will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.
A day is coming when God will judge the secrets of everyone’s heart by Jesus Christ.
Everything done in secret and in the dark is known by God.
Luke 12:2 NLT Jesus said, “The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.”
God will be righteous and just in judgment. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, we will be judged according to what we have done, whether good or bad. Those who have had the Law will be judged by the Law. Those who have not had the Law will be judged by the law that is written in their hearts.
What is the law that is written in the heart?
God has put a law of the conscience and sense of morality in every person’s heart. That law in the heart does not replace the Gospel message. The law in the heart cannot save a sinner. The law of the heart is our own moral conscience and evaluates our own personal actions. Our conscience and thoughts either accuse or excuse us. Conscience is an important part of human nature.
According to Romans 2:14-16, the law written in the heart is sufficient to accuse a person in the Day of Judgment.
Romans 2:12 NKJV For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law.
Why is the personal conscience not absolutely trustworthy?
Biblically, one’s conscience can be good, clear, guilty, corrupted, weak, and seared, (1 Timothy 4:2). Our conscience may be impacted by the culture of society that is around us and the behavior of those who influence us.
Can our conscience be changed so that it is more reliable?
God can do something with the evil conscience.
Hebrews 9:14 NKJVHow much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The blood of Christ can cleanse an evil conscience and change the moral code that is written in the heart. The evil, guilty, corrupted, weak and seared conscience can be changed and cleansed to serve God.
The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to address legalists.
Many within the Roman community depended on their understanding of what God approves in His Law.
Romans 2:17-18 NLTIf you are a Jew, you are relying on God’s law for your special relationship with Him. You boast that all is well between yourself and God. Yes, you know what He wants; you know right from wrong because you have been taught His law.
The Holy Spirit is very clear that they were relying on the law to provide a special relationship with God. They felt that they were better because they knew what was right and wrong and did certain things. Knowing the Law of God is not the same thing as obedience to the Law. It is possible to do certain things that are prescribed in the Law of God and not have a heart that is pure before God.
Romans 2:24 NKJV For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
Why was the name of God blasphemed because of them?
This was a sharp rebuke because they condemned others who did not have the Law, while they were breaking the Law. We must be doers of the will of God and not be hearers only.
Romans 3:10-20 NLT As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. They rush to commit murder. Destruction and misery always follow them. They don’t know where to find peace. They have no fear of God at all. Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
How can we become righteous and stand before the awesome, all-knowing, just, and holy God without condemnation?
Romans 3:23-26 NLT For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.
