DAY #229: Romans 2:17-3:18

Knowing what God wants and knowing right from wrong are the result of having been taught his law. God’s word is not only a record of God’s will; it is also a guideline to determine what course of action is best for us.

Through God’s word we can be trained or instructed in how to appreciate what is good. Yet how often do we, surrounded by a wealth of spiritual resources, live no differently than our pagan neighbors! Bottom line: We need to put our knowledge into action.

Paul saw these people as dangerously self-confident. It was apparent from their lives that they could not back up their claims. Paul’s sarcasm here parallels Jesus’ words to the Pharisees, “How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are”

A Jew would see himself as a guide for the blind, but Jesus repeatedly called them “blind guides” (Matthew 15:14; 23:16). They claimed to be a beacon light, but were unwilling to recognize the light of the world.

The Jews needed to teach themselves, not others, by their law. Circumcision was fundamental to the Jews—it symbolized the covenant between God and Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 17:9-14). It was the expression of Israel’s national identity and was a requirement for all Jewish men. Circumcision was a physical reminder to Jews of their national heritage and privilege.

Paul had already pointed out that circumcision was a valuable part of a system governed by obedience. Where there was no obedience, circumcision was of no value. By the same logic, when obedience was present, the real objective was accomplished, even though circumcision had not occurred. In other words, Gentiles who obey God’s law are as good in God’s sight as a law-abiding, circumcised Jew and could receive the rights and honors of being God’s own people.

Paul’s conversation with his Jewish critic continues into chapter three. Paul answers yes, there are advantages for those members of God’s chosen nation. The Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God. That great privilege alone made the Jews even more responsible to live up to God’s requirements.

While it was true that many Jews were unfaithful to God or to what they had been entrusted, that didn’t change the fact of God’s faithfulness. Many Jews rejected the gospel and thus failed to understand their own Scriptures. But Israel’s unfaithfulness did not determine God’s faithfulness. God had always been faithful to Israel, despite the nation’s failings, and God would continue to be faithful to his covenant with them.

In the strongest terms he could use, Paul wanted to drive home the point that the combined self-justification of the whole world could not stand up to God’s truth. If God and every person were to disagree, there still would not be any doubt about who was right. The fact that many people are unfaithful by suppressing the truth, exchanging the truth for a lie, and rejecting the truth, doesn’t change the deeper fact that God is true. God’s purpose for Israel and his plan for all people remained unshaken.

There can be no more argument about special privileges for the Jews, for from their own Scriptures Paul strings together a series of verses outlining universal indictment. The advantage of being a Jew does not apply to salvation. All have sinned; no one is righteous. No one can earn right standing with God.

Quoting from Psalm 36:1, Paul states the bottom line condition of these people: they have no fear of God to restrain them. To fear the Lord is to recognize God for who he is: holy, almighty, righteous, pure, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: sinful, weak, frail, and needy. When we recognize who God is and who we are, we will fall at his feet in humble respect. Only then will he show us how to choose his way.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

Understanding the concept of grace is critical if you want to build a great life. Think about these common American phrases and see if you can finish them:
If it sounds too good to be true….
We make money the old fashioned way, we ....
There’s no such thing as a free….
There is no gain without ….
God helps those who ….

You see, everything about the American way of life teaches you get what you earn in life. You get what you pay for. We value work, sweat, effort, performance. It is called the American Work Ethic. And it’s good. The only problem is it causes a difficulty in us relating to God because God does not relate to us on performance. We put God in a box. We think He is like us. We think that since so many of our relationships are based on performance, so must my relationship with God. WRONG!

How does God relate to us then? By GRACE - in a relationship through His son Jesus Christ! The Bible says that everything God does in our lives, every blessing we have in our lives, comes by grace as a free gift. You don’t earn it, you don’t deserve it, you don’t work for it. It’s just a free gift of God. And the Bible says that everything you enjoy in your life is a gift of grace.

I know what some of you are thinking: You say, “Wait a minute. The things I have, I worked for, I earned, I put sweat equity into it.” You wouldn’t have the effort to work, you wouldn’t have the brains to work, you wouldn’t have the energy to work if God didn’t give it to you. Every breath you take is a gift from God.

The Bible is very clear about this, that God saves us by grace, God blesses us by grace, God teaches us by grace, God uses us by grace, God takes us to heaven by grace. Everything in my life that’s good is a gift from God.

The power to live, the people you live with, the principles you live by and the purpose you live for – they all come from God. They are a gift from God! That is grace! Many people confuse grace with mercy and they’re two different things.

Mercy is when God doesn’t give you what you deserve. Have you ever done anything wrong and gotten away with it? Yes. You’ve gotten off scott-free on a lot of things that you deserve justice for, that you deserve punishment for. When God doesn’t give you what you deserve that’s called mercy.

On the other hand when God gives what you don’t deserve that’s GRACE. All the good things in your life you didn’t earn, you didn’t work for. They were just gifts of God’s grace to you.

Consider these truths as you go about your day today. Thank God for His mercy and grace.