Romans Chapter 2 "Man's Ungodliness Proved and Set Forth." This Bible
Study is written by Roger Christopherson, and it's
transcription/ location is provided by http://www.theseason.org Keep in mind as you study this chapter, that these teachings are the basics of Christianity. It is what every church must know and stand upon to be pleasing God, and in serving Him. Some churches take the list of sins that we read of in the first chapter, and from that list make their religion out of them, with their list of do's and don'ts. Keep in mind that we are against all those things, but we should always keep all of God's Word in mind, and balance that restrictive list with the mercies and forgiveness that we have in Jesus' blood sacrifice on the cross. Romans 2:1 "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." This is saying that there are some of those sins that all men [women] fall short in. Yours may not be the same as the next persons, however all men and women fall short of God's Word. We are talking of man's judgment here, not God's judgment. We are talking about men and women sitting in judgment of another men and women's sins. God is saying for us to leave the judging to me. God dosen't wait for the great day of judgment to make the corrections and judge man of his sins, but will bring that person to the point of chastisement. Any time you go against that which is natural, God has a way of telling you that there is something wrong with what you are doing. Whether you know the Word of God or not, in the natural course of your life God will make things happen to point out your errors. When you practice unnatural acts against your body such as sodomy, sickness and disease will be the result. We are not to sit in judgment of people, but teach them the Word, which will show them the reason for their problems. Remember back in verse Romans 1:29 what Paul said about gossip, "whispers", are those that gossip? This is probably the most often committed sin in churches today, and by their gossiping it drives a wedge in the whole church. It is as bad of a sin as the gossip that is being spread, yet many Christians delight themselves in taking part in it when it happens. Now look at verse Romans 1:32 again and take it to heart; "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Are your starting to catch on? It is not your position to do the act, or even have a part in the act by finding pleasure in others doing the gossip, for taking any part in the act finds you just as guilt as the one doing the gossiping, and equally as guilty as the one that commited the sin that is gossiped about. Now go back to Romans 2:1, and we can understand why we are to leave the judging of that sin up to God, for when man judges, he becomes part of the act that was committed. When we see a fault, or sin in one of the brethren, we are to help that person, pray for that person and go to him and not to another in gossip. This is man's judgment that is discussed here, not God's judgment. Romans 2:2 "But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things." This is God's judgment talked about here. God is able to teach lessons to people. He knows exactly what His Word teaches, and our Havenly Father also can read the very thought and intent of that man's heart. The church doesn't have to make second class citizens out of anyone, such as divorced people; as it seems to be common practice in many churches today. When a sin is committed, and in sorrow that person has repented to God "in Jesus name", then that sin is forgiven and forgotten. It is over and gone. The only remembrance that comes from that time forth is by Satan and his demonic realm. Accusations of repented sin is not of the Spirit of God, for the Spirit of God will not accuse anyone of a repented sin. Accusations made in the form of gossip toward a Christian person that has repented of divorce, adultery, or any sin, is of the devil. This is why we are not to sit in judgment of a brethren, for we cannot and do not know the thoughts and intent of that person's mind. Should that person have repented to the Father "in Jesus name" for that sin, then you become the tool of the devil, and share in the same act that was originally committed. God's judgment is able to handle all situations, and man must never forget that God's judgment is always fair. God did not set you up as a little king or queen judge, but we are to exercise discernment. Romans 2:3 "And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?" Paul is saying, do you think that you are going to get away with it when you judge another, for that sin is placed back on you? If you do find pleasure in judging others, there is a sad awaking ahead for you. An examble of this is when we judge someone that hates the Word of God, and yet we become gossipers, and backbiters of those that have sinned, we have become the same as those that hate the Word of God. This is what this verse is talking about. If that person has repented of every sin that he or she has ever committed, then you had better not accuse that person of anything, or God will put that sin you accused him or her of, right back on you. God is saying that if you judge someone, and you bring that judgment on them, God will judge you for the same thing. You have no rights to judge anyone for sin, God alone is the judge of men and women on all matters. This is just common sense, and it is letting what is natural flow on itself. Help then if you can by teaching the truth, but don't point fingers. If a man hate God's Word, then let him die in the natural way, even if it be in their spiritual death. No man can escape the judgment of God, and this judgment of God will be that person's rewards. Remember, upon repentance to the Father in Jesus name we are made perfect in the eyes of God. Romans 2:4 "Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" When you judge someone to hell, you are judging God's patience and goodness that God shows to people that have repented. God has patience with people even when He is correcting them. The chastisement that God can put on someone can be very severe on someone, even to the point of death, for sins that were mentioned in Romans 1:28-31. To judge means that you do not participate in any part of the activity, any warning that is given must come for God's Word, and not your creative mind. God is asking you, Do you dispise my ability of being the Judge of all matters? I hope you don't, for if you did you would be committing the greatest sin of all, by judging God Himself. God is longsuffering and patient with all men, and gives them the opportunity of repenting of their sin. Romans 2:5 "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;" If you have hardened your heart and mind to the point that you give no room for repentance, then you have not read, nor do you understand the wrath of God, and the revelation of mercy and forgiveness that He will give on Judgment day. Friend, if you have hardened your heart whereby you have removed repentance from your thoughts for allowing repentance of sinners for all the children of God, then you have sinned the greater sin. You will have said that God is not able to judge. You will have set yourself up as the greater judge, and you will answer to God for this rebellous sin. The revelation is the great white throne judgment, and it has already been revealed to man in the book of Revelation, that God will have the final say. This is written in Revelation 20:11, 12; "And I saw a great white throne, and Him That sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." [11] "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." How are you doing friend? Be careful what you allow to be written in those books about yourself. Those names written in the "Book of Life" are those that have repented of all their sins in Jesus name, which means that they believe in Jesus Christ and have placed their faith and understanding in the Word, which is Jesus Christ. John 1:1; "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Romans 2:6 "Who will render to every man according to his deeds:" God is able to give to every man according to his deeds. Here again some of what we receive may be in the form of punishment, and some rewards. God does the judging, and He knows your thoughts and intents of every man and woman's heart, and what God renders will be just to all. No one will receive any part of your just reward, nor will you receive any part of what rightly belongs to another person, whether it be rewards for righteousness, or punishment for the sinful acts committed. Romans 2:7 "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:" "Immortality" is eternal life, and that is what we are to strive for. When we look back at the emense expanse of time, the millions of years of the first earth age, and then compare it with the short six thousand years from the time of Adam and Eve, there simply is no comparison. Six thousand years out of an eternity isn't even a speck on the eternal charts of time. Then compare that with the short seventy years that man's life consists of in this flesh age, and we can start to see how insufficant our problems are. God is telling us here that our "patient continuance" is seeking for God's glory and honor, and achieving eternal life is the only thing that should really matter to us. It is time to pay attention to the warnings that God places in our lives, and learn to be patient in all matters. When we break God's laws, we may get sick and maybe even die, and that is why it becomes important to pay attention to all of God's laws governing both our health and well being. The choices are up to us, we make the discissions, and chose the directions we go. Romans 2:8 "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath," This is even to the point of believing a lie, and worshipping Satan. Romans 2:9 "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;" In the manuscripts "of the Jew first", reads "of the Israelite first". The Israelites have the Word of God, the laws and ordinances to guide them in the ways of God. The "Gentile" here refers to the non-Israelite [all the tribes]. It doesn't matter whether you are an Israelite or not, When Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, and came out of the tomb, God's grace and mercy is offered to all men and women that will by faith believe Him through repentance. It is a fact, If you break God's law you are going to have tribulation in your life. Romans 2:10 "But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:" God's judgment is true, good and fair to all men and women, and God sees to it that you will get what you have coming. Whether it is good or bad, it is you that decides and causes what God gives to you, through the choices you make in life. The Father hopes that you will come to repentance as it is stated in II Peter 2:9, 10; "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of Judgment to be punished:" [9] "But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities." [10] When you disreguard God's laws, He will judge you fairly, and God is just a true to His word on punishment, as He is fair to reward the just. He, however is longsuffering to all, and patiently waits on our repentance when we fall short of His mark. II Peter 3:9; "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God wants each of us to do things His way and walk in faith, and in the salvation that comes to us when we repent. Romans 2:11 "For there is no respect of persons with God." God judges everyone fair. He does not judge everyone equally, for many person are far more talented with their gifts of God then others, and God by knowing the thoughts and intent of your heart, judges each of us individually in accordance to our talents we have, and what we do with them. Those that have much, He expects much more, and those that have little are also judged by the intent of their heart, and the use of those talents and gifts they do have. Romans 2:12 "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;" The law spoken of here is the covenant. There are certain things in life that we don't need the law for, that tell us what we should not do. Those people that do not have the law do have their common sense to direct them in what is right or wrong. Even the laws of nature tell us that you don't jump from heights or you will break a leg, or that you don't hit a man in the nose who is bigger than you, or there is trouble to be had. God is saying through Paul's words here that those that do not have the law will perish just as those that break the law, when it is known to them. This is because God will judge each person according to what they do have and know. Those that do not know the ways of God, we are told from the last eight chapters of Ezekiel that there will be a time of teaching and discipline coming where everyone will be taught to know the ways of the Lord, and then at the close of the Millennium age, the judgment will be determined by their works only. We are in the age of Grace today, whereby we can receive eternal life by repentance, and faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Romans 2:13 "(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." What is important is our stance before God. It doesn't matter that Israel has the law and hears it every day, but what matters to the Father is that you follow the law that you have and make it part of your life. You can have the best advice in the world, only if you don't follow that advice it simply will not help you. God knows the difference between the hearers and the doers, and that is what He judges on. Romans 2:14 "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." This is saying that those that do not have the law are to use their common sense, and that common sense becomes their law. This is in reference to those Gentiles that have never had the opportunity to have the choice of accepting, and studing the Word. However, living in the Christian nations today, there are opportunities for receiving the Word everywhere, the problem comes because people chose to disreguard their study of the Word. God is saying through Paul that He has built a teacher within each man to know right from wrong even without the law, and that teacher is each of our conscience, and our just plain common sense. This is what the Gentile will be judged on, when there is no law he can follow. Romans 2:15 "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;)" The natural instinct in every man's [woman's] conscience, will draw that person to defend, or condemn, or draw that person to repentance for the acts that he does. Even the heathen know how to apologize and show remorse for the wrong that they have done. This verse is saying that the conscience will work just as the Word of God does in bringing repentance to a man's heart. Romans 2:16 "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel." The subject time here is the "great judgment day" when God will do the judging. This is exactly as it will be on the great day of judgment. Revelation 20:11 "And I saw a great white throne, and Him That sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." When this judgment takes place, the age of the flesh is long gone, and the thousand year Millennium kingdom of Jesus Christ will be past. Those the were on given the opportunity to receive Salvation by Grace under the blood of Jesus Christ, would have had their time through the Millennium age to prove themselves by their works then. In any case the things of the world in this world age will be long gone and just will not matter to anyone as they stand before the throne of God, and the heavenly books are opened. When each of us stand before our Heavenly Father, he knows the intent of our mind as we said the things we said, and planned the things that we did. God judges us on our intent, and he knows the truth on all matters and each of our works are written down in those books. Remember that at this time you are in your incorruptable body as the angels have, and your have no alabies or excuses for your actions. Revelation 20:12 "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." There are two things to notice here, the first is that there are sets of books. The first are the books that have all the things and deeds that each spiritually dead soul has committed recorded right there before him, and each soul is judged according to those works written in those books. The second set of books have only the names of the righteous written therein. It is not necessary for any other record to be kept, for there is nothing to record. Any sins of the righteous soul, covered by faith in Jesus Christ, are blotted out of the book, and only that soul's name and identity is left in the book. Jesus Christ then is our advocate before the throne of God, and judgment at this time means a time of rewards. This gets into the second part of this verse. Upon repentance in Jesus name, those sins, whether they be spoken or deeds of action, were all blotted out, and the person stands perfect before the Father at judgment day. In fact the Bible tells us that at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet, all souls are changed from their flesh bodies, and at that time all righteous souls will receive their incorruptable and immortal bodies. I Corinthians 15:51 "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed," We will not all sleep, means that all those living today simply will not die at the coming of the Lord at the last trumpet. Why? Because we shall be changed. This sounding of the seventh trumper is not at the great throne of Judgment, but before the Millennium age even takes place. I Corinthians 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptable, and we shall be changed." It will be at the last trumpet that the change will take place, not the fifth trumpet, when Satan the Antichrist is released on the earth, nor at his arrival at the sixth trumpet. Even the spiritually dead will be changed to their spiritual bodies for the Millennium, that time of teaching and discipline. I Corinthians 15:53 "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." Though all flesh bodies will be setaside, and the spiritual bodies put on; those that did not yield to the Antichrist will receive their immortal bodies at this time, while the spiritual dead, while in their incorruptable will not receive their immortality until after the Millennium age, and the great white throne judgment, when they will be judged by their works done in the Millennium age. Their works from the flesh age simply will not count, for when the worshipped the Antichrist, even in ignorance, they gave their rewards over to Satan. Romans 2:17 "Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God." Paul is stating that you study a lot and boast a lot of your knowledge in the Word. Romans 2:18 "And knowest His will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;" You have read the Word of God, and you know what God expects out of you from your knowledge of the law. Romans 2:19 "And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness," This is referring to those that are speakers and hears of the the Word, but are never doers of the Word. He is saying that some of you preachers consider yourselves to be the light of the whole world, and you are out to save all the souls in your world wide ministry; but you have forgotten Jesus Christ. You have a ministry and a mission, but you have forgotten the message that you were to give. Do you understand where Paul is coming from? Romans 2:20 "An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law." Romans 2:21 "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?" Paul is saying that you set out your plan to reach those that you feel are lost, and you go through your process of ministry, but you don't pay attention to apply your words for your own lives. Think of it, when you tell someone that the Word says something that it does not, that is a form of stealing. When pastors do not teach God's children of God's birthright for them, that is stealing an inheritance. When you teach that there is no mention of the House of Israel in the Bible, and that the House of Israel are the lost tribes, and completely unknown, that is a lie, and the stealing of a birthright. Stealing by a man that preaches goes far deeper than most preachers like to consider, but God will hold each of them accountable for his preaching when this time of judgment comes. The "tithe" goes to the one that does the teaching, and when the tithe is collected, and the Word of God is withheld, friend that is stealing from God also. Friend, if you fill a pulpit and you don't even know the plan of God then you have no business collecting any tithe, that is thievery. Paul is dressing down those that present a ministry that is nothing but a show for the world, when in fact there is little of God's Word presented from that ministry. Paul is writing that this ministry is stealing from those that take the time to listen and send their tithe. Those that do such a thing are stealing from God also, for that money is given unto Him for His ministry. Romans 2:22 "Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?" "Sacrilege" in the Scriptures means "a temple robber". This is addressing those that are taking a salary for teaching God's Word, and not giving them the truths from God's Word, all of God's Word. God is saying that you are commiting "sacrilege", or robbing from God's temple if you are. Every servant is worthy of his hire, but a servant of God's Word teach all the Word with understanding. It is a serious thing with the Lord. When we talk of "sacrilege", we take the entire verse into the spiritual realm. "Adultry" in the spiritual realm, is in reference to the "bride of Christ". When Christ returns at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet, He expect to find a virgin bride. Remember what Christ said in Matthew 24:19; "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!" This is in reference, in a spiritual sense that Christ's bride had committed adultry with the Antichrist, and she was no longer a virigin in the spiritual sense, but that she had committed adultry. She became unfaithful because of the teachers that led Christ's virgin bride to the false Messiah. The virgin bride was led away by the rapture doctrine and other false teachings. These preachers lead Christ's virgin bride to Satan the Antichrist, because they don't know any different themselves. The cause of this was because they don't know the Word themselves, but preach only the traditions of men that their seminaries have taught them to say. Friend, we are living in the end times of this earth age. Romans 2:23 "Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?" Paul is asking those preachers, Do you think you are dishonoring God when you do the things spoken above? Well you don't, you dishonor yourself by your acts and words. Remember we are talking about two sets of people, the first are those that have the law and know it; and the second are those that only have the law of nature that is built into them. We call it our conscience, or of the Gentile. God expects more from His Christian nations then what He is getting today. Romans 2:24 "For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written." This is in reference to Ezekiel 36:20; "And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned My holy name, when they said to them, `These are the People of the Lord, and are gone forth out of His land'. " The way you act with the Gentiles looking at you as a preacher or man of God, draws them away from Christ, because the Gentiles think that that is the way that God would have His people act. This is why we must always protect our creditabiliity. It is important for the one doing the teaching to know the emotions of our Heavenly Father, and to let even those emotions be known when God's Word is being taught. Today most Christians don't even know whether they offend God or not, for they have no idea what the Word of God even teaches. The Word has become so twisted that much that is attributed of God is nothing more then traditions of men. Romans 2:25 "For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision." Paul is saying that if you circumcise yourself to commit yourself to the law; if in turn you break that law, then what you did for the law becomes worthless. The law gives us the boundries to govern our lives and keeps us out of trouble. However, in the flesh body we can not possibly keep all the law, but we are to strive for that perfection, and keep the law to the best of our abilities. When God sent His Son to be born of a virgin, Jesus live the life in perfection; He was sent for the purpose of becoming our sacrifical Lamb on the cross. It is through Jesus Christ that we become overcomers, and thus Christ became our "circumcision". So looking from the outside the law you try to present yourself in appearance that you have the form of holiness, and that is not acceptable to God inless you have the holiness of Christ, with your sins under the blood of Christ. Romans 2:26 "Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?" The "uncircumcision" are the Gentiles that have not the law, or the Word of God. If a Gentile obeys God's Word and is obedient to God's Word, then is he not also considered one of God's children? Of course he is, for that is why Christ came to be the sacrifical Lamb, to take away the sins of all that will by faith repent of their sins and believe on His name. This does not remove the duties from the children of Israel that God has for them to preform. God expects you to preform those duties with the vigor that your abilities will allow you to do. Romans 2:27 "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?" Paul is saying that in fact the heathen Gentiles will be better off than you will be, if they live by the nature and conscience that God has built into them, if you transgress the law and don't live by the letter of the law that was given to you. The Gentile knows by nature whether something is right or wrong, he dosen't need the law because it is placed within him. Shooting another man's pet is wrong, murder is wrong, adultry is not right, and so forth; but when you have the written law to go by then there is no confusion whether any part of the law is right or wrong, you just do what the letter of the law states. When you violate that letter of the law, then you sin. Paul is stating that those that live so far away from the law, and have learned to follow those natural instincts that are built into them, are better off than you who have the law and chose not to keep it. This is aimed at being an insult to those calling themselves the circumcision. Romans 2:28 "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:" This word "Jew" should read "Israelite", one of the twelve tribes. In other words, your outward appearance has very little to do with circumcision [repentance and belief by faith]. Paul is stating that it is what is inside your heart, which is your mind that is important to God. Romans 2:29 "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." Paul is saying that anyone that knows to do good, and does what he knows is right and just, that person is of Israel, and this virse is directed to both male and female. This is a spiritual circumcision and not of the flesh, and that is why gender doesn't matter. God is the one that gives the praise to those that not only have the form of Godliness, but do the spirit of the letter of the law, either by written law or by nature. If the letter of the law is taught by a preacher, then the very emotions of God that are placed in the Word must be expressed also. The pages of God's Word must come alive to the listener, to where there is no confusion to those being taught. God is saying that He has praise for those that will teach in this fashion.
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