Monthly Archive for February, 2011

Romans 2:13

Published on February 28, 2011 in Romans. 0 Comments
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13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

 

13 (for

The word “for” explains the difference between those with negative and those with positive volition toward God’s revelation.

not the hearers of the law

“Hearer” here is not the usual Greek word for hear. The Greek uses this word for those whose business it is to listen; it is their characteristic to hear. The Jew often heard the Old Testament read in their synagogues in the first century. There is no virtue in listening without applying to experience.

are just in the sight of God,

The word “just” means acquitted. It is the state of being right with God on the basis of responding positively to revelation. The word “just” fulfills all claims that are right and becoming, a right state (of which God and His Word are the standard). Those who hear but do not apply what they hear are not becoming to God, but God will not charge a fault against the person who hears and applies.

but [strong contrast] the doers [appliers] of the law will be justified [vindicated];

The doer of the law is a person who puts his will in a positive attitude toward God’s revelation. It is not enough to hear God’s Word, we must believe it. Those who listen to revelation but do not apply it are not just or right before God in their response to revelation.

Those who engage with revelation get God’s approval. Justification here does not refer to the justification of salvation but simply to God’s vindication of their positive volition toward revelation. There is nothing about justification by works in this verse. If there were, it would contradict passages that deal with justification by faith.

PRINCIPLE: It is the business of the believer to engage with the Word of God in an active sense.  

APPLICATION: It is not enough that we have a clear understanding of justification by faith, we must embrace it with engaging belief. Correct doctrine does not equate with active volition. There is a difference between a mechanical belief and active, dynamic belief. There is no virtue in simply listening to God’s Word; the virtue lies in accepting it as true and acting upon it. There is a participatory aspect to belief.

It is the student’s business to listen in class. The student who takes the course for credit will take a test on what he hears. This is his business. The person who audits the course is not responsible for what he hears and will take no test on what he hears. It is the business of the believer to put to test what he knows about the Word of God. The Word of God should bring conviction and confession of sin.

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Romans 2:12

Published on February 28, 2011 in Romans. 3 Comments
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12 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

 

In this verse Paul continued his argument about positive or negative volition toward the revelation that people possess.

We can see God’s impartiality in judgment (v. 11) by the way He deals with both the Gentile and the Jew.

12 For

The word “for” demonstrates how God judges impartially (v.11), that He judges everyone on how they respond to the revelation they receive.

as many as have sinned without law [Gentiles—all non-Jewish people]

Those who sin (the aorist indicates timelessness) are those who sin in the present, past, or future.

God did not give the revelation of the Law to Gentiles but to Jews. God does not judge Gentiles, therefore, according to revelation in Scripture.

will also perish without law,

God will not use the Law given to Israel as a nation to judge Gentiles. He will use a different standard of judgment for them. He will judge them for their understanding of God in general revelation and their conscience.

The words “without law” occur only in this verse in the New Testament. Gentiles were ignorant of revelation in the Law of Moses. That is, God did not give Gentiles special revelation as it is found in the Bible; He gave them general revelation found in creation.

The word “perish” is the ultimate fate of those who reject divine revelation (Jn 3:16; 1 Co 1:18). This is the eternal loss of those who go negative toward God’s truth. It is their eternal “ruin.” This is not loss of being but of well-being. The idea is destruction but not annihilation. People perish because they do not respond to the revelation they have.

and as many as have sinned in [in the sphere of] the law [Jews]

God chose Moses as the giver of the revelation of His Law (Jn 1:17). Jews sinned with full knowledge (in the sphere of the law) of God’s revelation in the Old Testament.

will be judged by [through] the law

Possession of the Law is no safeguard against God’s judgment. Simply because the Jew had revelation through the Law does not make him any better than the person who does not have the Law. The issue is whether he goes positive in volition toward the Law. God will judge him according to the revelation he has, according to a higher standard of revelation. Jews possess greater culpability because they have greater revelation.

PRINCIPLE: God judges all people according to the revelation they have.

APPLICATION: People sin against the revelation they have, not by the revelation they do not have. God will judge people according to the light they have (1:19-20), not according to the light they do not possess.

God operates under no false distinction. There is no advantage to the Jew for merely possession of the Law when it comes to how God judges sin. He will judge both Jew and Gentile equally and by a fair standard. God’s judgment measures lives based on actuality. In this case, He will judge Gentiles on the basis of their conscience and Jews on the basis of the Law.

Jn 3: 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

 

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Romans 2:11

Published on February 28, 2011 in Romans. 0 Comments
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11 For there is no partiality with God.

 

This verse harks back to verse six, where God judges everyone according to the same standard. It is also a transition to the verses that follow.

11 For there is no partiality with God.

“Partiality” comes from two words: to receive and face. The word carries the idea of giving preference to someone because of his appearance. The New Testament always uses this word in the bad sense of giving deference to someone without good reason.

God justly judges all people, whether they are moral or immoral, Jew or Gentile. God does not acquit people on some standard other than His eternal standards. No one has special connections with God.

In context, the impartiality of God has to do with His not showing partiality about how people respond to revelation. If they go negative in volition toward God’s truth, then God will judge them. If they go positive in volition toward God, then He will receive them.

PRINCIPLE: God plays no favorites in His judgments.

APPLICATION: God always deals with us in an even-handed way. He has no pets. He always interacts with us on the basis of facts, not some subjective opinion. He will never operate on race, place, or face. God will give no heed to the self-righteous.

The goddess of justice in the Greek pantheon had a blindfold over her eyes so that she would not regard face or appearance. Therefore, her scales that balanced truth were accurate without bias. Her sword judged all equally. There is, in fact, no absolute justice with man. However, God knows every motive, every aspect, of justice. God offers His salvation to all without respect to their persons. God only has one way of salvation, and He will judge people according to the standards of that salvation.

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Romans 2:10

Published on February 8, 2011 in Romans. 0 Comments
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10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

 

10 but

The word “but” offers another contrast between those who want to believe and those who do not.

glory, honor,

“Glory” and “honor” are a repeat of verse seven, but “peace” replaces “immortality” in this verse.  People can see the dynamic of knowing God in principles of creation.

and peace

Peace is a condition of our current lives, but it also includes judicial aspects as well.

to everyone who works what is good,

The soul doing good demonstrates something of God’s natural order of things. God placed righteousness in His system of creation. Divine law gives people a sense of glory, honor, and peace in this life. This is part of God’s covenant with man as Creator. This majesty of law in creation is not the same as issues revolving around salvation.

to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Again, God does not operate by distinguishing between groups. He will not show favoritism to anyone.  He will offer blessing to anyone who embraces His plan.

PRINCIPLE: God is true to His principles and standards of creation without exception.

APPLICATION: God’s justice is always fair. His law of retribution is consistent without exception. 

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Romans 2:9

Published on February 8, 2011 in Romans. 0 Comments
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9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;

 

Verses 9 and 10 repeat verses 7 and 8 with two noteworthy differences.

9 tribulation

“Tribulation” carries the idea of distress, pressure. Those with negative volition reach a pressure point to the place of breaking down.

and anguish,

The Greek word carries the idea of a narrow place, severe confinement. This has the idea of dire calamity. People with negative orientation to God will end in calamity.

on every soul of man

This section of Scripture deals with all men: non-Christian, Christian, Jew, and Gentile. The issues in the surrounding verses deal with mankind, not the Christian versus non-Christian issue. There is judgment on all people and He will judge them the same way.

who does evil [unrighteousness],

A soul doing evil is characterized as one who does not operate according to God’s right standards in creation. The doing of the soul discloses the state of his heart. God will deal with any person who does not orient to the standards of the God of the universe.

of the Jew first and also of the Greek;

God has no regard for ethnic background in dispensing His judgment. He will exact judgment on mankind in general, including the moralist such as the Jew.  

PRINCIPLE: There is justice in both God’s temporal and eternal judgments.

APPLICATION: God’s righteous standards can be seen in the nature of creation. All men can see some of those principles in creation itself; there is a revelation there if they will just look to find it. 

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Romans 2:8

Published on February 7, 2011 in Romans. 0 Comments
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8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,

 

8 but [on the other hand]

This “but” is a but of contrast. There is a contrast between those who have positive volition and those who hold negative volition toward God—the second group showing no evidence of coming to personal relationship with God.

Paul did not discuss in verses seven and eight how a person becomes a Christian, but what a person with positive volition looks like (v. 7) and also what a person without positive volition toward God looks like (v. 8).

to those who are self-seeking

The second group are non-believers with a propensity not to believe. Their orientation is entirely different than believers of the previous verse.

With this verse, Paul turned to those who do not seek God, who are not positive in volition toward Him. The reason for this is that they are self-centered. The “self-seeking” person places his own aspirations above the desire to know God. Self-gratification is more important to him than the domain of God.

Ro 3: 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.

The word “self-seeking” means a hireling. The idea is a mercenary who does what he does for money. This person is non-principled. Everything is for the self.

and do not obey the truth,

The idea of not obeying the truth is to reject the truth. In this case “the truth” is not the gospel message of justification by faith but the basic principle of wanting to know God. The self-centeredness of this person causes him to distort and twist truth for his own invested ends. This is spiritual rebellion, the ultimate of negative volition. This person will not allow himself to be persuaded.

but obey unrighteousness

This group rebels against the revelation of God. They are for anything that is not right from God’s viewpoint.

—indignation and wrath,

God will execute “indignation” and “wrath” on people with negative volition. He will also issue “tribulation” and “anguish” in the next verse to those who insist on negative volition. God does not toy with this kind of rebellion.

“Indignation” is God’s vehement anger agitated by His unchanging standards. God will explode against this kind of individual. “Wrath” means tribulation, affliction, anguish, or persecution. This word conveys the idea of a rapid or explosive wrath. Negative volition is the object of God’s wrath. An attitude of opposition to God produces disobedience to truth.

PRINCIPLE: There are only two alternatives when it comes to a heart for God—negative or positive volition to know Him.

APPLICATION: God will grant eternal life to those who measure up to His absolute righteousness, but no one can do that.

Ro 3: 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous [in reference to God’s absolute righteousness], no, not one. . .”

 Ro 3: 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight [man cannot measure up to the standard of who God is], for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

No one can be justified by works because no one can live up to the absolute nature of who God is.

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Romans 2:7

Published on February 7, 2011 in Romans. 0 Comments
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7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;

 

Verses 7 through 10 set forth two kinds of outlooks and their corresponding outcomes. The first group (vv. 7 and 10) directs their lives toward eternal things. They are positive in their volition toward God. The second group (vv. 8 and 9) directs their lives toward self-centeredness. They are negative in volition toward eternal things. These two perspectives are mutually exclusive; it is either one or the other.

Verses 7-10 explain verse 6 in more detail. Paul amplified the principle of verse 6 here. Verses 6, 7, and 10 describe the true believer. Verses 8 and 9 refer to the unbeliever.

7 eternal life to those who by [according to the standard of] patient continuance in doing good [well-doing]

The first outlook is that of a person with positive volition. His motivation and orientation is right toward God. The intention of his life shows the reality of his attitude toward God. This person will demonstrate the reality of his openness to God.

The words “doing good” should be translated well-doing. Paul expressed an over-arching truth here of a person oriented to God’s will. The standard by which the person in this verse operates is an openness to God’s will.

“Doing good” here is doing what is right, that is, what is the positive gravitational pull of people toward knowing God. God rewards eternal life to those who look beyond their own “doing good.” Good works is not an end in itself. Works are an indication of someone claiming the reality of God, not human achievement. These people trust in God’s establishment of principles in creation, not in good works. This is the source of glory, honor, and incorruption.

The issue here is frame of reference. These are people who have the attitude of seeking certain qualities about God. Their trust is in God’s principles for creation. Their frame of reference is oriented properly—toward qualities of eternity as seen in creation. Their orientation and positive volition is toward God and His will.

seek [keep on seeking] for glory, honor, and immortality;

This person does not seek from personal motives but from a value that believes nothing can compare to properties obtained by God’s grace. These are people with positive volition toward God and His plan. They live with eternal values in view.

Three ultimate aspirations compel this person: “glory,” “honor,” and “immortality.” “Glory” is the transformation of the person with positive volition toward God; this is the glory of God reflected on the person. “Honor” is God’s approval of the person open to God; it is not honor for himself. “Immortality” is eternal salvation ahead for the person seeking God in creation. They seek something that is free from corruption. In the eternal state there will be no disease or death. These are expectations of the person who is positive toward God.

PRINCIPLE: People who want to find God can find Him if they are open to see Him in creation.

APPLICATION: Those with positive volition can come to know God, have God’s glory in view, and have an honor that derives from setting God as their goal. They can find a life that has immortality or incorruption at its essence. These people have the heart of what eternal life is all about. They did not merit eternal life by having a heart for eternal things, but the onus is now on God to give them the knowledge that they can be justified by the work of Christ as seen throughout the book of Romans.

God does not save people by doing good; that is a “different” gospel (Ga 1:6-7). Paul did not contradict everything else he said in this epistle by implying that good works can save us.  

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Romans 2:6

Published on February 6, 2011 in Romans. 0 Comments
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6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:

 

Verses 6-16 underlie all that God said to the moralist in verses 1-5 but from the viewpoint of the natural order of creation, not salvation.

Paul argued in 2:6-10 from the general system of how God governs the world. He was not speaking of principles of salvation. God rewards and punishes situations in this world; this passage is not speaking of future judgment or reward. This section has nothing to do with works salvation.

6 who “will render [repay] to each one according to his deeds”:

This phrase is a quotation from Psalm 62:12 and Proverbs 24:12. We ultimately determine our own situation by the choices we make as God’s creatures.

The issue in this quotation is not salvation but how God evaluates people with objectivity, not on the basis of favoritism. He will offer no partiality to the moralist. God deals with the Christian and non-Christian alike based on principles in creation. God will “render” judgment according to those principles.

The word “render” means to pay off. God will discharge what is due. “Deeds” are works. Here the idea is anything that one does in response to God’s revelation in creation. God’s wrath is proportionate to negative volition towards God’s moral principles in revelation. We cannot plead extenuating circumstances before God because He will measure the actuality of whether we accept His principles of creation or not.

Notice that God will not judge man on account of his morality but “according to his deeds” of positive volition toward revelation. The context deals with God’s justice. Salvation is not involved in this phrase but simply the parameters of God’s justice. God is a “rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (He 11:6). God will judge people according to the light they have received regarding the moral principles in creation.

PRINCIPLE: There is no special dispensation for any who violate God’s principles of creation.

APPLICATION: God is not partial to anyone. He will judge the moral and the immoral alike. He uses the same principle of judgment for all.

Negative volition leads to self-justification. Non-Christians will offer any explanation to explain away rejection of clear revelation from God. They want to fault God for His creation of the world.

Jesus took the full ration of the wrath of God for us. If we choose to reject His partaking of wrath for us, then we will have to take it ourselves.

1 Pe 3: 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

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Romans 2:5

Published on February 6, 2011 in Romans. 3 Comments
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5 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,

 

5 But

When we see a “but,” we know that what follows stands in contrast to what preceded. In contrast to repentance, we find hardness of heart.

in accordance with your hardness

The words “accordance with” in the Greek mean according to the standard of. The standard is accumulation of God’s judicial wrath.

People reject revelation of God’s mercy because of a heart problem. The Greek word “hardness” is a word from which we get the English medical term “sclerosis.” We say that person has “sclerosis of heart.” We mean by that there is a hardening of something related to the physical heart. The idea here is a stubborn or hard heart toward God, an obstinate attitude toward God and especially toward His mercy. This is spiritual sclerosis.

and your impenitent heart

An “impenitent heart” is an unrepentant heart. There is a proclivity of a hard heart to turn into an unrepentant heart.

you are treasuring up [storing up] for yourself wrath

God’s wrath is in the process of being stored up by individuals as in a great reservoir until the day when He pours His judgment on hardened people. Those who have hardened and unrepentant hearts are making their judgment even greater.

in the day of wrath

This is the final day of God’s wrath. All God’s wrath that people accumulate will break out on the fixed and final day of wrath. This is the Great White Throne Judgment for non-Christians. Wrath is a proper aspect of God’s character.

and revelation of the righteous [just] judgment of God,

That day will be not only a day of God’s wrath but it will be a day of “revelation.” God will make known why His very own righteousness is the reason for His wrath. That day people will finally “get it.” It will be clear without doubt that it is a “righteous or just judgment.” God will base His judgment on truth (2:2) and it will be impartial (2:11).

PRINCIPLE: Truth resisted hardens the heart.

APPLICATION: The wrath of God against man is deserved because God clearly manifested Himself to man. Man chose willful ignorance in the face of clear revelation. Mankind rejected God on two bases: (1) His revelation in creation and (2) God’s attributes of compassion (chapter 2).

Those who know but resist truth do not go away in neutral condition but go away with a hardened heart. The next time they encounter truth, it is harder to accept. There are consequences to negative volition.

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Romans 2:4b

Published on February 4, 2011 in Romans. 0 Comments
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4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

 

not knowing [realizing] that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

God’s kindness should lead people to repentance. Willful ignorance in God’s view is culpable to His judgment.

The word “goodness” here is not exactly the same as the word in the earlier part of the verse. However, the use of both words demonstrates that God is good and kind in the process of bringing people to Himself. His common grace should lead people to repent.

“Repentance” means change of mind. This is our change of mind about how God thinks about us—He thinks about us with goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. Repentance has the idea of the military command “About face!” Soldiers stand in one direction and their sergeant commands them to stand in the opposite direction. In our case, people with negative volition need an “about face” from turning their backs on God to facing His grace manifested in His attributes. This is a radical change in viewpoint. Up to this point, their negative volition has failed to bring them to repentance.

PRINCIPLE: God’s common grace should lead non-believers to accept His special grace of providing salvation freely through the cross.

APPLICATION: When we realize that God tolerates us because of His attributes (which are not softness), it should impact us enough to change our attitude toward Him. However, many do not think about those attributes and ultimately despise them by neglecting them. We despise God’s attributes by using God’s mercy against Him.

Moralists completely miss the point that the essence of God’s character leads people to repentance. If you have never embraced Jesus as your Savior, you need to look at God’s common grace before you make a negative decision about Him. Common grace allows us to live in God’s creation—grace that includes health, a secure country, or gainful employment.

Knowing about God’s attributes should lead us to repentance. God in His character has the proclivity to exercise tolerance toward sinners. This tolerance does not approve of our sins. He does exercise patience toward us out of His common grace and not out of weakness.

However, men today trade on God’s mercy and common grace. That is a serious mistake. Many have a hope of impunity because of their own morality. They think they have exemption from the standard God claims for Himself. Their self-righteousness blinds them to the absolute righteousness of God. God’s answer to this tension is found in chapters 3-5. 

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