The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee

The Sinfulness of Humanity - 3

Note: See the Answer Key at the bottom of this page to fill in the blanks.

Brief Review:

Paul’s letter starts out with the BAD NEWS of the Gospel. He invests the first 81verses of his letter to the Romans in outlining the sinfulness of humanity.

On January 9, we covered: Romans 1:1-17 which includes Paul’s GREETING to the Romans (1:1-7) and a very basic presentation of the CONTENT of the GOSPEL (1:8-17)

Last week we covered Romans 1:18-32. Here Paul’s makes the case that ALL people are SINNERS, regardless of their race or ethnic background, and that God’s response to human sin is ANGER.

Today we move on to Paul’s presentation of the certainty of God’s _______________________ of sin. It doesn’t matter whether the offender is a Gentile or a Jew. All will be judged, because all have ________________.

Overview:

Romans 2:1-16	God’s judgment of sin	The first 16 verses of chapter two establish that God WILL judge sin.
Romans 2:17-29	The Jews and the Law	The final 13 verses of chapter two establish that the Jews though they have the Law of Moses are equally subject to the judgment of God unless they keep the law.
Romans 3:1-8	God remains faithful	In the first 8 verses of chapter three Paul points out the absurd logic of some who say that sin serves a “good purpose” in showing God’s goodness in declaring sinners innocent.
Romans 3:9-20	All people are sinners	In the next 12 verses of chapter three Paul establishes from Scripture that ALL have sinned.

Romans 2:1-16

1You may be saying, “What terrible people you have been talking about!” But you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you do these very same things.

It is always easier to see the sin of others, than our own sin. Paul anticipates that his readers, and particularly the __________________ Christians among the group, have been reading or listening to Paul’s words about the sins of the Gentiles with a certain degree of smugness. Here, Paul turns the focus on them.

APPLICATION POINT: Sin is sin. The “laundry list” of sins in Romans 1:29-31 includes “big” sins and “small” sins. We tend to judge or evaluate ourselves on the “__________” theory: We put all people in a long “line.” Those “worse” than us are behind us, and those who are “better” than us are in front of us. As long as we’re toward the front of the line, we think we’re all right. The Biblical writers show the fallacy of this thinking, and none do it more clearly than Paul. It is easy for us to think of others as “terrible people,” and to excuse ourselves, but as Paul points out, when we condemn others and say that they ought to be punished, we are condemning ourselves for we do the very same things.

2And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do them, too?

Here Paul points out the infinite justice and fairness of God. God is not “nice.” He is just. God does not ooze with mushy love. He sets standards and relates to people based on their upholding them or breaking them.

4Don’t you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don’t you care? Can’t you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin? 5But no, you won’t listen. So you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself because of your stubbornness in refusing to turn from your sin. For there is going to come a day of judgment when God, the just judge of all the world, 6will judge all people according to what they have done.

Here Paul points out God’s _______________ to give us every opportunity to turn from our sin. Jesus pointed this out as well when He said, “4In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.” (Matthew 18:14)

NOTE: Paul’s theology is always confirmed in the teachings of Jesus Himself. One of the great confirmations of God’s work in us through the Holy Spirit is seen in the teachings of Paul, who though he never met Jesus, while Jesus lived on the earth, nevertheless, faithfully reproduces Jesus teaching in His writing. This is a source of great encouragement for us, because the ____________ Holy Spirit who inspired Paul, is available in our lives, too!

7He will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.

Paul is NOT saying that eternal life may be gained by ____________ ___________. Paul, of all people, knew the futility of good works in gaining salvation, and consistently pointed out that it is by GRACE that we are saved, through faith in Jesus Christ. He is simply pointing out that God “WILL give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.” This can only be done once we have received the salvation that God offers us through Jesus. (But we are getting on to the GOOD NEWS, and we still have another chapter and a half of BAD news first!)

8But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and practice evil deeds. 9There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on sinning—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.

Here Paul establishes two key truths: 1) If we live for ourselves and refuse to obey the truth God WILL ________ out his anger and wrath on us; 2) Our heritage __________________ save us, and in fact the judgment of God will come to all—to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile.

God revealed Himself first to the Jews. This text shows us that with spiritual privilege comes RESPONSIBILITY! This is always true. As Jesus put it, “Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given.” (Luke 12:48b)

APPLICATION POINT: Christians may think that because we know Jesus, God ought to “cut us some slack.” He already HAS--we don’t have to face the punishment of judgment reserved for all sinners! Bbut to be a follower of Jesus brings with it great responsibility. We are not saved by works. We are saved by God, through the sacrificial death of Jesus, which satisfied God’s justice. Once we have received that salvation, we have the responsibility to live it out in the power of the Holy Spirit, and to share it with others. (But, I’m getting ahead of myself—again!)

10But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.

How can it be that God “does not show favoritism” if the judgment is “first for the Jew, and also for the Gentile” and glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good is “for the Jew first and also for the Gentile”? Because first is not a matter of God’s affection. It is a ___________________ reality. God chose the Jews as His people. Therefore, they are ‘first” in matters of faith and judgment. Those who are “second,” are not lesser. They merely follow after the Jews in time and position.

12God will punish the Gentiles when they sin, even though they never had God’s written law. And he will punish the Jews when they sin, for they do have the law. 13For it is not merely knowing the law that brings God’s approval. Those who obey the law will be declared right in God’s sight.

Once again Paul underlines the _______________________ of God’s judgment on sin. Just as sin is universal, so is God’s judgment. “Ignorance of the law” is no excuse for the Gentiles, because God has placed His law on their hearts. Neither is having the Law an automatic guarantee of God’s willingness to forego judgment. Since the Jews have the Law, they are called to OBEY it, or to face judgment as well.

14Even when Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, instinctively follow what the law says, they show that in their hearts they know right from wrong. 15They demonstrate that God’s law is written within them, for their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right.

These two statements are parenthetical to Paul’s overall argument on the universality of God’s judgment which concludes in verse 16, although they point out an important reality: even those who DO NOT have the written law are not excused from living it out, because God has “written” His law in every human ________________. (Once again, Paul is not arguing that Gentiles may be saved without Jesus. He is simply pointing out that even those who haven’t explicitly received God’s law are without excuse for sin, and are thus liable to God’s judgment.

16The day will surely come when God, by Jesus Christ, will judge everyone’s secret life. This is my message.

This concluding statement points out the _________________ of God’s judgment. Jesus WILL one day judge everyone’s secret life. Again, this coincides with Jesus’ own teaching, “17For everything that is hidden or secret will eventually be brought to light and made plain to all.” (Luke 8:17)

Romans 2:17-29

As we move to the last half of chapter two, Paul turns his argument to those who have been Jews before becoming followers of Jesus. Since Paul was also a Jew, and an important leader among the Jews, his comments come from his life’s experience.

17If 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. 18Yes, you know what he wants; you know right from wrong because you have been taught his law. 19You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a beacon light for people who are lost in darkness without God. 20You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that in God’s law you have complete knowledge and truth.

In these verses Paul puts for a “dialogue,” which actually continue through verse 24. Paul could anticipate what a Jewish Christian would be thinking about his presentation in 2:1-16, because he had been one, and a quite self-righteous one at that!

Paul starts by pointing out the __________________ vantage point from which the Jew would view Paul’s discourse on sin and judgment. They held a number of advantages: 1) They knew God’s Law; 2) they believed that being the people to whom God had given the Law, they had a special relationship with Him; 3) They “boasted” that their relationship with God was well; 4) they knew right from wrong—based on knowing God’s Law; 5) the Jews were convinced that they were vastly ___________________ to Gentiles, thus they saw themselves as “guides for the blind” and “a beacon light for people who are lost in darkness without God’ and 6) they thought they were “instructors of the ignorant,” because they thought that merely __________________ God’s Law gave them complete knowledge and truth.

APPLICATION POINT: The same “superiority complex” held by the Jews in Paul’s day is a danger for followers of Jesus today. We may think that because we know the truth through Jesus that we are superior to others. Knowing the truth Jesus teaches is NOT enough. We must know the Truth—Jesus. We must have a relationship with Him. It is easy for us to judge the Jews of Paul’s day for relying on a knowledge of the Law, rather than having a relationship with the “Lawgiver,” but spiritual pride as all pride leads to destruction. (See Proverbs 16:18)

21Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?

22You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you do it? You condemn idolatry, but do you steal from pagan temples? 23You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.

Here Paul gets intensely practical: You know the Law—do you live it? He takes specific examples from the Law, and asks whether the people practice what they preach.

APPLICATION POINT: People are not interested in what we say about Jesus, unless they see Jesus in our lives. Everyone tells us, “Don’t look at me. I’m not a role-model.” Professional athletes are saying it, entertainers are saying it, even some political leaders say it. As Christians we cannot say, “Do as I say, not as I do.” The world is in desperate need of Christian role models, with an emphasis on Jesus Christ! We will not convince the world of the truth of Christianity by what we say about Jesus, but by how Jesus lives through us.

24No wonder the Scriptures say, “The world blasphemes the name of God because of you.”

Here Paul quotes the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah (52:5) who pointed out that because of Israel’s faithlessness, they were carried off into exile, and the world made fun of Israel’s God for being unable to deliver her from the powers of the world that destroyed her. It is untrue that God could not save Israel from exile. The exile was God’s judgment ____ ____________ for the sin of Israel. If the Israelites had remained faithful to God, the judgment would not have come, and much more importantly the lives of the Israelites would have been a testimony to the love, justice, grace and power of God. In our day, the world needs to see the love, justice, grace and power of God through us.

QUESTION: Does the judgment of God still take place in history or is God’s judgment reserved for the second coming of Jesus?

25The Jewish ceremony of circumcision is worth something only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.

This is no small statement by Paul. The rite of circumcision was the universal symbol of belonging to the people of God (Israel), which had been practiced since the time of Abraham. As with many rites of religious significance, though, the Jewish people had forgotten the reason for its establishment in the first place. Far from being an automatic “guarantee” of God’s favor, the rite of circumcision was a statement that the one receiving it “belonged” to God. Therefore, the benefit of the rite was not in it’s practice, but in the living out of the relationship with God that it represented.

APPLICATION POINT: In our day, many rely on religion rites and traditions rather than the relationship with Jesus that they are designed to foster. No rite or tradition holds merit in and of itself. It is always the relationship with Jesus that stands behind it that is the key. Therefore, the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, participation in corporate worship, and many other practices and traditions have value, because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, NOT merely because we participate in them.

26And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God give them all the rights and honors of being his own people? 27In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will be much better off than you Jews who are circumcised and know so much about God’s law but don’t obey it.

Once again Paul underlines that it is the __________________of faithful obedience that gains favor with God, not just knowledge, and it doesn’t matter whether a person is a Jew or a Gentile, what matters is if one is faithful!

28For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the Jewish ceremony of circumcision. 29No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. Whoever has that kind of change seeks praise from God, not from people.

APPLICATION POINT: The validity of our relationship with God is based on the condition of our heart and not on any external reality. This comes from the Holy Spirit, and the evidence is that we seek God approval not human approval. Take a moment and do a “self-evaluation.” Ask yourself these simple questions:

On what do I rely for my salvation? (Be honest.) Is it Jesus? Or is it something external?
What is the condition of my heart right now? Is it filled with and guided by the Holy Spirit?
Whose praise am I seeking in my life? Or put another way, “Who am I trying to impress, or gain favor of in my life?

ANSWER KEY: judgment, sinned, Jewish, line, desire, inspired, good works, pour, cannot, positional, universality, heart, certainty, superior, superior, knowing, in history, practice

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