Judgement of the Jews
Romans 2:16-29; 11/3/2024; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
If the first three “Judgements” are metaphysical descriptions, then today’s “Judgment of the Jews” is a physical description. From the judgment of the truth, righteousness and law, it defines the principles and standards for God’s judgment. The judgment of the Jews is a clue that follows the context of the law. Let’s look at the first point:
Taking the law as the criterion
Paul’s starting point is the attitude of the Jews. In particular, the explicit and implicit aspects of the law serve as the structure of the discussion, bringing the gospel into the scene of judgment. First, the attitude towards judgment. Verse 16: “On that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (Romans 2:16)” What is Paul talking about? He talks about it from a new perspective, the perspective of the gospel. This is a concept foreign to the Jews! Furthermore, even from a perspective of the law, there is the issue of judgment for hidden sin. This is also a question that is unfamiliar and unwilling to the Jews. Because the Pharisees were the pinnacle of obedience to the law, they could also be examples of hypocrisy. Jesus Christ hated this deeply and severely rebuked it many times! Therefore, if we take obedience to the law as the criterion, we cannot just stop at the superficial provisions of the law.
Secondly, expectations of distinguishing between right and wrong. In fact, Paul never denied or despised the law. In Paul’s writing, Paul emphasizes those who practice the law. He said: “But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God. (Romans 2:17)” From Moses to the return from captivity, God’s chosen people deeply understood the consequences of not obeying the law. Therefore, the Jews will “Therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (Deut. 11:18)” Even so, it may be superficial and of no use. Daily devotional prayers are nothing more than a weapon to judge others. Knowing a little bit about the Bible, one will use it to attack others. As if he were the standard of the law.
Finally, the challenge of practicing what you preach. This sense of superiority is actually rooted in one’s identity as God’s elect, thinking that one has learned lessons from the law, assuming that one knows God’s will, and even believing that one has the ability to distinguish right from wrong. Therefore, a self-centered court was set up to judge anyone who could not stand it. Since the ones are God’s chosen people, they are qualified to lead the way for the blind and even be the light for those in darkness. There is no need to talk about evidence, just make their own decision, and they can use their own feelings as the standard of judgment, and feel free to expose or criticize people’s thoughts or intentions. Paul said this, indicating that a similar situation also occurred in the church at that time. Does our church today also have this phenomenon? Blaming others at will, jumping to conclusions easily, without grace in one’s mouth, and has no direction in his heart. He has nothing to offer, but draws conclusions that are greater than others. Let’s look at the second point:
Justification by the works of the law
This is based on the proposition put forward in the previous chapter 2, verse 13, that is, “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. (Romans 2:13)” What is Paul talking about? Isn’t it justified by faith? What is going on? First, the relationship between law and people. The law came from God, and the Israelites received it through Moses on Mount Sinai, with the purpose of passing it on to God’s people. The essence of the law is the covenant between God and man, and what the covenant expresses is the relationship between God and man. Before anyone knows the law, he is like a sheep that has gone astray, turning to his own way, and is a fool. Therefore, because people know God, they enter the beginning of wisdom. As the scripture says, “For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. (Romans 2:25)” In this way, a circumcised Israelite may not necessarily be an Israelite. On the contrary, those who are justified by faith, keep the way of the Lord, and obey the law become the new Israelites.
Second, living the law is key. Since the Israelites received the law, they should be “an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth. (Romans 2:20)” This is not only a Jewish problem, but also a problem for all mankind, which is that they always like to be the master of others. James said: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1)” The deeper reason is that people don’t mind listening. They prefer to talk, but they don’t like to live out the law according to the truth. Once a person wants to live out the law, he must guard his mouth, not criticize or judge others, and he must speak the truth in love and imitate the Lord’s style.
Finally, Inability to keep the law. The Bible says that, “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” What to do? Blushing one’s face and pretending to be fat will be an option, so saying one thing and doing another becomes a choice for many people. Tell others not to steal, but steal yourself. Telling others not to commit adultery, yet he commits adultery himself. They say they hate idols, but they keep or place idol objects in their homes. There is such a thing as the law, if you break one rule, you break all the rules. As long as people admit it, there is no need to pretend, there is still hope. The most terrifying thing is that you are also a sinner, but you have to judge other sinners. Pretending to be a judge, speaking evil words, wearing a priest’s robe, sitting on the judge’s seat, and pronouncing the judge’s verdict. Let’s look at the third point:
Demonstrate the function of the law
The basic function of the law is to make people confess, repent, and turn away from sin. Its purpose is to lead people to come to Christ and return to Christ. First, confession is the direction of the law. The law itself is not the gospel and cannot save people. However, as soon as a person reads the law, he immediately knows that he is a sinner. The provisions of the law quickly let people know what kind of sin they have committed, how guilty they are, and how they have provoked God’s wrath. The law points out man’s inability and illustrates his inability to achieve the righteousness required by the law. This points to the limitation of human beings, who have to be humble before God and run in the direction of the gospel. Therefore, the law became a teacher, teaching God’s people the way to heaven. Once a person reaches the height of confession, he will trigger God’s forgiveness and mercy, and He will also cleanse us of all unrighteousness!
Secondly, repentance is a rebuke of the law. The law alone cannot complete the function of repentance, it must be done by the Holy Spirit! The Bible says that the law is for the unrighteous (1 Timothy 1:9). Without the inspiration and reminder of the Holy Spirit, sinners will not spontaneously repent of their sins. The discipline and punishment caused by the law make people repent toward Christ. Of course, the logical disjunction also includes facing the reproach of the law without any remorse, thus entering the judgment of the law. Judgment will begin from the house of God, and whatever the church binds, the Lord Jesus will bind in heaven. On the contrary, whatever the church releases, the Lord Jesus will release in heaven. I encourage brothers and sisters not to despise God and think that if you sin, you can just change to another church.
Finally, staying away from sin is the distance from the law. Taking the road to heaven is towards the distance, but it is also close at hand! God looks at the heart, not the appearance. As the Bible says: “But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (Romans 2:29)” He who comes from God no longer sins, does not continue to sin, does not increase sin, and no longer wants to sin. This is a process, and it may be a long process. What seems to be in the unknown in the distance will happen one day under the control of God. We bear witness to what God has done, and it is done.
Conclusion
In fact, the judgment against the Jews is the judgment against ourselves. God’s judgment on the elect is a shadow or pattern of what we will experience in life. The salvation of the whole family of Israel as defined by God is grace that includes us, the new Israelites. May God help us obey the law and stay away from legalism. Not he who hears the law is justified, but he who does the law is justified, that is, he is justified by faith.
Let us pray……
16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded[b] as circumcision?
27 Then he who is physically[c] uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code[d] and circumcision but break the law.
28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.