Wednesday: What Jews and Gentiles Share in Common
In Romans chapter 1, Paul was dealing specifically with the sins of the Gentiles, the pagans, those who had lost sight of God a long time ago and, thus, had fallen into the most degrading of practices.
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But he wasn’t going to let his own people, his own countrymen, off the hook either. Despite all the advantages that they had been given (Rom. 3:1-2), they, too, were sinners, condemned by God’s law, and in need of the saving grace of Christ. In that sense-in the sense of being sinners, of having violated God’s law, and of needing divine grace for salvation-Jews and Gentiles are the same.
Read Romans 2:1-3, Romans 2:17-24. What is Paul warning against here? What message should all of us, Jew or Gentile, take from this warning?
“After the Apostle has shown that all heathen are sinners, he now, in a special and most emphatic way, shows that also the Jews live in sin, above all because they obey the Law only outwardly, that is, according to the letter and not according to the spirit.” – Martin Luther, Commentary on Romans, p. 61.
Often it’s so easy to see and point out the sins of others. How often, though, are we guilty of the same kinds of things, or even worse? The problem is that we tend to turn a blind eye on ourselves, or we make ourselves feel better by looking at just how bad others are in contrast to ourselves.
Paul will have none of that. He warns his countrymen not to be quick to judge the Gentiles, for they, the Jews-even as the chosen people-were sinners. In some cases they were even more guilty than the pagans they were so quick to condemn because as Jews they had been given more light than the Gentiles.
Paul’s point in all this is that none of us are righteous, none of us meet the divine standard, none of us are innately good or inherently holy. Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor, God-fearing or God-rejecting, we all are condemned. And were it not for the grace of God as revealed in the gospel, there would be no hope for any of us.
| How often do you, even if only in your own mind, condemn others for things that you, yourself, are guilty of? By taking heed of what Paul has written here, how can you change? |
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In Luke 9:54 the disciples wanted fire to come down from heaven and consume some folk who rejected Jesus. Jesus rebuked them, saying “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.”
So often, we look down on others who do not have the “truth” we have. We fall guilty of what Paul is teaching in Rom 2:17-24, paraphrasing: – we who rest in the ten commandments, make our boast in God, know His will, are instructed out of the ten commandments, having the form of knowledge and truth in the ten commandments, do we do the same things as those who do not have our knowledge of these spiritual “truths” and do we dishonor God through breaking the ten commandments? For the name of God is blasphemed among the non-Adventists because of us.
There is none righteous – Adventist or non-Adventist. But praise God, His grace is extended to both and His salvation has been made available to all.
Let us not glory or make our boast in the favor God has extended to us, in our knowledge, in our denomination, schools, hospitals, health-message, etc.
As Jer 9:23,24 admonishes, let us glory in this, that the Lord exercises lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
Let us be humbled by His goodness, mercy and grace, of which we are so undeserving.
By taking heed of what Paul has written here, how can you change? - Well for one, apply all these lessons as if its speaking to me personally and not to another group. Realize that the devil implants thoughts of my own righteousness, lastly instead of condemning someone in my thoughts, pray for them to have the victory over any sin as well as myself.
One thing that keeps me from a sense of pride and personal satisfaction spiritually is knowing my weaknesses. Then Gods mercy and grace overwhelm me with comfort. He won't leave me on my own as I consistently give Him my sorrow over my particular struggles with sin.
It's also those very struggles that help me to be compassionate towards others who are fighting their own battles with sin.
I've learned that I can't always be in the path of some because of my own sinfulness but I can pray for anyone including myself.
There is only ONE WAY TO CHANGE and Both the Apostle Paul and Peter were very clear about that: Peter says it in 2 Peter 1:4 and Paul says it in 2 Corinthians 7:1 and that is GOD'S PROMISES. In his version, the Apostle Peter indicates that God's Promises will accomplish the making us "Partakers of GOD'S Divine Nature," and also will empower us to "Escape the World's Lust and Corruption." In the Apostle Paul's version, he assures us that it is by God's Promises that we will CLEANSE OURSELVES from "All Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit," and will also "Perfect Holiness and True Respect for God."
How do we cleanse ourselves as Paul suggest in 2 Corinthians 7:1. Literally we don't, if we think we can cleanse ourselves we are claiming the impossibly. It is by going to Jesus to be cleansed that we become cleansed. Christ said apart from me you can do nothing, and that includes cleansing ourselves. So what did Paul mean by cleansing ourselves. Simply go to Christ and let Him do it. Paul answers the question. Romans 5:8-11. We are cleansed(justified) by the blood of Jesus Christ.
We need to be justified then will live by faith.....!!!
The text warns us about judging others while we ourselves are sinning sinners too! We just see their sin condition and not ours.
LORD have mercy on us.
Going to church on the right day won't save us. God's grace, our. Obedience to God's word will save us.