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Shut Your Mouth
Today we have the whole of chapter two. Because this is such a large section, I just want to draw out a few main ideas and connect it to what has come before. Yesterday, we read about how people suppress the knowledge of God and God gives them over to there depraved beliefs and actions, by which they earn God's wrath. As we read today, we start to get a sense of what some of the issues in Rome may have been at that time.
As Paul begins chapter 2, he seems to be making an assumption: that the Jewish (people of God!) readers of this letter are reading chapter 1 and thinking "Yep. Those Gentiles are unbelievable. Look at all their filthy beliefs and actions!" Paul cuts in right away and says "Shut your mouth, you who would try to judge!" Everyone is under the judgment of God, particularly you who have the Law but don't obey it! He calls them out for clinging to the Law for their identity, when it is in fact the very thing that condemns them. It would seem that there was a rift in Rome - the Jews and Gentiles were divided and most likely the Gentiles were being treated as second-class citizens of the kingdom, as if there were even such a thing. But (v.11) "God shows no partiality." He's going to continue this line of thinking in our reading for tomorrow.
I want to step aside from the text for a moment and think about an important application for us. Remember that Paul is specifically addressing Jews here who claim the title "people of God" as their "proof" before the world of goodness. They view others as outside. Obviously we are not Jews (most of us), but I see this same attitude and behavior all the time. We (the people of God, citizens of the Kingdom) look at those outside of Jesus and instead of feeling pity and compassion, sharing Jesus with them, we judge them. They do things that we would NEVER do, so we need to separate ourselves and let them be condemned. If we're really compassionate, we might share Jesus with a neighbor or co-worker who's pretty moral and upright, because it wouldn't be embarrassing to bring them to church.
This is absolutely vile.
Of course people sin! They're SINNERS! Who are you to judge? Who are you to decide who can receive God's grace or not? Who are you judge them for the very things you probably do?
"You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob [the church]? You who boast in [your goodness] dishonor God by [acting as the rest of the world does, but lying about it]. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among [those that don't know Jesus] because of you.” (paraphrasing mine)
Shut your mouth. Share Jesus. Seek to be changed by Him, because it's the only chance you have. Church is for sinners seeking salvation. If that's not you, get out and save everyone the headache of dealing with your judgment. Come back when you need Jesus, because until then this is nothing more than a club to you - and a club can't save you. Only a Savior can.
Shut Your Mouth
Today we have the whole of chapter two. Because this is such a large section, I just want to draw out a few main ideas and connect it to what has come before. Yesterday, we read about how people suppress the knowledge of God and God gives them over to there depraved beliefs and actions, by which they earn God's wrath. As we read today, we start to get a sense of what some of the issues in Rome may have been at that time.
As Paul begins chapter 2, he seems to be making an assumption: that the Jewish (people of God!) readers of this letter are reading chapter 1 and thinking "Yep. Those Gentiles are unbelievable. Look at all their filthy beliefs and actions!" Paul cuts in right away and says "Shut your mouth, you who would try to judge!" Everyone is under the judgment of God, particularly you who have the Law but don't obey it! He calls them out for clinging to the Law for their identity, when it is in fact the very thing that condemns them. It would seem that there was a rift in Rome - the Jews and Gentiles were divided and most likely the Gentiles were being treated as second-class citizens of the kingdom, as if there were even such a thing. But (v.11) "God shows no partiality." He's going to continue this line of thinking in our reading for tomorrow.
I want to step aside from the text for a moment and think about an important application for us. Remember that Paul is specifically addressing Jews here who claim the title "people of God" as their "proof" before the world of goodness. They view others as outside. Obviously we are not Jews (most of us), but I see this same attitude and behavior all the time. We (the people of God, citizens of the Kingdom) look at those outside of Jesus and instead of feeling pity and compassion, sharing Jesus with them, we judge them. They do things that we would NEVER do, so we need to separate ourselves and let them be condemned. If we're really compassionate, we might share Jesus with a neighbor or co-worker who's pretty moral and upright, because it wouldn't be embarrassing to bring them to church.
This is absolutely vile.
Of course people sin! They're SINNERS! Who are you to judge? Who are you to decide who can receive God's grace or not? Who are you judge them for the very things you probably do?
"You then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob [the church]? You who boast in [your goodness] dishonor God by [acting as the rest of the world does, but lying about it]. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among [those that don't know Jesus] because of you.” (paraphrasing mine)
Shut your mouth. Share Jesus. Seek to be changed by Him, because it's the only chance you have. Church is for sinners seeking salvation. If that's not you, get out and save everyone the headache of dealing with your judgment. Come back when you need Jesus, because until then this is nothing more than a club to you - and a club can't save you. Only a Savior can.
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