Romans 2:12-29
12 For
all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all
who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For
it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of
the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do
not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to
themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They
show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their
conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even
excuse them 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 as circumcision? 27 Then
he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have
the written code 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.
How many hypocrites do you know? How many times have you said, “do what I say
not as I do”? I assume most of the
people reading this know the instruction of the Law. I assume, actually know, that you have
sinned.
But I really like this text because it reminds me
that we all have the Law written on our heart.
We all know what we are supposed to do, but often times lie to
ourselves. We desire to turn from what
is written on our heart to follow after anything else. It is not the Law outside of us, which
condemns us, but the Law within you that already condemns you.
This makes it a lot easier to take the next step,
and remind you that God is not found within you. God comes to you and washes you and feeds
you. He does not come to bring the
condemnation you already know, but he comes to shine the light of the
truth. It is your heart that condemns
you in the light, and it is God who redeems you.
All of us have been instructed in the Law from birth. You should do it. But remember this is not your salvation,
because that comes from Christ Jesus our Savior.
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