From a Message Preached by Dr J Stewart Gillespie on:


'Showing and Sharing the Righteousness of God' (Romans Chp 3 Vs 19 to 31)


God Shows His Righteousness in Salvation
There is a light that shines through the whole of scripture from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22.
The Word of God makes me aware that that Light and the apparent source of that Light are not one and the same!
The Word of God distinguishes between the source and the substance
Generally the ancient mind failed to do this: the commonest god to be worshiped by pagan man: Romans, Egyptians, Philistines, Hindus was the sun god. Why? Because the sun was regarded as the source of all light. Not so in the Word of God.

Genesis chapter 1: Light is present from day 1 but the sun is not created until day 4

From Genesis to Revelation the light may well be linked with the sun, the light may well shine as the sun rises morning by morning and diminish as the sun sets evening by evening but long before the sun ever arose for the first time there was Light and long after the sun has sunk for a final time, below the horizon of eternity; the true Light will still shine forever.
In life my great passion must be to look beyond the horizon of time to lay hold of the eternal Light which radiates from God Himself!
We often think of the 2 interchangeably but they are not, a bit like light and the sun!
In Genesis chp1 ever before God creates the sun He says “let there be light” and at the end of all things there is no sun any longer in heaven for “the Lamb is the light thereof” (Rev21:23).
The sun and the light are helpful to us as a picture of the distinction between source and substance
It is especially helpful when we recall that 'light' is often given to us in scripture as a picture of Gods righteousness (1 john1:7-10)

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifest...” (v21)
"manifested" - revealed or shown “φανερόω” from the Gk word to shine! Gods righteousness is able to shine, in its own intrinsic light independent from the law as the light and the sun!
Just as it is possible for the light to shine without the sun, so it is possible for righteousness to shine without the law.
It is Gods righteousness before it is ours :
Not an inferior righteousness
Given by God, not Gained by man
Gods righteousness comes down not worked up
Experienced by man not earned by mans efforts
Gods righteousness is as operative in salvation as in condemnation
Gods righteousness is satisfied by justification not denied
Not playing off one Divine attribute against another!
God is always what He is, unchanging
"I am the Lord I change not."
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever"
God is not sometimes all knowing
God is not sometimes all powerful
God is not sometimes Holy
God is not sometimes righteous
It is not His love and grace desiring to save against His righteousness refusing to save.
Sometimes we are painted a picture of God being in internal tension, His Righteousness desiring to condemn man and His Grace and Mercy Desiring to save man, this is not the case.
Rather Gods righteousness comes through His grace (3:24)
In salvation God is not working in order to deny an essential attribute of His being rather to satisfy that essential attribute of His being! 'I AM just behold and see, let the universe and the heavens examine, I have saved sinners from hell and I am the justifier of those who believe in Jesus.'
Gods righteous work of salvation is not a contradiction of His condemnation of mans sin but rather a consequence of his condemnation
Gods righteousness in salvation is not a different righteousness
It is the attainment of that righteousness by a means other than the law (3:21)
That righteousness which commences as Gods (3:21) continues as mans (3:22)
It is righteousness as a state not a second class righteousness, not a make do righteousness as if we couldn't manage it the proper way, so this will do instead!
This is "Gods righteousness without law" (3:21)
In other words we often think of righteousness as a standard, that standard is the law.
The law did not give rise to righteousness because something or someone gave rise to the law!
Therefore the righteousness which we have in the law is really a reflection of the righteousness of God which He gave in the law.
To put it another way: the law doesn't give righteousness, righteousness gave the law!
The law was Gods means of conveying His righteousness, like the sun is His means of conveying His light but He is not restricted to it!
So Gods righteousness is greater than the law, since the righteousness gave the law.
We may well reasonably ask the question: is there more to Gods righteousness than we know in the law?
The answer is yes! 'The righteousness of God without the law' (3:21)
This is an interesting idea but not a new one; that Gods Righteousness is greater than the law and extends in scope even beyond the law that He gave because it has already been “witnessed by the law and the prophets,” really the theme of Romans 3:21-31 and chapter 4.

Is there discernible in the OT scriptures:

A Righteousness of God “without law”?
A Righteousness of God that saves rather than condemns?

Gods righteousness in law is a righteousness that condemns man that finds fault with man, that ushers in judgment (3:20):

Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18 & 19)
Gods righteousness in law condemned Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen18:20) : “sin” - the knowledge of “sin” is by the law (Rom3:20), where there is no law sin is not imputed (Rom5:13) so they were under the law – perhaps Gods Creatorial and moral law of Rom 1 or the “law” of conscience (Rom2:14-15). In condemning Sodom and Gomorrah God acted in righteousness as a judge (Gen 18:25). But Lot and his 2 daughters and his wife were brought out of Sodom and Gomorrah! Was he legally righteous? cf. Gen 19:8; 20,32,33. Yet God was acting in righteousness in dealing with this matter (Gen18:25). God was righteous in condemning Sodom.
God was righteous in saving Lot!

Rahab the Harlot (Joshua chp 2) – condemned to die on at least 3 accounts by Gods righteousness in the law: as a cananite, as an inhabitant of Jericho, as an harlot maybe even as being a false witness (2:4), yet Rahab was saved out of Jericho! On what did she depend for her salvation? What gave her the confidence to betray her own people and trust in the Lord? “Ye shall also show kindness” (2:12).... “true token...” (2:12). This is a righteous principle: kindness for kindness, like for like, devotion for devotion! Yet how could she lay claim to Gods righteousness and to that of the righteousness of His servants? She was not righteous and had no righteousness of the law? Gods righteousness condemned her, how could she rest upon that righteousness? We may well say to Rahab: 'I would keep quite about righteousness if I were you!' It was Gods righteousness that would condmen her. Here was a righteousness apart from the law. “We will deal kindly and truly with thee” (v14). A pledge of fairness and righteousness. The righteousness of God that condemns her is the righteousness of God that is able to save her. Gods righteousness condemns Jericho.
Gods righteousness saves Rahab!

The Man Born Blind (John chp 9)
In John chapter 9 the Lord will create eyes and give light, He will save from blindness. What does that have to do with the righteousness of God? How is Christ revealed in John chp 9? Remember that each miracle in John's Gospel is a “sign”, Christ is being revealed as the “light” in Johns Gospel! There are 2 features of light in the scriptures:
Light reveals and illuminates understanding
Light brings in Gods righteousness (1John1:5-7)
It is as Christ is revealed as the righteousness of God that He moves to save this man from darkness. The Light of God, a picture of His Righteousness, a righteousness which does not utterly destroy this man but which illuminates this man in his darkness.

God Shares His Righteousness by Faith (v22)
Gods righteousness unobtainable by law / by deeds (3:20) is attainable by faith, ours by “faith” (3:22)

Rahab put out the scarlet thread
Lot went out of Sodom and Gomorrah with the angel, did not look back
The blind man went and washed in the pool of Siloam.

If the righteousness of God is not by law then I do not do nor do I keep something to gain it, so how do I gain Gods Righteousness without law?
I rest in it! I depend upon it! I trust in Him!
The righteousness of God is not bound by rules / codes / acts / deeds and therefore cannot be received by rules, codes, acts or deeds, it is received by faith!
Grace brings justification (v24).
How can God make me righteous if I am a sinner?
There are 2 words that appear in this section which in English are quite different but in Greek are in fact very similar: righteousness: 'Standard of God ' and justification: 'Standing before God.'
God Satisfies His Righteousness by Faith (3:25-26)
Salvation does not run contrary to Gods Righteousness
Salvation is constructed by Gods Righteousness
The Cause of Salvation lies in Gods Righteousness : “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” (Jas 4:17). If there was a way to save men and women and to maintain Gods character if God failed to take that step He would not be perfectly righteous!It would constitute a sin of omission! The plan of salvation is thus in one aspect a product of righteous necessity! God cannot fail to be less than perfectly righteous! The angle could not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah until Lot was out (Gen19), a scarlet thread was provided for Rahab, Christ did not walk by on the other side of the blind man as the did the priest and the Levite in the parable of the good Samaritan!

Salvation is constructed by Gods Righteousness The whole plan of salvation is carefully constructed in such a way as to maintain Gods righteousness. Salvation is not a way of getting off with sin! It is the means of buying back the sinner (3:24). God in saving the sinner provides a sacrifice for the sinner.
If God saves, God sacrifices (3:25).
The cost is real and the cost is paid.
The righteousness of God is built into the whole plan of salvation.
Righteous ends by righteous means (3:25,26).
Salvation is Completed and Concluded in Gods Righteousness Gods work in the past in “remitting sins” (v25) is fulfilled now at this time (3:26) in the work of Christ.
God Saves by His Righteousness - not mine (3:27-31)

From a Message Preached by Dr J Stewart Gillespie Romans Chapter 3 Verses 9 to 20: 'The Devil in the Detail' Many things we could say by way of general introduction to this section Not least of which is to ask a very basic question: 'Why should this section ever have been written'? There are many questions I do not know how the natural man tackles and handles and this is one of them: 'what gives rise to the utter condemnation of man in this book'? Maybe not such a trifling question as it seems!

1. Chapter 1 - Rotten Sinner is Condemned by Creation
2. Chapter 2 - Self Righteous Sinner is Condemned by Conscience
3. Chapter 2 - Religious Sinner is condemned by Covenant or law

Maybe not such a trifling question as it seems! These verses (3:9-20) are really a conclusion to these previous individual condemnations of distinct groups within humanity This section is a total condemnation of all of humanity! If there is 1 aspect to the gospel which is offensive to modern ears it would be the content of the 1st 3 chapters of Romans: the sinfulness of man. Someone has coined the phrase: the Total Depravity of Man By that phrase I do not mean: "That man is as sinful as he could be" but rather that "Man can never be as good as he ought to be" - Dr J I Packer

Every part of mans being touched and corrupted by sin:

v11 - the mind / the heart v13 - the throat v13 - the tongue v13 - the lips v14 - the mouth v14 - the voice v15 - the feet v18 - the eyes

Mr Stott notes in this chapter that there is taught:

1. The ungodliness of sin (v11, 18) - sin begins and ends when God is pushed to the side of my life
2. All pervasiveness of sin
3. Total Depravity of man

My very simple question: 'However did we get the verdict?' A verdict of universal guilt (v19) A verdict of total condemnation It is hardly natural / normal for man to condemn himself Yet these verses unswerving present the sinfulness of all of humanity They are drawn, as so much else of Romans is from the OT scriptures: Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes This book has been condemning us for 1000's of years and yet we preserve it! Even treasure it! There are many things that allow me the confidence to say this book is the inspired Word of God!

• The Prophecies concerning the person of Christ, the nation of Israel and the nations of the world
• The Pictures of Christ in the OT scriptures
• The Patterns of Christ in the OT scriptures
• The Personal way in which His Word speaks to me

This however would not be the least of the means of confidence in the inspiration of this book of books:

• The condemnation of man in the Word of God. The Bible is not such a book as a man could write - fulfilled prophecies, patterns and pictures, but neither is it the kind of book a man would write! This book is not a testimony to mans ability to array a catalogue of excuses as to why he has failed This book is a testimony to why man is without excuse before God! If I know anything about anything it is about people! As men we tend to make excuses for our failures, underestimate our faults, gloss over our wrong doings, Gods Word does not. If it is natural to make light of our failings what is it to expose and to be utterly honest about our failings? It must be unnatural or supernatural. These verses are a testimony to the fact that there is a standard beyond man, against which man falls short of, against which man feels wholly inadequate

The 1st 3 chapters of Romans are testimony to the existence of: 'The Righteousness of God' and to that righteousness as revealed in law In the concluding section of Romans 3 we will see that Gods righteousness is not restricted to operating via law there is also: 'The Righteousness of God by faith' (3:22) We notice then that a section that many would grapple with, struggle with, seek to water down, is a striking testimony to the character of God, to a standard beyond you and I, this is a supernatural condemnation. It is natural for man to seek to prove that we are better than we might seem (v9), testimony again to the sense that there is a standard I fall short of! It is natural for the alcoholic to tell you he just takes a social drink, for the heavy smoker to underestimate his habit, for the addict to say they are doing fine when so obviously they are not. If it is natural to make excuses, what is it to declare that I am without excuse? Supernatural?? One final comment by way of introduction: If we see this verdict as only possible because of the righteousness of God in the law then we acknowledge this verdict is of God! The God who created man in Genesis chapter 1 is the God who condemns man in Romans chps 1 to 3! When God saw what He had created in Genesis chapter 1, after each Creatorial act God said: "it is good" but having created man, having completed His work of creation God said: "It was very good" (Gen1:31) How tragic it is that God who made man after His image and in His likeness has to write these words about His creation! God is not looking for sympathy mind you, I don't think that is the point! I do believe that God desires to demonstrate to us the sense of tragedy in mans condition I think if you and I are going to be useful to God and used by God to bring His message out from the platform and form the pews and from the pulpit to the people we too must share in this sense of tragedy Don't just go out with the gospel with a sense of sympathy but with a sense of tragedy The tragedy of broken homes, broken hearts, broken lived, lost souls, empty hopes, a fall into hell The bitter disappointment of sin We need to grasp a sense of that tragedy Remember the echo of Gen 1:31: "God saw every thing that He had made and behold it was very good" The Lord Jesus was touched with a sense of that tragedy: "weep not for me, weep for yourselves and for your children" (Luke23:28), the Saviour wept over Jerusalem, the Saviour who wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11) Perhaps we could borrow the words of the Lord Jesus from the parable of the tares and the wheat: “an enemy hath done this” (Matt 13:28) As I look down at the description of man in these verses and I look at the image, the reflection he casts in the mirror, a terrifying sight meets my eyes:

• Smell the odour of death (v13)
• Poison of the serpent (v13)
• Lies of the tongue (v13)
• Blood of murder (v15)
• Way of destruction (v16)

The man of Romans 3 has cast in his lot with:

• The one who is the father of lies (John 8:44)
• The one who was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44)
• The one who had the power of death - the Devil (Heb 2:14)
• The one is that old serpent - the Devil (Rev 12:9; 20:2)
• The one whose name is destruction - Apollyon (Rev9:11) - the angel of the bottomless pit

Do we see what has happened here, do we see the tragedy of what man has become? Man made in the image of God, after His likeness has become conformed to the image of the Devil! The tragedy of what man was and what he has become! The story does not finish here however, in chapters 4 to 8 continues with the Triumph of what I can be in Christ! Never forget the tremendous potential in a life given over to Christ! Romans 5:20 : "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" The God who created man out of the dust and the dirt and who formed man from the 'Ground to the Glory' is able to do the same again! God took man from the ground and gave him a glory above all of creation: Psalm 8:4,5 God who took man from the ground and gave him that glory is able to take man form the gutter and give him that glory again!

This is the subject of Romans chp 3:21 through chapters 4 and 5. v11 - The Mind - Intelligence about God v11 - The Motive - Interest in God

The path is traced inside out From within the very being of man to the outside Salvation must deal with man in the same way Rules, law, therapy and counselling and medicine is not enough The "understanding" would lie not so much in the 'head' but in the 'heart' cf. Eph 4:18 "Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" cf. 1 Kings 3:9 - Solomon prays for an "understanding heart" cf. Psalm 49:2 "the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding" cf. Prov 2:2 "apply thine heart to understanding" cf. Prov 3:4 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding" The meditation and state of the mind determines the motive Man's motive can be focused on many things, consider the many clubs and associations even in a little village like New Cumnock: history club, art club, gardening club, football clubs (a number), bowling clubs, friendship club, photography club, stop smoking club, BBs, scouts, guides, girl guides, youth clubs, fishing clubs, community council, heather club, mother and toddlers club, working mans club, pigeon club, orange lodge, Masonic Lodge, young farmers club, exercise clubs, karate club, womans rural club! Men and women are able to pursue many interests but what about the God who made us?

v12 - The Profit & The Path & The Product

In business profit is synonymous with money and financial gain, not with Christ! What constitutes profitability? It is assessed by God, it is tried by fire:1 Co 3:11ff - it must be of Gold, Silver and precious stones It must be fit to be laid on the foundation Fire proof for eternity What I regard as profitable will determine the path I take: ease and comfort, financial prosperity, friendship and socialising Profitability - what is there for God? What is there of value to God? Product: fruit cf. John 15 and Gal 5 Christ and the Spirit needed

v13 - The Tongue and the Tomb The heart corrupted opens up into a throat (v13) A "sepulchre" - a place of death Not only a sepulchre but an "open sepulchre" Place of "stench", a place of smell Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh A voice form the tomb? Whose voice is it? A dead man talking? "dead in trespasses and in sins" (Eph2:1) Words and Works

• From the heart (v11)
• To the throat (v13)
• To the tongue (v13)
• Through the lips (v13)
• Out of the mouth (v14)
• From thought to word and then to deed

If it is behaviour that is to be changed, the heart and mind must be changed God works from the inside out

https://graceinchrist.org/romans

From a message preached by J Stewart Gillespie on: Romans Chapter 3 Verses 1 to 8: “Missing the Point” Paul has so far concluded all under sin:

1. The Rotten Sinner of Rom1
2. The Self Righteous Sinner of Rom2
3. The Religious Sinner of Rom 2

Chapter 2 ended with the religious sinner: the Jew, who founded their claims to salvation on a 3 fold cord (v17):

1. Jew – Racial Claims
2. Law – Righteous Claims
3. God – Religious Claims

In all of this however we saw:

1. Jew – Racial Claims – there was no real relationship To be born is one thing but, as the Lord taught Nicodemus to be born again is another all together.
2. Law – Righteous Claims – it was a great Law: it contained the Desires of God, the Discernment of God and the Direction of God. The law did not bring them righteousness.
3. God – Religious Claims – but no reality

All claims to salvation apart from Christ tend to lay hold of these 3 strands: Race, Religion and Rules:

1. Race: I was born into it!
2. Rule: I deserve it!
3. Religion: I have paid for it!

But when these claims were scrutinised they were found wanting:

1. Rules: But have you kept them (2:21-23)?
2. Race: But it was not unconditional (2:25), we saw the character of Abraham, the man God gave His promises to, Abraham was a man: justified by faith (Gen15:6) sanctified from defilement (Gen14:23) consecrated to God (Gen17:1) separated from the old world (Gen12:1) It was not automatic: the blessing went to Isaac the son of promise rather than to Ishmael.
3. Religion (2:24) – but do people see in me the character of God? Do I cause them to bless God and to glorify my Father or do I cause them to curse? We have outward formality but no inward reality We have religion but no relationship We have a church but no Christ

v1 – there is one obvious problem with the conclusion Paul has so far drawn in chap 2:17-29. If this it is indeed true that the racial claims, religious claims and righteous claims of the Jew are of no effect to salvation then what exactly has God been doing for the preceding 3,000 years with the people of Israel?

• Making a covenant with Abraham
• Redeeming a people out of Egypt
• Giving His Law
• Speaking through the prophets

Why bother if the end point is the same for everyone? If despite all of this Divine intervention, purpose and providence “all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God” (3:23) and if indeed there is “no difference” between Jew and Gentile then has the OT been one colossal waste of time? The Jew would have been as well following the Hindu Vidas, they would as been as well turning to pagan idol worship for all the good it has done them. Is not the whole of the OT scriptures about:

1. Gods chosen people - Racial Claims?
2. The law – Righteous claims?
3. Worship and offerings – Religion?

Well yes it is, but it is also about:

1. Righteousness
2. Relationship
3. Reality

The Bible is not primarily about me, it is primarily about God and it leaves me a question to answer do I want anything to do with God? If my answer to that question is yes I do – the scriptures set out that path to Him! “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?” (Rom 3:1) The Jew has a covenant, a law, a Bible, a circumcision, a history and is Gods chosen people but was there any point to it all? So either Paul is wrong in his conclusion or there is more to the story than has so far been revealed in chapters 1 + 2, there is more to the covenant, the law and the prophets than simply the condemnation of sin! It is that later point that Paul will now make in Romans chps 3 + 4. The purpose of Gods dealings with His OT people went beyond the demonstration of failure and the conviction of sin by the rules that He gave. If we miss this we miss the whole point of the OT scriptures and frankly Paul contends that the Jew did just that, missed the point! Although importantly Paul will show that not all Jews missed the point, at least 3 groups got the point:

1. the Priest (3:25ff),
2. the Patriarch Abraham (4:1ff) and
3. the Psalmist / Poet David (Rom4)

What is the point? The point is that Gods dealings in covenant, in law, in scripture and in prophet only began with:

1. Rules – that convict of sin (3:19-20) but led onto
2. Repentance from that sin “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Rom 2:4)
3. Relationship with God – Romans 4. - justification by faith.
4. Revelation of Christ in the “oracles of God” (3:2)

Simple point of our message: 'don't miss the point' The point of Gods dealings then:

1. Rules – that convict of sin, we have already touched on the subject of sin and the law in chp 2:21ff and we will deal with it some more (3:19-20)
2. Repentance from that sin “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Rom 2:4) – we have already seen this in Rom 2:4.
3. Relationship with God – Romans 4. - justification by faith will be the subject of the latter half of chapter 3 and then chapter 4.
4. Revelation of Christ in the “oracles of God” (3:2) – the subject here in 3:1-8. What has God been doing as He has been speaking?

Simply providing rules to convict of sin? No something far more precious than only that: “unto them were committed the oracles of God” (3:2) Given to the nation of Israel were the very words of God! With those “oracles of God” we can either:

• Treasure the Oracles of God (v2)
• Trust the Oracles of God (v2,3)
• Trifle with the Oracles of God (v3)
• Tested by the Oracles of God (v3-4)
• Tragedy of the Oracles of God (v8)

Treasure the Oracles of God (v2)

“committed” - “faith” - “entrusted” A picture of the Ark of the Covenant A precious box of gold, most sacred item of furniture in the tabernacle reserved as the residing place for the law Hidden from human eyes Over that foundation of Gods Word would sit the mercy seat (3:25) – salvation founded upon the Word of God! What was the purpose really of these oracles? They were 1st and foremost a testimony to Christ: “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luk 24:27) “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” (Joh 5:39) “Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (1Pe 1:11) “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious” (1Pe 2:1-4) In John chapter 10 we have a picture of just that: The Characteristics of the Shepherd: How we recognise the true Shepherd of our Souls, the diference between the true and the false, the shepherd and the thief, the one who gives life and the one who takes life away. Ever before we make any choices in life we would do well to ask do I pursue that which is: true or that which is false, one who cares or one who is cruel, a Shepherd or a thief, one who gives life or one who takes life?

In this chapter we have the character of the Shepherd:

• The Coming of the Shepherd (10:1-2)
• The Companion of the Shepherd (10:3)
• The Call of the Shepherd (10:3)
• The Care of the Shepherd (10:4,9)

The Coming of the Shepherd (10:1-2)

He would come by the “door” (10:2)

In 10:9 He is the Door but in verse 2 He comes by the door! How can He both come by the door and yet be the door? His coming through the door was a defining characteristic of the Shepherd! They would recognise the Shepherd by the fact that He came through a door, specially constructed for Him. No one else but the true Shepherd could come by this door! It was specific for Him!

I can see that door being carefully fashioned and constructed in the OT scriptures:

• “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isa 7:14) – How He would come!
• “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Mic 5:2) – Where He would come!
• “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Psa 40:6-8) – A body prepared to come!
• Daniel chp 9 would tell us when He would come
• Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 would tell us why He would come.
• There is a door through which Christ would come!

That door was specific to Him.

The Written word, the door of 10:2 can only be fulfilled by the incarnate Word of 10:9, Christ both comes through the door and He is the door!

The Companion of the Shepherd (10:3) Christ does not work alone! “The porter” opens the hearts door for the sheep to hear His voice The Spirit of God makes the voice of God real to the human soul Cf. Rev 3:7 – God controls the opening of the door The Call of the Shepherd (10:3) When the porter opens and when Christ speak we “hear His voice”

1. Personal “by name”
2. Powerful “leadeth them out”
3. Practical – results in action

The Care of the Shepherd (10:4,9)

Trust the Oracles of God (v2,3)

Trifle with the Oracles of God (v3) “did not believe” - wilful rejection of His Word To reject Gods Word is to reject God.

Tested by the Oracles of God (v3-4) “Faithfulness of God without effect” Rejecting Gods Word is the other side to the sharp two edged sword (Heb4:12) Gods Word is two-edged, it cuts both ways! Gods Word either acts to my Salvation or to my Condemnation “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?” (2Co 2:15-16)

Tragedy of the Oracles of God (v8) Gods Word either: Justifies me by faith to my salvation Justifies Gods judgement to my condemnation Verse 5 contains a strange argument but one that does often creep into peoples thinking. If Gods revelation is simply to prove that I am a sinner and if Gods revelation successfully proves that I am a sinner then by sinning I am fulfilling the purpose of His revelation, so am I saying that I should just sin some more and prove God right? “Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?” (Job 40:8) Sometimes it creeps in as a kind of passive view of Christianity; that Christian faith and growth in Christ is something that just happens to you by accident one day you get out of bed and if it doesn't well I suppose that's just the way its going to be, after all I'm just a sinner anyway, so I may as well keep on doing what I'm doing! Above all else this nation was the Nation of the Book! It was a nation that ought never to have survived: The product of 3 barren wombs: Sarah, Rebekah and Rachael Surviving the persecution of Pharaoh in Egypt Preserved through Babylon and returning to the land even after the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple! Preserved from destruction by Rome even after the destruction once again of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70 Surviving Pogroms in Europe and Russia Passing through Hitlers final solution and the holocaust Back in the land in AD 1948 What a nation! What held them together? More than anything else: the Book! They were the people of the book! A book that contained a unique set of laws, prophecies, and instructions for life, it recorded both their history as well as their destiny, it gave identity to a displaced people as belonging to God Himself! A book that tells us where we came from, where we are going to, why we are here and how we can know the God who made us! Someone has well said that if asked for proof that there is a God he would reply in 1 word: Israel. That nation was not only to be Gods channel of communication to a lost world preserving and ultimately conveying His Words to the whole of mankind but that nation would also possess the oracles of God by means of preparation for the coming unique Word of God. Israel would provide both the root and the soil for His advent (Isa53:1) They would be able to identify the coming Messiah as the the unique Son of the one and only true and Living God (Isa7:14; Isaiah 40:9;Micah5:2; Psalm 110). The trouble is having the revelation or the oracles of God is not of itself enough, there is a:

https://graceinchrist.org/romans

Notes from a message preached by Dr J Stewart Gillespie on: Romans Chp 2 Vs 17 to 29: 'The Religious Sinner' A section that deals with the failings of the Jewish people At last a section that I can fall asleep during! Of no relevance to me! I can see the relevance of Chps 1 + 2: The Power of the Gospel to change lives (Rom1:1) The Proof of the Gospel in personal experience (Rom1:1), in the Promise of the Gospel (1:2) in the Person in the Gospel (1:3) in the Power of His resurrection (1:4) in the Product of the Gospel in changed lives (1:5) That section on doubts and deliverance (1:1-7) The Result of the Gospel (1:8-17) in changed lives The descent of man (1:18-32) rejecting the Worship of God, the Ways of God, the Wisdom of God and the Works of God But here is a section that I can switch off on – there is no relevance to me, it is about where the Jewish people of old went wrong! Before you dismiss it altogether, a word of caution, where the Jew of yesterday went wrong the professing Church of today goes wrong! I can see many parallels between the condition of the Jew of Romans 3 and the professing believer of Revelation 3:20 at Laodicea – the Church of the last days of the Church age; Christ is on the outside: “I stand at the door and knock...” a condition so very similar to the nation of Israel at the 1st coming of Christ: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (Joh 1:11) the condition of Israel at His 1st coming is the same as the condition of the Church as His 2nd Coming approaches; He is on the outside! We have outward formality but no inward reality We have religion but no relationship We have a church but no Christ v1 – there is one obvious problem with the conclusion Paul has so far drawn from his examination of all peoples at all times, all concluded under sin (3:23) Paul has concluded all under sin: The Rotten Sinner of Rom1 The Self Righteous Sinner of Rom2 The Religious Sinner of Rom 2 In Johns Gospel we find: Things we don't know (John 21:21-22) Things we will know (Jo13:7) Things we ought to know (Jo3:10) Things we know but we didn't know that we knew them (Jo14:5,6,9) All of the above represents a journey of learning into the infinity of Gods ways and purposes. All of the above represent encounters between Christ and those seeking for the truth. In Johns gospel there is also another group, another attitude and a different spirit. People who think they know it all! They thought they knew the prophets (John 7:40-44,52) They thought they knew the law (Jo8:4-9) They thought they knew the scriptures (Jo5:39) They thought they knew God (Jo8:54-55) They thought they knew Christ (Jo7:12,20) They thought they knew the Father (Jo8:33,39,44) There are few things in our life so dangerous as a conviction drawn from inadequate information, not just in Johns gospel: Matt22:23ff. It might be the best conclusion we can draw but if we don't have the right information we draw the wrong conclusion. It seems that confidence is no guarantee of certainty! It seems that you can be wrong! When it comes to salvation, be very careful about getting it wrong! It will certainly come out in the wash but by then it will be too late; “depart from me I never knew you.” In Romans 2:17-29 we are dealing with the same people as in Johns gospel! In this section there are those who think they have salvation sussed! “Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,” (Rom 2:17) They have a 3 X confidence and a '3 fold cord is not easily broken!' There 3 Fold Confidence / 3 Fold Boast:

1. Jew - Racial Claims – Race
2. Law - Righteous Claims – Rules
3. God - Religious Claims – Religion

We may well ask: 'so what is wrong with all of that?'

Law - Righteous Claims – Rules

They had learned the desires of God They had gained knowledge (v18) and understanding, they knew the “will” of God, they had an understanding of what was pleasing to God in any given situation, a great advantage, they understood the desires of God. What do you do if someone says: 'I've a great new god come and worship it with me'? The men of chapter 1 would have jumped on the band wagon but not the Jew they had the commands of God: “Thou shalt worship no other God except Me”

What do you do if society begins to say that life is expendable, that human life is not valuable simply because it is human life, that some lifes can be destroyed for purposes of convenience? The Jew knew the desires of God; “thou shalt not kill.”

What do you do when the government of the land loses its discernment into a pit of deep rooted moral corruption, when politicians are easily swayed by men and woman pursuing their own lusts, and laws begin to change permitting the union of men with men and women with women. The Jew knew the desires of God on this: “male and female created He them.” How quickly and easily and clearly the Word of God deals with moral errors of their day and of ours too!

Paul will give a few simple and clear examples of these (2:21,22), not hard to understand. They had learned the discernment of God Even beyond that they had learned discernment: “approvest the things that are more excellent” - a sensitivity not only to outright evil but an ability to choose the best. Not only what was right but what was best! There can be a subtlety and a sensitivity to that! The Jew had gone beyond the expectations of some Christians with: 'what is the harm in it?' Many an excuse can be used for sin when God given discernment is lost:

Lot (Gen19:20): “this city is near to flee unto...it is a little one.”. Its a smaller sin than the last one! Its just ½ the size! I've cut down, not so much, not so often. It's a little one! Maybe it is but its still a sin!

Achan (Joshua 7:20ff): “a goodly Babylonish garment...” Its a good one. Shame to let it go to waste!

Saul (1Sam15:9ff): He kept the “best of the sheep”. Its the best one!

How we need the Word of God to keep us from compromise! Times might change, the world might change but as God looks down on our tiny sinful, little planet He does not feel compelled to keep up with latest fashions upon earth. Our God does not change and His Word does not change!

His Word keeps us from compromise:

Shammah (2Sam23:11) defends a field of lentils against the Philistines, doesn't matter the value, they belong to the king! No compromise.

David (1Sam17:34) rescues a lamb from the mouth of the lion, he's the shepherd and it is his lamb, no compromise!

They had learned direction from God In a dark world they were able to “guide” the heathen, they had direction (2:19) They considered themselves doctors of Gods Law They considered themselves to be “instructors” and “teachers” the word for doctors of the law (cf. Luke 2:46) It didn't bring them any closer to Him! What's the problem? The difference between knowing and doing! Rules can tell us what's right but they can't make you righteous! “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Rom 3:20)

God - Religious Claims – Religion (v23-24)

Made their “boast of God” (v17) Actually they caused others to “blaspheme” God (v24) They had : Broken His Laws (v23) Blasphemed His name (v24) There religion did not bring them into a relationship Do you bring honour to God (v23) or Glory to His name (v24)?

Jew - Racial Claims – Race (v25-29)

If their religion lacked relationship then then racial claims lacked reality They had the token and the sign of circumcision but the reality of it Circumcision had been given to Abraham as a token of Gods covenant (Gen 17). The promises passed to the next generation by Gods election and not by natura; generation: they passed onto Isaac the son of promise and not to Ishmael! Circumsion was a sign of Gods promise to Abraham, a covenant. Did Abraham have a side to keep in this promise? That covenant did begin with a command to Abraham: “... the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Gen 17:1) This covenant was a sovereign act of God in grace but it was also set in the context of Abraham's spiritual and moral conditions!

God had chosen Abraham, a man who God had marked out by:

1. Separation by Faith (Gen12:1)
2. Justification by Faith (Gen15:6)
3. Sanctification by Faith (Gen14:23)
4. Consecration by Faith (Gen17:1)

Abraham had one thing to do as part of this covenant “thou shalt keep my covenant” (17:9) – to circumcise his male offspring! What did that circumcision on the 8th day mean? If it meant anything it meant separation and consecration from the world around. Abraham was different and his seed had to be different No point in claiming the token (Gen17:11) and denying the reality!

https://graceinchrist.org/romans

"The judgement of God is according to truth" (2:2)
cf. Joshua 24:14
cf. John 4:23
cf. John 14:6
All "truth" comes from God
Therefore the rejection of TRUTH is the rejection of God!
Embracing that which is false is a rejection of that which is true.
Whilst the believer is captivated by He who is the TRUTH the world is fascinated by fallacy and fiction
Our appreciation of the sum total body of truth will be different
No man knows all of the truth
All have a different grasp of, a different appreciation or assimilation of the truth
We are not judged as to how much of the truth we know - not ATTAINMENT
Not judged as to how deeply we understand the TRUTH
But we are judged as to our ATTITUDE to the truth
"But unto them that are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath." (2:8)
This attitude to the truth reveals our attitude of heart, wither it be the rejection of:

1. Gods Glory in Creation – CREATION
2. Gods Goodness in Conscience – CONSCIENCE
3. Gods Grace in Covenant promise – COVENANT
4. Gods Gospel in Christ - CHRIST

At different points in time and in different dispensations God has been rejected by man at these different levels
Irrespective as to what point man rejected the truth the end result is the same man rejected the truth from God and the truth of God.
That testimony of truth (Romans 2:2) which is rejected by man (Romans 2:8) is in fact different aspects of the truth concerning Christ (2:16) - judgement according to truth is judgement "by Jesus Christ"

1. Creation - is the revelation of the Creatorial Glory of Christ (John1:1;Col1)
2. Conscience - is the moral light from Christ (John1:9)
3. Gospel is the revelation of the Redemptive Glory of Christ

It matters not which one of these spheres of Divine truth we reject - in rejecting 1 we reject Christ.
God has revealed His truth and man has rejected His truth
God is not morally obliged to present Gods truth in Christ so I can reject that too!
All men will be judged as to their attitude to the TRUTH
Some will be judged as having rejected the revelation of:

1. Gods TRUTH in CREATION
2. Gods TRUTH in CONSCIENCE
3. Gods TRUTH in COVENANT
4. Gods TRUTH in CHRIST

The common point is the same
All have rejected Gods truth
If I have an illness, eg a life threatening infection there are various ways I can avoid being cured:

1. I can refuse to believe that I am ill, its not real, don't believe in illness, its all in the mind and therefore never seek medical help at all! - denial of Gods testimony in creation
2. I can refuse to believe the doctors diagnosis - he's a bit dramatic that doctor, terrible for exaggerating, the bleak diagnosis troubles my conscience and so I reject it - refuse conscience!
3. I can refuse to take the medicine, I don't like banana flavoured antibiotics - refuse salvation!

It doesn't matter at which point I reject the truth: in this case I have a life threatening infection and need urgent treatment, the outcome is the same!

Notes from a message preached on the Epistle of the Romans:

Romans Chp2 Vs1: 'Conscience an Echo out of Eden' - JS Gillespie (11/11/2008

1. The Corruption and the Condemnation of Conscience (v1)
2. The Source and the Standard of Conscience (v2)
3. The Problem and the Purpose of Conscience (v3-4)
4. The Response to and the Results of Conscience (v5-12)
5. The Evidence and Experience of Conscience (v13-16)

The Corruption and the Condemnation of Conscience (v1) Anyone who can appreciate that there is a problem with the list of 23 moral evils in Romans 1:29-32 has a major problem on their hands – they are fit for hell! Gen39:6-21 – can we perceive that there is a problem, an injustice in the events of Genesis chp 39? Can we discern in this story of Joseph that there is injustice, unfairness and sin? Can we see:

• “unrighteousness” in the dealings of Potiphars wife with Joseph? He did only good (Gen39:6,8,9) and she rewarded it with evil.
• “fornication,”
• “wickedness,”
• “covetousness” - she desired what was not hers – Joseph
• “maliciousness” - acted with revenge and spite when she failed to get what she wanted (39:17ff), she didn't just accept that things were not going to go her way!
• “envy” - wanted to take away from Joseph what she could not have!
• “murder” - her actions could easily have resulted in the death of Joseph as per the baker of Genesis 40.
• “deceit” - she deceived her husband
• “malignity”
• “whisperers” - Constructing and concocting a story before her husband returns (Gen39:14)
• “Backbiters” - with vengeful hatred on Joseph

Anyone who can appreciate that there is a problem with the list of 23 moral evils in Romans 1:29-32 has a major problem on their hands – they have a conscience. Sometimes it is easier to see the significance of these sins in the context of human actions rather than simply in a list of events. We know that certain things are right and some things are wrong If they are wrong for others they are wrong for us too! The first time we read of conscience coming into action in Genesis 3:7; by verse 12 it is corrupted – instead of being used to convict Adam of his own sin he is using it to criticise and condemn his wife!

The Source and the Standard of Conscience (v2) What is the source of human conscience? Conscience has its origins back in Genesis chp 3 Conscience comes to us as an echo out of Eden! Conscience is a universal pointer to an absolute standard of right and wrong Conscience at it simplest is the inner awareness in the heart of man that his actions have a significance beyond the immediate context in which they occur. Conscience involves at least 3 separate components: A knowledge of an absolute standard of righteous (Rom 2:15; 9:1) An awareness of a responsibility towards God: (1 Peter2:19; 3:21; Acts 23:1; Acts 24:16) A warning or conviction when we have fallen short of that standard / when we have broken or offended that standard (1Co8:7,10,12; 10:25,27,28; 2Co1:12;4:2; 1Tim1:19;3:9;4:2; Heb9:9,14; 10:2,22) How did that conscience come to be? Romans 2 makes it quite clear that conscience is a reflection of the standards of the creator (2:2,3,15) Man first experienced the stirrings of conscience in the garden of Eden Conscience was not the direct product of sin, conscience was not created by sin and Satan – sin and Satan are not creatorial, only Christ is creatorial: “(Joh 1:3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (Col 1:16) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” Sin cannot truly give rise to light but rather to darkness It is not sin that gives us a knowledge of Gods standards but rather God Himself: “(Joh 1:9) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” But it was in the garden of Eden that the conscience first fired up as man created in the image of God, with the knowledge of Gods character, reflecting the nature and standards of the Creator sinned against his creator. Something foreign to that creation and those to standards God had given was introduced into that creation and man perceived that this was alien to his creator – these were the first stirrings of conscience. It was not that sin created conscience but rather conscience triggered a response to sin in the heart of man! Jag yourself with a needle and you feel pain, the needle does not create pain however, the nerve cells, the prostaglandins, the prostacyclines, the electrical impulses in the nerve cells, the connections to the spinal cord and to the brain cause pain, the needle only triggers the process set up by God from creation. The conscience came from God (Rom2:2) the standards are Gods (Rom2:2,14) sin merely triggers the response.

The Problem and the Purpose of Conscience (v3-4) No sooner did Adam perceive the effects of conscience on his soul than he misused it: Gen 3:12 – to accuse another, to accuse Eve, but if Eve's behaviour was wrong then so was Adams! Conscience had a purpose, not only was conscience an echo out of Eden that tells us that we have eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil but it is also an echo that reminds us that there is a tree of life! The message of this book is that there is such a tree of life! “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” (Act 5:30) “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.” Conscience is not only the emptiness that comes form eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil it is also the gnawing, painful hungering and yearning after the fruit of the tree of life! Praise God for conscience! The true purpose of conscience is not only to convict of sin but it is to convert the soul Conscience is designed to prove to our hearts that we are sinners and that salvation can never be on the basis of how good I am but rather if I am ever to be saved it must be upon the basis of what and who God is. Salvation can only be possible if God is “forbearing” - patient, forgiving of the repentant sinner (v4) Conscience has its final work not only in convicting of sin but in casting me upon the grace and mercy Conscience is not there for me to be critical of others nor to be scathing of God but rather to convict of my own sin. Believers 252: “Here conscience ends its strife and faith delights to prove, the sweetness of the Bread of Life, the fullness of thy love.”

The Response to and the Results of Conscience (v5-12) I can do 1 of 2 things: Reject conscience and harden my heart (v5) – The Barrier of Conscience. This was interestingly Adams first reaction in the garden of Eden: to hide! To hide under the fig leaves (3:7) and to hide behind the trees in the garden (3:8) and to hide behind his wife (3:12). Convicted of sin he knew that there was a problem within, his response was impulsive rather than intelligent, reactive rather than reasoned – he felt his sin exposed and so hide.

Respond to conscience (v7) - The Brokenness of Conscience

(Psa 111:3) “His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.” They seek for the 'work of God' - “Glory, honour and immortality” is the work of God. down through the generations there have been those who have responded to conscience, to the light of creation and to the light of conscience and on that basis have, even in the days before the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ have been given further light:

Abel: (Heb 11:4) “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” - the same conscience that drove his father to cover and hide drew Able to bring of the firstlings of the flock as a sin offering to God to make reconciliation between God and man!

Job: (Job 1:8) “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”

Noah: (Gen 6:8) “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”

Job, Noah and Daniel: (Eze 14:14) “Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.”

David: (1Sa 13:14) “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”

(Heb 11:13) “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

(Heb 11:40) “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.”

(Heb 12:23) “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect”

The Brokenness of Conscience. Leads me to all sufficient grace!

The Evidence and Experience of Conscience (v13-16) In giving me conscience God has given me a terrifying gift – He has given me the ability to comprehend His basis of judgement We saw that in creation God gave me the ability to comprehend His character in that creation (Rom1:19-20), so too in conscience God has given me the ability to understand His basis for judgement and His verdict against me! No one will be in hell who does nor understand why they are there! Hell will no doubt come as a shock to many but perhaps not a surprise. Conscience is the evidence for the prosecution against me (v14-15) God has laid up in the very nature of your being, in the very foundations of your heart the ability to understand why He casts you into hell. The ability to understand what is happening and why it is happening. That ought to make us tremble if we are unsaved.

https://graceinchrist.org/romans

3 Categories of Sinners:

1. Rotten Sinners of chp 1
2. Self-Righteous Sinners of 2:1-6
3. Religious Sinners for chp 2

Rotten Sinners of chapter 1

The pagan idolaters

Self-Righteous Sinners (2:1-6) They are able to discern sin but not to dispense with sin! Judge sin in others but not in self No repentance from their own sin Notice that the condemnation of these self-righteous sinners is NOT that they fail to live a perfect life - which cannot be expected of any man but rather they fail to repent from the sin that they have committed and continue to commit (2:4) Judgement is made against their attitude of heart rather than against their ability to lead sinless lives! God will continue on from where they left off and will bring judgement to its "righteous" conclusion (2:5) and that against them! Compare 1 John3:4 where Gods condemnation is not so much against mans inevitable inability to keep to the righteous law of God but rather Gods judgement is against the heart of man, the attitude of man to Gods righteous law: "....for sin is the transgression of the law." or literally "for sin is lawlessness" as attitude of anti-law, of anti-God and of anti-Christ that permeates through the whole of humanity and forms much of the subject of the epistle of 1 John. These men begin the spiritual journey; they feel the conviction of sin but it never becomes a personal challenge / conviction Religion but no reality The religious hypocrite, like the Pharisee of Matthew 23

It is so easy to agree with the facts of scripture Easy to learn the doctrines and the dogmas of scripture Easy to preach and teach the letter but to miss the Spirit Easy to fail to apply the truth to our own heart and life

Religious Sinners (chapter 2) The Jew with the law

3 Groups of People:

1. Pagan Idolater (chapter 1)
2. Enlightened / educated / religious gentile (2:1-16)
3. Jew (2:17ff)

3 distinct administrations / dispensations of God 3 distinct ways in which God has dealt with people 3 distinct ways in which God has given men the opportunity to find Him There is a 4th - not mentioned in the opening 2 chapters of Romans

1. The Age of Innocence
2. The Age of Conscience
3. The Age of Law
4. The Age of Grace

Why has God dealt with men in different ways? To demonstrate to all who are willing to come to Him in faith that there is only one way by which men and women can come. There is only one foundation upon which a man or woman can know God That is to come in humility and faith before God, receiving salvation as a free Gift on the Gods terms and not ours. Mans only hope lies not in himself but only in God! One by one God allows man to explore the options leading to salvation and to systematically fail. Man must come in his search for salvation to one conclusion and one alone: "Without ME ye can do nothing" "Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God that in due season He might lift the up..." "Ask and it shall be given..."

But man might say: If only we had the right ENVIRONMENT we would be alright SO Gods first administration was in a perfect environment - Eden No Sin, No Suffering, No Strife, No Poverty, No drugs, No Drink Man failed, man fell In the perfect environment man chose to trust Satan rather than the creator The problem lay in mans heart There is only one desirable feature in man that God could not create: that was willing obedience, devotion that flows from desire rather than design. God could not create, uncreated devotion God desired a Passion for God from mans Pleasure in God Man chose sin and Satan!

If only we had the right EDUCATION we would be alright Man left the garden of Eden with the knowledge of good and evil believing that, that knowledge would fit him to become: "as gods knowing both good and evil" (Gen3:5) This knowledge, this instinctive appreciation of right and wrong is picked up in Romans chapter 1 + 2 (eg 1:28; 2:1-6) and is constantly and consistently rejected by man! Man constantly acts contrary to conscience and delights in it! Perhaps then what we need is something a bit more formal:

If only we had the right ORGANISATION we would be alright! This is a very modern idea! Organise problems out of mans life: communism and socialism of the last century - organise out inequalities, greed, suffering and organise in equality and even distribution of wealth. See it even in our sphere of work, every time a problem is encountered the response is more organisation, greater administration, new protocol. If mans heart is not right we will never organise an attitude to be right before God. Gods next administration was that of LAW A perfect law and not only a law but the organisation and structure with it. God intended that the nation be led not by a king but by prophets and priestly men. They had rules governing worship, family life, contracts, health, infection, food, hygiene, war and farming. This failed, men knew more than ever before but this lead simply to an even greater condemnation than ever before (2:12)! So what does that lead us to then?

The Day / Dispensation of Grace What are the principles here? You've failed You cannot do it yourself: not by environment, education or organisation Shout for help: "He that calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" There is help , there is salvation for us in Christ: "when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." One of the great truths of the book of Romans is that in every day and age there have been those who have come to the truth: You've failed You cannot do it yourself: not by environment, education or organisation Shout for help: "He that calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" There is help , there is salvation for us in Christ: "when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

Amongst them:

• Abraham (Rom4:1ff)
• David (Rom4:6ff)
• Job (Job1:1ff)
• Noah (Ezek 14:14; Gen 6:8)
• Daniel (Ezek 14:14)
• Isaac (Matt8:11)
• Jacob (Matt8:11)
• Elijah (Matt 17:3)
• Moses (Matt 17:3)
• Abel (Matt 23:35; Heb 11:4)
• and those great men and women of faith of Hebrews chapter 11!

In the gospels, Christ connects with the men and women of faith in the past:

• John 4:6 - Jacobs Well
• John 8:56 – Abraham
• Luke 18:22 – Abraham
• Matt 8:11 – Isaac
• Matt 8:11 – Abraham
• Matt 8:11 – Jacob
• Matt 8:17 – Isaiah
• Matt 17:3 – Moses
• Matt 17:3 – Elijah
• Matt 23:35 – Abel
• Matt 23:35 – Zechariah

There is continuity between the old and the new That continuity lies in 1 person - Christ (Romans 2:16) cf. Psalm 132:9ff; Gen 22:18 Of these Paul speaks in Romans 2:7. Psalm 111:2-3 - These were all saved by faith There were those who unlike the Rotten Sinners of Romans 1 responded to the "Works of the Lord" by "seeking" Him out (Psalm 111:2) and by seeking for His: 'honour' and 'Glory' and 'righteousness' and that 'forever' (Psalm 111:3) They 'humbled themselves under the mighty hand of God' They were marked by repentance towards sin: Abraham left his idols (Gen 12; Joshua 24:2) David sought forgiveness (Psalm 51) Jacob wrestled with God Rahab left the old life behind her and let down the scarlet thread Ruth turned her back on Moab

https://graceinchrist.org/romans