Spoken At SGBC

7-6-97

Romans #12

2:11-16

Hearers and Doers

As our beloved Apostle Paul expands on the theme of His letter, which is Justification by faith, he teaches us many things about ourselves. First there is this, before God all human beings stand on level ground. That is, everyone, without exception, has sinned in thought and deed. In chapter one he makes the case for the lost condition of the Gentiles. Then in chapter two he shows that the Jews are in the same sinking boat. We all stand guilty before God in need of salvation. However, as Paul reveals elsewhere we are dead in trespasses and sins, helpless, impotent, unable to make ourselves acceptable to God. In this there is no difference between one man and the other. We are all guilty and helpless sinners.

The outward things that make each person appear different are merely superficial and will one day be stripped away. On the day of judgement all men will stand before God and will be judged according to the principals set forth in Romans chapter two.

In this chapter we have learned that all humans will be judged according to truth and righteousness, (verses one through three). Secondly, judgement will be according to the accumulation of wrath which men have treasured up by trampling under foot the mercy of God, (verses four and five). Thirdly, judgement will be based upon the true character of each individual as revealed by their deeds, (verses six through ten). Fourthly, as we will see in the first verse of our text today, God will judge men impartially for He is the God who does not, "regard the face." That is, He does not take into consideration ones status, race, wealth or lack of it. Such things will have no influence upon God in the judgement. The doctor and the bag lady will stand or fall based upon their faith in Jesus Christ or lack of the same.

Today's lesson speaks to us of the impartial judgement of God. Follow with me as I read Romans 2:11-16 NASB.

"For there is no partiality (That is, God is no respecter of persons. The original means, "He does not regard the face." There is nothing in or about a man that influences God in any way whatever. All persons are sexless, colorless, raceless and classless in the eyes of God. There is no partiality . . .) with God. {12} For all who have sinned without the Law (The reference is to Gentiles.) will also perish without the Law; and all who have sinned under the Law (The reference is to the Jews.) will be judged by the Law; {13} for not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. {14} For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, (The Old Testament Scriptures) are a law to themselves, {15} in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, (This consists of a basic awareness of God's existence and the knowledge of right and wrong.) their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, {16} on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus."

By these words Paul answers some questions he knew would be raised in reference to his teaching on the equality of and judgement of all men.

First he deals with the age old question. "How could God possibly judge and condemn to hell people who have never formally heard of Him, His Law or of Jesus Christ? Second, Paul endeavors to correct some false assumptions held by his Jewish brothers. The Jews believed that in light of the great privilege they enjoyed by being Jewish and of possessing the revealed will of God, that they would all rest forever under the smile of God. Paul will show us this morning that this is simply not true. He will do so to further illustrate the impartially of God as concerns the judgement to come.

Paul's words divide the world into two kinds of people. The first group are those who sin or have sinned without the privilege of being exposed to the Mosaic Law, the scriptures. The second are those who sin while in possession of the Word of God as recorded in the Old Testament.

Those who sin without the Law are the Gentiles. This word covers every one on earth with the exception of the Jew. It was to the Jew that God gave His Law and not to the rest of the world, the Gentiles. By the hand of Moses the Jews had God's will for man spelled out to them. The Gentiles did not. I am a Gentile and so were my ancestors. The Arabs are Gentiles, the Iranians, the Chinese the American Indian, the Okie, the Arkie and the Texan. Everyone on earth but the Jew are Gentiles who have sinned without the knowledge of the written Law of God. Most Gentiles in our day have access to the Law but it was not so in the beginning. This lack of privilege is no excuse. These will perish for their sin. (Romans 2:12 NASB) "For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law. . . "

The Gentiles were not given the written law of God yet they will be judged by God according to the divine principles of judgement and if found to be guilty they will be condemned to an eternity in hell. The soul that sins it shall die. Notice, if you will, the word all. Here it means that every single Gentile who sins will be found guilty and will perish. There are no exceptions or special circumstances that will make one exempt.

In a moment Paul will show us just how it is that the ignorant Gentile may be judged and righteously condemned. But for the moment Paul turns his attentions to the Jew.

(Romans 2:13 NASB) ". . . for not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified."

At this point we must remind ourselves of how the Jews believed they would be accepted by God. As has been stated the Jews were God's elect people. He had come to them alone. He had given His law and the temple ordinances to them and to no other people. The Jew felt privileged above all men and indeed he was but along with the great privilege came a great responsibility to live up to the light that he had be given. This is where the Jew failed miserably. The vast majority of the Jews did not attempt to keep God's law. The Jew was often content just being a Jew by blood. Many thought that just hearing the synagogue reading of the scriptures had some redeeming value. He believed that adding his "Amen" to the truths set forth made him right with God. In fact, the Jews were taught just that. That all who became HEARERS of the law would be saved. Paul cuts through all this error and says, in verse thirteen, that DOERS ONLY will be justified, not those who simply listen without obedience.

I must point out the meaning of the word "doer." It means to make complete, to bring forth, to accomplish or make perfect. In other words Paul is saying this. If you intend to be justified before God by your obedience to the Mosaic Law, you must actually accomplish complete obedience. You must be absolutely perfect without any failure to obey at any time in your life. God will not declare a mere hearer of the word righteous under any circumstance. Only the perfect doer will be justified by his works. Listen to the scriptures on this. (James 1:22 NASB) "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."

Mere religion may justify a man in his own eyes but not in God's. (Luke 16:15 NASB) "And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men (The devout religionist is admired by most, if not all men. But what sinful men esteem good and praise worthy . . .) is detestable in the sight of God." (Matthew 23:27-28 NASB) "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. {28} "Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

These verses show us that perfect outward conformity to the law must be accompanied by perfect inward conformity to the Law if one wishes to be declared just before God in this way. A mere religious show will not do. It is perfection that God's Law requires!

(Galatians 3:10 NASB) "For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; (That is, anyone who expects to be saved by keeping the Law of God is under the curse of the Law which curse is the payment of death.) for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." (James 2:10 NASB) "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet STUMBLES IN ONE POINT, he has become GUILTY OF ALL."

The slightest violation of God's Law makes one a sinner. Verse twelve tells us that the sinner shall perish. Even the privileged Jew will perish for no matter how good he has been he has not been perfect. Rather, both Jew and Gentile have sinned and fallen short of the acceptable standard. This is the point Paul makes in our text. That no man can be saved by his performance because no man performs perfectly. Rather, mankind can only be saved by faith in the perfect work and righteousness of Jesus Christ.

In verses fourteen and fifteen Paul shows that the principle set forth in verse thirteen applies to the Gentiles as well even though they did not possess the law of God in written form.

(Romans 2:14-15 NASB) "For when Gentiles who do not have the Law (The written Law as in the Ten Commandments.) do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, {15} in that they show the work of the Law WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS, their CONSCIENCE bearing witness, and their THOUGHTS alternately ACCUSING OR ELSE DEFENDING THEM,"

Here is Paul's answer to those who object to God's judgement of the scripturally ignorant Gentile. The people he speaks of are the millions of non-Jews who have not had the opportunity to hear or read the law of God for themselves. This includes the undiscovered native in the darkest jungle on earth. How will God rightly judge such people? The answer is this, "God will judge the heathen according to his obedience or lack of obedience to the law WRITTEN IN HIS HEART. For God has not left Himself without witness, even in places the missionary will never reach. Look with me to Psalms 19:1-4 NASB.

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. {2} Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. {3} There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. {4} Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. . . " The voice of nature has taught all humans in every place on earth some truth about God and man.

In the New Testament the same truth is found. Romans 1:18-20 NASB, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, {19} because that which is known about God is evident WITHIN THEM; for God made it evident TO THEM. {20} For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been CLEARLY SEEN, being understood through what has been made, so that they are WITHOUT EXCUSE."

God has revealed Himself to the Gentile Nations by the magnificence of His creation as well as by an internal revelation which Paul describes in our text today as the "Work of the Law written in their hearts."

So it is the Gentile nations do possess some knowledge of God and His truth. There is clear evidence of this if we just think about it a moment. Consider the fact that in the most primitive and ignorant of societies you will find an established religion of some kind. Why? Because men know they must worship. They see the creation and they know there is a god. Further each society has some kind of law for the government of their people. They punish theft, murder and adultery. They instinctively know these things are wrong. These simple things and many more that could be cited are evidence of the "Work of the Law written in their hearts." This is how the they know right from wrong. This is why their conscience alternately accuses or defends their behavior.

These men and women are bound to this law just as the Jew was bound to the written law of God. And just as the Jew must keep the written Law perfectly to be justified, so it is with the Gentile. From the cradle to the grave the heathen must obey this "conscience," this sense of right and wrong and he must do so perfectly. For one violation of this internal law is sin and the soul that sins must be condemned in the judgement. Here are Paul's words once again.

(Romans 2:12 NASB) 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;

Our conscience speaks to us moment by moment endlessly analyzing our thoughts, motives and deeds. Saying yes, that is right and good or no, you must not do that or think that or say that. Our conscience bears witness to the truth set before us today. God has written His law in our hearts. We have not kept that law perfectly but have broken all the laws of conscience at one time or the other. Since the hearers of the law are not justified but rather the perfect doers of the law, we must come to the following sobering conclusions.

If you are a Jew hoping beyond hope that your obedience to the written Law will save you, you have been deceived. For you have not kept the Law of God perfectly. On the other hand if you are a Gentile and hold the popular opinion that God grades on a curve and will accept something less than perfect, you too have been deceived. Your conscience tells you of your guilt. A million times and more your conscience has told you of your sin. You know your are guilty. You know that you must perish. You understand that you will be judged, found guilty and condemned to hell forever. (Romans 2:13 NASB) "for not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers (perfect doers) of the Law will be justified." (Romans 2:16 NASB) on the day when, according to my gospel (That is all that Paul preached and taught.) God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus."

You may conclude from all this that God's requirement for salvation is so high that it is unreachable by any man. You are correct. If salvation depended on the performance of any human no man would ever be saved. The good news is that God has graciously made a way for sinners to be saved from the wrath to come. God's Son, Jesus, came for the express purpose of saving those who could not save themselves. He came to satisfy the demands the Law makes on sinners like you and I. He came to meet all the requirements for the salvation of God's chosen people. Jesus met those requirements in His living and in His dying. Over a period of about thirty three years Jesus obeyed the Law of God perfectly in thought and deed. He did this for those He came to save. Then He suffered the wrath of God due sinners when He was crucified and died on a cross in a place called Calvary. He did this for those He came to save. By these acts Jesus purchased our salvation. By these acts Jesus obtained acceptance for us with God. Paul's intent in this letter is to prove that salvation is not of works or performance but rather by faith in Jesus Christ plus nothing.

Throughout the book of Romans the Apostle sticks to his theme, "The just shall live by faith." That is, "Those who stand in the day of judgement right with and acceptable to God will do so by faith in Jesus Christ." By simple faith the sinful Jew or Gentile has imputed to him the living and dying merits of Christ whereby God declares him just and grants him eternal life. This is the only way a sinner can be saved. Look with me at two closing texts.

(Ephesians 2:11-20 NASB) Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," (Jews) which is performed in the flesh by human hands-- {12} remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. {13} But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. {14} For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, {15} by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, {16} and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. {17} AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, (The Gentiles) AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; (The Jews) {18} for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. {19} So then you (Believing Gentiles) are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, {20} having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone," Christ is the center of Christianity. He is the focus of the Good News. Jesus is the key to the Kingdom of God, not the works of your hands.

(John 6:29 NASB) ." . . . This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

He was the perfect hearer and doer of all God's will for me. Trusting in Him I am saved from the wrath to come. In Christ I will stand in the judgement and be granted entrance in God's eternal Heaven.