Romans 2

Introduction

At separate times in reading Romans 2, I considered my own hypocrisy. I'm intrigued as to whether you did too. It made me almost want to mourn. How much guilt and shame I bear! How great a burden I bear, if not for the grace and mercy of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I am a "whitewashed tomb" (Matthew 23:27), and the worst of sinners. But how often I act as if I was a "super-Christian", as I described Paul.

Paul has shown us the way of life. He has shown us that saving faith should not be the only evidence of faith in our life - we should be marked as people of faith. In Jewish culture, the law of God is very important, and Paul seems to highlight this. He holds them accountable to the very law they acclaim. If this is their standard, they must hold themselves to it. But, as with many of us as believers, we hasten to hypocrisy.

Romans 2 shines a light on our hearts and projects our sin right before our eyes. The question is, will we ignore it, or will we repent? And with our repentance, will we be humble before others and the Lord, or continue in our false pride?

Well, Paul shows that those who are alive unto God, there is hypocrisy to repent of.

1) Practicing the same sins others commit (vs.1-11)

Paul has just mentioned in Romans 1 the way of the unrighteous:

"Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." (1:32)

And from there, he shows that those claiming to be righteous are in danger of God's judgment (vs.2) for they "practice the very same things" (vs.1). Funnily enough, it's almost as if by judging we think we are exempt from judgment. Like the children who believe they are vindicated when - in pride - they call others kids out for their sin. We call them "tattletales". Are we simply calling others out before the judge who knows us and sees our own sin?

Additionally, it goes without saying that others can often see my own sin better than I do. What kind of example am I setting judging others who can see my own errors and will easily call me "hypocrite"? What kind of good evangelism comes from judgement?

If it couldn't get any worse, consider this implication: we forget the character of God in our pride. We forget the grace and kindness God has shown us, we allow ourselves to continue in sin, we are hypocrites and judges, and fail to repent of everything we forget (vs.4). We fail even to repent of our failure to consider God. And we will face judgment for that (vs.5).

Our hypocrisy for the sake of our pride will all come to absolutely nothing. There is no value in making a name for ourselves. Verse 6 says:

"He will render to each one according to his works" (2:6)

And with a God who is completely fair, completely kind, completely patient and forbearing (vs.4), who will always give people up to what they want (1:24,26,28), Verse 11 says

"For God shows no partiality" (2:11)

When we practice the sins of others and proceed to judge them for their erroneous ways, we must understand God will judge us according to our works.

2) Not practicing what you preach (vs.12-24)

More specifically, hypocrisy according to our proclamation is despicable before God. The Jews and Gentiles, a huge division in Paul's day, would often discriminate between each other. The main difference Paul shows in this section of the chapter is that one group has the law - the Jews (vs.17) - and one group - the Gentiles (vs.14) - does not.

Paul declares sets is up by showing that is "the doers of the law who will be justified" (vs.13). So, when the Gentiles - who, again, do not have the law - "their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to [Paul's] gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus" (vs.15b-16). Essentially, how amazing when their consciences convict them of sin, demonstrating "the work of the law is written on their heart" (vs.15a).

But there are Jews who "rely on the law", "boast in God", "know his will", "approve what is excellent", "are instructed from the law". But note what else they boast in:

"...you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth - you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself?" (2:19-21b)

The sad thing is, there are Jews who have all the right information, they have the truth, they have the ability and means by which to know the Living God, and yet:

"You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law" (1:23)

Once again, if these people are Christians, they are certainly doing no favors in their hypocrisy. If they claim to know a Holy God, they should be responding with godliness. Rather, they do not practice what they preach, acclaim or find confidence in. It's as if it does not impact them at all.

By their hypocrisy, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles" (vs.24). There is no evangelical effort in failing to do what we say others should. It was a fallacy in Paul's generation, and it perpetuates into our own. It is what causes us to despise our leaders and seek change.

It is good to build our lives and shape our actions according to the beliefs we speak of - no matter what they are. Ultimately, a person of integrity (who sticks to what they believe is true) will find that God's design for how to live is the best for them. And a person of integrity, who follows the truth God has soften their heart towards, will set the best evangelical example for those around them.

3) Caring about outward rather than inward things (vs.25-29)

One of the issues that specifically divided the Jews and Gentiles was their concerns about circumcision. Paul first says

"For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision" (2:25)

Circumcision was not simply another law to be kept, it meant something greater. It was to be a picture of an inward change. As Paul says "nor is circumcision outward and physical" (vs.28b). He clarifies

"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." (2:29)

Many religious Jews held to this law firmly. But Jewish Christians should be opening themselves up to the uncircumcised Gentiles, knowing that there was a greater cleansing than just the law, incapable of doing anything eternal but condemning them. Holding to what God commanded was not wrong but keeping themselves from showing the world the truth they held, that was a problem.

Remember, they acclaimed to be "a light to those who are in darkness" (vs.19). The Gentiles - to the Jews - were the group most in darkness. Surely, they would seek to preach, knowing who they identified as? But circumcision was the stumbling block to evangelical efforts. In the end, they became hypocrites, not only because they practiced the same sins, or failed to live according to the truth they held, but because they acclaimed to be something they really never were. They claimed to be circumcised, and never really were. They hadn't accepted that "circumcision is a matter of the heart" (vs.29). Ultimately, according to verse 29, they were seeking the praise of man - finding their identity in the outward things that could bring them exaltation.

But for those who are regenerate, we will realize that nothing we ever do could change us inwardly. We must understand that "circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter" (vs.29). Inward change come via the Spirit and it is our heart change that really matters.

In this life, there should also be the desire to honor God and to show others who He is. No matter what section of God's law we seek to hold to, does it act as a stumbling block to the proclamation of God's word and living it out as a witness? If the law becomes a matter of pride, are we finding refuge and proclaiming the gospel well? I think not.

Conclusion

Those who are alive unto God are not hypocrites. This is a sure and simple statement. Hypocrites will do what they judge others for doing (vs.1-11), they will not live according to their own standards (vs.12-24), and they will care about outward goodness, rather than inward holiness (vs.25-29).

Remember, hypocrisy does not honor God and it will face judgment. We are failing at the very purpose of our lives. But hypocrisy will not aid our evangelical command as stated in Matthew 28:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (28:19-20)

How can we teach what we do not obey? The commands will seem null, void and meaningless to those who witness our failure to obey them.

However, there is a promise in Matthew 28, that I think extends beyond boldness, confidence and perseverance. I think it infers that when we fail, He has always been with us, and He will still bring about His purposes. He promises that He is "with [us] always" (vs.20). And that means that no matter how we fail - especially in our hypocrisy - He is with us. And He will do the work in others that we never were able to do ourselves.

Our prayer following Romans 2 should perhaps be this: Lord God, help us to not be hypocrites, and when we are, let your will always be done. Recognize your hypocrisy, and do repent rather than presuming on the kindness of God yet again (vs.4), but know that in God's grace and mercy, He will bring others to Himself and forgive us for where we have erred.

What a wonderful God we are alive unto!