Romans - Chapter 2 (Part 2)

Romans 2:17-29

This week we finished Chapter 2.  Ed McCaffrey made it a point to read "Christian" instead of "Jew" everytime you saw the word Jew. 

It is true we as Christians can feel superior or feel like we have earned this thing called Salvation.  But indeed we can be just as hypocritical as the Jews back then.  Paul in Romans goes on to say that being a Jew is an inward thing.  That it is by the Spirit that the heart of a Jew makes them a Jew.  Same with Christians - they will know we are Christians by our love, because our hearts don't lie.

Jeremiah 4:4 says: Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, circumcise your hearts, you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire because of the evil you have done - burn with no one to quench it.

This verse is important to point out, because the Jews that Jeremiah was talking to would have already been circumcised, but he specifically talks about the heart not about the physical act that would have already been performed. 

Ed left us with 3 questions:

1. What is Gd really looking for out of his children?
2. What does it mean to be a follower of Christ?
3. What can you do in your own life so that your example outweighs your message?

Romans - Chapter 2 (Part 1)

Romans 2:1-16

Back to the Bible - Ed McCaffrey continued our study in Romans.  We picked it up in Chapter 2. 

2 Things stuck out most to me as we read togther the verses in Romans and all the verses that support and connect with Romans.  The 1st thing is that as Christians we need to watch ourselves and try not to condemn others.  It says it right in the first verse in Romans Chapter 2 - "You, therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else for at watever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."  We are called to judge what is good and not good, what is pleasing to God and what is not pleasing to God, so that we may choose wisely.  But actually passing judgment on some one else as if to say we are perfect or better than that person, that is what Paul is talking about. 

The 2nd thing that stuck out to me (and where I want to spend most of my time) it seems that God, the Father won't actually be judging us come judgement day.  God has passed that responsibility on to his Son - Jesus Christ.  Is this true?  It says it here in verse 16 - "This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares."  I had to think about this statement for a long time.  Is God really not going to judge, but Christ instead?  God and Jesus are one.  So what does this mean.  Verse 16 does say God will judge - God will judge, through Jesus Christ.

I have concluded that God will judge - Jesus will be apart of that judgement, but this verse seems to support the philosophy that we as Christians will be judged through Jesus's blood and we will be saved.  But this is only the beginning, we will be held responsible for our actions as well, but that comes later in Romans.