If I were to rewrite all of Romans 2 for you then you all would probably not read this post out of boredom, or lack of desire. We tend to think that we all have it right and that we do not need to read anything that might distract us over a two to three minute time span.
I have come to long for the Word even more each day after being in it for over twenty years, more than ever. Many times the Lord shows me where my thinking may have been in err, and many times He comfirms that I am most definitely right about the insight in which He has given me. The battle will always go on between ourselves and others in which we must come to the point of choosing to believe what the Word is saying and where our interpetation, and opinon lie. Once again I feel led to quote what my youngest daughter said several years back "If you err, it would be best that you err towards holiness." With this in mind, I must admit one huge thing "That this mind set will most definitley lead one to believe what it says, instead of what you want to hear."
Romans 2 is a mirror to each and everyone of us. It should, and will take us to our knees in humility, meekness, and self examination. I was one who grew up and followed what I was being told to believe about scripture and applied all of my faith by what I was taught instead of seeking the truth on my on. One of the craziest things I bought in to was that by believing I was a Christian that I would immediately be exempt from God's wrath and punishment for the known sin in my life. I thought I had a 'Trump' or 'Get out of jail free' card, because I said a prayer, went to church, or confessed Jesus to be my Savior, while still living in sin. Let us look at a part of Romans 2 and what the scripture states versus our opinions:
"But because of your stubborness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when His righteous judgement will be revealed. God will "Give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by perstistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the gentile. For God does not show favoritism."
I do not know about you, but the truth is that God will not show favoritism to anyone. He is just and will judge justly. Just because one has said a prayer, gone to church, been baptized, or done anything else religiously, does not make them or anyone else exempt. God did not spare His own chosen people when they chose evil over righteousness. If we are believers and know (or justify) that we have anything unrighteous in us, that according to the scripture we will be judged by a righteous God who shows no favoritism. Now, we can form and opinion or personal interpretation about what it says, but it does say what it says. We might want to read it seasoned with a little grace, but grace is already at work by God allowing us to read it. Realizing His kindness should lead us to repentance (Verse 4).
I personally look at the word 'Jew' (for myself) as 'Christian' in most cases, so that the Word speaks directly to me. We are supposed to know better just as the Jews were. Read this in verse 28-29:
"A man is not a Jew (Christian) if he only one on the outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew (Christian) if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code, Such a man's praise is not frm men, but from God."
we have read the scirputre and now we must choose it or our opinion. We do not like it when our true hearts are exposed, but it is only by God's grace that we have this opportunity. Knowing now that God does not and will not show favoritism I leave us all with this question "Is there anything unrighteous in our lives that will cause God to judge us by His wrath. There is no middle ground unfortunately in the Word. We must examine and choose. Opinion versus Scritpure? I am standing on the scripture which by His grace judges me, and by His grace which affords me the opportunity to get it right, right now~
No comments:
Post a Comment