Understanding God's Wrath (pt. 3)
1st Depraved Gentile society: 1:18-32
2nd Moralists: 2:1-16
3rd Self-confident Jewish person: 2:17-3:8
4th Entire human race: 3:9-20
1st Religious Hypocrisy Brings God’s Wrath Because It Discredits God’s Name
Romans 2:17-20 ESV
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that 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
Romans 2:21-23 ESV
you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law?
Romans 2:22b ESV
You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
Romans 2:24 ESV
For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
2nd Religious Hypocrisy Brings God’s Wrath Because it Disregards God’s Applause
Romans 2:25-27 ESV
For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
Romans 2:25 ESV
For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
Romans 2:28 ESV
For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
Romans 2:29 ESV
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.
3rd Religious Hypocrisy Brings God’s Wrath Because It Degrades God’s Character
Objection 1: This undermines God’s covenant
Romans 3:1-2 ESV
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Objection 2: This nullifies God’s faithfulness
Romans 3:3-4 ESV
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
Romans 3:4 ESV
By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
Psalms 51:4 ESV
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
Objection 3: This makes God unjust
Romans 3:5-6 ESV
But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
Objection 4: This diminishes God’s glory
Romans 3:7-8a ESV
But if through my lie God's truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come? — as some people slanderously charge us with saying.
Romans 3:8b ESV
Their condemnation is just.
