Romans 2:12-29

CEV-

Rom 2:12  Those people who don't know about God's Law will still be punished for what they do wrong. And the Law will be used to judge everyone who knows what it says. 

Rom 2:13  God accepts those who obey his Law, but not those who simply hear it. 

Rom 2:14  Some people naturally obey the Law's commands, even though they don't have the Law. 

Rom 2:15  This proves that the conscience is like a law written in the human heart. And it will show whether we are forgiven or condemned, 

Rom 2:16  when God appoints Jesus Christ to judge everyone's secret thoughts, just as my message says. 

Rom 2:17  Some of you call yourselves Jews. You trust in the Law and take pride in God. 

Rom 2:18  By reading the Scriptures you learn how God wants you to behave, and you discover what is right. 

Rom 2:19  You are sure that you are a guide for the blind and a light for all who are in the dark. 

Rom 2:20  And since there is knowledge and truth in God's Law, you think you can instruct fools and teach young people. 

Rom 2:21  But how can you teach others when you refuse to learn? You preach that it is wrong to steal. But do you steal? 

Rom 2:22  You say people should be faithful in marriage. But are you faithful? You hate idols, yet you rob their temples. 

Rom 2:23  You take pride in the Law, but you disobey the Law and bring shame to God. 

Rom 2:24  It is just as the Scriptures tell us, "You have made foreigners say insulting things about God." 

Rom 2:25  Being circumcised is worthwhile, if you obey the Law. But if you don't obey the Law, you are no better off than people who are not circumcised. 

Rom 2:26  In fact, if they obey the Law, they are as good as anyone who is circumcised. 

Rom 2:27  So everyone who obeys the Law, but has never been circumcised, will condemn you. Even though you are circumcised and have the Law, you still don't obey its teachings. 

Rom 2:28  Just because you live like a Jew and are circumcised doesn't make you a real Jew. 

Rom 2:29  To be a real Jew you must obey the Law. True circumcision is something that happens deep in your heart, not something done to your body. And besides, you should want praise from God and not from humans. 

Main Point: Paul flips the script of the boast of having a covenant of law with God by birth (race). His main focus is on obedience (good works) and living a moral life as having much more value than depending on a law while embracing sinful practices.

5. Who are those “without the law” (12)? Who are those “under the law?” Why must “the Law” refer to the Law of Moses? Gentiles. Jews. This statement is directed to the Jews who likely considered themselves either superior, or at an advantage over the Gentile by virtue of the Mosaical Law. They were after all chosen by God to represent Him. Paul dispels the arrogance by pointing out that God is looking for moral people who live their lives in line with obedience to God….with, or without law.

6. Define “justified”. Who will be justified (13)?  Just: G1342 dikaios dik'-ah-yos From G1349; equitable (in character or act); by implication innocent – justified: G1344 dikaioō dik-ah-yo'-o From G1342; to render (that is, show or regard as) just or innocent:
In this context, it is the “doers of the law.” But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Paul is NOT saying that we will be saved because of our obedience. He will make that clear in later chapters. Paul’s argument here is to logically point out that ANYONE who exhibits faith through obedience will be found “just” and even then that soul will require Jesus (16).

7. Explain verse 14: Gentiles who live the moral life as described in the scriptures are themselves abiding lawfully before God. This statement is there to deflate the boasting and reliance on a system of law. He is not saying the Gentiles save themselves by being obedient. Later, Paul will develop the argument of faith having precedence over all else, and obedience is a manifestation of that faith.

8. Explain verse 15. How is “the work of the law written on their hearts?” How does “their conscience also bear witness?”  EXAMPLE: The person who lives just with his family and neighbors and practices love to all he deals with. We all know people we can trust. People who are honest and kind. These are practices that reveal the heart and intent. Someone who has a good report and settles up disputes. These are the outward signs of a moral compass, even if that person has never heard of God, they still have this capacity.

9. Write down and explain what the people of Israel were supposed to be for the Lord (vs.17-21) Know His will, learning from the Law. Guide the “blind.”  Be a light to those in darkness. Instruct the foolish. Instruct children. Embody knowledge and truth. Preach against stealing. Teach against adultery. Abhor idolatry. Lift up the Law.

10. What is the condemnation against the people of Israel? Do you not teach yourselves?  Do you steal? Do you commit adultery?  Do you rob temples?  Break the law?

11. How were they dishonoring God? Because they were breakers of the Law, the Gentiles were given opportunity to blaspheme Jehovah.
G987 - blasphēmeō blas-fay-meh'-o From G989; to vilify; specifically to speak impiously: - (speak) blaspheme (-er, -mously, -my), defame, rail on, revile, speak evil.
The applications of his concept transcends time. Our actions speak volumes to anyone who knows we are believers.

12. When does circumcision have value? If you obey the law. Circumcision is the sign of their covenant with God. His point here is to flip the reliance of law on its head. Once you sin under this system, your circumcision means nothing. The covenant is broken.

13. Explain verse 26. What becomes of the uncircumcised who obey the law? A concluding thought from 25 -Anyone who keeps the law carries the mark of circumcision….even if a Gentile. This is an abstract thought (spiritual) as would be viewed by God. This is not according to man’s understanding.

14. Explain the condemnation in verse 27. This is finishing the opening statements 12-15. Gentiles who practice moral living, rejecting sin and injustice stand before God more justified than anyone who relies on the law and sins (willfully).

15. Who is not a Jew? How is Paul defining “Jew?”  Again, Paul flips the narrative of physical compliance (based on race) to law and makes the SIGN of compliance a spiritual matter. The sign of the covenant is found in the “heart.” The concept of a persons’ actions revealing  their status with God, not race, or compliance to a system of law. If you live sinfully, you are not a Jew, regardless of your birth status. “Jew” simply means “one who belongs to God” in this context…or one who is aligned, or has a covenant with God. Paul has moved the reader away from boasting in their Jewish heritage as having any advantage.

16. Who is a Jew? The one who obeys from the heart, and not from compulsion (law). The one who gives their heart to God is a Jew. Paul will later add faith to the equation.

17. What does the phrase, “by the Spirit, not by the letter” mean (29)? Again, “by the  letter” would denote a compulsory action. I have to do something because I will be in trouble if I do it another way. I don’t want to make God angry. If I could sin and get away with it, I would.
“By the spirit” simply means our actions reveal who we are. Our motive is to BE more like God, more like Jesus.

Additional:

Note the conjunctions and personal pronouns in this text. He makes arguments against the system of written law with “but” conjunctions.  For every boast, there is a “but”….leading the reader to understand that the Law is a secondary matter to being just before God.

From verse 17 forward Paul directs his words straight to the Jews. Accusatory and relentless in his arguments, he is looking to dismantle arrogance. Dismantling a reliance on the old system of Law is first on his list.

Notice a key verse, God will judge according to the Gospel of Jesus. This idea tears down any reliance on law.

LAW 12a (2x) G460 -anomōs an-om'-oce Adverb from G459; lawlessly, that is, (specifically) not amenable to (the Jewish) law: - without law.

LAW (12b-27) G3551 - nom'-os From a primary word νέμω nemō (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), generally (regulation), specifically (of Moses [including the volume]; also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle): - law.