Romans 2: 17 - 3:18

I am in awe of Paul’s wisdom and his skill at crafting this letter. Like most of the first churches, the Roman congregation was made up of Jews and Gentiles. Apparently, there were Jews that were reluctant to believe that their God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the Covenant, was fully embracing the Gentiles.

Paul is using the same teaching to reach both groups. He will demonstrate God is the Father of all. Paul’s citation of scripture in 2:24 is from Isaiah 52 which tells how Israel completely failed in her mission and then leads into Isaiah 53 where the Messiah; the Suffering Servant of God is introduced as the One who will save Israel, and the world. That citation also refers to Ezekiel 36 which tells of the coming New Covenant where God’s law is written on the hearts of His people.

Paul will continue to show how Jesus is the Messiah promised by God and that with the coming of the Messiah, God has entered into a New Covenant with His people. No longer is a person judged on how well they keep external rules and laws. Now God is looking for hearts to be transformed.

Paul saw Israel as the messenger entrusted by God with a gift that would enable all people to live in right relationships with one another, and God. For Paul, Israel was like a postman, who instead of delivering the package, kept the package for their self. Therefore God chose a new messenger, the Messiah, to bring the Good News. This messenger did not fail in his mission.

Today the church is just as susceptible as Israel was to yield to the temptation to keep the Good News for ourselves. To help us resist that temptation Jesus has a message for His church:

  “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.” (Revelation 2:4-5)

Selah

What word or phrase in these verses

attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

4-Dec-11      Rom. 3:19-4:8