ROMANS ROAD
to RIGHTEOUSNESS |
Romans
1:18-3:20
|
Romans
3:21-5:21 |
Romans
6:1-8:39 |
Romans
9:1-11:36 |
Romans
12:1-16:27 |
|
SIN
|
SALVATION
|
SANCTIFICATION |
SOVEREIGNTY |
SERVICE |
NEED
FOR
SALVATION |
WAY
OF
SALVATION |
LIFE
OF
SALVATION |
SCOPE
OF
SALVATION |
SERVICE
OF
SALVATION |
God's Holiness
In
Condemning
Sin |
God's Grace
In
Justifying
Sinners |
God's Power
In
Sanctifying
Believers |
God's Sovereignty
In
Saving
Jew and Gentile |
Gods Glory
The
Object of
Service |
Deadliness
of Sin |
Design
of Grace |
Demonstration of
Salvation |
|
Power Given
|
Promises Fulfilled |
Paths Pursued |
Righteousness
Needed |
Righteousness
Credited |
Righteousness
Demonstrated |
Righteousness
Restored to Israel |
Righteousness
Applied |
God's Righteousness
IN LAW |
God's Righteousness
IMPUTED |
God's Righteousness
OBEYED |
God's Righteousness
IN ELECTION |
God's Righteousness
DISPLAYED |
|
Slaves to Sin |
Slaves to God |
Slaves Serving God |
|
Doctrine |
Duty |
|
Life by Faith |
Service by Faith |
|
Modified from Irving
L. Jensen's excellent work "Jensen's
Survey of the NT" |
AND WILL NOT
HE WHO IS PHYSICALLY UNCIRCUMCISED: kai krinei (3SFAI) e ek phuseos
akrobustia:
Physically
(5449)
(phúsis from phúo = to bring forth) refers to a condition
or circumstance as determined by birth and thus a natural condition.
Phusis is the nature of something as the result of its natural
development or condition.
Uncircumcision (203)
(akrobustia from ákron = the extreme +
búo = cover) means uncircumcised or uncircumcision and thus
referred to the prepuce or foreskin.
What Paul is picturing is that
the physical rite of circumcision without any internal transformation
equates with a foreskin!
Akrobustia
was also used as a term of
scorn and derision by Jews, for they equated "uncircumcision"
with being a pagan Gentiles. Can you imagine how a self-righteous Jew
must have felt when he read Paul's argument!
He who is physically
uncircumcised - This is another synonym for Gentiles in this verse.
In the OT Gentiles are often referred to as "the peoples" (eg, Ex
15:14, 19:5, Lev 20:24 "separated you from the peoples", Lev 20:26 "set
you apart from the peoples", etc) "the nations" (Ge 17:4 -
Abraham would be "the father of a multitude of nations", Ge 22:18 - "in
your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed", Psalm 2:1,
etc)
If a physically
uncircumcised Gentile were to keep the work of the law within his heart, would he not be justified, instead
of the physically circumcised Jew who did not keep the law?
A Gentile who obeys what the Law requires, even though he does not know
the Law (Ro 2:14) is in God’s sight similar to a circumcised Jew. This
thought would be revolutionary for Jews who considered themselves far
superior to Gentiles (cf. Ro 2:17-21).
Denny
explains Paul's logic this way...
“Here the inference is drawn from the
principle laid down in verse 25. This being so, Paul argues, if the
uncircumcision maintain the just requirements of the law, shall not his
uncircumcision be accounted circumcision, because it has really done
what circumcision pledged the Jew to do?… As he has done what
circumcision bound the Jew to do, he will be treated as if in the Jew’s
position: his uncircumcision will be reckoned as circumcision.”
IF HE KEEPS
THE LAW, WILL HE NOT JUDGE YOU: kai krinei (3SFAI) e ek phuseos
akrobustia ton nomon telousa (PAPFSN): (Ro
8:4;
13:10;
Mt 3:15;
5:17-20;
Acts 13:22;
Gal 5:14) (judge
Ezekiel 16:48-52;
Mt 12:41,42;
Heb 11:3)
If he keeps
- This is the proverbial "big" (impossible) if!
Keeps (5055)
(teleo
from telos = goal, an end, a purpose, an aim, a
fulfillment, an achievement; See discussion of related words -
Mature
=
teleios;
Maturity [perfect]
=
teleiotes)
means to bring to an end (e.g., Jesus finished speaking - see
below) as one brings a process, a course, a task or an undertaking to
the end.
It means to make an end or to
accomplish and complete something, not merely by bringing it to end but
bringing it to perfection, in the context of Romans 2:27 signifying that
one keeps the law perfectly. And note the
present tense
which means one keeps
the law continually, as one's lifestyle, which of course is impossible
(unless you are Jesus!)
Teleo means to accomplish
an obligation or demand in the sense of to bring about a result by
effort. The idea is to achieve a goal or to conclude it successfully.
This meaning is especially poignant in the context of Jesus' life
purpose which was to die on the Cross, the purpose He pointed to and
which He accomplished ("It is finished" John 19:30). This same meaning
of fulfilling or bringing about the completion or achievement of a goal
or objective is also a prominent meaning in the Revelation (e.g. notes
Revelation 11:7;
Revelation 17:17)
Teleo in some contexts
(Matthew 17:24,
Romans 13:6)
means to pay, and in the NT uses refers to payment of obligatory
taxes or tolls.
Secular uses of teleo include the
idea of carrying out instructions, of fulfilling obligations and
religiously of carrying out religious acts including consecrating
initiates (as into a mystery cult). This latter sense is not used in the
NT but is used in the LXX translation of Numbers 25:3, 5 where Israel
joined themselves to (consecrated themselves) the pagan idol
Baalpeor.
Here are the 28 NT
uses of teleo...
Matthew 7:28 (note)
The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the
multitudes were amazed at His teaching;
Matthew 10:23 "But whenever
they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to
you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel,
until the Son of Man comes.
Matthew 11:1 And it came about
that when Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve
disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Matthew 13:53 And it came
about that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed
from there.
Matthew 17:24 And when they
had come to Capernaum, those who collected the two-drachma tax came to
Peter, and said, "Does your teacher not pay (teleo) the
two-drachma tax?"
Matthew 19:1 And it came about
that when Jesus had finished these words, He departed from
Galilee, and came into the region of Judea beyond the Jordan;
Matthew 26:1 And it came about
that when Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His
disciples,
Luke 2:39 And when they had
performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned
to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.
Luke 12:50 "But I have a
baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
Luke 18:31 And He took the
twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of
Man will be accomplished.
Luke 22:37 "For I tell you, that this
which is written must be fulfilled in Me, 'And He was numbered
with transgressors'; for that which refers to Me has its fulfillment."
John 19:28 After this, Jesus,
knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the
Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I am thirsty."
John 19:30
When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, "It is
finished!" And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.
Acts 13:29 "And when they (the
Jews in Jerusalem and their rulers) had carried out all that was
written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him
in a tomb.
Romans 2:27 (note)
And will not he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the
Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and
circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
Romans 13:6 (note)
For because of this you also pay (teleo -
present tense
= continually!) taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting
themselves to this very thing.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has
said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected
(teleo -
present tense
= this principle is continually active;
passive voice
= this effect
[empowerment] is brought about by an a source other than the subject, in
this case the Spirit of Christ) in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I
will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may
dwell in me.
Galatians 5:16 (note)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the
desire of the flesh.
2 Timothy 4:7 (note)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course (dromos
= a race track or course), I have kept the faith (Comment: Paul
pictures his Christian life as a race and is saying he has broken the
barrier at the finish line, having fulfilled the purpose for which he
was created and then "re-created" in Christ. The perfect tense points to
the permanent effect of his finish. The finish line has been crossed and
the results would last forever. He has now entered his eternal rest.)
James 2:8 If, however, you are
fulfilling the royal law, according to the Scripture, "You shall
love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.
Revelation 10:7 (note)
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to
sound, then the mystery of God is finished (accomplished), as He
preached to His servants the prophets.
Revelation 11:7 (note)
And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes
up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill
them. (Comment: From a timing perspective, this is one of the
most important events in the Revelation as it occurs in the middle of
the 7 year Tribulation and marks the beginning of the Great
Tribulation.)
Revelation 15:1 (note)
And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who
had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God
is finished. (Comment: When the bowl judgments are poured
out in the
Great Tribulation,
God's wrath against Israel is over, for it has accomplished the refining
and purifying that He desired, and the one third of the Jews who have
believed in Messiah will enter the
Millennial Kingdom.)
Revelation 15:8 (note)
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His
power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues
of the seven angels were finished. (Comment: Another
allusion to the completion of the horrendous 3.5 year period known as
the
Great Tribulation.)
Revelation 17:17 (note)
"For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose (Do not miss
this faith buoying truth that God is sovereign and in control even of
the drama of these evil players! Absolutely nothing happens outside of
His control! And this is true in your life beloved child of God!) by
having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until
the words of God should be fulfilled (accomplished).
Revelation 20:3 (note)
and threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so
that he should not deceive the nations any longer, until
the thousand years
were completed; after these things he must be released for a
short time.
Revelation 20:5 (note)
The rest of the dead did not come to life until
the thousand years
were completed. This is the first resurrection.
Revelation 20:7 (note)
And when
the thousand years
are completed, Satan will be released from his prison
Teleo is used 14 times in the
Septuagint (LXX)
(Nu 25:3, 5; Ruth 2:21; 3:18; Ezr. 1:1; 5:16; 6:15; 7:12; 9:1; 10:17;
Neh. 6:15; Ps. 106:28; Dan. 4:33; Hos. 4:14)
Ruth 2:21 (note)
Then Ruth the Moabitess said, "Furthermore, he said to me, 'You should
stay close to my servants until they have finished (Hebrew =
kalah = to be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished; Lxx = teleo)
all my harvest.'"
Ruth 3:18 (note)
Then she said, "Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns
out; for the man will not rest until he has settled (KJV =
"have finished"; Hebrew = kalah = to be complete, at an end, finished,
accomplished; Lxx = teleo) it today."
Ezra 6:15 And this temple was
completed (Hebrew = yetsa = to bring to an end, to finish; Lxx =
teleo) on the third day of the month Adar; it was the sixth year
of the reign of King Darius.
Ezra 10:17 And they
finished (Hebrew = kalah = to be complete, at an end, finished,
accomplished; Lxx = teleo) investigating all the men who had
married foreign wives by the first of the first month.
Nehemiah 6:15 So the wall was
completed (Hebrew = shalem = to be complete or sound, to be at
peace {related noun = shalom}; Lxx = teleo) on the twenty-fifth of the
month Elul, in fifty-two days.
Law (3551)
(nomos from némo = divide among, parcel out, allot) is
etymologically something parceled out, allotted, what one has in use and
possession; hence, usage, custom.
Judge
(2919)
(krino) primarily signifies to distinguish, separate or
discriminate and then, to distinguish between good and evil, right and
wrong, without necessarily passing an adverse sentence, though this is
usually involved. Krino means to sift out and analyze evidence.
Passing judgment, by implication, means condemning.
A Gentile’s humble
obedience to the law should serve as a stern rebuke to a Jew who, in
spite of his great advantages, lives in disobedience. Circumcision (or
baptism - or any ritual in itself) doesn't save anyone; Egyptians
circumcised their boys, and Ishmael, the son of the flesh, was
circumcised
Paul is not saying that uncircumcised Gentiles can keep the Law,
but rather that if they do they will be reckoned as "circumcised" in a
spiritual sense.
Moreover, they then could be called to bear witness in judgment against
the circumcised who have transgressed the Law. Paul’s argument was
devastating! One of the greatest insults in Judaism was to call another
Jew “an uncircumcised one,” and this is what Paul had done in no
uncertain terms. Circumcision alone does not justify a man. His actions
must be in keeping with his profession of faith.
In applying this truth to ourselves, all we have to do is substitute for the
word “circumcision” any of the following: Church membership —baptism—
confirmation— Methodist— Baptist— Presbyterian—
and so on. The great
mistake of Catholics, Protestants, and Jews when asked about their
relationship to God is to cite their religious affiliation as evidence
of their relationship.
“Are you a believer?” “Of course. I’ve been a member of First Church for
twenty-five years.”
“Are you a believer?” “I’m a Catholic! Does that answer your question?”
“Are you a believer?” “Why yes, I was baptized right here in Christian
Church.”
There are as many answers as there are affiliations and rites, but none
will convince God—they are all outward "circumcisions" so
to speak.
WHO THOUGH
HAVING THE LETTER OF THE LAW AND CIRCUMCISION ARE A TRANSGRESSOR OF THE
LAW: se ton dia grammatos kai peritomes parabaten nomou:
(Ro
2:20,29;
7:6-8;
2Cor 3:6)
Circumcision (4061)
(peritome from perí =
around + témno = cut off) (Click for more in depth word study of
peritome) refers literally to cutting
and removal of the foreskin. (See related discussion on
Circumcision)
Transgressor (3848)
(parabates from from pará = beyond or contrary to +
baíno = to go) (see study of related word
para basis) describes one who goes beyond and thus is a
violator of the law. A transgressor is one who goes beyond the line. So,
also, trespass, which is transpass, from the Latin trans, across, and
passus, a step.
Paul speaking of the "letter of the
Law" writes
Not that we are adequate in ourselves
to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from
God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the
letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills,
(the Mosaic Law kills because, of itself, it could not give life was
meant to make men conscious of sin - see
Purpose of the Law) but the Spirit gives
life. (2Cor 3:5-6)
(Regarding the law see also
Moral, ceremonial, and judicial law -
a brief study )
