Pathetic Performers

…you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself?
(Romans 2:21 – ESV)

In Romans 2:17-24, Paul is speaking to people who ought to know better. We have to be on guard here because ironically the very thing Paul is talking about to the Jews, hypocrisy, can happen to us as we study this passage. We can be hypocritical by looking down at the Jews for being hypocritical, and the truth here is that Paul is indicting all hypocrisy. He is just using the Jews as an example because they had the Law and knew God’s commands on a more intimate level than those that only had creation and conscience and so forth. Today we have the benefit of the Bible, and therefore Paul would be speaking to any of us today who are hypocritically self righteous, comparing ourselves to others (2 Corinthians 10:12) and especially back at the Jews (Romans 10:20-23).

He has shown that the Gentiles aren’t good enough, he has shown the moralists that they aren’t good enough, and now he is showing the Jews that they aren’t good enough, that they of all people should be the most moral but that they too are still falling short of God’s standard. Like the Jews, we dumb down the standard to a level we think we make and then cast our eyes in scorn on those less than that supposed standard. But God’s standard is perfection. Applying this today we would say not to talk about how pious you are in the areas that you aren’t tempted in. “I’ve never said a word of profanity in my life.” Don’t fool yourself, you still spew slander, malice, hypocrisy and pride out of the same pure mouth; how about giving up your gossip?” These people are fooling themselves, like the Jews were.

They were called out people, and they acted like it. They approved of what was excellent because they had been taught; we know that Paul thinks this is good, because he prayed for others to be like this as well (Philippians 1:10). They know what is right, and they know they are right. They knew what to teach, they had the truth, and they knew it.

However, much of rabbinical Judaism of Paul’s day interpreted the law so that they thought they were completely justified by the Law. When Paul asks the questions he does in this passage, some of the Jews would say no, they don’t do these things, but Jesus exposed the error of such interpretations (Matthew 5:19-48). God applies His law to both our actions and our attitudes. Sometimes we only want our attitudes evaluated, and sometimes only our actions. God will hold us accountable for both motives and actions.

Paul in essence is saying “so you have the Law, so what?” If you have privileges that makes it worse not better if you do not use them as you should. You have the advantages but you are still falling short. Lets take what Paul says in verses Romans 2:17-24 and restate the points by way of musical metaphor. Using this method we might hear Paul summarize it by saying this:

So you are in the band, know the tune, and sing the song. You’ve played the instrument before, because you’ve been to practice. You are sure you can teach others to play. Then how come your play so poorly, how come it sounds so bad, why do you hit so many wrong notes, and why is your timing so off? You talk about being a great musician, and how good this piece of music is, but you sound awful. You are an embarrassment to the composer and the conductor.

Don’t be a hypocrite here; ask yourself a question. Do you consider yourself a virtuoso performer, do you feel like you are a classic instrument, or do you give all glory to the Maestro?

Advantage

For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law…
(Romans 2:25 – ESV)

The Jews had the advantages; they had the Law, the Covenants, the prophets, and the promises of God. They had advantages for sure, but just like the Jews some people have all the advantages and they don’t take advantage of them. When it comes right down to it, it isn’t pedigree it is performance. Similarly we have some who didn’t have any advantages at all but they still achieved a level of performance that put them above those who had it all but could do nothing with it. The ones who are truly skilled and devoted to their craft will be seen as such over the course of time. The pretenders will fade, and the performers will flourish.

But of course that is only a parallel to what we are talking about, and in the spiritual realm, no one is a true performer, we are all pretenders, only Jesus has performed to the level of perfection. Paul is telling us that we don’t have a performance driven faith, and it never really was, which is what Paul will get into when he starts discussing Abraham in Romans chapter 4.

Paul is using a long drawn out case to prove that you don’t have what it takes, no one in history has had what it takes, and even the people God called out to be His, the ones who He gave favor to, and gave a system that pointed to His holiness, and an understanding of who He actually was, and gave prophets, and they saw signs and wonders, even these people haven’t had what it takes. What it takes is the Spirit of God to circumcise your heart.

Your pedigree is of value if your performance matches it, and if you start out ahead but don’t keep with it, it is of no good. The Jews started out ahead, but they couldn’t keep up, of course no one can, that is the point. Your birthright is of value if you act in accordance with it, but the Jews’ ritual and practice was not enough because they changed the Law into something they could manage. James 2:10 / Matthew 5:17-20 (48) – Our righteousness must be greater than those who only show it on the outside, and indeed it must be perfect. This may seem scary but we have a Savior, who was perfect for us, and that is why we have the ultimate advantage.

All for All

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,
(Colossians 1:11 – ESV)

Look at what Paul wants the “all” for. This strengthening is to be able to endure and be patient and have joy at the same time. According to His power: the power of God is manifest most greatly, not in some overt work that shows brute force, but in a life that manifests joy despite circumstance, a rock steady man or woman whom the world can beat on, but can’t beat down. Think of how this mirrors the life of Christ, that sort of power, the power to endure the cross of this life, which is what this is about.

It isn’t automatic, Paul is praying for it to increase in the lives of these believers who were already doing good, and they must obviously act in accordance with that, as we see here and in the next verse, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. It is everywhere in Paul’s writings and God’s revelation. Pray for it and act like it. It is in God’s will, and the only way we know we have it is if we need it.

Paul talks of both endurance and patience – without buckling under and without biting back, without folding and without fighting.

As you are strengthened to be able to endure and yet have joy, you will be acting in accordance with that by being thankful. Thankfulness is the fruit of such strength, if you are not being thankful you may be relying on your own strength, and that makes sense, doesn’t it? In verse 11-12 we see the status of believers, the walk they are to have, and the power to get it done. Walk in the light as He is in the light.

Godliness is for now as well as the future. Some of the inheritance happens now; it is not fully consummated but faithfully appropriated. Ephesians 5:8 (we are to act accordingly) / 1 Thessalonians 5:5 / 1 Peter 2:9 / 1 John 1:7 (enough to go around) / 1 Peter 1:3-5, 13-18. It is an inheritance we receive not a wage we earn, the wage we deserve is death (Romans 6:23), but the inheritance we get is life. If we are willing to have all endurance with patience and joy, then God is willing to give us all the power to do it.