Romans starts by telling us about the Good News of Christ. Why is the good News so good? Well because of the bad news. The bad news is then explained in the rest of chapter 1 and chapter 2. Chapter 2 questions the Jews on their thinking. You think you are better?? You think you do not do these things?? You think because you have the law you are superior?? Think again. How often do we/I think these same things. The bad news is that bad people are not out there... they are here they are me. I can not be good without Christ, but wait I know the Bible, I have Christian parents, and I am a missionary for petes sake. Doesn't that count for anything?? NO it does not. If we think any of these things save us they do not. CS Lewis says that until we understand that there is a Moral law and a Power behind the law and that we fail at keeping the law, then Christianity will speak. It does not speak to the people who think they are just fine, who know the right Christian speak, who go to church on Sundays, who are missionaries. We must realize that we are sinners at the totality of our being (Bonhoeffer).
Romans points out that there is no room for judgement in the Christian life. Judging means we know better, well yes we know better but do we act better. Not only do we do things that are wrong we encourage others to do the same actions. WOw Romans can hit in the gut. Some other gut hitters are verses like:
- only those who persist in doing good - persist, seeking, these words mean that we are constantly trying to do good. So often I think well if I can be at 51% good and 49% bad when I die then I will be okay. PERSIST
- God will judge your secret life - ahh God is just and will judge our secret life. So the outward appearance that we so nicely put on means nothing?!?
- You teach others, do you teach yourself? So easy to say things but do we/I follow what I teach.
