WEBVTT 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:04.080 Welcome to the program Study in the Chapel. 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:07.599 God's Word is supreme in chapel ministries. 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:12.400 We consider it absolutely essential to a proper relationship with God. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:17.760 We study it, we love it, we rely on it every minute of every day. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:33.600 The following program is an edited recording of the regular Bible studies we host, and we decided to share these with you in the hope that you too will be able to find inspiration, encouragement, and ultimately salvation through discovering Christ in Scripture. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:37.600 Our intention is to travel all the way through the Bible. 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:42.719 It will be a challenging journey, but one that will undoubtedly bring you to a decision. 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:48.240 Through this study, you will be faced with either believing or rejecting what God has said to us. 00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:54.240 It is our intention to provide you with enough knowledge to make an informed decision about God and his word. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:01:04.879 We strongly encourage you to listen intently and diligently, because though at the moment you may not realize it, these things are truly a matter of life and death. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.359 In fact, these are matters of eternal life and eternal death. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:11.599 Never treat what God has said lightly. 00:01:11.760 --> 00:01:14.400 There is truly nothing more important to you. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:19.120 Now join us as we seek God's will through his inspired word. 00:01:20.239 --> 00:01:25.120 We are in a very difficult section of Paul's letter to the Romans. 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:35.040 He is making a very sophisticated argument with the Jewish leadership concerning the status of the Jews in God's plan. 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:41.359 It has been tough to plow through it, and it's just going to get tougher because the language is difficult. 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:46.480 Then the language is difficult because Paul is dealing with some very smart people. 00:01:46.640 --> 00:01:51.359 So he has to make sure that his argument is foolproof. 00:01:51.439 --> 00:02:01.680 And that's why he has used such a genius argument in his efforts to try to bring the Jews back into compliance with what God wants for them. 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:06.239 So let's, we're in the second chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:12.159 We're going to read the entire second chapter up until the point where we are today. 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:18.000 We like to do that regularly because we want to preserve the context. 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:27.759 This is one of those sections of the Bible that we have to read regularly through since all of the verses are related in one way or another. 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:34.240 It's a layered argument, and to just jump into one verse doesn't really help us much. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:38.479 We have to make sure we're reminded of what Paul has already said. 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:46.080 Plus, it keeps us aware of the context, which helps us to absorb the doctrine, and that's why we're here. 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:50.719 So here we go, chapter two of Paul's letter to the Romans. 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:56.319 I'm going to read out of the second chap, I'm going to read out of the King James. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:59.599 Please follow along in the Bible you have in front of you. 00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:02.560 Romans 2, 1, out of the King James. 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:16.960 Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest, for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself, for thou that judgest doest the same things. 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:24.879 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 00:03:25.120 --> 00:03:29.360 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judges them which do such things? 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:42.479 And by the way, when he's talking about such things, he's referring to what he went over in the first chapter, which to the Jews felt like they didn't it didn't apply to them, but they were just as guilty as everyone else. 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:45.759 And Paul is saying, You're just as guilty as everyone else. 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:47.840 Let's pick it up again at verse three. 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:56.879 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judges them which do such things and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:08.800 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance, verse five. 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:21.279 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:24.399 This chapter is talking about judgment. 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:27.680 We'll be talking more about judgment today. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:42.639 Verse 6 God will render to every man according to his deeds, to them who by patient continuance and well-doing seek for glory and honor in immortality, eternal life. 00:04:42.879 --> 00:05:00.639 But unto them that are contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile. 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:08.720 But glory, honor, and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:12.399 For there is no respect of persons with God. 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:23.519 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:24.639 Verse 13. 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:28.240 Now in my Bible there is a parentheses there. 00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:30.399 I will bring that up again in a moment. 00:05:30.560 --> 00:05:33.680 Verse 13, starting with the parentheses. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:41.279 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 00:05:41.600 --> 00:06:07.040 For when the Gentiles which have not the law do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law are a law unto themselves, which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness and their thoughts, the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:10.240 And then we have the closing parentheses. 00:06:10.639 --> 00:06:18.480 The next verse, verse 16, is what I would call the linchpin of the whole section. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:25.279 It's connected to what came before and it sets the stage for what comes next. 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:33.439 In fact, it serves to further define who Paul will be addressing for the next little bit. 00:06:33.600 --> 00:06:34.560 Now let me read it. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:35.920 Verse 16. 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:52.319 Now, I'm going to cover this part quickly because it has the potential to make this more confusing. 00:06:52.480 --> 00:06:58.959 You've surely noticed that verse 16 seems just a bit out of place. 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:06.399 It almost feels like it's outside the flow of the previous three or four verses. 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:10.480 Well, that's why I pointed out those parentheses. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:21.040 It is outside the flow of the previous three or four verses because the three or four verses before was a parenthetical. 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:35.120 Now, this may not be as obvious in your particular English language translation, but the statement found in verses 13 through 15 is a parenthetical statement. 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:38.399 You know what a parenthetical statement is, don't you? 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:41.759 For those who like definitions, here you go. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.439 The best one I could find is the following. 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:25.759 Therefore, since verses thirteen through fifteen of the second chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans comprise a parenthetical statement, we can say that it is secondary information unnecessary for the completion of the independent clause that preceded it. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:35.759 Now, I'm not saying it's unnecessary, it's just unnecessary for the completion of the independent clause that came before it. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:46.799 And I'm bringing all of that up because it's difficult in a study like this, where we're going so intently on each verse to see the big picture. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:52.480 And sometimes we have to step back and see how things all fit together. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:59.279 It's important that we understand that verses 13 through 15 are a parenthetical. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:05.440 Verse 12 is the beginning of the independent clause. 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:14.240 Verses 13 through 15 were placed by Paul after it to add secondary information. 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:20.960 And then the next verse, verse 16, completed the independent clause. 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:27.679 As I said, it's hard to see that when you're going through these so piecemeal like we are. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:34.879 Verse 16 goes with verse 12 as the complete independent clause. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:43.360 And I know I said that this little discussion was supposed to minimize the confusion, but I don't think it's working out very well. 00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:50.879 Look at this, it is a complicated bit of doctrine, probably more so than we've had lately. 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:53.679 So there's going to be some difficulty. 00:09:54.080 --> 00:10:04.720 But I think the only way to demonstrate this properly is to simply read the independent clause without the secondary information. 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:09.279 Read the independent clause without the parenthetical. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:15.200 Skip over verses 13 through 15, and this will make sense in just a moment. 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:20.080 First, verse 12, and then immediately to verse 16. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:40.320 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:43.120 Now that makes it much simpler, doesn't it? 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:48.960 When we remove that parenthetical, we can see the independent clause. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:53.759 The theme of the independent clause is judgment. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:11:02.879 Both verses 12 and 16 go together because they complete the thought concerning judgment. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:16.799 Those who do have the law and those that don't have the law shall in the end receive their just judgment, their judgment according to truth. 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:24.159 Now I propose we take a closer look at the subtleties that exist in these two verses. 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:29.440 And we're going to do this for the next couple of lessons because there is a lot of information. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:36.879 And since it is the real theme of this section of scripture, we should be paying closer attention to it. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:44.559 I know we've already talked about verse 12 already, but as promised, I want to go over one or two more items. 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:46.080 Verse 12 again. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:12:00.480 For as many as have sinned without law shall perish without law, and as many as has sinned in the law shall be shall perish, no, shall be judged by the law. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:06.080 Now, what should jump out at you is the obvious word choice. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:09.600 There are two distinct sets of people here. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:15.200 And by the way, this is the typical Jewish viewpoint of the world. 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:19.360 There are those with the law, and then there are those without. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:23.440 The Jews had the law, and everyone else didn't. 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:29.120 Remember, Paul in this chapter is speaking to his own people. 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:38.320 So he's using language, modes of speech, phraseology that his target audience can relate to. 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:44.799 His statement here is framed specifically for them, for their ears. 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:54.799 But again, that's not to say that we non-Jews need not pay attention because there's plenty here for us as well. 00:12:54.960 --> 00:13:01.039 And God would not have put this in his word if it didn't apply to all of us. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:03.679 I just wanted you to notice his style. 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:06.559 It's very clever in a good way. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:11.840 So there are those with the law and those without. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:29.120 But I think this means not just another, but additional. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.159 Now stay with me. 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:33.519 I know this is a bit complicated. 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:36.559 This isn't easy to grasp right away. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:41.039 We know for sin comes death. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:44.080 That's for everyone, Jew or Gentile. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:50.159 That is a universal law that's contradicted nowhere in Scripture. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:58.639 In fact, the entire reason Jesus went to Calvary was because of that one unshakable truth. 00:14:58.879 --> 00:15:05.120 In fact, if it was not unshakable, you would have never heard the name Jesus. 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:12.159 The angel told Mary to name him Jesus because he will help his people. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:19.120 If sin did not always mean death, then his people would need no help. 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:26.159 So he would have never had to come because he only came here to die. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:28.960 For sin comes death. 00:15:29.120 --> 00:15:35.679 If there's anything that proves that statement, it is the coming of our Lord. 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:40.399 The Son of God came because for sin comes death. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:47.360 Well, perish is just another word for death. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:16:05.919 The Gentile without the law who sins will receive death for his sins, and the Jew who sins will also, according to Scripture, receive death, but he'll also be judged by the law. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:14.399 Paul only mentions here, mentions here the judged part because the perished part is understood. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:17.759 It's already well established. 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.919 Listen closely. 00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:35.120 Those that have the law, and we're talking about God's holy law delivered by Moses, those who sin against that law will perish and be judged. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:40.559 Do you know the difference between battery and aggravated battery? 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:43.440 Battery is assaulting someone. 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:52.240 Aggravated battery is assaulting someone with something additional: a pipe, a baseball bat, a frying pan. 00:16:52.960 --> 00:17:04.000 Aggravated anything means you're committing an act with some additional implement, taking the action beyond its basic definition. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:12.480 I believe Paul is saying that there will be more than just perishing for those who have the law. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:20.720 There will be aggravated perishing, perishing and judgment, perishing with judgment. 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.960 Well, what does that mean? 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:23.839 I don't know. 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.599 Paul didn't say. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:28.160 How will God judge them? 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.119 I don't know. 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:37.039 Paul didn't say, but throughout the Old Testament, we do get plenty of examples. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:45.759 Over and over in the Bible, God judged the Jewish people for their repeated violations of his law. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:52.480 And I'm not going to go into specifics because I don't want to get too far off track. 00:17:53.119 --> 00:18:02.079 Suffice it to say, though slow to anger, though interested in correcting and not punishing, that's what he said. 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:05.680 He'd rather not punish, he'd rather correct. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:18.000 But when his patience ran out, God would judge his chosen people in various, very often severe ways. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:26.640 But Paul makes clear in verse 16 that judgment will not be limited to this life. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:28.799 Let me read the complete thought. 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:41.200 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:43.119 That's what he'll do. 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:45.200 And this is when he'll do it. 00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:53.519 Verse 16, in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:58.319 He's referring to the judgment day which comes after this life. 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:03.039 So they will, we know, be judged after this life. 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:10.160 A little earlier I said verse 16 was the linchpin of this discourse. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:17.680 It's the pivot point for what's been said so far and who it was said to and why. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:23.519 It's an unmistakable testimony to the self-righteous crowd. 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:36.160 This is Paul declaring that judgment is universal and it has but only one conduit, and that is the Lord Jesus Himself. 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:38.079 This is significant. 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:56.000 I think by the use of the very name of our Lord, Paul is sending the clear and rattling message to the Jews who reject their Messiah that they're making an enormous mistake. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:59.759 Paul is making this ominous statement. 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:13.680 Now, when I read this, I get the impression that Paul has had just about enough. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:17.440 He's tired of beating around the bush, as they say. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:23.680 He's grown weary of being, you know, tenuous with the things he's trying to say. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:28.880 Maybe at this point in the letter, he's thought, well, I'm just going to come out with it. 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:32.319 These rebellious Jews are going to hear it from me. 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:39.039 And as a matter of fact, the rest of this chapter proves that out, which you will see later on. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:44.319 He's pulling away the restraints and he's coming right at them. 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:52.799 But before we cover all that, I want to go over a few more things in this jam-packed 16th verse. 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:54.240 Let me read it again. 00:20:54.319 --> 00:21:00.480 I'll actually add verse 12 because it will sound incomplete if I don't. 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:19.759 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:22.640 Now I'm going to go in reverse order. 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:28.319 Let's quickly look at this phrase according to my gospel. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:39.920 Now you'll have to forgive me for admitting this, but this phrase hits my ear as sounding rather arrogant. 00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:43.920 Paul's referring to this as my gospel. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:58.240 Now, maybe I'm a bit sensitive to this sort of language because in this ministry we've come against the worldly preachers and ministers who elevate themselves in God's plans. 00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.839 It sounds deeply disrespectful. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:08.640 To say such a thing about a chosen, and I mean really chosen man of God like Paul. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:16.799 There are lots of men, mostly men, who've claimed to be handpicked by God to rescue the gospel. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:24.640 I don't mind being judged disrespectful to that crowd because, well, I don't respect them. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:33.680 To claim to be chosen by God like Paul was chosen by God is ludicrous and defiantly self-serving. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:41.119 So, yes, I'm disrespectful to them because they deserve my disrespect, but not Paul. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:53.519 I don't want to be disrespectful to him, but I have to confess this characterization of my gospel kind of grates me a little. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:59.359 And by the way, it's actually not the only time Paul makes that same reference. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:06.640 Over in the 16th chapter of this same letter to the Romans, he says the exact same thing again. 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:10.640 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:11.519 Amen. 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:29.440 Now to him that is uh now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which was keep kept secret since the world began. 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:31.839 He says it twice. 00:23:32.960 --> 00:23:35.279 So I did a little research. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:45.839 I sought the opinions of a few of the experts, and I have to admit, it made me feel better and a little ashamed of myself, I have to say. 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:48.960 Here's a sampling of the things I found out. 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:54.079 Here's what Albert Barnes has to say about this strong statement. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:24:08.480 Quote It means that he was entrusted with the gospel to make it known, and that one of the great and prime articles of that gospel was that God would judge the world by Jesus Christ. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:20.640 To make this known, he was appointed, and it could be called his gospel only as being a part of the important message with which he was entrusted. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:22.400 All right, I can see that. 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:24.480 How about Adam Clark? 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:50.160 He summarizes this statement of Paul's this way: quote, and all this shall be further exemplified and proved in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, which judgment shall be according to my gospel, according to what I am now laying down before you relative to the impartiality of God. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:52.720 Well, maybe that's the point. 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:58.799 Since Paul is not talking about salvation, he's talking about judgment. 00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:04.640 He decides to use a more generic sense of the word gospel. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:21.119 Paul is referring to the good news that he's now sharing with the Roman Christians and Jews, but not necessarily God's good new good news, as we've been saying all along, is not the topic of this chapter. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:21.920 I like that. 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:27.519 It's still news, but not it's still good news, but not the good news. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:30.480 One more, this one is from John Gill. 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:38.240 Quote, this he calls my gospel, not because the author, we don't have this quote up, sorry about that. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:56.960 This he calls my gospel, not because the author or subject of it, but because it was committed to his trust and was preached by him and in opposition to and to distinguish it from the gospel of the false apostles. 00:25:57.200 --> 00:26:00.480 Pretty much the same conclusion as the other. 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:11.839 Paul is not being arrogant, he's simply referring to what's been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, which he is now sharing with those Romans. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:15.200 This isn't arrogance, this is confidence. 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:24.480 And that's what is needed when going up against thousands of years of misleading teaching among the Jews. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:35.279 Now, I'd like to talk about a few more things in verse 16, but how about now we just stop right here and we'll pick it up at this point next time? 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.480 See you then. 00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:55.680 It is our prayer that this will be so for all of our listeners. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:57.839 Please join us again soon. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:02.480 New content is being added all the time, so make sure you check back often. 00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:13.839 For more information on Chapel Ministries, including our YouTube channel and podcasts, please visit www.chapelontheweb.com. 00:27:14.240 --> 00:27:21.440 And if God has laid it upon your heart to share materially with us, we 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