CMF eZine The online magazine of the Christian Military Fellowship. 4 October Romans 3:04 - God is true - Every man is a liar By Bob Flynn Romans 0 Comment Romans 3:4 "Rom 3:1-8 - The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favors shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God's word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God's promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfill his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God's judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man's need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just." Mathew Henry's Concise Commentary "May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, 'THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.'" (NASB) "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (KJV) "Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about Him, 'You will be proved right in what you say, and You will win Your case in court.'" (NLT) "Rom 3:4 Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: 'so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.'" (NET) That Apostle is saying that if any doctrine that calls God a liar is false! Our fallen state requires that we justify self at any cost. Do we not judge others and then rationalize our motives to justify our actions? We are false! The truth is not in us! But the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is truth. We can REST in His truth because of His Grace! What a wonderful place to be! "God forbid, yea, let God be true, but every man a liar,.... Let no such thing ever enter into the minds of any, that the truth of God can be, or will be made of none effect by the want of faith in man; let it be always asserted and abode by; that God is true, faithful to his word, constant in his promises, and will always fulfill his purposes; though "every man is a liar", vain, fallacious, and inconstant: referring to Psalm 116:11;" Dr. John Gill "Let God be true - Let God be esteemed true and faithful, whatever consequence may follow. This was a first principle, and should be now, that God should be believed to be a God of truth, whatever consequence it might involve. How happy would it be, if all people would regard this as a fixed principle, a matter not to be questioned in their hearts, or debated about, that God is true to his word! How much doubt and anxiety would it save professing Christians; and how much error would it save among sinners! Amidst all the agitations of the world, all conflicts, debates, and trials, it would be a fixed position where every man might find rest, and which would do more than all other things to allay the tempests and smooth the agitated waves of human life." Dr. Albert Barnes Romans 3:4 "Rom 3:1-8 - The law could not save in or from sins, yet it gave the Jews advantages for obtaining salvation. Their stated ordinances, education in the knowledge of the true God and his service, and many favors shown to the children of Abraham, all were means of grace, and doubtless were made useful to the conversion of many. But especially the Scriptures were committed to them. Enjoyment of God's word and ordinances, is the chief happiness of a people. But God's promises are made only to believers; therefore the unbelief of some, or of many professors, cannot make this faithfulness of no effect. He will fulfill his promises to his people, and bring his threatened vengeance upon unbelievers. God's judging the world, should for ever silence all doubtings and reflections upon his justice. The wickedness and obstinate unbelief of the Jews, proved man's need of the righteousness of God by faith, and also his justice in punishing for sin. Let us do evil, that good may come, is oftener in the heart than in the mouth of sinners; for few thus justify themselves in their wicked ways. The believer knows that duty belongs to him, and events to God; and that he must not commit any sin, or speak one falsehood, upon the hope, or even assurance, that God may thereby glorify himself. If any speak and act thus, their condemnation is just." Mathew Henry's Concise Commentary "May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, 'THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.'" (NASB) "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (KJV) "Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about Him, 'You will be proved right in what you say, and You will win Your case in court.'" (NLT) "Rom 3:4 Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: 'so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.'" (NET) That Apostle is saying that if any doctrine that calls God a liar is false! Our fallen state requires that we justify self at any cost. Do we not judge others and then rationalize our motives to justify our actions? We are false! The truth is not in us! But the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is truth. We can REST in His truth because of His Grace! What a wonderful place to be! "God forbid, yea, let God be true, but every man a liar,.... Let no such thing ever enter into the minds of any, that the truth of God can be, or will be made of none effect by the want of faith in man; let it be always asserted and abode by; that God is true, faithful to his word, constant in his promises, and will always fulfill his purposes; though "every man is a liar", vain, fallacious, and inconstant: referring to Psalm 116:11;" Dr. John Gill "Let God be true - Let God be esteemed true and faithful, whatever consequence may follow. This was a first principle, and should be now, that God should be believed to be a God of truth, whatever consequence it might involve. How happy would it be, if all people would regard this as a fixed principle, a matter not to be questioned in their hearts, or debated about, that God is true to his word! How much doubt and anxiety would it save professing Christians; and how much error would it save among sinners! Amidst all the agitations of the world, all conflicts, debates, and trials, it would be a fixed position where every man might find rest, and which would do more than all other things to allay the tempests and smooth the agitated waves of human life." Dr. Albert Barnes Related Romans 3:23 - Everyone is Short of the Mark Rom 3:21-26 Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Savior, so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Savior, in all his three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King; trusting in him, accepting him, and cleaving to him: in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike welcome to God through Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is upon all that believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a crown, as a robe. It is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such favors. It comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement. God, in all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that he hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it. And it would not agree with his justice to demand the debt, when the Surety has paid it, and he has accepted that payment in full satisfaction. (Matthew Henry Concise Commentary) "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (NASB) "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (KJV) "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." (NLT) "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (NET) "For all have sinned: - And consequently are equally helpless and guilty; and, as God is no respecter of persons, all human creatures being equally his offspring, and there being no reason why one should be preferred before another, therefore his endless mercy has embraced All." (Dr. Adam Clarke) The bad news is that we have ALL sinned! We have ALL missed the mark! We cannot meet God's holy standard of absolute perfection! The Good News is that ALL are offered Salvation in Christ Jesus and ALL who believe will be saved! "In a word, the eternal truth as to sin and as to the responsibility of man, the effect of the law, the connection of the Old Testament with Christianity, the true character of the latter in that which relates to righteousness (namely, that it is a thing entirely new and independent), the righteousness of God Himself-the whole question between man and God, with regard to sin and righteousness, is settled, as to its foundation, in these few words." (John Nelson Darby) "This is the general character of all mankind; all have sinned in Adam, are guilty by his sin, polluted with it, and condemned for it; all are sinners in themselves, and by their own actual transgressions; this is the case of the whole world, and of all the men in it; not only of the Gentiles, but of the Jews, and the more righteous among them: hence there is no difference in the state and condition of men by nature; nor is there any reason from and in themselves, why God saves one and not another; nor any room to despair of the grace and righteousness of Christ, on account of persons being, in their own view, the worst of sinners." (Dr. John Gill) Whether we are the best of the best or the worst of the worst, we all need a Savior because we are "helpless" to save ourselves and there is no righteousness for us under the law because we have demonstrated that we cannot keep it. "The literal meanings of the Hebrew, and (Greek, "hamartano?", "sin," "sinner", etc), disclose the true nature of sin in its manifold manifestations. Sin is transgression, an overstepping of the law, the divine boundary between good and evil (Psalm 51:1); (Luke 15:29); iniquity, an act inherently wrong, whether expressly forbidden or not; error, a departure from right; (Psalm 51:9); (Romans 3:23); missing the mark, a failure to meet the divine standard; trespass, the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority (Ephesians 2:1); lawlessness, or spiritual anarchy (1Timothy 1:9); unbelief, or an insult to the divine veracity (John 16:9). Sin originated with Satan (Isaiah 14:12-14); entered the world through Adam (Romans 5:12); was, and is, universal, Christ alone excepted; (Romans 3:23); (1Peter 2:22); incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death; (Genesis 2:17); (Genesis 3:19); (Ezekiel 18:4); (Ezekiel 18:20); (Romans 6:23) and has no remedy but in the sacrificial death of Christ; (Hebrews 9:26); (Acts 4:12) availed of by faith (Acts 13:38); (Acts 13:39). Sin may be summarized as threefold: An act, the violation of, or want of obedience to the revealed will of God; A state, absence of righteousness; A nature, enmity toward God." (Cyrus Ingerson Scofield) "For my salvation comes from the LORD alone." (Jonah 2:9 NLT) Salvation is the work of God. It is he alone who quickens the soul “dead in trespasses and sins,” and it is he also who maintains the soul in its spiritual life. He is both “Alpha and Omega.” “Salvation is of the Lord.” If I am prayerful, God makes me prayerful; if I have graces, they are God’s gifts to me; if I hold on in a consistent life, it is because he upholds me with his hand. I do nothing whatever towards my own preservation, except what God himself first does in me. Whatever I have, all my goodness is of the Lord alone. Wherein I sin, that is my own; but wherein I act rightly, that is of God, wholly and completely. If I have repulsed a spiritual enemy, the Lord’s strength nerved my arm. Do I live before men a consecrated life? It is not I, but Christ who liveth in me. Am I sanctified? I did not cleanse myself: God’s Holy Spirit sanctifies me. Am I weaned from the world? I am weaned by God’s chastisements sanctified to my good. Do I grow in knowledge? The great Instructor teaches me. All my jewels were fashioned by heavenly art. I find in God all that I want; but I find in myself nothing but sin and misery. “He only is my rock and my salvation.” Do I feed on the Word? That Word would be no food for me unless the Lord made it food for my soul, and helped me to feed upon it. Do I live on the manna which comes down from heaven? What is that manna but Jesus Christ himself incarnate, whose body and whose blood I eat and drink? Am I continually receiving fresh increase of strength? Where do I gather my might? My help cometh from heaven’s hills: without Jesus I can do nothing. As a branch cannot bring forth fruit except it abide in the vine, no more can I, except I abide in him. What Jonah learned in the great deep, let me learn this morning in my closet: “Salvation is of the Lord.” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon) Romans 2:27 - Transgressors Condemned by the Lost Romans 2:27 - Transgressors Condemned by the Lost Dr. Jonathan Edwards said: "But now, when the ill consequences of these false affections appear, and it is become very apparent that some of those emotions which made a glaring show and were by many greatly admired, were in reality nothing; the devil sees it to be for his interest to go another way to work, and to endeavor to his utmost to propagate and establish a persuasion that all affections and sensible emotions of the mind, in things of religion, are nothing at all to be regarded, but rather to be avoided and carefully guarded against, as things of a pernicious tendency. This he knows is the way to bring all religion to a mere lifeless formality, and effectually shut out the power of godliness, and every thing which is spiritual, and to have all true Christianity turned out of doors. For although to true religion there indeed must be something else besides affection, yet true religion consists so much in the affections that there can be no true religion without them. He who has no religious affections is in a state of spiritual death, and is wholly destitute of the powerful, quickening, saving influences of the Spirit of God upon his heart. As there is no true religion where there is nothing else but affection, so there is not true religion where there is no religious affection. As , on the one hand, there must be light in the understanding as well as an affected fervent heart; where there is heat without light, there can be nothing divine or heavenly in that heart; so on the other hand, where there is a kind of light without heat, a head stored with notions and speculations, with a cold and unaffected heart, there can be nothing divine in that light; that knowledge is no true spiritual knowledge of divine things. If the great things of religion are rightly understood, they will affect the heart. The reason why men are not affected by such infinitely great, important, glorious, and wonderful things, as they often hear and read of in the Word of God, is undoubtedly because they are blind; if they were not so, it would be impossible, and utterly inconsistent with human nature, that their hearts should be otherwise than strongly impressed, and greatly moved by such things." "And he who is physically5449 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?" (NASB) "And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature5449, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?" (KJV) "In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God's law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God's law but don't obey it." (NLT) "And will not the physically5449 uncircumcised man who keeps the law judge you who, despite the written code and circumcision, transgress the law?" (NET) An amazing indictment to say the least! Rightly condemned by those to whom we are to be a witness! Here is one time that I think the translators fail to convey the term consistently in light of other renderings within the New Testament. The Greek word here translated "by nature" is "phusis." Now it is accurate to think of this as "physical" in its relationship to "circumcision." However, it may not articulate the full flavor of the notion when one examines its usage elsewhere. In Romans 1:26 it is rendered by itself "natural" and when preceded by "para" as "unnatural." In Romans 2:14 the Gentiles "do by nature" or "do instinctively" again conveying something more that just physical unless of course instinct is now an identifiable body part. Or in Romans 11:24 is the olive tree wild by "physical" instead of wild by "nature?" Perhaps the "children of wrath" in Ephesians 2:3 were thus by "physical" rather than "nature." Why the big deal? Because it would make no sense for someone to judge you apart from a standard! That standard not being "physical" circumcision but rather the "instinct" or "nature" within that come from the creator! For it has already been said that God's laws are written upon our hearts! There is a craftsman that I know who can demonstrate this in about 10 seconds selecting studs from the lumber pile at the local home supply store. As he picks up each board, he looks along the length to see if it is "true" (alethes - translated 23 times "true"). He is not looking to see if it is "honorable," "right," "pure," or "lovely." He is seeking that which is NOT crooked! It is said that the untrained human eye can perceive measurements to less than a quarter of an inch. We live in a world where our minds eye along with our ocular perception knows "instinctively" or "by nature" those things which are NOT plumb or NOT square! So when we are rightfully judged as "transgressors" the condemnation is complete! We are condemned by Almighty God with the verdict being conveyed by those who are still lost! How can we return to the blood of bulls and goats and ignore so great a salvation? We turn away from the simple truth that is in Christ Jesus and become religious! With good reason did Saint Augustine say, "Love God and do as you please." If we truly love God, we will instinctively do what pleases Him! Why? Because we have a NEW NATURE! If we become religious and live by the jot and tittle of the law, then we shall be judged according to our failures which are endless. Philippians 4:8 says: "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (NLT) G5449 φυ?σις phusis Thayer Definition: 1) nature 1a) the nature of things, the force, laws, order of nature 1a) as opposed to what is monstrous, abnormal, perverse 1b) as opposed what has been produced by the art of man: the natural branches, i.e. branches by the operation of nature 1b) birth, physical origin 1c) a mode of feeling and acting which by long habit has become nature 1d) the sum of innate properties and powers by which one person differs from others, distinctive native peculiarities, natural characteristics: the natural strength, ferocity, and intractability of beasts Romans 3:28 - The Liberty of the Yoke Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude, etc. - Seeing these things cannot be denied, viz., that all have sinned: that all are guilty, that all are helpless: that none can deliver his own soul, and that God, in his endless mercy, has opened a new and living way to the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Hebrews 10:19-20, etc: therefore we, apostles and Christian teachers, conclude, λογιζομεθα, prove by fair, rational consequence, that a man - any man, is justified - has his sins blotted out, and is received into the Divine favor, by faith in Christ’s blood, without the deeds of the law, which never could afford, either to Jew or Gentile, a ground for justification, because both have sinned against the law which God has given them, and, consequently, forfeited all right and title to the blessings which the obedient might claim. Dr. Adam Clarke Romans 3:28 Justification: Justification and righteousness are inseparably united in Scripture by the fact that the same word (Greek, "dikaios", means "righteous"; Greek, "dikaioo", means "to justify") is used for both. The believing sinner is justified because Christ, having borne his sins on the cross, has been "made unto him righteousness" (1Corinthians 1:30). Justification originates in grace; (Romans 3:24); (Titus 3:4); (Titus 3:5) is through the redemptive and propitiatory work of Christ, who has vindicated the law; (Romans 3:24); (Romans 3:25); (Romans 5:9) is by faith, not works; (Romans 3:28-30); (Romans 4:5); (Romans 5:1); (Galatians 2:16); (Galatians 3:8); (Galatians 3:24) and may be defined as the judicial act of God whereby He justly declares righteous one who believes on Jesus Christ. It is the Judge Himself (Romans 8:31-34) who thus declares. The justified believer has been in court, only to learn that nothing is laid to his charge. (Romans 8:1); (Romans 8:33); (Romans 8:34). C. I. Scofield "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." (NASB) "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (KJV) "So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law." (NLT) "For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law." (NET) Nothing is more maligned today than the meaning of these few words! All manner of confusion, deception, error and even heresy have been born from wrongly dividing these words of truth. Let us consider that the reason this is so is because there is a dynamic tension present in the very concept of Grace. Jesus invites us to find rest by taking on His yoke. Lewis Sperry Chafer, in Grace, over emphasized the concept of liberty to the point of entertaining unintentionally antinomian thought. Liberty by definition is deliverance from oppression and not necessarily the freedom to do what we please. Yet if you preach Grace hard enough that is the very thought that comes to mind (thus the warning from the Apostle Paul in Romans 6:1 — should we sin more so that Grace might abound?). Grace, recorded in Titus, says that we should deny the realities of our fleshly nature and rather live according to our new nature: For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. (Titus 2:11-13 NLT) The idea that salvation is a wonderful gift and yet cost us everything that we are remains a paradox but like God and country are not mutually exclusive concepts. Today we suffer because iniquity abounds and the love of many grows cold (Matthew 24:12). But we my also abound in hope because the comforter has been given and lives within those who call Christ Savior and Lord. We are not free to follow the carnal desires of the flesh but rather are empowered to live abounding in the Spirit (2 Corinthians 8:7). I read in the newspaper this morning of a new church where you can believe whatever you want. People come there because the did not like the message elsewhere. We do not want to hear the real truth but instead search for a truth we like! One that will allow us to cling to the vile creatures we are and thus begin the slow downward spiral of self-deception that leads to eternal separation. We are saved because we were surrounded by the fullness of Christ's love for the lost. His love is providential and brings us to that place where we can say yes to His wondrous forgiveness and say no to the sin that so easily entangles us. The liberty of the yoke! Romans 1:09 - Serve with my Spirit Romans 1:9 "For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you," (NASB) "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;" (KJV) "God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about His Son." (NLT) G3000 latreuo? lat-ryoo'-o From latris (a hired menial); to minister (to God), that is, render religious homage: - serve, do the service, worship (-per). "For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort," (Philippians 3:3 NLT) "That is why they stand in front of God's throne and serve Him day and night in His Temple. And He who sits on the throne will give them shelter." (Revelation 7:15 NLT) "I want to call your attention first of all to that word serve. It means literally 'to serve as a priest.' It was the Greek word used in the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament to refer to the service of the priests in the temple, including the idea of worship. The same word is translated 'worship' in Philippians 3:3. This word is a commentary on what true Christian service ought to be: we serve God as priests, and therefore every act of our service should be rendered to God as an act of worship. In this light the distinction between sacred and secular disappears. The very ground you walk on is holy, and every trivial act acquires meaning. If you remember that, all your Christian service (no matter what it is) will become to you significant of that time when we shall be before the throne of God and 'serve him day and night in his temple' (Revelation 7:15). Again the same Greek word is used that Paul uses here." Dr. Alva J. McClain, Romans: The Gospel of God's Grace "Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV) "Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere." (Ephesians 6:18 NLT) My spiritual worship in service for Christ is in Christ and from Christ "by the Spirit of God" and not as a result of "human effort." Dear Heavenly Father, I am a man of unclean lips not worthy to even behold your presence in the temple where the angels cover their faces and feet so only their service shows. Create in me a clean heart today that I might attend to the appointments you may bring my way. Romans 2:06 - Deeds Romans 2:6 As I ponder the righteous judgment of God that could have been rendered deservedly toward me, His magnificent Grace looms large and thankfulness soars in my heart! Where would I be without Christ? Forever lost! Not one thing could I offer but a sin-stained life. Grace is truly a love that stoops! No matter who we are, God judges us by the light that has been given us. When He looks at me, He sees the crimson flood that flows from the foot of the Calvary Cross where His only begotten Son suffered and died for my sins (for no reason, lest any man boast). Tit 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, NASB "who WILL RENDER591 TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:" (NASB) "Who will render591 to every man according to his deeds:" (KJV) "He will judge591 everyone according to what they have done" (NLT) "He will reward591 each one according to his works:" (NET) G591 (Thayer) αποδι?δωμι apodido?mi Thayer Definition: 1) to deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own, to sell 2) to pay off, discharge what is due 2a) a debt, wages, tribute, taxes, produce due 2b) things promised under oath 2c) conjugal duty 2d) to render account 3) to give back, restore 4) to requite, recompense in a good or a bad sense G591 (Strong) αποδι?δωμι apodido?mi ap-od-eed'-o-mee From G575 and G1325; to give away, that is, up, over, back, etc. (in various applications): - deliver (again), give (again), (re-) pay (-ment be made), perform, recompense, render, requite, restore, reward, sell, yield, G591 (NASEC) αποδι?δωμι apodido?mi; from G575 and G1325; to give up, give back, return, restore: - account *(1), award (1), fulfill (2), gave...back (2), give (4), give back (1), given (1), giving (1), make some return (1), must (1), paid (3), pay (2), pay...back (1), pay back (3), render (6), repay (8), repayment to be made (1), repays (1), returning (1), reward (3), sold (3), yielding (1), yields (1). "Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him in keeping with his deeds." 2 Tim 4:14 NET "and you, O Lord, demonstrate loyal love. For you repay men for what they do." Psa 62:12 NET "If you say, "But we did not know about this," does not the one who evaluates hearts consider? Does not the one who guards your life know? Will he not repay each person according to his deeds?" Prov 24:12 NET "For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." Mat 16:27 NET "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2Co 5:10 NASB "(Look! I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to pay each one according to what he has done!" Rev 22:12 Who will render. Sinners escape punishment for a time, and hence think they will escape altogether, but God will render, at the final day of judgment, to every man according to his works, whether he be sinner or saint, Jew or Gentile. Dr. B.W. Johnson—The Peoples New Testament Who will render to every man according to his deeds. God will be the Judge, who is righteous, holy, just, and true; every man in particular will be judged; as the judgment will be general to all, it will be special to everyone, and will proceed according to their works; for God will render to wicked men according to the demerit of their sins, the just recompense of reward, eternal damnation; and to good men eternal life, not according to the merit of their good works, which have none in them, but according to the nature of them; such who believe in Christ, and perform good works from a principle of grace, shall receive the reward of the inheritance, which is a reward of grace, and not of debt. In other words, God will render to evil men according to the true desert of their evil deeds; and of his own free grace will render to good men, whom he has made so by his grace, what is suitable and agreeable to those good works, which, by the assistance of his grace, they have been enabled to perform. Dr. John Gill God judged things according to their true moral character, and according to the advantages which the guilty one had enjoyed. Those who had sinned without law should perish without law, and those who had sinned under the law should be judged according to the law, in the day when God should judge the secrets of the heart according to the gospel which Paul preached. This character of the judgment is very important. It is not the government of the world by an earthly and outward judgment, as the Jew understood it, but that of the individual according to God's knowledge of the heart. Dr. John Nelson Darby Who will render - That is, who will make retribution as a righteous Judge; or who will give to every man as he deserves. To every man - To each one. This is a general principle, and it is clear that in this respect God would deal with the Jew as he does with the Gentile. This general principle the apostle is establishing, that he may bring it to bear on the Jew, and to show that he cannot escape simply because he is a Jew. According to his deeds - That is, as he deserves; or God will be just, and will treat every man as he ought to be treated, or according to his character. The word “deeds” (erga) is sometimes applied to the external conduct. But it is plain that this is not its meaning here. It denotes everything connected with conduct, including the acts of the mind, the motives, the principles, as well as the mere external act. Our word character more aptly expresses it than any single word. It is not true that God will treat people according to their external conduct: but the whole language of the Bible implies that he will judge people according to the whole of their conduct, including their thoughts, and principles, and motives; that is, as they deserve. The doctrine of this place is abundantly taught elsewhere in the Bible, Pro 24:12; Mat 16:27; Rev 20:12; Jer 32:19. It is to be observed here that the apostle does not say that people will be rewarded for their deeds, (compare Luk 17:10,) but according to κατα? kata their deeds. Christians will be saved on account of the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, Tit 3:5, but still the rewards of heaven will be according to their works; that is, they who have labored most, and been most faithful, shall receive the highest reward, or their fidelity in their Master’s service shall be the measure or rule according to which the rewards of heaven shall be distributed, Mat. 25:14-29. Thus, the ground or reason why they are saved shall be the merits of the Lord Jesus. The measure of their happiness shall be according to their character and deeds. On what principle God will distribute his rewards the apostle proceeds immediately to state. Dr. Albert Barnes Romans 2:29 - The Genuine Christian Romans 2:29 "But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God." (NASB) "But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." (KJV) "No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people." (NLT) "but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code. This person's praise is not from people but from God." (NET) "To be a real Jew you must obey the Law. True circumcision is something that happens deep in your heart, not something done to your body. And besides, you should want praise from God and not from humans." (CEV) "Rather, the real Jew is the person who is a Jew on the inside, that is, whose heart has been circumcised, and this is the work of God's Spirit, not of the written Law. Such a person receives praise from God, not from human beings." (GNB) "How strikingly this also brings out what so breaks everywhere through the doctrine of this epistle that everything is according to its reality before God, God being revealed through Christ and the cross. All must take its true character and result according to what He was. Note moreover that the terms suppose gospel knowledge — 'seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility.' These are known by Christianity." Dr. John Darby What then can we say in parallel, dear Christian, about our hearts from this amazing passage. To be a genuine Christian is our baptism to be external only by ritual cleansing in the water? Or is our baptism to be an internal act of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts? Is our life lived in a manner that give the outward perception or do we walk by the Spirit giving honor and glory to Him who died for us to bring us life eternal? Do we live in secret sin and delude ourselves into thinking we are walking in the light? Or are we living in in the light of His Glory being washed clean by the blood of the Son? If we think that we are not deceived, then deception has had its way with us! We have already fallen prey to the ultimate deceiver. Look around, believer, do you see the signs of the Glory of the Lord being displayed everywhere that this is a Christian nation? Is your church overflowing with the songs of thousands of souls set free by the blood of the Crucified One? Has the ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life touched everyone you meet? Does the world look like you or do you look like the world? Are you really engaged in ministry? Or are you just engaged in activity? What's the difference? Fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit that transforms lives making them brand new. Lives living in the victory that is in Christ Jesus that sets them free from the law of sin and death! "He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:5 NLT) "With respect to the conduct of Christians towards the world, grace has banished violence, and the spirit of rebellion and resistance which agitates the heart of those who believe hot, and which has its source in the self-will that strives to maintain its own rights relatively to others. The Christian has his portion, his inheritance, elsewhere; he is tranquil and submissive here and ready to do good. Even when others are violent and unjust towards him, he bears it in remembrance that once it was no otherwise with himself: a difficult lesson, for violence and injustice stir up the heart; but the thought that it is sin, and that we also were formerly its slaves, produces patience and piety. Grace alone has made the difference, and according to that grace are we to act towards others." Dr. John Darby Comments are closed.