The
Obedience of Faith Reflection 4
The first chapter addresses the morality and excesses of the
Gentile world. Now Paul turns his
attention to the Jews who are standing in judgment on the Gentiles. Understanding the relationship Jew to Gentile
in the Early Church, one has to remember what Paul said in Ephesians, “Therefore
remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the
uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the
flesh by hands - remember that you were at that time separated from Christ,
alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of
promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far
off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”[i] Paul’s audience in Rome is a mixed
congregation of Diaspora Jews and Gentiles who have come to faith in Christ
Jesus. Remember that Aquila and
Priscilla who shared the ministry with Paul in Corinth were Jews from Rome.
We have a similar alienation within the Church today between the
Sadducean Revisionists and the Pharisaic Schismatic. Not all that are within The Episcopal Church are
Sadducees and not all who are within the schismatic “Anglican” groups are
Pharisees. In terms of alignment with
one party or the other there is no middle ground; although I find it difficult
to think that Jesus himself would have looked at the impure state of Judaism
and have become a schismatic. Rather
than that, through the Holy Spirit, he let the Gentiles in. That is quite another matter.
Leaving because you think the grass is greener on the other side
of the Gospel fence is not the same thing as being forced out of the structure
because you are transforming it from within.
St. Athanasius and St. Cyril of Jerusalem provide a model for today’s
struggle within the Church. Both would
rather fight than switch, both were deposed, and both eventually returned to
their Episcopates. Neither one left to
start a new church.
Paul leaves no quarter for those Jews who were judging the
Gentile world.
Romans 2:1 Therefore you
have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on
another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same
things. 2 We know that the
judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man - you who
judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself - that you will escape
the judgment of God? 4 Or do
you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not
knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
The underlying issue is the lack of integrity. The Psalmist affirms, “I will live with
integrity,”[ii]
but that integrity has been lost. There
is an affirmation here in the midst of judgment; God’s kindness is meant to
lead us to repentance. To continue to
ignore that kindness stores up wrath for us on the day of judgment.
5 But because of
your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day
of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one
according to his works: 7 to
those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality,
he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking1 and
do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and
fury.
A truly biblical theology will not use this as a
proof text for salvation by works. Bear
in mind that faith issues in good works, and where there are no good works,
there is no effective faith. We are
saved by grace through faith, and faith without works is dead.
9 There will be
tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and
also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good,
the Jew first and also the Greek. 11
For God
shows no partiality.”
That last statement was no doubt a surprise to both Jew and
Gentile. We should remember that in this
age of disparate denominationalism. Be
careful with the tar brush when you try to paint others black; the Lord will
use that same tar brush on you.
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