one step: Romans 3.1

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

Based upon Paul’s revelation that Jews and Gentiles are equally accountable to the law, it would be easy to expect Paul to answer his question by stating that there is no value in circumcision and no advantage to being a Jew.* But, this isn’t the case!*

Paul explains that the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What does that mean?

God chose, above all others, the Jewish people to receive His word before anyone else. This great gift came with the responsibility of the covenant of God.* The covenant with God came with promises of blessings if the Jews obeyed God, and promises of cursing if they failed to obey.*

How is this an advantage?

As the first to be presented with the law, they were also the first to be presented with the Christ.

How long did you wait to receive Jesus? Were you the first in your family? Were you the last person you knew to receive the Savior of the world? Imagine how privileged some are to have the opportunity to receive Christ at a young age. How privileged were the Jews to know first how to please and draw close to God?!

The people of Israel were the first to receive the word of God; Christ was the word made flesh. We see because of history that the Jewish people did not always obey the law, and we see that they did not all receive Christ. What about us? What do we do with The Word Made Flesh?

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to respond to His word. Perhaps today there is something that you need to do in response to Christ. Maybe the thing that seems small that He wants you to do is actually bigger than you think, and He wants you to do it. Perhaps there is some action that He wants you to take to show the world that you are His.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 159-160). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 79-80). InterVarsity Press; Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 95).
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 152-154). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 103). Zondervan Publishing House.

one step: Romans 2.4

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Historically, God points out to His people that the circumcision that matters is done in the heart (Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 9:25-26).* In the context of this passage, Paul explains that if the circumcision of the body does not match a circumcision of the heart, it was for nothing.

Circumcision was not the covenant; it was the sign of the covenant.* In fact, ancient Egypt practiced circumcision, and Ishmael was circumcised (Genesis 17:23).* Thought God had purposes for the people of Egypt and for Ishmael, His covenant was with Israel. Had circumcision of the body been synonymous with covenant, surely right standing with God would be accessible simply by the efforts of people willing to do the procedure.

Paul explains that without the circumcision of the heart that comes via the Holy Spirit, the sign of the covenant (circumcision) became empty of its significance.* The work of right standing with God comes through the work of Jesus Christ.*

In life, we can do many things to convince ourselves and others that we are in right standing with God. We can cut things out of our lives, and we can suffer doing so. When doing these things, we can appear righteous. But what is in our heart? Have we allowed the Holy Spirit to do a work in our hearts to cut things away?

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to allow Him to cut away things in your heart. Perhaps He wants you to let Him cut away anger, hurt, lies, or heaviness. Maybe Today God wants you to trade your willingness to look righteous for a desperation to actually be righteous. Perhaps God wants you to let go of the work you can do outwardly so that He can do work inwardly.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 153). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos. Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 78–79). InterVarsity Press; Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 95). Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 140). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

one step: Romans 2.3

But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Here, in this passage, Paul lists five special privileges (one scholar refers to them as strengths) enjoyed by the Jewish people:

1. They are Jews, possess the law, and have a special relationship with God, thus giving them a special status amongst the nations.*

2. They relied, or rested upon the law.*

3. They brag about their relationship to God, which is not a bad thing as seen in Scripture (Psalm 40:8; 143:10; Hebrews 10:7, 9).*

4. They know God’s will.*

5. They approve of what is superior.* Meaning, they approve of things that are excellent.

All of these privileges can be seen as strengths, but Paul is quick to point out that the Jewish people rely upon them too much. They relied on their possession of the law more than their need for it, feeling justified before God because they held the law.* Because of this, they erroneously felt that they would not receive judgement.* They bragged about their relationship with God, but did so without the humility that focuses on knowing God rather than holding a status.* They wrongly relied on what they saw as superior knowledge to make them right with God.* They looked down on the Gentiles because they felt that they were better than the Gentiles.*

Paul then offers 4 ways that the Jews view their own interactions with Gentiles:

1. They are a guide for the blind.*

2. They are a light for those in the dark.*

3. They are instructors for the foolish (people who disregard God and go their own way).*

4. They are teachers of infants (extremely religiously immature).*

Why does all of this matter? Because centering on the law without obeying it (the Jews of the time were not obeying it) leads to hypocrisy and guilt before God.* In this, they dishonored God.*

Why does this matter to us? Many of us look at ourselves and see something that we believe to be true. We see our calling, our purpose, and our identity. When we look at these things, we may think they are good, but are they true? Could it be that within our strengths and privileges there are hidden agendas and beliefs that look like pride, hypocrisy, and guilt before God? Could it be that though we know the law, we do not practice it? Though we know what pleases God, we do not do it?

Could it be that while thinking we are righteous, we are really dishonoring God?

As a part of looking at the things we believe about ourselves, we must look at the things that we believe about others and our purpose in their life. We must look at what we believe about our relationship with God and ask Him for honest feedback. We must ask God for a Paul in our life who will be brave enough to tell us how it really is: we rely too much on good things when we should rely on God.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to reexamine the motives of your heart in relationship to things that are good. Perhaps God wants you to shift gears to rely on Him even in your strengths. Maybe God wants to use you to be a voice like Paul in someone’s life. Perhaps God wants you to listen to the Paul that He has placed in your path for this season.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 72-76). InterVarsity Press; Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 91-93).

one step: Romans 2.2

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

What is the role that conscience has to play in our ability to live a life that pleases God?

In the verses surrounding this passage, Paul is once again emphasizing the point that all are subject to the judgment of God: both those under the law (Jews) and those not under the law (Gentiles).* Paul interestingly explains that some Gentiles (presumably Christians, though scholars argue this point) have the work of the law written on their hearts.* To be clear, it does not say that the law is written on their hearts, but that the work of the law is written on their hearts.* This means that the things that they must do to fulfill the law is written on their hearts.* The Jews have the way to fulfill their hearts written on stone in the form of the Mosaic law.*

Paul suggests in the context of this verse that the only way to please God is to be doers of the word, not hearers only, but we see from other writing in Romans that one can live a life that does all of the law (except for Christ).* Hence, all fail equally whether they, like the Jews, were given the written law or not as is the case for those with the work of the law written on their hearts (see, God is fair… everyone fails equally).

That said, the conscience is not to be trusted. The best the conscience can do is to bear witness to things that have been done, bear witness to what others are doing, or bear witness to the intent of a future action.* This conscience of ours operates based upon the things that we know we should or should not do.* Because we are fallen humans, our conscience too is fallen, only providing us with as much light as we have received.* Because of this, our conscience can never substitute for or play the part of the Holy Spirit.* Surely, at times, our conscience has told us not to do things that God would permit while at other times permitting us to do things that the Holy Spirit would never agree to.*

Paul’s discussion leads to this point: God judges the secrets of man by Christ Jesus.

As we walk through life, we must discern between the voice of our conscience and the voice of the Holy Spirit. Surely no one, including Paul, would suggest that we should go against our conscience, for this could lead to folly.* But at the end of the day, we are not judged by our conscience, but by Jesus Christ, the Word Made Flesh. His must be the voice that tells us what is right and wrong.

I want to be guided by His voice. Lord, help me to discern it.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to question your source of right and wrong. Perhaps God wants you to awaken your conscience to the truth of God’s word. Maybe God wants you to hear His voice through the works of the law written on your heart. Perhaps He wants to show you things that you know that you should not be doing that you should stop, or things thing you should be doing that it’s time to begin.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 67-71). InterVarsity Press; Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 124-128). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press; Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 141). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos; Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 84-89).

one step: Romans 2.1

Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 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?

Why is God kind? Why is He patient with us? Why does He allow us to continue failing but does not destroy us?

There are some who live as if any wrong step will release the lightning of God’s wrath for immediate judgement. There are others who live as if His wrath and judgement are things of legend used to control the unsuspecting, religiously devout. Paul thinks differently.

Romans 2 opens with a warning to those who feel that they do all of the right things and meanwhile judge others for falling short.* In Paul’s context, this was the Jewish people. In my context, this was me.

Paul first assures the Jews in Rome that they are as guilty as the Gentiles that they were looking down on and judging. It wasn’t because they were committing all of the same sins that Paul listed in Romans 1, but because they were guilty of committing some sins, and that is enough to invite the wrath of God.*

What the Jews in Rome at the time of Paul did not understand, and what many do not understand today, is that the lack of God’s wrath in the present does not mean the wrath will be absent in the future.* Those Paul spoke to were using God’s patience, kindness, long fuse (as opposed to a short fuse) as a sign that they were in right standing with Him and as permission to continue sinning.*

It was common in Paul’s day for Jewish people to see themselves as the community of Jews.* Because they were a part of the community, they were in right standing with God.* This disregarded any emphasis on personal responsibility and accountability.* Paul was letting them know that what they did mattered to God…. a lot.

As I’ve shared before, I was the king of doing some things right and judging others for doing them wrong all while ignoring the things that I was doing wrong. Boy was I, well, wrong.

Paul tells us that to live as if we are perfect, ignoring our wrong doing either because we think that God doesn’t care or because we don’t want to see it, we are disrespecting God. By taking advantage of His kindness, goodness, and patience, we are missing the point: He is kind, good, and patient so that we will repent.*

Repentance is not the same as remorse.* Remorse feels bad for doing wrong. This is not enough. Repentance is not turning away from sin; that’s only part of it. Repentance is feeling remorseful, turning away from sin, and then turning toward God.* God is kind, good, and patient with us so that we will repent. He wants us to turn toward Him.

Maybe you have repented and turned away from your sin and toward a loving God who forgives. Maybe you have found yourself fallen back into a sin or bad habit that places a wedge between you and intimacy with God. Today is a good day to lean into His goodness, kindness, and patience.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to ask Him if there is an area in your life that doesn’t please Him. Perhaps today is the day to repent. Maybe today God wants you to stop taking advantage of His goodness, kindness, and patience to sin; perhaps He wants you to take advantage of it to turn back to Him.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 59-63). InterVarsity Press; Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (pp. 107-114). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press; Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 119-123). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos; Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (pp. 71-73).