Romans 2:17-21, Behold, the Christian!
Romans 2:17-21 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
The Jewish people were special because they were created by God to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:6). Many hundreds of years later, God sent the prophet Isaiah to show them how they have departed from being God’s true witness – Isaiah 1:4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. These are very strong words of indictment that should not be easily said, nevertheless, it was needful!
They were still in possession of God’s law. And would boast of their privilege. They knew the will of God because they have received good teaching out of God’s law. They were even able to show others the way to walk with God. And yet, their lives does not measure up! They were telling others not to steal but they seemed themselves to be stealing!
God cast Israel out of the land in A.D. 70 precisely for this reason. They were not bearing a true witness for God. And this witness has been given to the church in the past 2000 years. The Christian church has in our possession God’s Word. And we are called a kingdom of priests and a holy nation – 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: We have received the good teaching out of God’s law. And we are able to show others the way to walk with God. And yet, does our lives measure up? This is a strong statement of self-searching that God gives through the presentation of Apostle Paul’s thoughts.
God has no other plan to raise another holy nation beside His church and His people, Israel! Both the church and the nation of Israel will God use to evanglise the world as bible prophecy tells us. In fact, our Lord Jesus Christ tells His church that they are to be salt and light in the world – Matthew 5:13-17 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Are we fulfilling our God-given spiritual mandate? Are our lives befitting the title of being called Christians? Good questions requiring earnest soul-searching! The day is at hand when judgement must begin first in the house of God. May His people be kept pure and unspotted so that they may bear a good witness for Him! Amen.