music4Him,
Paul seems to go into what you shared about a faultless religion (taking care of the Widow and Orphan) its not a religion of man but a faultless religion of love. Men take it and disfigure it for their own glory, praise of men, long speeches, judging others, long lengthy prayers for a show. Preaching for filthy money. Though they justify it before men JUST AS JESUS SAYS THEY WILL nevertheless what Jesus said is True before what they say.
Just like a "form of godliness" or golden image (outer cup). They look beautiful on the outside to others but inside they are hypocrits. Its believing a lie.
Pharisees and teachers of the law
Romans 2:1 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.
Now why call Him Lord Lord if we do not do what He says? Like desiring MERCY not sacrifice. To forgive that we might recieve (in ourselves and know in ourselves) the forgiveness of God.
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be MEASURED TO YOU.
This is why the deeds of some men are obvious when one walks around condemning people, judging people the fruit they manifest is the very thing they do to others. Its MEASURED TO THEM.
Prov 18:20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
God causes growth. But we plant seeds we reap what we sow and the fruit we harvest is OUR OWN DOING and from our own mouths. Thats why we must know others by their fruit of which is of the Spirit of Christ (Love Joy and peace in the Holy Spirit) or hate miserable and unrest contention, strife and the like in another.
Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. (To the PURE all things are pure but to the DEFILED NOTHING IS PURE)
Mat 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were OFFENDED, after they heard this saying? (Why? they sit on Moses seat=the JUDGE OTHERS ofcourse they were offended they are accuse)
John 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is [one] that accuseth you, [even] Moses, in whom ye trust.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Like Mat 18:32-35 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Isaiah 58:9-10 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I [am]. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And [if] thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness [be] as the noonday:
In Romans 2:3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. (Forgive and you shall be forgiven)
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be MEASURED TO YOU.
Romans 2:12 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
God is not a respecter of persons
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;
(For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
For when the Gentiles, which HAVE NOT THE LAW, DO BY NATURE the things contained in the law, these, having NOT HAVE THE LAW, are a LAW UNTO THEMSELVES:
Which shew the work of the law written IN THEIR HEARTS, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another
Romans 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
Romans 2:18 And knowest [his] will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
Romans 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
Romans 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the FORM of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Romans 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Romans 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Romans 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
Romans 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles THROUGH YOU, as it is written.
Go back and read this whole thing its a wonderful the Lord did. He justifies
The best part is here
And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
This agrees with the first.
For when the Gentiles, which HAVE NOT THE LAW, DO BY NATURE the things contained in the law, these, having NOT HAVE THE LAW, are a LAW UNTO THEMSELVES:
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither [is that] circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
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.
God is just
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it SAITH TO THEM who are UNDER the law: that every mouth may be STOPPED, and all the WORLD may become guilty "before God".
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: FOR BY THE LAW [is] the knowledge of SIN.
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God WITHOUT THE LAW is MANIFESTED, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ UNTO ALL and UPON ALL them that believe: for there is NO DIFFERENCE:
Its all about walking in obedience to Christs commands, walking in love. Forgiving, not judging, not condemning, but one will receive what they give out as Jesus said, its measured to you. As you walk in this way showing obedience to Him by believing that He alone is Lord and Judge and you are not. You begin to "get it" and understanding of Him grows and increases.
God Bless
Seth3
[ November 20, 2004, 08:18 PM: Message edited by: Seth3 ]
