The Example We Set

Do you do what you tell others not to do?

All who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God's sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified. When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all. But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law, and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth, you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You that forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhor idols, do you rob temples? You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? For, as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." - Romans 2:12-24

It is good to know what is right, but it is better to do what is right.

Paul wants us to be doers of the law, not just teachers of it.  It is important that we know what we should do, but what good is knowing and not doing?

He points out that there are people who do not know the law and yet do what it requires.  These Gentiles are more righteous than the Jews who were raised in the law but choose to ignore it.

The point Paul is making is that we, who know the law, need to set a good example for those who observe us to learn about God through our actions.

We are a living example of our faith, and that example is seen by many, even those we don't know are watching.

So, if we profess to be followers, we must follow faithfully, or those who see what we do will see that we are false in our faith.

The example we set in life is all we can claim to be.  If we believe we are good, but others see otherwise, then something is wrong.

As Jesus warned, we should notice the log in our own eye first.

More to come...