In Romans chapter 2 the Apostle Paul was writing to the church located in the city of Rome, the vast majority of whose parishioners were biological Gentiles. As we will see, many, if not most of them were also spiritual Gentiles (sinners–workers of iniquity). He is addressing them as we pick up his narrative with verse 17. Here he reminds them that they are CALLED (spiritual) Jews (Law-keepers) who claim to rest in God’s Law and boast about being His children. They know His Law, having been thoroughly instructed as to its excellence. They believe that they are role models for the spiritually blind, that they are lights to those in darkness, instructors of the foolish and teachers of spiritual babes. However, as Paul says, they have only a form of Biblical knowledge and Biblical Truth that are found only in God’s Biblically-stated Law.

Then in verses 21 through 24 Paul uses that very Law (the sword of the Spirit) against them, noting that, because they claim to be spiritual Jews but do not walk their talk, they in fact “DISHONOR GOD AND BLASPHEME HIM.” This is what church people do every 7th day of the week (Saturday) and 1st day of the week (Sunday). On Saturday they do as THEY please. On Sunday they do as SATAN pleases. This means that on no day of the week do they please God. They claim to believe God’s Word but their actions defy their words. In so doing they dishonor and blaspheme the God they claim has saved them.

In 2:28,29 Paul distinguishes between a true spiritual Jew and a false spiritual Jew. Here he says that talking church talk and walking church walk are meaningless religious exercises. He states that in order to be a true saint of God one must remove (“circumcise”) away from his heart (mind) things that are not of God and replace them with things that are of God. Today, going to church, carrying a Bible, wearing a cross around one’s neck and a smile on one’s face while openly disobeying the very Truth of God PROVES THAT ONE HAS ENTERED SATAN’S WIDE GATE AND IS WALKING HIS WIDE PATH WHILE DISHONORING AND BLASPHEMING HIM.

Like Jesus said, the sword of the Spirit cuts deep and in all directions (Heb. 4:12). The question is, does the self-wounded church sinner simply apply a goodly amount of religious medicine (repent, etc.) to the spiritual wound and stay the sinning course? Or does one reverse course and follow the Lord. Only the truly repentant does the latter. They who repent, then return to their lawless (iniquitous) ways do so to their peril. These call themselves “sinners saved by grace.” The “Voices” of God series explains how the Lord deals with Law-breakers in this life. Key word–Voices.

As I have stated many times: AS GOES THE CHURCH, SO GOES THE NATION. God deals harshly with both individuals and nations that disobey HIS LAW BY WHICH HE RULES HIS TRUE SAINTS–SPIRITUAL JEWS. The seriousness of Law-breaking (sinning–1 Jn. 3:4) is noted in Romans 3:4 where Paul tells those who practice iniquity (Law-breaking) that, by rejecting any of God’s Words they have judged Him. When they go their own way they not only announce to the world that they have found God’s message to be faulty, but that they DESPISE BOTH HIM AND HIS SON (Lk. 10:16). By refusing to obey God’s Law and creating their own rules for dealing with the Lord, they announce to the approving world that they have no love for the One they claim has saved them (Jn. 14:15,23). Like Adam and Eve, they have become their own gods by determining for themselves what is good and what is evil (Gen. 3:22), thereby breaking the first commandment in that only God can make those distinctions. At the same time they break commandment #2 by setting a sinful example for their neighbor.

The end results of obedience to God’s Word (Law) and rejection of His Word are summed up by Paul in Romans 2:6-11 where he proclaims that we will all be judged by our DEEDS (WORKS). Those who continue in “well-DOING” by obeying God’s Word will receive peace, glory, honor, immortality and eternal life. Sinners saved by grace who are contentious and refuse to obey (DO) the Truth and thereby “obey unrighteousness” will receive indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish.

Let us not forget that Paul was writing to the CHURCH at Rome, which in many ways mirrors the Laodicean church of today which Jesus describes in Revelation 3:14-18. The time is coming, and I believe has arrived, when true believers must physically separate from the Catholic/Protestant Religious System known as Christianity and prepare for the persecution that is coming. They should not be shocked when the persecutors are their former churchmates. Jesus said that in some cases one’s enemies will be those of his/her own household (Mat. 10:36). Read that entire chapter and know that what Jesus told the apostles applies to those who follow their teachings. As Jesus said, just as the world hated Him, the world, including the church world, would hate those who obey Him (Mat. 24:10/ Lk. 6:22; 10:16/ Jn. 15:18,19,23). Read Second Corinthians 6:14-7:1. Note in Matthew 10:22 that those who are being persecuted must maintain their holiness until the end will be saved.

A great shaking is coming upon this world when God will shake the nations both spiritually and physically. Like the physical beating of wheat to separate the chaff from the seed, God will separate church sheep from church goats within His church. The goats will join the rest of the world against God’s true saints. A time is soon coming when true Christians will be treated like thieves, rapists and murderers by the governmental powers that be. This has already begun in Canada and Finland where people have been arrested and are being tried FOR USING THE NAME OF GOD PUBLICLY. Soon the world will turn on God and His children and attempt to silence His messengers. Bibles will be banned and burned. All expressions of Christian living will be outlawed. People like me will be their prime targets. THEY WILL LOSE. Read about my personal message from God relative to these truths in the series titled The Gun, the Miracle and the Message. Key word–Gun.

Spiritual Jews are those who follow the example of the man Jesus of Nazareth and obey His Words which He received from His Father by way of the Holy Spirit. Those who continue to sin and repeatedly practice false repentance do not have the Holy Spirit, have not been converted and are “still in their sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). Read Second Chronicles 7:13-15 carefully and note what those who call themselves Jews but do lie must do in order to become spiritual Jews. Those who refuse to “… humble themselves, pray, seek My face and PERMANENTLY TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS ” will be judged exactly like the world they refuse to leave. Notice that God calls both true and false Jews in His church “My people who are called by My name.” By virtue of the fact that He said He would send the drought and the insects to them shows that the majority of His people were sinners.

Let us be reminded that the God of Second Chronicles was the God of the Old Testament–the Word Who would later come to earth as Jesus of Nazareth–the Head of the New Testament Church (Jn. 1:1-4,14). He is the Lord Who does not change (Mal. 3:6). Yes, dear reader, it is God Who is cursing the world’s people now. Why? Because the world’s worldly people have rejected Him. Read Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 and you will see why He is pouring out His wrath on the entire world, particularly the United States to whom He has given so much but who obeys Him so little. Did He not say: “Unto whom much is given, much is required” (Lk. 12:48)? Is He not the One who coined the unbreakable law of sowing and reaping? And note that one need sow only the wind in order to reap the whirlwind. (Hos. 8:7). America and the world she leads into ever more sin has surely sown the sin-soaked wind and has surely earned the painful whirlwind that is coming. L.J.