The equality of Jews and Gentiles before God is a crucial theme in Romans. Members of either group stand or fall before Him on the same basis. Paul wrote the letter with two purposes in mind. First, to
prepare the ground for his visit to the city. Second, to deal with conflicts
between Jewish and Gentile believers. In its first half, he explains his gospel.
In the second, he addresses the status of the Jewish people and the specific conflicts
in the congregation.
Paul planned to take the gospel
to the Iberian Peninsula and support from the Roman church was important for this
effort. He had not been to Rome in his previous missionary activities - someone
else founded the church there. Thus, he needed to establish his credentials with
believers in the imperial city.
CONFLICTS
But the church in Rome was
experiencing tensions, including disagreements over dietary restrictions and
calendrical observations. Based on his years of dealing with Jewish and Gentile
believers, Paul was certainly qualified to deal with these issues.
- (Romans 1:10-12, 15-16) – “I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are in Rome… I am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel; for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
From the letter’s outset, Paul points
to the role of the gospel for both Jews and Gentiles. And by “first”
he does not mean that Jewish believers have special privileges over Gentiles as
his subsequent stress on their equality with Gentiles demonstrates.
The conflict between Jewish and
Gentile believers is key to understanding the letter, and it has influenced how
Paul presents his gospel.
For example, he warns that “tribulation
and anguish will
befall every man who works evil, of
the Jew first, and also of the Greek.” Likewise, there will be
glory and honor for everyone who does that which
is good - “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek”
– (Romans 2:9-10).
Israel certainly did receive a privilege offered to no other nation; namely, the possession of the Law, but that also came with special responsibilities and heightened penalties for failure to keep it.
It is not the “hearers of
the law” who are justified before God, “but the doers of the
law.” And though they may not possess the Mosaic Law, many Gentiles “by
nature do the things required by the law.”
ALL UNDER SIN
Both “Jews
and Greeks are all under sin.” The one God of Israel is also the
“God of the Gentiles.” In the end, both men who sin “under the law”
(Jews) and “without the law” (Gentiles) find themselves judged by the one
God of all who will not show partiality on the “day of wrath.” Obedience
counts, NOT ethnicity or nationality.
Neither is Paul suggesting that
believing Gentiles are better off than Jewish saints. “Are we better
than they? No, certainly not; for we
before charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.”
In this last verse, “we”
refers to Jewish believers in contrast to Gentile Christians. All have “sinned
and lack the glory of God.” Likewise, all will be saved in the same way - “through
the faith of Jesus Christ for all that believe, for there is no
distinction” – (Romans 3:1-26).
The issue becomes
front-and-center in chapters 9 through 11 where Paul deals with the challenge,
“Has the word of God failed?” Despite possessing the ordinances and
covenant promises, collectively, Israel rejected her Messiah.
So, has God likewise rejected
the Jewish people? Most emphatically, Paul declares, “No!” But his
explanation includes aspects applicable to both groups - Jews and Gentiles.
NOT BIOLOGICAL DESCENT
Not all “Israel are
of Israel, neither because they are Abraham's seed are they all
children.” It is not biological descent that determines membership in the
covenant people, but a faithful response to the gospel.
Paul himself provides clear
evidence that God has not rejected the Jewish people since he is a Jewish believer in Jesus. Likewise, many other Jews accept Jesus as their Messiah.
The many “wild branches” (Gentiles) have been “grafted into the olive tree” because of their faith. But
at the same time, many of the “natural
branches” (Jews)
have been “cut off” from the ONE olive tree “because of their unbelief.”
But the “natural branches” may yet be grafted back in if
they come to faith in Jesus, just as the “wild branches” previously grafted onto the tree may yet find themselves “cut off” for unbelief. Once again, faith is the
determining factor, not nationality or biological descent.
Jesus was sent to Israel to “confirm the
promises to the fathers.” But those promises always envisioned the
inclusion of the Gentiles:
- “As it is written, Therefore, will I praise you among the Gentiles… Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people… Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; and let all the peoples praise him… There shall be the root of Jesse, and he that arises to rule over the Gentiles, on him shall the Gentiles hope” – (Romans 15:8-12).
In all this, Paul refers to
only one church and one people of God which is comprised of believing “Jews and Gentiles” who have been justified “from
the faith of Jesus Christ.” The
gospel preached by the Apostle is the “power
of God for salvation for everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to
the Greek.”