Knowing and Approving of God's Will Romans 2:18

Paul the apostle parenthetically told the church members in Rome how God will, “Behold, you are called a Jew, and rest in the law, and make your boast of God”, and in chapter two and verse eighteen of Romans, Paul shared how those who, “” where we read:

And know his will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

The verse begins, “And know his will, and approve the things that are more excellent, ...”. Paul began with the words, “and know” which means “and perceive, feel and be acquainted with” “his will” which means “God's purpose, commands, precepts, choice, inclination desire and pleasure”, “and approve” or “and test, examine, prove, scrutinize and deem worthy” “the things that are more excellent” which means “distinguishing between what is good, evil, lawful, unlawful, surpassing and of importance”. Paul declared how these who “rest in the law, and make” their “boast in God” also “have knowledge of what God desires, and they “deem worthy” .

The verse continues, “... being instructed out of the law;” Paul added the words, “being instructed” which means to “being taught orally, informed by word of mouth, charmed with a resounding sound and fascinated” “out of the law” or “from the rule producing a state approved of God ”. Paul shared how these people were also “taught” from God's “law”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see the advantage for the Jews who “rest in the law, and make” their “boast in God”. They “knew” the will of God, “tested and examined” the “surpassing and important” things and were “taught” God's “law”. However, though they had all these benefits, they did not have a personal relationship with God. Jesus Christ came to redeem people from their “sinful” ways, and whether they have the advantages of the Jews or not, He desires to be their “Savior and Lord”. This comes through “belief and faith” in Jesus Christ, and as Paul continues to instruct in this area, let us examine our own lives to discover advantages that lead us to a relationship with God though Him.

Next time Paul shares how these people, “are confident that” they themselves “are a guide of the blind”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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