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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Sometimes we erroneously hear that knowledge is the assurance of success. While it is true that it is virtually impossible to succeed without knowledge, it is not the case that knowledge in any sense guarantees success! Paul addressed this fact when he wrote about certain Gentiles “[W]ho, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1.32). We will analyze this statement phrase by phrase.
First, notice that the people spoken of by Paul knew “the righteous judgment of God.” This phrase is key to understanding the essence of the verse. While it is true that every judgment that God renders is righteous, that is not Paul’s point. “The righteous judgment of God” in this text refers to God’s righteous decrees. To put it another way, all of God’s laws and statutes are righteous; His will is always correct. Those about whom Paul was writing knew that God was right, but decided to act contrary to His will anyway. In their case, their knowledge was of no positive benefit!
However, that is not all Paul had to say about these people. They knew that those who practiced the things prohibited in the previous verses (e.g. sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, etc.). were deserving of death. It would appear from this statement that they fully realized God’s right to consign such rebellious individuals to eternal punishment. Once again, however, their knowledge did not produce positive results in their lives. Knowledge did not guarantee success.
Finally, not only did they practice the forbidden things, they approved (took pleasure in, applauded) others who participated with them in their ungodly deeds. The 21Century King James version says, “They not only do the same, but have pleasure in those who do them.” Misery loves company and so do some sinners! The arrogance of the sinners about whom Paul wrote is beyond the imagination of most righteous folks. They knew what was right; they deliberately went contrary to truth; they applauded others who joined them in their debased actions.
On one occasion Jesus spoke of similar persons. “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23.13-15). They not only refused to go into the kingdom of heaven, they stood in the way of those who were entering; they made others twice as much a son of hell as they were themselves.
As is easily seen from this passage in Romans, knowledge is not synonymous with success! Knowledge is desirable but submission is essential! God wants us to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3.18; emphasis mine - jb). Two-fold sons of hell result when the two are not mixed together!
Questions
1. Does God want us to be knowledgeable? Why or why not?
2. What does it mean that the people in Romans 1.32 knew the judgment of God?
3. Why do you think that evil takes pleasure in company?
4. How is it possible for us to stand in the way of those who might be wanting to enter the kingdom? What must we do to avoid this fate?
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