IT’S EASY TO TAKE  SALVATION FOR GRANTED! DIFFICULT FOR MANY TO ACCEPT THE CONSEQUENCES! FOR  YESHUA CAME TO GUIDE MEN’S CONSCIENCES NOT TO GRATIFY THEIR CURIOSITY!  

Robert Rombough

Romans 2:16 KJV
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

COMMENTARY!

Yeshua arraigns them for their censorship and self-conceit (Romans 2:1): Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. As he expresses himself in general terms, the admonition may reach those many masters (James 3:1), of whatever nation or profession they are, that assume to themselves a power to censure, control, and condemn others.

But he intends especially the Jews, and to them particularly he applies this general charge (Romans 2:21), Thou who teachest another teachest thou not thyself?

The Jews were generally a proud sort of people, that looked with a great deal of scorn and contempt upon the poor Gentiles, as not worthy to be set with the dogs of their flock while in the meantime they were themselves as bad and immoral though not idolaters, as the Gentiles, yet sacrilegious,

Romans.2:22. Therefore thou art inexcusable.

OBSERVATION!

If the Gentiles, who had but the light of nature, were inexcusable (Romans 1:20), much more the Jews, who had the light of the law, the revealed will of God, and so had greater help than the Gentiles.

By this, we may try our interest in the divine favour, and may hence be directed what course to take, that we may obtain it.

Those whom the righteous God will reward are, First, Such as fix to themselves the right end, that seek for glory, and honour, and immortality that is, the glory and honour which are immortal-acceptance with God here and forever.

There is a holy ambition that is at the bottom of all practical religion. This is seeking the kingdom of God, looking in our desires and aims as high as heaven, and resolved to take up with nothing short of it.

This seeking implies a loss, sense of that loss, a desire to retrieve it, and with pursuits and endeavors consonant to those desires.

Secondly, Such as, having fixed the right end, and adhering to the right way: A patient continuance in a demonstrated spiritual walk.

1. There must be well-doing, working good, Romans 2:10. It is not enough to know spirituality, speak spiritually, and profess spirituality, and promise being spiritual, but we must live spirituality: do that which is spiritual in God’s eyes, not only for the matter of it, but for the manner of it.

2. A continuance in spirituality. Not for a fit and a start, like the morning cloud and the early dew but we must endure to the end: it is perseverance that wins the crown

3. A patient continuance. This patience respects not only the length of the work but the difficulties of it and the oppositions and hardships we may meet with in it.

Those who will be spiritual and continue in it must put on a great deal of patience.

COMMENTARY!

The product of Yahewa’s favour. He will render to such eternal life. Heaven is life, eternal life, and it is the reward of those that patiently continue in Spirituality and it is called (Romans 2:10) glory, honour, and peace. Those that seek for glory and honour (Romans 2:7) shall have them.

Those that seek for the vain glory and honour of this world often miss the glory and honour and are disappointed, but those that seek immortal glory and honour shall have them, and not only glory and honour, but peace.

Worldly glory and honour are commonly attended with trouble but heavenly glory and honour have peace, an undisturbed and everlasting peace.

OBSERVATION!

What I am about to relate as I ponder these words shared by Matthew Henry (1662-1714) on the basis of Gentile life in the Old Covenant, I am recognizing this description from the 16th Century, to be the adopted foundation of worship within many of the modern-day Assemblies!

The Gentiles had that which directed them what to do by the light of nature: by the force and tendency of their natural notions and dictates they apprehended a clear and vast difference between good and evil.

They did by nature the things contained in the law. They had a sense of justice and equity, honour and purity, love and charity the light of nature taught obedience to parents, pity to the miserable, conservation of public peace and order, forbade murder, stealing, lying, perjury, &c.

Thus they were a law unto themselves. They had that which examined them as to what they had done: Their conscience also bearing witness. They had that within them which approved and commended what was well done and which reproached them for what was done amiss.

Conscience is a witness, and first or last will bear witness, though for a time it may be bribed or brow-beaten (Coping with life rationalizing snd justifying instead of dealing with life taking responsibility and being accountable).

It is instead of a thousand witnesses, testifying of that which is most secret and your thoughts accusing or excusing, passing a judgment upon the testimony of conscience by applying the law to the fact.

Conscience is that candle of the Lord which was not quite put out, no, not in the Gentile world. The heathen have witnessed to the comfort of a good conscience.

It is here we are able to recognize the  truth revealed because of the decision to walk this path in the following verse

Luke 13:25 KJV
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Thus the consequence of being the Law unto yourself!

CLOSING OBSERVATION!

How few are there that will be saved!” Note, We have reason to wonder that of the many to whom the word of salvation is sent there are so few to whom it is indeed a saving word.

Perhaps it was an enquiring question: “If there be few that be saved, what then? What influence should this have upon me?” Note, It concerns us all seriously to improve the great truth of the fewness of those that are saved.

Christ’s answer to this question, directs us what use to make of this truth.

Our Saviour did not give a direct answer to this inquiry, for he came to guide men’s consciences, not to gratify their curiosity.

Ask not, “How many shall be saved?” But, be they more or fewer, “Shall I be one of them?” Not, “What shall become of such and such, and what shall this man do?” But, “What shall I do, and what will become of me?”

Now in Christ’s answer observe, 1. A quickening exhortation and direction: Strive to enter in at the strait gate. This is directed not to him only that asked the question, but to all, to us, it is in the plural number: Strive ye.

Note, (1) All that will be saved must enter in at the strait gate, must undergo a change of the whole man, such as amounts to no less than being born again, and must submit to a strict discipline

(2) Those that would enter in at the strait gate must strive to enter. It is a hard matter to get to heaven, and a point that will not be gained without a great deal of care and pains, of difficulty and diligence.

We must strive with God in prayer, wrestle as Jacob did, and strive against sin and Satan. We must strive in every duty of religion and strive with our own hearts, agonizing–“Be in an agony strive as those that run for a prize excite and exert ourselves to the utmost.”

Divers awakening considerations, to enforce this exhortation. O that we may be all awakened and quickened by them!

They are such considerations as will serve to answer the question, Are there few that shall be saved?

Robert a humble obedient servant to Yeshua and his Father in heaven Yahewa.  And all of God’s children say Amen and Amen in the name of Jehovah Jireh our provider of all things righteous and Holy!