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NASB | Romans 2:13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 2:13 For it is not those who merely hear the Law [as it is read aloud] who are just or righteous before God, but it is those who [actually] obey the Law who will be justified [pronounced free of the guilt of sin and declared acceptable to Him]. |
Subject: Justification? |
Bible Note: I do see that there is an awakening first prior to conversion. Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. I think that based on the conversation with the disciples and their conversion later that the more you show forth an intellectual honesty in seeking truth the more "able" you are to recieve faith unto salvation. I think that this does not give glory to the man. I am sure that theologians discussing this issue have come up with a name for it, if not I will call it "The Law of Illumination." The prophets say alot about it and Jesus confirmed all that the prophets said about the reason why the blind are blind. They reject light. Therefore they are given over to darkness. The more severe their rejection in the face of truth the more severe the darkness. Jesus gives us the parable of the sower as a foundation of why some can understand and others cant and in each case it is the condition of the persons heart (mind, will, intellect, decision process) and not an arbitrary reason about the predestined will of God. Looking at my own testimony I remember how when I was in the third or forth grade I decided based on the story of evolution that I would stop believing in God. I told some child friend this while standing in the lunchroom line at school and a little girl overhearing my casual conversation became extrememly emotional and almost shouted "WHAT? You Don't Believe in GOD?" And a few other comments about hell or something I cannot remember. I was shocked at her surprise. I decided I needed to look into this a bit further, since I did not want to make such a big decision without getting all the facts. I went home that day and asked my Dad about God. He told me something about a blade of grass being too complex to not have a designer and so from that day on I decided to believe there was a God. Was I saved? no, even the devil believes in one God and trembles. However, I went through life open to talking about God. My brother and others I witnessed who decided that God was for the weak minded and refused to believe in God were not open to discussing God. When I was in a crisis I called out to God to help me, over time I heard someone pray in Jesus Name, I realized they probably knew about this religion thing and so I would pray in Jesus name also. As of yet I did not have a clue what Jesus did for me on the cross. My prayers began to be answered and I was sure it was because I had discovered that man must come to God through Jesus. It was a while before I learned the whole Gospel story, I was born again within days after praying in Jesus Name,I really can't say which day it occurred, I witnessed a change in my thinking, my understanding, I knew I was forgiven of my sins, before I understood much about the cross. Now some might doubt my salvation, I think it really does not take much to be born again, just a faith that says Jesus I believe in You please save me. Prior to ever hearing about Jesus name I was calling out to God daily and I remember lying to someone at the time, when I did I felt very guilty.. was I saved? I had lied all my life without concern, now I was lying and feeling bad about it. Itold Go d I was sorry for lying and I would confess it to the person I lied to. It was very hard to do, but somehow I felt if I did not I could never live with myself again. I went through it and got it over with and felt much better. Was I converted? At this time I did not even know to pray in Jesus Name, that came several days later. I did not even start trying to figure out who Jesus was until after I heard the man pray in Jesus Name. It is possible that I associated Jesus with God. I mean I was praying to God and not saying anything about Jesus, but maybe in my mind I considered God and Jesus two words that meant the same thing. But other than that, there is no reason for me to have been converted yet. When I heard the Gospel message later I rejoiced and understood why it was necessary to come to God through Jesus Christ, but by then I was already born again and had experienced a dramatic change in a two or three week span. I never had an altar call experience.. it was more like a progressive revelation. I give Glory to God for all of it. Especially the lying incident. That was a foundation I learned early as to the Law of Illumination. I was faced with a choice, I was sure that if I did not confess my lie I would not recieve God or His knowlege, I wanted to learn about how to please God and I knew that if I did not confess my lie I would not be able to pray. |