Posted by Romans on Saturday, 16 May 2015
Romans 2:13
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
Reading the Mosaic Law was a regular part of each synagogue service, so that Jews were those who hear the Law. However, being recognized as righteous was not the automatic concomitant of being a Jew and hearing the Law. Those who will be declared righteous (a forensic action usually trans. “justified,” e.g., 3:24; see comments on 1:17 on “justify”) are those who obey the Law (lit., “the doers of the Law”). James made the same point (James 1:22-25). Again (cf. comments on Rom. 2:7-10) God does not give eternal life or justification to those who perform good works, but to those who believe (trust) in Him and whose conduct reveals their regenerate hearts.
