WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DOER OF THE LAW- ROM.2:13

Did you know that the Bible shows that even when keeping the law you may still be a transgressor of the law? And did you know that virtually all of the churches have fallen into this transgression of the law by “the deceitfulness of sin”? It's true.

So the Jews that heard did not enter in because of unbelief. And because many now believe that the reason Jesus had to die was to pay a penalty for sin, so that they still need to continually confess sin. Because they have been deceived to believe this is the reason that they are going to hell.

By this they do the same thing many Jews did while under the law. Creating a form of Judaism for gentiles. Where men look to the law, rather than the one who gave the law, for righteousness. This is idolatry. This is what makes a keeper of the law a transgressor.

Being a doer of the law and not a hearer only. Most people are taught to believe this means those who are doers of the law are the ones who are keeping it. And that those who are only hearers of the law are those who do not keep it.

But, being a doer of the law has nothing to do with doing the works of the law. Paul teaches this when he writes in Rom.2:27 of those Jews who kept the letter of the law and circumcision that were yet transgressors of the law.

But, how can one be a doer of the law and circumcision, and at the same time be a transgressor of the law? This happens when the Jew judges the idolatry of those Paul spoke of in ch.1 while doing the same. So the Jew condemns themselves as Rom.2:1 says, by making the law an idol by believing that righteousness comes by those works.

So Paul is saying that the Jew who keeps the law for righteousness is every bit as much an idolater as those in Rom.1 who worshiped 4 footed beasts and creeping things.

This is why Jesus said in Mt.7:21-23 that "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father which is in heaven.(which is to believe in Jesus)

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Which is this idolatry of the law Paul speaks of in Romans.

This is why being a doer of the law and not a hearer only does not mean one is to keep the law to be “a doer and not a hearer only” as virtually all churches falsely teach. Being a doer of the law is one who "shows the work of the law written in their hearts".

This work of the law Paul speaks of is not works of the law keeping all the commandments and ordinances blamelessly as Paul, Zachariah, Elizabeth, Job, etc... did as Old Testament believers. The work of the law is faith that works by love.

It is believing in Jesus for justification as Gal.2:16 tells us. Trusting Jesus as He trusted the Father saying, "Nevertheless, not my will but thy will be done". The work of the law is love.

The work of the law is to do unto others as you would have them do to you.  This is why in 1Tim.1:5 Paul tells us love is the fulfillment of the law for all who believe. So the doer of the law is one who believes God without works just as Abraham did.

This is why Jesus told Israel "A new commandment I give to you". Love God and love one another. To love God is to know Him. And in John17:3 Jesus told them knowing Him is eternal life.

So Paul is teaching that the Jew that is a hearer of the law only, is a Jew that hears and does not believe. Paul says of these "For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."

This is why in John6:28,29 Jesus told the Jews that asked what they must do to do the work of God that to do the work of God they must believe. This is the judgment with which not only the Jew, but all mankind will be judged. Did you or did you not believe in Jesus apart from works?

This is what Paul was teaching when he wrote, "Therefore if the uncircumcised keep the righteousness of the law(which is believing), shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

And shall not uncircumcised which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart(believing), in the spirit(by faith), and not in the letter(works); whose praise is not of men, but of God.”

So when you hear someone saying that a doer of the law is one that keeps it they show that they do not understand Paul's teaching. They show that they are in idolatry of the law just as these who Paul says "transgress the law" in Rom.2:27.

This is why Paul said justification was Abraham's before he was circumcised. Before he did any works. Paul wanted to make it clear that works, whether of the law or otherwise, have nothing to do with how a man is justified. For circumcision was before the law. And the righteousness that is of faith was before circumcision.

But, what about James saying a man is justified by his works and not by faith only? Is James contradicting Paul? No. Because James was teaching about faith that can be seen by others so that others may profit from it. While Paul was teaching about faith for righteousness that is eternal life.

So James was speaking of Abraham's faith being justified by his works. And not Abraham himself. Because if he was saying Abraham's justification came by works then James would not only have been contradicting Paul, but also the whole of the scriptures. But, he was not. He was agreeing with Paul. While explaining the role that works play in the believer's life. The role of blessing others. And not the role of saving.

As we see in the theme in all of the scriptures God's blessings come by faith apart from works. From the time of Cain when after murdering Abel was blessed and protected by God. To the times of the judges when God used them to show God's role as the deliverer. To the time of the ultimate and final judge manifested in Christ Jesus who delivers all mankind from the power of death to eternal life. And from mortality to immortality.

Our deliverance is not based on works. So our need for deliverance has nothing to do with good or bad behavior. A false belief that has taken so many who wanted to know the truth but got derailed from it to go down the wide road that leads to destruction.

And now that you know this you can turn from that road that leads to death to the narrow way that leads to eternal life and immortality. To the way of faith without works for righteousness. Whether those works be of the law or of your own device. Or even someone else’s works.

No longer having the law as an idol thinking that keeping it means anything to God. No longer having the avoidance of bad behavior ever before your eyes as those Paul describes in Gal.5:18-21. Who are under the law living by the flesh. But, instead the trust in and relationship with the true and living God.

Am I now saying (as is slanderous reported, and as some affirm that I say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? Whose damnation is just. God forbid.

I am saying that the need for the law has passed, because now the believer has the leading of the Holy Spirit. A leading by His love shed abroad in our hearts. So that our choices are motivated by His love, rather than by the works of the law that forces upon our conscience a works righteousness rather than relationship righteousness.

Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Why "till the seed should come" which is Jesus? Because the law was given to preserve Israel as a nation of purely human people whose bloodline the messiah would come through. Because only a human can die a human’s death. And only by dying as a human could Jesus conquer our death by the resurrection.

God said it. And sent the law to Israel to make sure it came to pass. And since it has come to pass the law has served it's purpose. And since Jesus has come the law is now taken away so that the New Covenant is established.

As always it is the insidiously satanic false doctrine of original sin that is the culprit that causes the voiding of saving faith as Paul said in Rom.4:14. Because it teaches a "Judaism for gentiles", that as the law did for many misguided Israelites, makes people focus on works for righteousness. Rather than the creation of the one new man and new creation in Christ Jesus through the righteousness that is by faith apart from works.

Because the false satanic doctrine of original sin teaches a works righteousness that leads to death. Rather than the Godly righteousness that is by faith without works that is eternal life.

So don't let this Judaism for gentiles system of works righteousness that is the doctrine of original sin take you down the wide road. Come to a saving faith in Jesus in which righteousness is by faith and works are excluded.

Only this faith has God alone as it's focus.

This is why only this faith leads to life. And only this faith can make us children of God and heirs to His kingdom. Only this faith can deliver you from the idolatry of works righteousness and from the legalism of Judaism and the idolatry of works that is the false satanic doctrine of original sin. Only by this truly saving faith... will I see you there or in the air!