Monday after Populus Sion, The Second Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 11, 2023 by under
Scripture: Romans 2:1-1 (NKJV)
2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Devotion
“God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”
St. Paul speaks words of Law. For those who condemn others, the Law condemns them too, for they are likewise guilty. For those who do not have the Law as revealed to Moses, their own consciences will show them their guilt, for they have a natural knowledge of right and wrong. Even those in darkness can figure out that they have failed to live up to whatever internal standards of right and wrong they may have.
But then St. Paul asserts that “God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” Whose gospel? St. Paul says “his”. That may seem odd, until we realize that the Gospel doesn’t just float around out there in the ether somewhere. God locates it in called and ordained men, whom He has set apart to be His forgiveness-of-sins-distributors in this world.
The Gospel is the good news that Jesus died on the cross for the sin of the world. As we come to faith in Jesus Christ through hearing the Word and receiving the Sacraments by way of the Apostolic Ministry, God judges us to be forgiven, righteous, and heirs of eternal life.
Collect: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine only-begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Advent
Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins, and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
