This is my Paraphrase of Romans 2:17-29.You who call yourselves Christian’s are relying on God’s *law and you boast about your special relationship with him. You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.
Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn being Gay, but do you watch pornography? You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. No wonder the Scriptures say, “The unbeliever curse the name (Lord) of God because of you.”
The Christian ceremony of baptism has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an unbeliever. And if the unbeliever obeys God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? In fact, people who don’t profess to be Christians but keep God’s law will condemn you Christians who are baptized and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.
For you are not a true believer just because you were born of Christian parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of baptism. No, a true believer is one whose heart is right with God. And true baptism is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.
*Matthew 22:36-40, “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the Law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
