Romans 2:13
13 (For [gar] not [ou] the hearers [akroates] of
the law [nomos] are just [dikaios] before [para] God [theos], but [alla] the doers [poietes] of the law [nomos] shall be
justified [dikaioo]. KJV-Interlinear
13 For
it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of
the law who will be justified. ESV
When people see these two terms, hearers and doers of
the law, they inevitably misapply them into systems of works. Paul has made it very clear that by the law
no man may be justified. And yet this
verse if not read correctly seems to be a contradiction.
The easy answer, that clears this up, is that the word
for law, ‘nomos,’ refers to the principle of law, and does not refer to the
law, namely the Mosaic Law.
The difference between the hearer and doer terms has
to do with the level of application of the principles of law to ones own life.
The principles of law are the principles taught
throughout the Bible.
Therefore, if you hear or read the bible, but do
nothing to apply its teachings to your daily life, then you are a hearer
only. You hear but do not learn. You hear
but do not understand. You hear but do not
comply.
If you are a doer, then you follow the mandates that
Gods makes of us all and expects of us.
This is not doing works, for works are specifically rejected by God as
an application of arrogance on mans part.
The book of James is a complete study of mans works versus spiritual
works.
A doer complies with Gods rules. Namely faith in
Christ for salvation, that is doing the principle of salvation. Confession of sin is doing the principle of
fellowship. Daily study is doing the
principle of the spiritual learning process.
Application of doctrine is doing the many principles of living the
spiritual life, not the activity of doing works and so forth.
The word for justified, ‘dikaioo,’ refers to the
process of justification or living within the life sphere of
justification. Often times we simply
call this living and functioning in the spiritual life while in fellowship.
Therefore if you hear but do not follow up on the
principles of doctrine, then you have nothing.
You must follow through with the principles of doctrine
in order to have the benefits of spiritual growth and production.
