Romans 2:1-5: No Excuses - Bible Studies With Mark

 

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. [Rom 2:1-5 ESV]

 

 

In Romans 1, Paul exposes the sin of the Gentile world—idolatry, moral corruption, and rebellion against God. But in chapter 2 he addresses the religious moralist, including the self-righteous Jew who thinks he is exempt from judgment because he has the Law, heritage, or moral behavior.

 

“You have no excuse… you who judge others.” Paul says that the person judging others is “without excuse” (anapologētos). Why? Because when we judge others, we show that we know right from wrong, yet we do the same kinds of things, maybe externally, maybe in the heart (cf. Matt. 5:21–28). The problem is hypocrisy. Not that judging right/wrong is wrong, but that condemning others while practicing the same sin puts a person under God’s judgment. This hits the religious person hardest: “I would never do THOSE things”. And yet sin is still present.

 

“God’s judgment… is according to truth.” God’s judgment is impartial. It is based on truth, not appearances. God judges based on what actually exists in the heart and life. Human judgment is often selective and biased. God’s judgment is perfectly righteous. Nobody gets special treatment. 

 

“Do you think… you will escape God’s judgment?” Paul challenges the religious moralist who assumes: “God will judge them, not me.”, or “I’m a good person.”, or “I belong to the right group.” No one escapes judgment because of religion, heritage, morality, or outward behavior. 

 

Paul warns against misreading God’s patience as approval. God’s kindness, forbearance, and long suffering are meant to give space for repentance, not to excuse sin. God’s patience is not permission. His patience is mercy, meant to draw the sinner to repentance. To refuse repentance is to despise God’s kindness.

 

“Storing up wrath for yourself.” If someone refuses to repent, every day of hard-hardheartedness accumulates God’s wrath. This is not because God is cruel, but because sin continues unaddressed. This prepares for the coming “day of wrath”—final judgment. There is a real final judgment. Our self-righteousness cannot save us. A hardened heart is the most dangerous spiritual condition. Only the gospel (Romans 1:16–17) delivers from wrath.

 

Paul’s message in Romans 2:1–5 is a devastating indictment of self-righteousness. Everyone is guilty of sin, even the religious person and the moral, self-righteous person. Hypocrisy is judged by God because it reveals knowledge of right and wrong. God’s judgment is impartial and perfectly just. God’s kindness is meant to lead to repentance, not complacency. Refusing repentance stores up wrath, pointing to the need for the gospel. There is warning here for all. The act of repentance is an ongoing act. The unrepentant heart is a heart in rebellion to God. There is only one Judge, and there is only one Savior. His opinion is the only one that matters.

Romans 2:6-11: The Judgment of God - Bible Studies With Mark

 

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. [Rom 2:6-11 ESV]

 

Romans 2:6-11 is a foundational passage that reveals God's perfect, impartial standard of judgment based on a person's deeds, that is, their consistent actions and way of life. Salvation is based upon true repentance, not external relationships.

 

In 2:6, Paul says, "He will render to each person according to his deeds:" This verse sets the predominant theme. God's judgment is just and commensurate with human actions. It's a statement of divine law, not arbitrary will. The phrase "according to his deeds" means the verdict won't be based on race, social standing, or affiliation, but on the accumulated evidence of one's life. This principle is deeply rooted in the Old Testament (e.g., Psalm 62:12; Proverbs 24:12).

 

In verses seven and eight, Paul describes two groups with two destinies: eternal life versus God’s wrath. Paul contrasts the destinies of two distinct groups, defined by the nature of their works. In verse seven we learn about the Seekers. Seekers are “those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;". Seekers pursue "glory and honor and immortality" through "patience in well-doing." This isn't a single good act, but a persevering commitment to righteousness. The reward for this commitment is eternal life. The Seeker’s work is evidence of a saving faith that has been imputed by God (as Paul clarifies later in Romans). It demonstrates a life submitted to the will of God.

 

Verse eight describes the Selfish: “those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury." The Selfish, or self-seeking as Paul calls them, are driven by contention and selfish ambition. The Selfish person chooses to "obey unrighteousness" over "the truth." Their life is fundamentally centered on their own desires, rejecting God's moral order. The reward for this choice is "Wrath and fury." This is the settled, holy anger of God against persistent rebellion and sin.

 

Verses nine through eleven restate the consequences for both groups and powerfully affirm God's impartiality. God’s judgement and punishment is universal. Paul says, "There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek," God’s standards apply to all of humanity. The Jew, though given the law and covenants, is judged first because he has more revelation and is therefore more accountable. Their privilege offers no exemption from the penalty of sin. 

 

Conversely, the blessings of salvation and peace are also offered universally: "but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek." This shows God's consistency in rewarding genuine obedience, whether it comes from a background of the Mosaic Law or not.

 

"For God shows no partiality." This is the climax and controlling statement of the entire passage. God is not swayed by human distinctions, titles, or external religious markers. He does not judge based on outward appearance but on the inward reality of the heart expressed through one's life choices (their deeds). God is a righteous Judge who judges based on a perfect standard. A life of sustained obedience (evidenced by "well-doing") leads to eternal life, while a life of selfish disobedience leads to divine wrath. This principle is applied equally to Jew and Gentile alike, establishing that no one stands justified before God by external privilege.

Halloween - Part 3 - Bible Studies With Mark

 

 

Photo courtesy of The Christian Post 

Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. [Act 1-19 ESV]

 

 

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Riaan Swiegelaar. Before coming to Jesus, Riaan was a priest in the Church of Satan. From black masses to the observance of monthly minor practices, he was very involved in commemorating Satanism and even running these rituals. Swiegelaar said, “In terms of animal sacrifices, yes, certainly that happens, I’ve been involved in that.” Swiegelaar also had much to say about babies, Satanic ritual abuse, the drinking of blood, and other disturbing occurrences — practices he had purportedly witnessed or been involved in. 

 

When asked about Halloween, Swiegelaar said, “What we are doing if we are celebrating Halloween as Christians, you are actually having a one night stand with the devil. That that's a simple way to put that.” In Swiegelaar’s experience Halloween is all about death. He says that Halloween is the day of the year when there is the most human sacrifice around the world. 

 

When asked to clarify his statement about human sacrifice, Swiegelaar responds, “So in in Satanism there is blood sacrifices. And you will notice for instance that during the month of October we see the most missing people cases or the most notices of missing people. The vulnerable parts of society like the homeless and people like that are definitely a target. And I'm talking from [the] experience of being involved in Satanism for 5 years where I facilitated certain rituals where there were sacrifices, especially animals. But I obviously know of what was going on globally during that time. And I am not the only one. When I talk to other people who come out of Satanism, they experienced these same things.”

 

When a neighborhood or community takes part in Halloween, that whole area becomes a hot spot for demonic activity. Swiegelaar says, “that whole perimeter becomes a satanic ritual by definition. Doors are opened to the dark side of the spirit world.” Swiegelaar says that people have been desensitized to the evil nature of Halloween through the media. He believes a very easy way to desensitize children to things like death and demons and gargoyles is something like Halloween. When we decorate our houses with skeletons, dress up our children in costumes and hand out candy to children, we attract the demonic. The Bible warns us of this when Peter says that the devil is like a roaring lion wandering about, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8-11). 

 

Since becoming a Christian, Swiegelaar has formed the opinion that 80 percent of Christians lack discernment. He believes you will not participate in Halloween if you listen to the Holy Spirit. Quoting Swiegelaar, “The spirit world surrounds us. We are engaged in this world whether we believe it or not. And there are only two things in this world: the kingdom of God, and everything else. There really isn’t a gray zone.” And there you have the testimony of a Satanist redeemed by the blood of Jesus. 

 

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." [Jos 24:15 ESV]

 

Choose carefully whom you will serve. 

Halloween - Part 2 - Bible Studies With Mark

 

  

In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God." [Psa 10:4 ESV]

 

In the previous article we reviewed the pagan roots of Halloween. In the next two articles I will present the satanic ties to the holiday. My primary sources for this information are the Satanic Bible by Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Scriptures by Peter H. Gilmore, and the personal testimony of Ex-Satanist Riaan Swiegelaar.

 

According to LaVey, Halloween holds a special place in satanic tradition. The satanist believes that Halloween is a time when the veil between the individual and their indulgent, primal nature is lifted. 

 

Quoting LaVey:

 

“[The church of Satan] is rooted in rational self-interest, atheism, and symbolic ritual. 

Halloween, from our perspective, is the most satanic of all holidays—not because of 

any alleged ties to the occult, but because it celebrates indulgence, fun, and the 

acknowledgment of the darker aspects of human nature without guilt.” Continuing: 

“Halloween allows people to play with identity. Costumes and masks give permission 

to explore forbidden archetypes and roles—witches, devils, monsters—without judgment. 

This is a healthy ritual of release, an unleashing of the inner self in a controlled, festive 

context. The two major Satanic holidays are Walpurgisnacht and Halloween. Halloween 

is cherished not for any spiritual or supernatural reasons, but because it aligns with 

satanic values: indulgence, celebration of the carnal, and mockery of societal taboos. 

Where traditional religions fear the symbols of death and darkness, we embrace them. 

Skeletons, bats, devils—these are not signs of evil, but tools of self-expression, satire, 

and defiance. Halloween lets the world briefly share in our aesthetic and ideology, whether 

they realize it or not. It’s critical to emphasize that the Church of Satan is atheistic. We do 

not believe in or worship literal deities, devils, or demons. Halloween is not a night of 

sacrifice or magic spells. It is a night where the world inadvertently celebrates the ideas 

of Satanic freedom: the joy of the flesh, the honesty of the mask, and the celebration of 

the self.”

 

But in the Bible, John shares a different perspective on these worldly values: 

 

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of

the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the 

desires of the eyes and pride of life--is not from the Father but is from the world. And the 

world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides 

forever. [1Jo 2:15-17 ESV]

 

The writings of Peter H. Gilmore agree with those of LaVey. For these authors and those who agree with them, Halloween is an opportunity to mock the God of the Bible and those who follow him. And even though the Church of Satan is atheistic, LaVey said, “I'm glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year.” 

 

Christians must not fall prey to these lies from the enemy. The Bible warns us: 

 

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also 

reap. [Gal 6:7 ESV]”

 

Riaan Swiegelaar shares a darker version of satanism that is most definitely theistic. Swieglaar is a Christian. Before coming to Jesus, he served as a priest in the Church of Satan. In the next article we will consider Swieglaar’s opinion of Halloween.

Halloween - Part 1 - Bible Studies With Mark

 

 

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. [Eph 5:11 ESV]

 

 

And thus begins my annual rant against Halloween. Over the next few days I will be presenting the roots and the nature of Halloween. I will be quoting sources from the Bible, from the Satanic Bible, and from the Satanic Scriptures. I use the references to the satanic sources to illustrate the evil nature of this pagan holiday. You might call it eye-witness testimony regarding the true nature of All Hallows Eve. The TLDR version of my opinion of Halloween is this: Christians should have NOTHING to do with Halloween or Fall Festivals. These are based in pagan practices and do not honor the Lord. Now, if you want to know why I have that opinion, please follow along as I present my arguments over the next few days.

 

Let’s begin with my definition of Halloween. Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that on the night before the new year (October 31), the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred, allowing spirits to return to Earth. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III established November 1 as All Saints' Day, incorporating some Samhain traditions. The evening before became known as All Hallows' Eve, which eventually evolved into Halloween. Some religious historians argue that Pope Gregory III sought to incorporate some of these pagan practices to convert the pagans to the Church, thus causing these practices to be overtaken by Church doctrine and eventually forgotten. The Catholic Church disagrees with this position and argues that Pope Gregory III never adopted any pagan practices for any reason.

 

Now let’s look at some fundamentals of the Christian faith, starting with the verse above, Ephesians 5:11. Christians are told to take no part in the fruit of darkness. Further, the Christian is to expose the works of darkness. But what is darkness? Darkness is living apart from God. It means living life on your terms without regard to God’s law.

 

So, why is Halloween “dark”? To answer this question we need to examine the traditions of Samhain. Some of the traditions of Samhain have spiritual connections:

• Bonfires were lit to ward off evil spirits. 
• People would jump over these fires for good luck. 
• People wore costumes and masks to disguise themselves from malevolent spirits. 
• Samhain was also a time for fortune-telling and other forms of divination, providing insights into the future as the new year approached (acts expressly prohibited in Scripture).

As a Christian, one must understand that 

• the only protection from evil spirits is the blood of Jesus. (Interestingly, the Church of Satan holds the same opinion.),  
• no costume, mask or flame will help you,
• Christians are forbidden from fortune telling and divination. Deuteronomy 18:10 tells us that there shall not be found among the believers anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, and 
• as for good luck, God is sovereign over all (Ephesians 1:11; Psalm 115:3; Isaiah 46:9-10), and thus nothing is merely the matter of chance.

In my opinion, this is enough to settle the matter. But as the commercial says, “Wait…there’s more!” I hope to see you tomorrow.

Revelation 1:9 - 11: In the Spirit - Bible Studies With Mark

 

 

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, "Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea." [Rev 1:9-11 ESV]

Verse 9: John’s Circumstances

John is writing from the island of Patmos, a small, rocky outcropping in the Aegean Sea. In the first century, the Romans utilized Patmos as a penal colony for political prisoners and exiles.

John’s presence there was not accidental; he was in exile, a strategic attempt by Rome to silence his Gospel ministry. Despite his isolation, John begins by establishing a deep sense of peer relationship with his readers. He does not use a title of authority, but instead refers to himself as a brother and partner in the common experience of suffering, trials, and the "patient endurance" required of those following Jesus.

Verse 10: "In the Spirit"

John notes that these events occurred on "the Lord’s Day." While scholars debate the exact timing, there is significant historical evidence that this refers to Sunday. By the time of John’s imprisonment, Sunday had become the standard day for Christian worship for two primary reasons:

• The Resurrection: Jesus rose from the grave on a Sunday.

• Pentecost: The Holy Spirit descended upon the Church on a Sunday.

John describes himself as being "in the Spirit." This suggests a state of deep, focused prayer where the Holy Spirit took sovereign control of his senses. In this state, he heard a voice that he describes with a specific simile: "like a trumpet." This description indicates the voice was not only loud and clear but carried an authoritative weight designed to command immediate attention.

Verse 11: John’s Instructions

The voice shifts John’s role from a passive observer to an active scribe. He is given two direct commands:

• Record: Write exactly what he sees in a book (scroll).

• Distribute: Send the record to seven specific churches.

This was not meant to be a private journal; it was intended for public consumption and wide-scale distribution. The seven churches mentioned formed a natural postal circuit in Asia Minor: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

Summary

John, imprisoned on the island of Patmos, was commanded by a loud, trumpet-like voice to document his visions in a book. He was instructed to send this record to seven specific churches in Asia, serving as a literal report of divine communication.

 

Revelation 1:4 - 8: The Greeting to the Seven Churches

 

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." [Rev 1:4-8 ESV]

Verse 4

Verse four begins the standard first-century letter opening, identifying the sender, the recipients, and a theological summary of why the message is being sent. The verse begins with John defining his audience, the seven churches that are in Asia Minor.

                                                         

Where is Asia Minor?

Asia Minor, also known by the Greek name Anatolia, is the large peninsula that forms the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. Today, it constitutes the majority (about 95%) of the territory of modern-day Turkey. It is a land bridge between Asia and Europe, bounded by several major bodies of water:

• North: The Black Sea.

• South: The Mediterranean Sea.

• West: The Aegean Sea.

• Northwest: The Turkish Straits (the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles), which separate it from mainland Europe (Thrace).

• East: The Armenian Highlands and the mountain ranges that border Iran and Iraq. 

   

  Because of its location at the crossroads of two continents, Asia Minor has been home to many of history's most significant civilizations:

• It was the heartland of the Hittite Empire and later home to the Lydians, Phrygians, and Persians.

• The coastal regions were heavily settled by Greeks (cities like Ephesus and Miletus) before becoming a vital part of the Roman and Byzantine Empires.

• In the New Testament, many of the travels of the Apostle Paul took place here. It is the location of the Seven Churches of Revelation (such as Ephesus, Smyrna, and Sardis) and the region of Galatia.

The Seven Churches

The seven churches are listed in the order a courier would naturally travel along the Roman postal road:

• Ephesus, a major port city and commercial hub.

• Smyrna, a city known for its loyalty to Rome and the "Crown of Smyrna" hill

• Pergamum, the center of the imperial cult (Throne of Satan)

• Thyatira, a center for trade guilds (textiles and dyes)

• Sardis, a city on a high plateau, known for past military glory

• Philadelphia, a city prone to earthquakes; a gateway to the East

• Laodicea, a wealthy banking center known for its lukewarm water supply.
  

 

As we break down the verse we can discern the following:

• “John to the Seven Churches” - This is a direct address to seven literal, historical congregations in the Roman province of Asia.

• The phrase “Him who is and who was and who is to come" is a literal description of God the Father’s eternal nature.

• "The seven spirits" – Scholars hold differing opinions regarding these seven spirits. Some scholars develop complex symbolism to explain this phrase. In the context of the seven churches, the phrase suggests the fullness (seven-fold nature) of the Holy Spirit’s presence active in each of the seven locations. 

   
                    
 
 
 
 

Verses 5–6—The Work of Jesus Christ


John lists literal, historical, and legal facts about Jesus. Jesus is the Faithful Witness, meaning that He told the truth during His earthly ministry. He is the Firstborn of the dead, meaning that He was the first to be resurrected into an immortal body. And He is the Ruler of kings. He holds de-facto authority over earthly governments. The result of these attributes is that Jesus’ blood (His literal sacrifice) resulted in the legal release of believers from sin. Further, this release resulted in believers being reclassified as a "kingdom" and "priests."



Verse 7—The Physical Return


Jesus is coming back to earth. He will physically return. “[I]n the clouds” is a literal description of His mode of travel. “Every eye will see him" tells us that His return is a literal, global event. There is no "hidden" or "spiritual" return here; it is a visible, physical manifestation. "Even those who pierced him" is a specific reference to those involved in the crucifixion, emphasizing the literal, historical continuity of the Person of Jesus.



Verse 8—The Divine Signature


"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'" With this phrase, God "signs" the greeting using the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The plain sense is that He is the beginning and the end of all things, the "Almighty" (παντοκράτωρ), meaning He has absolute, sovereign control over the "things that must soon take place."



Summary

John sends a greeting of grace and peace from the eternal God, the seven spirits, and Jesus Christ, the faithful witness and ruler of the kings of the earth to seven specific churches in Asia Minor. He praises Christ for His sacrificial love and for making believers a kingdom of priests to serve God. The passage moves to the prophetic promise of Christ’s return in the clouds and concludes with the Lord God declaring Himself the Alpha and Omega, the Almighty who is, was, and is to come.