The truth about Romans 2:13 - "For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous."

When a text is taken out of context, it becomes a con. See the above Romans 2:13 in its context by reading the verses before and after it. Paul wrote it to Jews who thought they had an edge over Gentiles in the matter of salvation because it was to them that the Law was given. The key point:

The Jews were hearers of the Law and of the circumcision. The Gentiles were not. Some Jews thought that they were in a special boat of righteousness because they were of the circumcision (Romans 2:17–28) and because the Law was given to them and not to the Gentiles who were neither circumcised nor hearing the Law, hence Paul’s statement in Romans 2:13-

9 "There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 11 "For God does not show favoritism.12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous."

See The Passion Translation: "9 Anyone who does evil can expect tribulation and distress—to the Jew first and also to the non-Jew. 10 But when we do what pleases God, we can expect unfading glory, true honor, and a continual peace—to the Jew first and also to the non-Jew, 11 for God sees us all without partiality. 12 When people who have never been exposed to the laws of Moses commit sin, they will still perish for what they do. And those who are under the law of Moses and fail to obey it are condemned by the law. 13 For it’s not merely knowing the law that makes you right with God, but doing all that the law says that will cause God to pronounce you innocent.."

It is perfect obedience to the Law that counts, not just hearing it. 

Those Jews who thought they had an upper hand over the Gentiles because the Law was given to them and because they were hearers forgot one clause that applies to all who are trying to obey the law to get right with God, just as many who are struggling to keep the law also forget today: you have to keep ALL of the Law in order to be righteous and escape the curse. We see this clause in Deuteronomy 28:15 -

“But it shall come about, if you do not obey the Lord your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:”

This is followed by a host of curses. Did you notice the condition? Those who are under law have to keep ALL of the law in order to be righteous and escape the curse. And God’s word, written by the same Paul in the very next chapter after Romans 2:13 says no one can:

“For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." Romans 3:20.

This is the point that Paul was making: it is those who obey the law that will be declared righteous, but none of us can ever be made righteous by obeying the law so whether Jew or Gentile, we all need God’s saving Grace.

The Law is a whole. Jesus did not die to redeem us from just some parts of the curse of the Law. His death covers redemption from slavery to the entire Law.

Paul did not write Romans 2:13 to get people to try to obey the law in order to be righteous. This is an effort in futility. The same Paul wrote in the very next chapter (3):

"26...for He himself is fair and just, and He makes sinners right in His sight when they believe in Jesus. 27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law."

Was the Holy Spirit confused when He gave Paul this truth? Certainly not! Paul wrote Romans 2:13 to show the Jews who thought their circumcision, the fact that they were hearers of the law and who were trying to obey the law in order to be declared righteous the futility of their efforts.

James 2:10 buttresses this point: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.”

This means that the one who thinks that his law-keeping counts for something before God and does his best to obey the law in order to be righteous but slips up just one time is as guilty as the vilest offender in the universe. This des not seem fair...until we realise that the reason why we are not committing particular sins is because God did not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. See this in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13, written by the same Paul:

12"So beware if you think it could never happen to you, lest your pride becomes your downfall. 13 We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face ao that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust Him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously."

The potential to commit heinous crimes is in everybody. God sees this potential and how favourable circumstances can make some people think that some sins are beneath them,that they can keep even a jot of the Law by their own will-power aka arm of flesh and pridefully think that some sins can never happen to them. Their pride becomes their downfall according to 1 Cor. 10:12 above.

Sin has degrees of greatness, but under law, there is no difference between the thief and the murderous serial killer in terms of right-standing with God. All have sinned. There is no human on earth who is sinless. But for God's grace, we were all destined for the curse and hell, no matter how well we obeyed the law. The letter (law) kills but the Spirit gives life. And with the Spirit of the Lord, it is neither by might nor by power.

You have to obey all the Law in order to be declared righteous and escape the curse. No one can. Not even you, Ted Jones. To boast that one can, by himself, keep even a jot of the law by his own power is the height of pride and foolishness. God's word says man cannot (Romans 7:18.) But like Peter who thought Christ was wrong when He told him of his then upcoming denials, many still trust in their arm of flesh (will-power) to stand should Satan come to sift them like wheat. The arm of flesh will fail.

Romans 2:13 is usually taken out of context by antichrist preachers who try to remove the finished work of Christ in making the sinner who believes godly/righteous in God's sight and replace same with human striving at attaining godliness (being like God) aka law-keeping. This is the same strategy that Satan the chief demon used to deceive Eve when he told her that she could be godly (be like God) if she did something by her own power- this after God already made her in His likeness- Genesis 1:27-

“So God created human beings in his own likeness. He created them to be like himself. He created them as male and female.”

Adam and were already like God, as are all who believe in Jesus Christ who suffered and died to make us godly. See Isaiah 53:11 where Isaiah prophesied of Christ's suffering for us and the result of His suffering-

"After He has suffered, He will see the light of life. And He will be satisfied. My godly servant will make many people godly because of what He will accomplish. He will be punished for their sins."

Also see Romans 5:9 written by the same Paul: "And there is still much more to say of His unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in My sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God."

But Satan and his "men of God" agents behind some pulpits try to get churchgoers scrambling to attain the same righteousness/godliness that Christ died that we might have through human striving- same thing he did with Eve in Eden. Such try to twist God's word to deceive churchgoers and prevent the flock from knowing God's Grace- Christ Himself. Beloved of God, Grace is a Person. His name is Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11 says of Him:

"God’s marvelous grace has manifested in person, bringing salvation for everyone."

Verse 14 of the same Titus 2 says: "He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds."

You know how to get cut off from Jesus Christ the Tree of Life who saves from sin and death? See this in Galatians 5:4-

"For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the Law you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's Grace." Galatians 5:4.

This is smack where Satan wants everyone to be - trying to get right with God and be godly (be like God) through human striving just as Eve was deceived into doing. The end is sin and death reigning over doers of the Law. Little wonder Satan and his seemingly godly agents try to twist verses like Romans 2:13 and "Be doers of the word..." out of context to cause churchgoers to do the very thing that cuts one off from Christ and gives sin dominion in their lives-

"For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under Law but under Grace." Romans 6:14.

The word that we are to be doers of is not the Ten Commandments which kills and can never make anyone right with God. The word we are to be doers of is the word of Faith which says in Romans 3 - 

"26...for He himself is fair and just, and He makes sinners right in His sight when they believe in Jesus. 27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law."

When your believing is right, right living will follow. 

By Grace, let's not be party to Satan's deceit. Try to keep the law to get right with God and sin will multiply. Death is the result. Only by receiving God's abundance of Grace and His gift of righteousness to us in Christ do we get to live in triumph over sin and death- Romans 5:16-17-

"And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ."

Antichrist pastors twist Scripture for nefarious purposes, lie that there are no works under Grace and that God's abundance of Grace and His gift of righteousness will make believers go on sinning sprees. But God's word says differently- His word says this is the Way to reign over sin and death! His word says this is how we get to produce good works for God (Titus 2:14.)

Antichrist pastors preach dependence on the arm of flesh that will fail (human effort/will-power at keeping the Law) as the means to transform the flock to right living and lead the flock to distrust the power of the Holy Spirit to transform even the vilest offender who believes to right living (2 Cor. 3:18.) By Grace, let's not be found helping Satan to propagate this seemingly godly but antichrist doctrine that was used to deceive Eve in Eden.

This is the message of the cross: Righteousness by faith. It seems foolish to those who, like the unbelieving Pharisees, think they can be declared righteous by keeping the Law-

"For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18.

Christ saves from sin and death. But many pridefully want to take some credit for their salvation with their futile attempts at notching up points of righteousness by human effort. Such are cut off from Christ because of their futile attempts at trying to right themselves with God through the Law (Galatians 5:4.) Believer, let's not be found here.

Under Grace, there is only the obedience of faith - believing that we are made righteous in the sight of God through the blood of Jesus alone and that there is nothing we can do to be righteous by our own human effort aka arm of flesh - this is how to "humble yourself under the mighty hand of God." 

Then He will exalt you in due time and you will do exploits, yet us but Christ in us. 

Right believing always produces right living.