Q.  I am confused by Paul’s writings in Romans. How can one reconcile the following verses:  “For not the hearers of the law [are] just before Yahweh, but the doers of the law shall be justified” (Rom. 2:13). Compare that with:
            “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall be no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. (Rom. 3:20) “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Rom. 3:28)

A.  The Apostle Paul was a deep thinker and unless we follow his train of thought, we can become confused.  The word “justified” can be considered to mean “just as if we had never sinned.”  (The word “sanctified” means “set apart for a holy purpose.”)  Paul says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of Yahweh,”  Romans 3:23.  He then says, “The wages of sin is death,” Romans 6:23.
            Paul addresses justification as it pertains to carnal mankind.  He also refers that term to those who have seen the error of their ways and become baptized into Yahshua’s Name.  These two situations must be dealt with separately, one applying to the unconverted individual, the other to one who has accepted Yahshua as his personal Savior.
            The only way we can stand before Yahweh as if we had never sinned is to accept His Son’s sacrifice through baptism when all previous sins are washed away.  Yahweh has set forth His Son Yahshua to be “a propitiation [appeasement, reconciliation, expiation of sin, offering of atonement] through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins THAT ARE PAST, through the forbearance of Yahweh” (Rom. 3:25).
            When we realize that we have sinned we are to “repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua the Messiah for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
            From baptism onward we obey Him because we are given the power of the Holy Spirit to keep His law.  This is where Romans 2:13 fits in as we now become “doers of the law.”  We daily seek to obey Him, asking forgiveness when falling short of complete obedience, trusting in the shed blood of Messiah to cover our sins.
            Any attempt of man to keep Yahweh’s law aside from faith in Yahshua’s atoning work falls short, because no human can keep Yahweh’s law perfectly, only Yahshua did.  Noble people like Mahatma Gandhi, trying their best to live a moral, righteous life falls short without Yahshua:  “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight,”  (Rom. 3:20).  All the good things man does outside the Messiah are of no avail.
            We are justified because of our faith and belief in Yahshua the Messiah without the deeds of the law, Roman 3:28.  Following baptism and becoming a part of His body, we strive to be free from sin, living a life of obedience.  We are then obligated to keep the law to be a witness to the world – an example of righteous living befitting a True Worshiper.  After we come to a deeper understanding of His Word and are baptized into Yahshua’s Name, if we sin willfully we are essentially walking all over the precious blood of our Savior.
            “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of Yahweh, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  For we know him that has said, Vengeance belongs unto me, I will recompense, says Yahweh.  And again, Yahweh shall judge his people.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Yahweh.”  (Heb. 10:26-31)
            In summary, Paul reveals that trying to be approved or justified by our own works is impossible.  Only Yahshua is qualified to receive the promises made to
Abraham:
            “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.  He said not, and to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your seed, which is Messiah.” (Gal. 3:16) Once we have realized that we have indeed sinned against Yahweh’s holy law, then we are to repent and change from our past life to become followers of the Messiah.
            Baptism washes away the sins of the past. Now we are to live a clean and righteous life, pleasing to our Heavenly Father, seeking daily to overcome. This is possible through faith in Yahshua.  “The doers of the law shall be justified,” Romans 2:13.
            The Apostle Peter demands that we live sin-free lives: “But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation [living, behavior, every department of your lives] because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy.” (1Pet. 1:15-16)
            Paul also wrote to the young Timothy, “Yahweh knows those who are His.  Everyone who confesses the name of [the Messiah] must turn away from wickedness,” 2 Timothy 2:19, NIV.
            This is not salvation through works, but salvation through obedience to Yahweh’s law.  Yahweh won’t redeem a rebellious, unrepentant evildoer, but is the “Author of salvation unto all who obey Him,” Hebrews 5:9.