2022 1023 Romans 2 vv17 to 28

Chapter 2 so far

Romans 2:7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

PROMISE OF GOOD AND EVIL

Romans 2:8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

BETTER LAW

Romans 2:13 NIV

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.

written by God through the Holy Spirit in the grace of Jesus Christ

this is eternal life - living by the law of Jesus on our hearts

Romans 2:17 NIV

Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;

CHOSEN BY GOD

PAul continues with his discourse

the law has been examined - the measure for Jews to live by

there is a boasting of being in God

a boast of being his chosen people

there is now a danger of relying on the law but not God

Romans 2:18–20 NIV

if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

DANGER OF PRIVILEGE

here is a list of privilege thinking

superior

instructor, teacher and guide

all knowledge and truth is your domain

the law embodies all of this

the law is everything

Romans 2:21–22 NIV

you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

UNRIGHTEOUS LIFE

verses 21 and 22 highlights the law and its disobedience

speak the law yet act in sin

steal , commit adultery, follow idols

Paul is highlighting the hypocrisy of so called believers

this is a warning for today for us Christians

Romans 2:29 NIV

No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

TRUE JEW

God’s chosen people have an internal identity

physical signs are immaterial

circumcision was a mark for the Jews - a sign of pride

true person of God is an obedient person

obey can only come from a new heart and new spirit - Ezekiel 36

Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

HOLY SPIRIT

we keep his laws solely through the grace of Jesus Christ and his mercy of eternal life

circumcision of the heart refers to the removal of the old nature

the necessity of a change of heart is reinforced by Paul

addressing the Jews but this applies to all

we need to have a new heart

the law cannot do it with all those regulations

it is not by man’s effort that we become righteous

it is by the Spirit alone