Romans 2:12-29

Intro:

Recap: 6 - 11 CHIASM

EMPHASIZING:

We will reap what we sow:

Farmers…

God has no favourites

So Repent vs. 4 God’s kindness lead to repentance

WHAT KEEPS US FROM REPENTANCE: Hard hearts (vs. 5)

Romans 2:12–16 ESV

12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 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. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

1.All of us will be judged by our actions!

Wihtout the Law

With the Law

Way of freedom: Perfect Obedience (vs. 13 - doers of the law)

How do gentiles obey? Law on their hearts… (unbelievers doing good deeds)

On the day of judgement God will judge all our secrets!!

everything will be known and judged

Why we need Jesus - save us from the judgement we deserve…

ILL: Laser Mase @ the Factory

catches all mistakes

not human, you cannot trick him

you cannot decieve him

2. We’re all natural hypocritical and self-righteous

Romans 2:17-23

Romans 2:17–23 ESV

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.

Look at all the good things they do:

rely on the law

know God’s will

instructed from the law

guide to the blind

light to those in darkness

instructor of the foolish

a teacher of children

embodiment of knowledge and truth

teach others

Surely their in! Surely they belong to the kingdom!

See their hypocricy:

preach against stealing while stealing

say don’t commit adultery while comitting adultery

abhor idols while taking them home

boast in the law while breaking it!

ILL: Like sending the canadian mens basketball team to play soccer....eventually we figure it out.

deceive us

deceive themselves

never decieve God.

Eventually they’re found out

What might our hypocricies be?

Call ourselves a christian while living like the world

Say we should love others while trated people rudely

Beleive we need God and yet neglect him entirely

So what hope can we have if we are so far from who we should be?

3. True Beleivers have a new heart!

Romans 2:24–29 ESV

24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

They’re dihonoring God because of their hypocricy (vs. 24)

circumcision only has value if you obey the whole law! )vs. 25)

vs. 26 what really matters is keeping the law.

So the law keeper will condemn the circumcised!

vs. 28 the grounds! The REASON

The True JEW is the one with a new heart!

“circumcision is a matter of the heart by the Spirit, not by the letter.”

BY THE SPIRIT _ Means…

Man may not honor that person, but God will! - Jews living for the approval of man!

Who are you living to please? Man or God?

How do we please God?

Relentlessly pursue Christ! Ask for him to give you a new heart!

Faith and Repentance

repent of our hypocricy

trust in Christ’s work!

So what do you say about yourself?

If God oppened up your secrets would what you say and what you do line up?

Let’s pursue Christ and live consistently with what we believe through the power of the Spirit.

FUNCTIONAL THEOLOGY VS. Confessional Theology (conviction)