Privileged People

MAY 3, 2023 STUDY NOTES ROMANS 2:23-29 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES Rom 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? The Israelites were privileged people, they had been given the Law, Rom 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; They were proud people, making their boast of the Law, pride filled them with joyful confidence Bragging about their religious life, claiming to be keepers of the Law, living according to the Law But Paul said, you are breaking the law and you are dishonoring God Which was the history of the nation of Israel, Jer 8:8 How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. Jer 8:9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them? Jeremiah addressed the problem of disobedience in the OT, James addresses it in the NT Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Jas 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: James identifies prideful boasting as an evil practice, Jas 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. The Jews knew what to do according to the Law, but they were breaking the Law In so doing they were dishonoring God, they were a disgrace and degradation unto God Paul is going to back up what he said through scripture, proof from the Bible of what he said Which should always be true of our statements concerning God, the Church, and life Rom 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. To blaspheme the name of God is not limited to using God’s name in cursing words The Jews had blasphemed the name of God through their life of disobedience unto God Paul backed up his preaching with a quote from the O.T., Isa 52:5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. The life the Jews were living before the Gentiles profaned the Holy Name of God, Eze 36:20 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land. Eze 36:21 But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. The Jews dishonored God which resulted in the Gentiles blaspheming God Because of the hypocrisy of the Jews, Gentiles did not respect “the name of God” Gentiles had an honest question, “If Jews don’t live according to the Law, why should we?” An application of today would be a question of those who are lost “If Christians don’t live according to the Bible, why should we?” If people who go to church don’t live any different than I do, why should I go to church? There is an OT example of blaspheming the name of God through a disobedient child of God Nathan confronted David because of his sin against Uriah and his wife Bathsheba 2Sa 12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? Page 1 of 5 thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. 2Sa 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 2Sa 12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die. David, a man after God’s own heart, yet he gave others an opportunity to blaspheme God’s name David confessed his sin, God spared his life, but David suffered from his sin, God chastised him The most difficult people to reach with the gospel are not the wicked living in a known sin The most difficult person to reach is the religious living in their own self righteousness They think that they are right with God because of their religious rituals Paul has shown the Jews that they cannot expect a right relationship with God by the Law The problem was they were law breakers, individually they were law breakers Paul shows them that they cannot trust in the rite of circumcision either for the same reason Jews could not trust in obedience to the Law or in the rite of circumcision to be right with God Rom 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Jews trusted in the rite of circumcision as the means of a special covenant relationship with God Circumcision was a distinguishing sign marking the Jews as God’s covenant people, Gen 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. Circumcision was a symbol of God’s covenant blessings promised to the nation of Israel The Jews misinterpreted the sign, believing it to be the evidence of righteousness before God Believing that circumcision was their guarantee of salvation and an eternal relationship with God Paul said circumcision was profitable if thou keep the Law (meaning to continually keep it) “If,” presents a conditional promise, valid only if they continually lived in obedience to the Law Circumcision would be profitable if they would always faithfully practice the Law Impossible because no Jew could fulfill it, all individual Jews were guilty of breaking the Law Paul said because they were a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision When a Jew did not keep the law, their circumcision became meaningless Circumcision was then no more than an operation of the flesh The Jewish lawbreaker was no different than a Gentile lawbreaker This shocking news to the Jews was Paul’s way of telling the Jews of their need of “Good News” The “Good News” being the Gospel, the coming of the Messiah, the Savior, Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. The only way that sin can be removed from lawbreakers is through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross Paul was telling the Jews that there is no religious rite or ritual that will gain salvation Paul tells us the same thing, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Rom 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? To the Jews the uncircumcised referred to the non-Jews, the Gentiles The Jews did not believe there was any way the Gentiles could be given the rights of a Jew Paul is not indicating that the Gentiles could do something that the Jews could not do The Gentiles were no more capable of keeping the righteousness of the Law than the Jews were But “If” a Gentile fulfilled the Law, his uncircumcision would be counted for circumcision That Law keeping Gentile would be counted as a true member of God’s chosen people, Israel Page 2 of 5 Paul is establishing the truth of, Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. In verse 25 and 26 Paul has presented an impossible “if,” impossible for Jew and Gentile Jesus is the only perfect Law keeper, the only perfect life ever lived on earth, a sinless life Rom 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? The uncircumcision which is by nature is the Gentile, the one physically uncircumcised God had separated the Jews from the Gentiles, Lev 20:24 But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people. God’s purpose for His people was holiness, Lev 20:26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. And that all nations be blessed through obedience to God, Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. The nation of Israel had not obeyed the voice of the Lord, what if the Gentiles obeyed God? How could a Gentile fulfill the Law not even knowing the Law? Paul has answered that question, Rom 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: God has placed within the nature of man the sense of right and wrong, telling us to live right Which then leads people to learn what is right, the Law was the teacher of right to the Jews “If it fulfill,” which means to reach a desired goal and bring it to perfection Another impossibility, but “if,” it could possibly take place, “then” If the Gentile fulfilled the Law, he would be a judge of the Jew who knows the Law by letter Even though you, a Jew, circumcised and having the letter of the Law, transgressed the Law The circumcision that signified a right relationship with God was a pledge of obedience to God When a Jew transgressed the Law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision (verse 25) If the Gentile fulfill the Law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision (vs 26) Jewish tradition was that the righteous Jews would sit in judgment over the unrighteous Gentiles Paul is pointing out the same truth concerning judgment that Jesus did, Mat 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. Mat 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: “For he is not a Jew,” refers to God’s purpose of relationship with the Jews, His chosen people God’s choice is not an external earthly relationship, but an eternal spiritual relationship Not all who are called Jews are true Jews Paul said, you are not a Jew just because you were physically born of Jewish parents Paul said, you are not a Jew because you have experienced physical circumcision They are not true Jews simply because they possess the law Paul explains outward in the flesh as uncircumcised lips, Exo 6:12 And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? And as an uncircumcised ear, Jer 6:10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it. Page 3 of 5 And as an uncircumcised heart, Lev 26:41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. “But,” Paul has an answer to the previous verse and the question of who is a true Jew? The Jews had been taught the need of a circumcised heart, it was an OT truth, Deu 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked. Stephen told the Jews they had a heart problem because of a stiff neck, Act 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. (They were pleased with their self-righteous attitude and resisted the Holy Spirit) A circumcised heart referred to a spiritual relationship with God, Deu 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. A true relationship with God requires a circumcised heart, Jer 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. The circumcised heart is the one God looks upon, 1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. “In the spirit” describes the circumcision of the heart that Paul speaks of Which is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit when the heart opens by faith to receive Jesus It is an internal transformation, a new heart, which is the result of regeneration, a new birth A spiritual birth which Jesus said was a must, Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Without the spiritual birth there will be no relationship with the Kingdom of God Which is why Jesus said, Joh 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. Jews marveled, they were astonished at what Paul was telling them concerning circumcision Paul was telling them the truth about their relationship with God The true Jew was one physically born of Abraham’s seed, a Jew by race But a true Jew must be one born again, one spiritually born, a Jew by grace Which Jesus taught in, Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Paul explained that righteousness was not obtained by the Law but by faith, Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, Relationship with God is impossible to obtain in the letter of the Law, by keeping the Law The evidence of a right relationship with God is not the praise of men The desire for “praise” coming from man has always been a problem even Christians face Jesus was speaking to Jews when He said, Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Yet it is a problem which applies to all people, Joh 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Page 4 of 5 The praise of God identifies the fulfillment of God’s prophetic promise, Eze 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: Eze 11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. All of God’s prophetic promises are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ CONCLUSION We can apply Paul’s teaching to today by changing from circumcision to many other things What Paul is teaching applies to baptism, church membership, religious belief, owning a Bible The prayers of a Godly mother and being raised in a Christian home can also be applied All of which come to the same conclusion concerning salvation as that of circumcision for Jews Salvation is never by obedience to an outward religious ordinance or an observance of a ritual There is only one way of salvation for Jews and Gentiles Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Page 5 of 5