True Believers
Notes
Transcript
Subtitle: Judgment, Hypocrisy, Authenticity, Oh my!
ILLUST: Label on a can; laws state that the label must accurately describe contents; would be confused to open a can labeled corn to find out it is peas
People wear labels on the outside - do the labels match the inside?
Believers ought to be the most transparent people in the world
The Right Standing Before God
The Right Standing Before God
Judgment
Judgment
A conversation about judgment
Three Principles of Judgment Discussed here
Based on truth - reality, facts
Here, being true to self - you KNOW who you are, what you are
Just as God does
Many think of Matthew 7:1
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
Proper context is that you judge yourself prior to judging others
Also - “Judge” is not condemnation or looking down on
It is “Evaluation”
Matthew 7:1 - evaluate your life, decision, thoughts, actions FIRST
Then evaluate others
Back to Romans - Honestly evaluate self, then deal with others
2. Profession does not mean Production
One professed to be a Jew, and lived like a Gentile
They remained indifferent to those “beneath them”
Proud to be Jewish, never inviting others in
One can profess to be a Christian and not be
Talk is cheap - to put it less eloquently
And there is false security in professing belief
Because God is slow to anger, patient (not tolerant)
“Merely religious” is dangerous
3. God’s judgment is Impartial
Jews, Gentiles - all need faith
The Gentile perishes - because he sins (needs to be saved by faith)
The Jew perishes - because he expects his works to be salvation
All are judged by God based on whether they keep the commandment to trust in Him by faith
Paul, like God, basically condemns pretenders…
Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is nothing better than skin-deep holiness.
John Blanchard
Paul addresses the over-confident, the “guides to the blind”
Jesus scolded the religious leaders for their hypocrisy
Paul addresses those who are to be guides, who consider themselves to be guides
Guides to the blind - people who need to see the light
So (v. 21) - why do you not see, yourself?
You teach one thing, and do another
You preach something, and do something else
You boast in the law, the great law, yet you dishonor God in your breaking it
YOU BLASPHEME GOD’S NAME BY YOUR VERY ACTIONS, YOUR VERY LIFE
Not exactly “nice” - huh?
Then Paul slides into what is his, no, God’s demand
Authenticity
Authenticity
You can look the part, sure
(Really addressing the Jews at this point)
Also addressing people who think and say they follow God, who really are not)
Circumcision here
You can be circumcised (God knows, it’s personal)
And not live the faithful life
You can be uncircumcised (also personal)
And live faithfully
Even the non-believer can do some right things, because he is made in the image of God (His image DOES have impact)
So…you who know God, and say you trust in Him
Do you really?
Because it sure doesn’t look like it…
Paul is saying - there is no power in the Law
You can force people to do things, and it will not make them Godly
You can pass a law to make people behave, and their hearts will be just as dark
And…Paul is saying - if you are counting on your outward appearance and your superficial works to save you -
People will think you are wonderful - praising you
And God will not be joining them…
Gentiles, learn from the mistakes of the Jews
Jews, learn from the mistakes of Israel and Judah (as he quotes Isaiah and Ezekiel in vers 24)
And CHURCH - Learn from both
For US
Two types of people in the world, right?
Circumcised and not - NO
Baptized and not - NOPE
Saved and lost - YES!
Think of this:
Circumcision to them is like baptism to many today
Circumcision didn’t save you
Baptism doesn’t either
To the so-called Jew - “Tell me about your faith”
“Well, I know the Law, and do my best”
To the so-called Christian - “Tell me about your faith”
“Well, I was baptized __________”
Both are just as lost
Because the Law was to point to Christ - looking ahead
Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
And baptism also points to Christ - looking back to when you trusted Him, and also looking forward to the life you live for Him - surrendered
By itself, the Law is a work
By itself, baptism is a work
In both, faith leads to the outward expression of that faith
Authentically
AUTHENTIC FAITH: Real, genuine, not imitation
Jews - faith was shown in their works
NT believers - same
Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Our faith is to be ACTIVE
So if there are no works generated by your faith
If there is no spiritual fruit
Then that faith is dead - not doing any work for the Kingdom
Your faith saves you
The outward expressions of that faith - leads others to Him
That genuineness, that authenticity, is truly what others desire - and not often seen
Young people today, they want relationship and authenticity
Works vs faith -
Paul says - those who will be declared righteous are the doers (the “do-ing” follows the being declared righteous)
The “doing” is not what saves
But faith results in doing
ASIDE: So…what if there is no fruit, no genuine works? That’s between the person and God
Go back to the beginning of this chapter
If you are going to judge/evaluate such a person
Start with yourself - evaluate Biblically
Then seek out others to lead - evaluating Biblically
A word on hypocrisy
Deep down, we all are hypocrites to some degree
Biggest complaint I hear - too many hypocrites in the church
“Then come show us how it’s done”
What Paul is talking about is characterization - you know your heart, God does, too!
A word on “religion”
“Religion” is simply works designed to earn favor with God
Being “good enough” to earn Heaven
Satan LOVES religion
Satan - “Keep working, doing good, you’re getting closer”
“People love you, don’t change a thing, just keep following your heart”
CONCLUSION:
The goal is authentic faith - Biblical Christianity, not merely religion
A Jew transformed by the Spirit - would be living up to that Name he bears - “Jew” comes from “Judah” which means “Praise”
A Christian transformed by the Spirit - would be living up to that Name he bears - “Christian” means “Little Christ”
“Little Christs” was a slur, meant by the world to be derogatory
LAST QUESTIONS:
Who do we guide?
There are so many around us who are blind to the truth
How are you guiding them to the truth?
You wear the label “Christian”
If someone could see inside, would it match
Transparency, authenticity
And what do people think of God when they meet you?
Believers ought to be the most transparent people in the world
God knows, and sees, your heart, your true self
Judge yourself, then reach others
Be characterized by your faith
Be real with God, others, and yourself
If that true self is genuine, authentic, surrendered, Biblical faith
Then let others see it, too
