“The Case Against the Jews”

Romans 1:15 CSB

15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

The REASONS he is so eager is in the next three verses:

Romans 1:16 CSB

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:17 CSB

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

Romans 1:18 CSB

18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,

In the remainder of Chapter 1 through Chapter 3:20, Paul is establishing the universal GUILT of humanity—and thus the universal NEED of salvation!

IN OUR previous messages we looked at the “…godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” (perhaps primarily, the Gentiles)!

Because of this, we see the repeated phrase, “…God delivered them over” - (1:24a, 26a, 28b)

Romans 1:24 CSB

24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.

Romans 1:26 CSB

26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.

Romans 1:28 CSB

28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right.

As I have previously stated, “God’s wrath” is in the present tense (NOW), indicative mood (SURE)!

It is something that is being “revealed” continuously—primarily through God giving us over to our worst sinful selves - (1:18-32)!

God’s wrath is ALSO being revealed towards the critical moralizers (2:1-16), who mistakenly believe they are qualified to “judge another”, when they “do the same things.”

There is ONLY ONE who is qualified to judge!

Romans 2:2 CSB

2 Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth.

THIS MORNING, we come to (Romans 2:17-29) exploring the subject:

“The Case Against the Jews!”

READ TEXT - PRAY

I. The POSSESSION of the LAW Does Not Exempt One from Judgment! — (2:17-24)

A. FIVE ADVANTAGES of Being a Jew! - (vv.17-18)

They…(notice the verbs):

1. “…rely on the law” - (v.17b)

2. “…boast in God” - (v.17c)

3. “…know his will” - (v.18a)

4. “…approve the things that are superior” - (v.18b)

5. “…being instructed from the law.” - (v.18c)

With advantages comes responsibilities…

B. FIVE OBLIGATIONS of Being a Jew! - (vv.19-20)

NOTICE that these obligations were self appointed!

(v.19a) - “…you are convinced you are”

1. “…a guide for the blind” - (v.19b)

2. “…a light to those in darkness” - (v.19c)

3. “…and instructor of the ignorant” (ἀφρόνων - ‘foolish’) - (v.20a)

4. “…a teacher of the immature” (νηπίων - ‘infants’) - (v.20b)

5. “…having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law” - (v.20c)

μόρφωσιν - a verbal noun meaning ‘form, appearance, semblance, embodiment’

C. Five TRANSGRESSIONS of the Law! - (vv.21-23)

NOTICE again the five VERBS: teach, preach, say, detest, dishonor!

1. They didn’t TEACH THEMSELVES - (v.21a)

2. STEALING - (v.21b)

3. COMMITTING ADULTERY - (v.22a)

4. ROBBING TEMPLES - (v.22b)

5. BREAKING THE LAW - (v.23)

D. Proof of Guilt FROM the Law! - (v.24)

A quotation of (Isaiah 52:5)!

When the people of God fail to practice what you preach, they become an EXAMPLE (and not in the positive sense)!

1 Corinthians 10:5–6 CSB

5 Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them, since they were struck down in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did.

However, when the people of God get it RIGHT, we become WITNESSES!

(1 Thessalonians 1:2-10)

II. The PRACTICE of CIRCUMCISION Does Not Exempt One from Judgment! — (2:25-29)

A. The RELATION of Circumcision to the Law - (v.25)

1. Observing the Law CONFIRMS circumcision - (v.25a)

2. Breaking the Law REVERSES circumcision - (v.25b)

B. The Relation of UNCIRCUMCISION to the Law - (vv.26-27)

1. An uncircumcised person who “…keeps the laws requirements” will be considered circumcised! - (v.26)

2. An obedient uncircumcised person “…will judge” the person who has “…the letter of the law and circumcision” (a Jew)! - (v.27)

C. True JEWISHNESS and True CIRCUMCISION - (vv.28-29a)

1. They are NOT EXTERNAL — “…visible in the flesh” - (v.28)

2. They ARE INTERNAL — “…of the heart” - (v.29a)

D. The LEGITIMATE Source of Praise - (v.29b)