Romans Bible Study 2:17-29

Salvation or the Law?

Romans 2:17–29

The Jews were very strict in keeping their ceremonial laws. They had a form of religion but lacked faith in God. They were faithful to their teachings but were not forgiven of their sins. They were religious but lost.

A. Spiritual Pride—vv. 17–20

Romans 2:17–20 “Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.”

1. Pride—vv. 17–18. Because God gave them the law (the Ten Commandments and other Laws), the Jews thought they were righteous. Cf. Rom. 3:23.

2. Practice—v. 19. They thought they had the truth and could teach others. They rejected Christ, who was the truth—John 14:6; 16:13. How could they guide others into truth they didn’t have?

3. Plan—v. 20. How could they teach others when they themselves were in darkness? Jesus spoke of the blind leading the blind—Matt. 15:14. An unconverted religious leader cannot lead others to righteous living.

B. Spiritual Practice—vv. 21–24

Romans 2:21–24 “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.”

If you teach others, do you practice what you teach? Paul warns of people having a form of godliness, but no power or reality of the gospel—2 Tim. 3:1–5.

1. The practice—vv. 21–22. “Yes, you teach others—then why don’t you teach yourselves? You tell others not to steal—do you steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery—do you do it? You say, ‘Don’t pray to idols,’ and then make money your god instead”—LB. They said they knew God, but their works denied it—Titus 1:16.

2. The problem—v. 23. They knew the Old Testament teachings, but they didn’t obey them. See also Matt. 7:21–23; Rev. 3:17–18.

3. The pity—v. 24. Because of the poor example of professed Christians, the name of Christ is often treated with disrespect—Luke 6:46; John 14:15.

C. Spiritual Purity—vv. 25–29

Romans 2:25–29 “For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 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? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 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.”

1. Religious or righteous?—vv. 25–26. Practicing a religious act will not make us right with God. The rich ruler obeyed laws but was not a Christian—Mark 10:17–22.

2. Sacrilegious or sacred—vv. 27–28. Jewish laws did not measure up to God’s laws. Note Eph. 2:8–9. It is not what we do but what Christ has done for us that atones for our sins.

3. Historical or holy—v. 29. God is not looking for a historical religion, but for holy (set apart) people who love and serve Him. See Heb. 12:14. Only the pure in heart will see God—Matt. 5:8. We must be born again—John 3:18.

There are many religious people who will not go to heaven. Only Christ through the new birth can make us righteous—John 3:1–8; 2 Cor. 5:17. His blood will cleanse us from all sin—1 John 1:7. He will forgive all sins—Ps. 103:3. If we confess our sins, He will forgive—1 John 1:9. We will be assured of eternal life. The Jewish law couldn’t promise this.