We Must Be Real

Let us go to the Lord in Prayer

BACKGROUND

The first century was not much different from today when it came to the faithful practices of God’s people.

As we had discussed the Jews considered themselves a special people that were due privilege because of their heritage and they were the keepers of God’s Law.

They view the Law as the greatest gift God had given. This meant it was revered and highly praised by all the Jews.

The issue Paul is addressing is the inconsistencies between what the Jews said and how they actually lived.

Stand wit me out of respect for God’s Word.

(CSB)

JEWISH VIOLATION OF THE LAW

17 Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law—21 you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.,

CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART

25 Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter., That person’s praise is not from people but from God.

17 Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law—21 you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.,

17 Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law— 21 you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.

18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law,

19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness,

20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law—

21 you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal?

22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob their temples?

23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.

25 Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God.

The Jew

26 So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?

27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision.

Reliance on the law for deliverance unto salvation

They considered themselves to have special revelation into the superior ways of God.

28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh.

29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God.

This allow they felt they are the teachers of the world

They were in the light while all others remained in darkness

The Problem

The Jew was quick to declare what was wrong with all Gentiles.

Paul asked a series of questions to bring focus to the root of the problem

You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal?

You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery?

You who detest idols, do you rob their temples?

You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

Paul points out that God is cursed because of the way the Jew live their lives.

Romans: An Introduction and Commentary 1. Privilege Brings Responsibility (2:17–29)

What Paul has in mind is difficult to say: perhaps he refers to some scandalous incident like that of AD 19 recorded by Josephus (Antiquities 18.81–84), when four Jews of Rome, led by one who professed to teach the Jewish faith to interested Gentiles, persuaded a noble Roman lady, a convert to Judaism, to make a munificent contribution to the temple at Jerusalem, but appropriated it for their own uses. When the matter came to light, the Emperor Tiberius expelled all resident Jews from Rome (see p. 22). An incident like this brought the honoured name of ‘Jew’ into disrepute among the Gentiles.

Paul clarifies his point by discussing circumcision.

Genesis 17:9–14 CSB

God also said to Abraham, “As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep my covenant. This is my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you, which you are to keep: Every one of your males must be circumcised. You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskin to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and you. Throughout your generations, every male among you is to be circumcised at eight days old—every male born in your household or purchased from any foreigner and not your offspring. Whether born in your household or purchased, he must be circumcised. My covenant will be marked in your flesh as a permanent covenant. If any male is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that man will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”

It was unthinkable that a circumcised man could fall from salvation.

The point that was missed by most Jews was circumcision was an outward mark of what had happened with the heart of the man. It is much more important what was going on inside the man than whether or not he carried the mark of the covenant.

Paul viewed circumcision as having value only if that man was a faithful keeper of the law. The covenant between Israel and God was for them to follow His instructions (the Law). Apart from the covenant circumcision has no value.

Just as an circumcised man who fails to keep the law is a law breaker. An uncircumcised man who keeps the law is credited as being circumcised.

Paul explains in the Christians are circumcised inwardly by faith in Christ.

(CSB)

11 You were also circumcised in him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of Christ,

Circumcision that can be boasted by people is not the point. We are to seek the praise of the Father. For the Father is interested in our relationship with Him. He is the only one who can truly see what is going on in the heart of the person. There is no fooling God.

The Christian

We need to learn from the Jews

We need to be an authentic Christian. That is someone who is consistent in what they say and what they do. These together indicate what has happened or not happened in our inner self.

It is extremely important that we are who we say we are.

When we say we are Christians and then do unchristian things we not only destroy our own witness, but we also cause others to curse God because they see Him as fake as we are.

This means we need to live a real life that is the same inside and out. When we do this we show others who we really are. Otherwise we are just actors trying to convince others that we are something other than who we say we are.

At some point the truth will come out and we will be revealed for who we truly are.

It is extremely important we never loose sight of this. We need to be approaching our faith humbly, ready to examining ourselves confessing and repenting our sins to God daily. It is through this lowly manner we can grow in our faith, finding the strength through the Holy Spirit with become more and more like Christ as we walk through this life.

Invitation

Everyone of us needs Christ’s gift of love and mercy to deliver us from our sin.

Serving Him faithfully requires that we remain humble, remembering that we are sinners save by His grace and not anything that we have done. We have no reason to boast other than in Christ Jesus.

We know Jesus cam to earth to live a perfect life, just so He could give His life as a payment for our sins.

As we sing our song of invitation, we invite you to respond to God;s calling on your heart.

This maybe a call to accept the gift of Jesus Christ for the very first time.

It could be a call to confess and repent fr something that is going on in your life as a believer and you would like someone to pray with you.

It could also be the Holy Spirit calling you to unite here at Hickory Point to serve Christ in this local body.

Whatever the calling might be please come down as we sing.