Why Religion doesn't save us

Overview

Intro: 1:1-17

Sin: 1:18-3:20

Salvation 3:21-5:21

Sanctification: 6:1-8:39

Service: 12:1-15:13

Conclusion: 15:13-16:27

In the first major section of Romans (1:18-3:20), Paul makes the convincing case that everyone has sinned, and therefore needs forgiveness and salvation from God. Paul identified 3 categories of people who have sinned:

3 Categories of people who sin

The Rebellious (1:18-32) Godlessness & Wickedness

These are the people who rebel against God outwardly, they reject God, they repress the truth, they reject the truth, they replace the truth. Intellectually they rebel against God and we saw how morally they rebel against God to do their own thing in sexual immorality and perversions.

Paul says they were guilty of two kinds of sins: godlessness which is living as though God doesn't exist and wickedness which means living without rules.

The Respectable (2:1-16) Those that Feel Ok about themselves & are often quick to judge others.

This is the guy who says, "I'm a decent citizen. I'm law abiding. I'm better that those so-and-sos in chapter 1. I'm no pervert!" They feel superior. They're quick to judge people whose sins are more open and gross. We looked at that person and looked at four characteristics of the self righteous person.

The Religious (2:17-29) Not just a moral person, but are religious

He uses the Jews as the example because that's what Paul was. He says that these are the people who are trusting religion to save them.

This is the hardest group to reach with the gospel -- the religious person. Often the rebellious person gets to the end of their rope, their life is falling apart, they're an alcoholic, everything has gone wrong and they're quick to admit their need. The guy on skid row is pretty quick to admit "I have made a mess of my life!" They are often the easiest people to reach.

A little more difficult are the respectable people in the next chapter. They're the people who'll say, "I'm a good moral person so I don't need Christ. I'm better than so and so." They are a little bit harder to reach. They say they keep the Ten Commandments. [Ask them to name the Ten Commandments. Ninety‑ five percent of the people in America can't even name the Ten Commandments, let alone keep them.]

But by far the religious person is the hardest person to reach with the gospel. He is trying to work his way to heaven and he's trusting his religion to save him. Paul points out that you can be religious and lost. You can be a church member and still be headed for damnation.

Definition of Religion: Man's best attempt to get to God

Paul uses the Jewish religion as an example because that’s what he was, but the principles apply to anyone trusting any religion to get them to heaven.

Paul says we need a relationship with Jesus.

Eight Characteristics of the Religious Person (2:17-29)

Romans 2:17–29 NLT

17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth. 21 Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.” 25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it. 28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

(vs. 17a) The depend on a label

Romans 2:17 NLT

17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him.

He’s talking about pride of tradition. The Jews thought that their heritage got them a special pass to heaven. If you asked one of them, are you right with God, they would say yes.

Today, I ask people if they are ok with God and they say yes, I go to church.

We say that America is a Christian Nation, and it was founded by Christians on Christian principles, but that doesn’t mean that every American will go to heaven.

(vs. 17b) They rely on rules & regulations

Romans 2:17b NLT

17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him.

Paul is talking about the first 5 books of the OT. Pentateuch. Gen, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. The Jews called these books the Torah… still do.

Fact. The Law has never saved anyone. Paul taught in Galatians that is not the purpose of the Law. The Jews felt that since the Law was given to them, that made the Good with God and they possessed instant salvation.

John 5:39–40 NLT

39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

Jesus was saying that you think you are going to heaven because you have the Bible but that’s not the case. The Bible points to the Savior - Jesus.

Today, people will tell me, I believe in God… I have a Bible… right over here… I like the KJV

You have to read a Bible for it to do any good in your life.

(vs. 17c) They think they have special status with God

Romans 2:17 NLT

17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him.

Some of the most prideful people in the world are Religious people. They feel like they are somewhat deserving of their special relationship with God. Many people feel this way about their denomination or affiliations.

Jesus taught that religion would never get anyone to heaven. When God decided to announce the birth of His son, who did he go to? a 13 year old girl, a group of shepherds… He didn’t go to the high priest. When he went to get the message out, he raised up John the Baptist.

God treats everyone the same.

(vs. 18a) They claim to have a pipeline to God

Romans 2:18 NLT

18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.

They believe that they know what God wants. They believe they know God’s will for you and for me...

It’s not enough to know God’s will, we have to DO God’s will.

Philippians 1:10 NLT

10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.

God wants us to understand his will for our lives so WE can live pur lives before him.

(vs. 18b) They maintain a high moral standard

This is a good thing unless you believe that it’s what gets you to heaven. You and I ought to maintain a high moral standard, as strong code of ethics and approve what is superior. We should have a high standard of integrity. But high values and moral integrity will not get us to heaven.

The Jews thought they were superior because of their high moral standard. They had been hearing the Law all their lives and they were moral people. Many Jews had memorized all of the first 5 books of the Law - Torah.

Romans 2:18 NLT

18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.

Romans 2:19 NLT

19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness.

Religious people are not a light for the blind of for those lost in darkness, but they think they are. They treat everyone like they are blind and lost.

(vs. 19-20) They have a condescending attitude toward others.

They think that they have it, when no one else has it. They are always wanting to show you how much they know… how much smarter they are than you. They always have a verse to quote… and take great pride in doing so.

When it says the Israelites were God's chosen people, it doesn't mean they were special and that God loved them more than anybody else. But they were special in that they were given the message to take to everybody else. That's why they were God's chosen people. The problem was they didn't do it. They sat on it. Rather than giving it away, they became more and more separated and said, this is only for us. That's one of the reasons Jesus Christ came to earth. The Bible says He came to break down the barrier because the message was not getting out. Now God has taken another group to share that message to the world -- the church.

But they often have a condescending attitude.

If your faith makes you feel superior to others and put them down, then you're devoted to a religion not a relationship.

Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to get food.

Romans 2:19–20 NLT

19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.

(vs. 21-23) They don’t alway practice what they preach.

Romans 2:21–23 NLT

21 Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.

Religious people are easy prey for hypocrisy because they rely on external standards. They hold up a standard of livign but then don’t live up to it while expecting others to live up to it.

Paul is telling them that their talk and their walk don’t match.

Isaiah 29:13 NLT

13 And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.

They talked it but did not walk it out. These are people that go to church on Sundays and live like the devil on Fridays and Saturdays.

Here’s the basis for what Paul is saying....

Ezekiel 33:31–32 NLT

31 So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. 32 You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!

There are a lot of "religious" people who go to worship and they listen to the sermon and they listen to the special music and the songs and they even sing and they walk out with no intention to apply them to their lives. Paul says that's not going to make it!

Many un-churched people don’t have a problem with Jesus, but it’s the church they have a problem with. The problem is that they perceive that Believers think they are superior.

Two Negative Effects of Religion

Paul says that because of the way you act, it...

It turns people off

It sends people to hell

There are a lot of "religious" people who go to worship and they listen to the sermon and they listen to the special music and the songs and they even sing and they walk out with no intention to apply them to their lives. Paul says that's not going to make it!

Romans 2:24 NLT

24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”

(vs. 25-29) They Rely on Rituals

Romans 2:25–29 NLT

25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it. 28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

They relied on their rituals. Circumcision represented commitment to God. Today’s spiritual circumcision is Baptism. A wedding ring does the same thing in marriage.

If anyone could rely on rituals it was Paul.

Philippians 3:4–5 NLT

4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! 5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.

Who is a real Jew?

Romans 2:28 NLT

28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.

Romans 2:29 NLT

29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

Galatians 3:29 NLT

29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

You are a true Jew if you have faith in Jesus