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Our life is a reflection of our faith
Our life is a reflection of our faith
During one of our introduction weeks in this series Pastor Steve taught that the reason the book of Romans was written was to address the conflict that arose in the church in Rome with the return of the Jews to Rome after the death of Claudius the emperor of Rome.
We learned that when they returned, they also wanted to return to a place of leadership within the church, and that it created a major conflict in the church and this letter was written to address many of the issues that arose.
This week as we continue on our journey of Paul continues to address the conflict but he is specifically addressing the Jews.
As I was thinking about this conflict between the Jews and the Gentiles, the Jews having the Law, considering themselves to be Gods chosen people, and yet they have a long history of having the Law but not following it, so how can they consider themselves superior?
In some ways it is similar to what we have today in our country. We have people from all over the world migrating to our country to become citizens, declaring their allegiance to our constitution and by complying to the laws of the land. On the other hand we have people that are naturally born citizens who have the status by birthright... then there is a mix of the 2 groups who think no laws Gods or country apply to them.
Look at all the conflict that is associated with that these days.
Today we can see this in certain denominations. Their knowledge of doctrine can be far superior to others but what about their love for others, especially the lost?
Before I go down a bunny trail, lets pray and look at our text for today shall we?
PRAY
I have a real tendency to jump right into practical application instead of looking at the text from a historical perspective first but I will try.
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Romans 2:17-24
In this text Paul in not addressing all who would call themselves teachers of the law, but those who would boast about their superiority of knowing the Law but not doing what they taught. Its like if we boast or show off the verses we know..but do not love our neighbor or our enemy...
Right from the start you notice a word that should put up some red flags, the word boast.
The Amplified version says, they boast in their special relationship to God.
If you have ever spent much time listening to a boaster, for me it doesn’t take long before all I hear is the teacher from a Charlie Brown show, WHA, WHA, WHA
But how about when someone or a group of someones backs it up by stating their spiritual pedigree?
As you look at the very next verse, it reveals that they claim to know His will and approve of what is excellent because they are instructed by His word so the hearer would be compelled to listen.
Paul continues;
. If you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
Embodiment means- someone or something that is a perfect representative or example,
They were proclaiming that they were the perfect representative of the Law because of their knowledge of the truth!
For some, knowledge puffs up and they forget that in reality all have sinned and fallen short.
That is why we are in need of a savior!
Pastor Stacy and I went to a church once to listen to a profit…everything sounded good so I bought a cd
The problem with pride, especially spiritual pride, is that it will always leave you thinking you are better than someone or in contempt of them.
At this point, the Jews that Paul is referring to must feel pretty good about themselves, that is, until he continues
you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
They sinned by doing the very things that they taught others to avoid.
Jesus makes this statement about the pharisees,
Mathew 23:3-4
So do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them upon peoples shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
We close this section with, for me is probably the most alarming verse in the entire Bible.
(ESV)
24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Because of the attitudes and actions of this one group of people, others were blaspheming the name of God.
We see this a lot today, especially as a reason for why they hate God.
Blaspheme according to Webster means; To speak of the Supreme Being in terms of impious irreverence; to revile or speak reproachfully of God, or the Holy Spirit.
The first time I read this scripture was in 1994. I remember it because of an incident that happened to me while building a house. I was walking across some floor joists with a sheet of plywood in my hand and slipped and fell. The “S” word came out because it hurt so bad, and the homeowner looked at me and said, “I thought Christians weren't supposed to talk like that.
It was that very same week that I read and when I did it broke my heart and convicted me at the same time.
I repented to God and asked the homeowner to forgive me for my language.
It was about 3 years later that he called and asked if I would build him another house.
When we were in Anchorage, we had one of our folks that worked at Costco as a sample person, she told me that they all argued about who had to work the Sunday shift because when the church people got there they were the rudest mean people they served.
One of our friends was a manager at Applebees and refused to work Sundays because the church people were the most demanding and gave the smallest tips.
We may not be boasting Jewish teachers that teach but don’t follow up what we teach with our actions, but I think give us several things to reflect on.
Is there anything in our lives that would cause someone to revile or speak reproachfully of God, or the Holy Spirit, or the church as a whole?
At one level or another we are all called to guide, be the light, instruct, and to teach others. Do we do it all for the glory of God? or is it all about us…be honest
The Jewish teachers were robbing God of the glory that was due Him by taking credit for their knowledge and then using that knowledge to control others.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
2 Peter 1:3-9
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason,make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
A Brahmin, which is a priest among the Hindus, recently said to a Christian, “I have found you out. You are not as good as your book. If you Christians were as good as your book, you would in five years conquer India for Christ.”
Paul’s Letter to the Romans: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary Argument Two—2:17–3:20: Censoring a Censorious Jewish Teacher
The message is, then, not only about the impartiality of God, though that is emphasized, but also about the fact that all humans are equally in need of mercy in view of their sin, including particularly those Jews who should have been teachers to the blind but in fact proved to be less than good exemplars of what the Law required. Having the Law is no guarantee of doing the Law, and merely having it is no protection against God’s judgment on disobedience, for all human behavior will be judged by God. Even being a Jewish teacher does not exempt one from God’s righteous judgment on sin
Paul’s Letter to the Romans: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary Argument Two—2:17–3:20: Censoring a Censorious Jewish Teacher
The message is, then, not only about the impartiality of God, though that is emphasized, but also about the fact that all humans are equally in need of mercy in view of their sin, including particularly those Jews who should have been teachers to the blind but in fact proved to be less than good exemplars of what the Law required. Having the Law is no guarantee of doing the Law, and merely having it is no protection against God’s judgment on disobedience, for all human behavior will be judged by God. Even being a Jewish teacher does not exempt one from God’s righteous judgment on sin