A Study of Romans (5)

False Confidence

The name “Jew” comes from the dominant Israeli tribe of Judah, yet it has been applied to all of Israel;

There is a since of pride that comes with this heritage, a since confidence of who they are to God;

But title alone does not equate righteousness before God;

There is also a feeling of having a special standing with God, because He did give them the original law through Moses;

So there is a feeling confidence to rest in the law;

There was a teaching of the law;

Now because of this teaching there is a confidence in knowing the law;

So because of the knowledge there was a feeling of a better understanding of good and evil;

All of this led to a pride, confidence, in standing before God;

They also felt a responsibility to teach others about God and to judge their actions based on their revelation.

Failure Revealed

So the Jews had the revelation, the knowledge, and the status yet they missed the spirit and the essence of God;

However they began to twist this knowledge through arrogance and self desire instead of sharing the truth with the world;

This is what Paul is trying to point out to them - they had a great opportunity turn the world back towards God but they failed their mission.

Hypocrite Revealed

Paul here starts to reveal that the Jews were violating the very thing they pointed a finger at others for doing;

Notice the questions Paul asked starting in v. 21;

Paul is showing them the difference between their teaching and their actions;

How much different is the modern church;

Remember motives are looked at by God the same as actions;

The negative actions of the Jews, and the church, effects others thought of God not so much the people;

When we, as Christians, act a fool people say that our faith is foolishness;

R.E. Picirilli says this about 2 Peter 2:2, where Peter indicates that “the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (the same Greek word as in Romans) because of Christians who turn aside to follow false teachers. We must watch this principle in our lives as professing Christians. (Picirilli, R. E. (1975). The Book of Romans (p. 37). Nashville, TN: Randall House Publications.)

Some people love to watch a Christian fall to the world.

Outward Camoufloge

Not only were the Jews proud of the heritage in the area of knowledge but they were also proud of their outward expression;

Circumcision, which was passed down from Abraham, was a sign of standing out from the world through obedience to God;

However this outward expression did not give them a pass before God;

In order for this outward expression to carry the weight intended they Jews would have had to been successful at maintaining the law;

Paul now begins to point out that God is more concerned with character than ceremony;

What “outward camouflage” are you putting your trust in today?