J Walkers 2.4.22

Staying in Love Part 2

To stay in love you have to choose to love each other the way that Christ loved us. In other words, you have to choose to treat the person you love as the most important person in the world to you. You have to be willing to put them first.

In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness Philippians 2:5-7

Questions

What's one of the extreme ways you tried to impress your spouse before you were married?

Describe a time when you saw someone with position or power choose to serve rather than to leverage that position or status for their own benefit? How did you feel when you saw that?

What are some ways you put your spouse first? What about last?

What are some of your most valuable possessions? Describe how you treat them.

What are some of your spouse's interests that you're not interested in? What about one you are interested in?

More often, do you opt for respect or relationship in your marriage?

What are some ways you can choose to submit to your spouse this week?

Romans 2

Romans 2 (NIV)

1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

Paul is saying we are all hypocrites. We are quick to judge the faults of other people, though we are guilty of doing the same things we’re judging them for.

2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.

God does not judge the way we do for he is holy. He is no hypocrite and he judges from a lens of righteousness.

3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Do we even stop to consider how hypocritical we are? Do we take this as seriously as God does? Do we take his kindness for granted when he doesn’t torch us for being awful?

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

He gives grace and mercy that we don’t deserve, but he will judge us on exactly what we deserve.

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

It is not enough to pray, to read your Bible, or to go to church. Without putting the Word and God’s commandments into action, we are empty of righteousness. As James 2:26 points out, “...faith without deeds is dead.”

14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

People innately do things that reflect some of God’s principles. I’ve met some really kind Atheists who would certainly buy someone a meal or open a door or speak genuine compliments about others. Everyone carries a conscience that tells them what is wrong or right, as well as a justification for their actions.

God is a fair judge - he would never send someone to hell who didn’t have an opportunity for salvation.

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

Paul is speaking to people’s pride:

The Pharisees were extremely proud people, both of their Jewish heritage and traditions. They felt superior because they were God’s people - an inheritance they did nothing to gain.

The Jews who were following Christ also still had pride issues. They didn’t openly accept the Gentiles (even though Jesus did) until Peter’s vision from God in Acts 10 and the meeting with the Apostles in Jerusalem in Acts 11 where he shared his vision and they made an agreement that the Gospel was for the Gentiles too.

He’s also speaking to us. Christians today get extremely prideful with all of their Biblical knowledge, how many verses they have memorized, historical accuracy, etc.

21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

People are hypocrites:

The Pharisees :

They lied in false testimony when they were accusing Jesus.

They were upset at Jesus for performing miracles on the sabbath because he was “working”, but he pointed out they’d untie their donkeys to give them water.

To believers who have knowledge:

Why, with all of their knowledge, do they act like the world? Why do they disrespect their family members? Why do they refuse to tithe? Why don’t they pray more? Why aren’t they serving? Why do they keep watching worldly shows and movies? Why are they so quick to judge others?

“God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” The Greek translation of blasphemed means to slander, revile, defame, speak evil. When we misrepresent him, his kingdom, and his holiness, we are literally attacking God and his credibility. The world says “if this is how a Christian acts.....”

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.

Circumcision was the sign of the covenant between Abraham (Israel) and God. The covenant was that God would be their God in return for numerous descendants and prosperity. In other terms, it’s a label saying you’re saved.

The noticeable difference between someone who is saved (circumcised) and someone who isn’t (uncircumcised) is on the outside. How people talk and act. What they say and do. If you act like the world, it’s as if you weren’t saved at all. There’s no difference between you and the world at that point.

26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

You’ll find some people aren’t officially saved, yet act more Christ like than actual Christians.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

Paul is saying holiness on the inside produces proper action on the outside. It’s about focusing on letting the Spirit strip your heart from the excess of what’s holding it back. It’s not about outward appearances. It’s about righteousness (inward), not self righteousness (outward).

Side Bar: Jesus takes hypocrisy very seriously.

Matthew 23:13–39 NIV

13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 14 15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. 16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it. 23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. 25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. 29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started! 33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation. 37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Questions

What are some things you judge others for that you’re also guilty of?

Do you know any non Christians who act like Christians?

What steps are you taking towards striving for holiness?

Are there areas of your life that yield a negative representation of Jesus?