Study 11 - Romans 2:17-29

Read: Romans 2:17-29

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

17But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God,

18and know His will and aapprove the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,

19and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,

20a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,

21you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?

22You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

23You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

24For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written.

25For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.

26So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

27And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?

28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.

29But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Discuss:

V 17-20

Paul now addresses the “Jew” or better understood as the religiously lost. What are their characteristics of behavior and attitude?

What does Paul say to them that they are completely ignorant of?

What does Romans 10:2-4 say about what Paul is describing in these verses?

V 21-24

What are the 5 very pointed rhetorical questions Paul uses to make his point in verses 21-24?

Matthew 23:38 has bearing on the point Paul is making, what is Paul’s point to the religiously lost?

V 25-27

Read: Deut. 29:1-29 +1John 2:3-6 + John 14:15. The religiously lost knows the bible and what it says but what don’t they do?

What type of salvation are the religiously lost thinking they are saved by?

What does Paul tell them about this behavior and thinking?

V 27-29

Paul insinuates that the religiously lost are looking for some kind of attention from keeping the rules, who is it from?

What does Paul says the true measure of being religious is 3 things. What are they?

Application:

As a believer, are there areas of your life where you are relying on your religiosity for God’s approval and love instead of your relationship with Jesus through the indwelling Holy Spirit?

Do you take pride in your salvation and how you have grown and don’t do the stuff that others do. What does God say about our salvation that keeps us developing an attitude of humility? Read Eph. 2:8+9.

Read verses 28+29 again. How does what Paul was saying to the Religiously lost apply to you and me. There is a very fine line between being religiously lost and a Pharisee. What is the difference and what do we do to avoid either one?