Check yourself!

Self-righteousness (adj) having or characterized by a certainty, especially an unfounded one, that one is totally correct or morally superior.- Let’s start with that this morning.

Self-righteousness does not equate to God’s righteousness

Do you believe that statement? Why?

It’s not about birth (Jn8:39), its about rebirth (Jn3:3-5)

The Jews were seed of Abraham and they thought that made them right - Jn8:39 “39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.”

Jesus aid it is about being born again - Jn3:3-5 “3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

It’s not about pedigree, but about purity of heart (Jm4:8)

Jm4:8 “8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

It’s about eternal life (Jn3:16, 20:31; 1Jn5:13)

God gave us the Son so to give us eternal life

Eternal life in His name, and assurance of such

Jn20:31 “31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

Then in 1Jn5:13 “13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

So, this morning we will glean from the scripture and look at each section as follows.

Heritage gave an advantage (Rom2:17-24)

Heritage avails nothing unless practices (Rom2:25-29)

So, what about Christian heritage?

Heritage gave an advantage

The Jews by heritage had a great advantage, they had the Law and the prophets, the promises, but that did not make them right.

Romans 2:17–18 NASB95

17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,

Romans 2:19–20 NASB95

19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,

Romans 2:21–22 NASB95

21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

Romans 2:23–24 NASB95

23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.

What general observations do you make in this passage?

What did the Jews rely upon, and why (vv.17-18)?

They were Jews by heritage,they relied upon the Law and boast in God, for they were God’s chosen people.

They relied upon the covenant (implied) presuming to know God through the Law, so knowing God’s will.

What was the result of their reliance (vv.19-20)?

They trusted, relied on self, their works

Stop for a minute pick out the describers of their works,

Guide to blind; light to those in darkness; Corrector of foolish, teacher to immature.

They claimed to be the embodiment, the holding of all truth.

They have already been told they are like the Gentiles inexcusable (v.1)

What is the point Paul makes in (vv.21-23)?

They are boasting of the Law, but they were breaking it and dishonoring God

They had the law, the promises and yet they dishonor God by not obeying the law.

Deu11:22-23 “22 “For if you are careful to keep all this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him, 23 then the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess nations greater and mightier than you.”

One subjective question, what does Paul mean (v.24) when he quotes from (Isa52:5)?

Hum, you have the truth, you have the promises, you break the truth and lead others to do it, God’s name is blasphemed because they are not doing what they say. And demanding others to do what they are not doing.

(Transition) here is a quick synopsis of our next section before we get to it.

Read the slide then go to the section

Heritage does not make you righteous unless it is practiced

Talk is cheap! I’ll bet you have heard that before. Well here even some actions taken without taking responsibility avails nothing. Just because you were raised by a Christian family does not make you a Christian.

Romans 2:25–26 NASB95

25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

Romans 2:27–28 NASB95

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

Romans 2:29 NASB95

29 But 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.

Any general observations on this section?

What do you see as the topic/illustration being displayed (all the verses)?

Circumcision / uncircumcision (it is being used as an illustration, an example.

When is circumcision of value (v.25)? When is it not (v.25)?

If you practice the law, circumcision is of value

If you are circumcised but do not practice the law.

When is uncircumcision valuable (implied) (vv.26-27)?

The one who is not circumcised but follows God’s moral law .

When looking at (v.28) they become the real Jew because circumcision is more than flesh, it is inward.

What circumcision matters (v.29)?

Circumcision of the heart by the Spirit!

Other circumcisions worth noting

Circumcision of the lips (Exo6:12)

Circumcision of the ears (Jer6:10)

Circumcision of heart (Eze44)

The jew believed that his circumcision guaranteed his salvation. Just as some today believe that baptism in and of itself is a guarantee of salvation, but without faith, a circumcision of the heart there is no salvation.

A true Jew is one who has had in inward, heart, circumcision not just an outward one or outward action, baptism, church attendance, taking the Lord’s supper.

So, there has to be some personal responsibility (application)

Personal purity

Practical sanctification

Protecting God’s honor

Accepting God’s consequences for irresponsibility

Read the screen

Some Application, things to ponder

Don’t hinder others, do what is right (consider Lk11:52)

you have the knowledge, apply it! Don’t be a hypocrite

Use right standard/measure when judging others (Mt7:1-3)

Mt7:1-3 “1 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

Be an example (1Tim4:12)

1 Timothy 4:12 NASB95

12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

Hold on, let’s read that verse again. It says an example of, not an example to. We are to be an example of a believer.

Christian Heritage

Does coming from a home full of Christians make you a Christian? Does saying you are a Christian make you a Christian? Let’s consider these things for a few minutes.

Saying you are a Christian does not make you a christian, unless you practice what you believe. (Lk3:8; Jm1:22-23; Jn13:34-35)

Bear the fruit of repentance? (Lk3:8)

Luke 3:8 NASB95

8 “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.

Put faith into action (Jm1:22-23)

James 1:22–23 NASB95

22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;

Let love be a verb (Jn13:34-35)

John 13:34–35 NASB95

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Our Christian heritage is in Christ when we were born into Christ (Rom6:4)

Romans 6:4 NASB95

4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Christian heritage comes with responsibility (Eph4:1; Heb12:1; Jn13:34-35; Eph4:32)

Walk worthy (Eph4:1)

Ephesians 4:1 NASB95

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

Throw off all hindrances (Heb12:1)

Hebrews 12:1 NASB95

1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Again, remember, love one another (Jn13:34-35)

no need to read it, we just did it a minute ago.

Forgive one another (Eph4:32)

Ephesians 4:32 NASB95

32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

All are guilty, check yourself. The Jews would judge but would not live to the standard of the Law. So we need to learn from them and as Christians:

Speak with tenderness, hear with sensitivity and feel with compassion. All are proofs of your Christianity.

We know we cannot trust our works, for the work that was acceptable was done by Jesus on the Cross, our works are but filthy rags (Isa64:6).

We are guilty and that is why Christ died for us (Rom5:8) He was the demonstration of God’s love; may we be a demonstration of Christ’s love to other.

Check yourself and see where you stand, make changes that are needed. For today is the day of salvation!