Paul's
Epistles
Part
8 – Romans - Jews and the Law
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House
of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org
INTRODUCTION
We
are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. We have
already looked at who Paul was, our faith being reported around the world, not being
ashamed of the Gospel, being Guilty of sin, Apostasy, the Results of Apostasy.
Last
week we discussed You are Without Excuse.
Today
we will take a look at Romans 2:17-28. Jews and the Law.
SCRIPTURE
REFERENCE
Romans 2:17-28
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— 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.”[b]
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. 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[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
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.
I.
YOU CALL YOURSELF A
JEW
a.
If you call
yourself a Jew, you
i.
Implying the
special favor, yet, we just read in previous verses that they are without
excuse for sin.
ii.
Rely on the law and boast in God
1.
They blindly relied on this law to save, yet, it was
never designed to save.
2.
They boasted about who they were in God...in the fact
that they were Jews.
iii.
You know His will and approve and what is Superior
1.
They were the only nation who had the literal Word of
God, and proved it over and over.
iv.
Because you are instructed by the law
1.
The very Word of God
b.
You are convinced
that
i.
The Jews were meant
by God to be the light to the Gentiles, and lead them to the Lord.
ii.
You are a guide for the blind
iii.
a light for those who are in the dark
1.
It has always been God's Will that His Word, Will and
Way be given to the entirety of mankind.
iv.
an instructor of the foolish
1.
The Gentiles were foolish in their worship of false
gods of human invention, talked about in the previous verses.
v.
a teacher of little children
1.
Speaking of the Holy Spirits view of the so called
great Greek intellectuals of the day, who in professing to be wise became the
very fools who were to be instructed by the Jew.
vi.
Because you have, in the law, the embodiment of
knowledge and truth
1.
The Word of God, which is light-years ahead of
mankind's knowledge, is knowledge and truth, and true wisdom to light the path.
c.
You teach others
AND yourself!
i.
They mocked and
made fun of the Gentile world, putting themselves above them, yet, not applying
the very law to themselves that they law upon the people as a burden impossible
to bear.
ii.
You preach against stealing
1.
Do you steal?
iii.
You say people should not commit adultery
1.
Do you commit adultery?
a.
The Holy Spirit through Paul is placing Israel in the
same state as the Gentile world. There was no difference. They were just as
guilty as the Gentiles, and in need of God's Savior.
iv.
You abhor idols
1.
Do you rob temples?
v.
You boast in the law
1.
Do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
a.
In other words, due to having the law and not keeping
the law, they were dishonoring God, even more than the Gentiles were, who did
not have the law.
vi.
As it
is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
(Isaiah 52:5; Ezekiel 36:20,22)
1.
The Jews were bringing criticism upon the Lord by
living in opposition and in open contradiction to their own profession.
II.
HOWEVER, YOU ARE
LAW BREAKERS
a. Circumcision has value if
you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as
though you had not been circumcised.
i.
Their
"act" of circumcision stood for nothing if they were breaking the law
of God.
ii.
This
shows us that religious rites, no matter how much God-given, contain no
properties of Salvation.
b.
So
then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though
they were circumcised?
i.
Therefore, if the Gentiles keep the righteousness of
law, through Jesus Christ, they are regarded as though they were circumcised.
1.
Colossians 3:9b-11 "...since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."
c.
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.
i.
Ones trust in Jesus satisfies the demands of the
Law and, thereby, secures the "Righteousness of the Law," which in
fact, is the only way it can be secured.
ii.
The Jews who are outside of Christ, try to keep the
letter of the Law by engaging in all of its rituals, but continue to transgress
the Law.
iii.
What they are "doing" doesn't change their
lives.
III.
THE TRUE JEW IS
a. A person is not a Jew who
is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
i.
This
verse alone destroys the notion of a national salvation. There is only one salvation,
which is in Christ, and personal.
b.
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.
i.
It is ONLY the work which is carried out by
Christ inwardly which constitutes Salvation.
ii.
Circumcision of the heart refers to a person
being changed, which is done in one's spirit and speaks of being born-again.
iii.
The rules and regulations, laws of Moses or laws
in a church, do not save.
c.
Such a
person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
i.
Keeping religious rituals will get you the praise
of men, but not God.
ii.
Men can truly praise God ONLY when they truly accept
Christ, which means to truly trust Christ, and not rituals.
CONCLUSION
We,
followers of Christ, like the Jews, need to be mindful that we do not fall prey
to believing that laws, deeds or rituals hold the power of Salvation, rather,
the Law of Moses shows humankinds guilt of sin, deeds are outward expressions
of the Salvation we attain in trusting Christ, and rituals or ordinances of the
church, are merely outward expressions of spiritual truths which take place
within us.
We,
like the Jews, should be mindful not to think ourselves higher than others, and
remember that we were not called to receive Salvation and burry it, rather,
receive and live it, drawing others to the light, which is Christ in us.
Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved? CLICK
HERE!
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