Lesson: Romans 2:28-29
Οὐ ἐπαισχύνομαι “I am not ashamed!” Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”
Romans 2:17-25 “But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relationship to God (18) and know his will and approve the superior things because you receive instruction from the law, (19) and if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, (20) an educator of the senseless, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the essential features of knowledge and of the truth -- (21) therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? (22) You who tell others not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (23) You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law! (24) For just as it is written, "the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. (25) For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.”
Romans 2
• Outward Trust
– Jews trusted in having the Law and being born Jewish – Christians trust in having/knowing the Word of God, being born in a Christian home, going to church? – Believe this is all they need, as long as I have/do this I can do whatever I want
Romans 2:23-25 “You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law! (24) For just as it is written, ‘the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’ (25) For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.”
Romans 2
• Outward Trust • Outward Witness – You cannot say you are a Christian and live in sin • What your life is characterized by • You cannot pick what you want to obey in God’s Word (little sin)
– What do people learn about God from you? – I know that God is _____, because I know ____”. (+ or -) – If your life does not honor God, all of the things you trust in mean nothing to God • The verses you have memorized; even the ones you believe (Rom 1:16) • The years you have been in church • The Christian family you are a part of
Romans 2:25 “For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision..”
Romans 2
• Outward Trust • Outward Witness • Inward Difference
Romans 2:28-29 “For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh, (29) but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code. This person's praise is not from people but from God.”
Romans 2
• Outward Trust • Outward Witness • Inward Difference
– A life that dishonors Goda heart that cares nothing for God – A true Jew, a true Christian, is not one who trusts in things but one who has inward difference—humble faith – We will fall at times, we will stumble – Inward difference admits failures, confesses them, and moves forward in closeness with the Spirit • This is the very thing that makes Christianity different from every other religion: humble faith • People in every other religion are trying to say, “I am good enough”. The Christian always says, “I am a sinner, have fallen short, and only God is good enough”. This is the Christian’s greatest witness: humble faith • We will never be able to live rightly if we first don’t have our hearts in the right place. (take a moment of silence)
Romans 2 • Outward Trust • Outward Witness • Inward Difference – Inward difference leads to true outward witness • Warning: Some people will find fault with you no matter what you do. They are looking for ways to put you down because they don’t want Christianity to be true. They don’t want to have to believe and repent before God. • Everyone will find fault with us if we are truly not living Christianly
– Most people will know that we are different and will see our witness when we do live Christianly • Illustration: Buca-working hard even when it is unfair
– And The Spirit is working in their hearts to notice
Romans 2:28-29 “For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh, (29) but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code.”
Romans 2:17-25 “But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relationship to God (18) and know his will and approve the superior things because you receive instruction from the law, (19) and if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, (20) an educator of the senseless, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the essential features of knowledge and of the truth -- (21) therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? (22) You who tell others not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (23) You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law! (24) For just as it is written, "the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. (25) For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.”
Romans 2
• Outward Trust
– Jews trusted in having the Law and being born Jewish – Christians trust in having/knowing the Word of God, being born in a Christian home, going to church? – Believe this is all they need, as long as I have/do this I can do whatever I want
Romans 2:23-25 “You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law! (24) For just as it is written, ‘the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’ (25) For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.”
Romans 2
• Outward Trust • Outward Witness – You cannot say you are a Christian and live in sin • What your life is characterized by • You cannot pick what you want to obey in God’s Word (little sin)
– What do people learn about God from you? – I know that God is _____, because I know ____”. (+ or -) – If your life does not honor God, all of the things you trust in mean nothing to God • The verses you have memorized; even the ones you believe (Rom 1:16) • The years you have been in church • The Christian family you are a part of
Romans 2:25 “For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision..”
Romans 2
• Outward Trust • Outward Witness • Inward Difference
Romans 2:28-29 “For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh, (29) but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code. This person's praise is not from people but from God.”
Romans 2
• Outward Trust • Outward Witness • Inward Difference
– A life that dishonors Goda heart that cares nothing for God – A true Jew, a true Christian, is not one who trusts in things but one who has inward difference—humble faith – We will fall at times, we will stumble – Inward difference admits failures, confesses them, and moves forward in closeness with the Spirit • This is the very thing that makes Christianity different from every other religion: humble faith • People in every other religion are trying to say, “I am good enough”. The Christian always says, “I am a sinner, have fallen short, and only God is good enough”. This is the Christian’s greatest witness: humble faith • We will never be able to live rightly if we first don’t have our hearts in the right place. (take a moment of silence)
Romans 2 • Outward Trust • Outward Witness • Inward Difference – Inward difference leads to true outward witness • Warning: Some people will find fault with you no matter what you do. They are looking for ways to put you down because they don’t want Christianity to be true. They don’t want to have to believe and repent before God. • Everyone will find fault with us if we are truly not living Christianly
– Most people will know that we are different and will see our witness when we do live Christianly • Illustration: Buca-working hard even when it is unfair
– And The Spirit is working in their hearts to notice
Romans 2:28-29 “For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh, (29) but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code.”
