Romans 2:17-24
M. Kelly
Jan. 27, 2013
Keep in mind context of Romans. Paul is eager, set apart, commissioned and not ashamed to preach the gospel.
He is showing that all classes of men are condemned, none righteous, none that do good...all mouths will be stopped. This is Paul's overall trajectory.
God wants us to live in reality. He would have us become adults as fast as possible. He would have us face our ultimate reality. That is what the gospel is. He would have us think seriously about death and judgement. His overall target is all men.
2:1-16 target the self righteous moralist
He is dealing with different categories of excuses of men.
V. 17 Paul's target is the one trusting in his religion, ceremonies and rituals. Paul talks about the one who trusts in the law of his religion.
Justification is through the law.....that is the bad news! All will be judged by the law.
Phil. 3:4-6 Paul had experience in this....he found himself justified by the law at one time and learned it is the way to the greatest condemnation.
Justification is not through obedience to the law but through faith through Jesus Christ. This is the power of God unto salvation.
1:29-32 The sinful nature of all men.
Paul's point is that the privileges of being justified through the law will not do any good when judged before God.
Six privileges:
1. Name Jew...blessed
2. Received the written law
3. Chosen by the true God
4. Know God's will
5. Approve things that are good and right
6. They are teachers of others
Isaiah 42:6-7
They burdened converts with all the rules of the law.
V. 21-23 Paul asks five questions that are true of all men.
1. You teach others, do you teach yourself?
2. You preach not to steal, do you steal?
3. You teach not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery?
4. You teach to abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege?
5.You make your boast in the law, do you break it and dishonor God?
Lesson:
1. Having the law of God will not justify.
The Jews boasted in having the law. They possessed it! They thought they were exempt from the punishment of the law. It was for everyone else! They thought they were superior to everyone else who didn't have the law. They understood God's judgment for the Gentiles but not for themselves!
John the Baptist called the Jews to repentance and they were mad because that was for sinners....NOT them!!! They loved to point the light on others but never on themselves!
Matt. 3:7-10 An exposition of what Paul is saying in Romans!
Luke 5:30-32 Jews didn't like that Jesus ate with the tax collectors and sinners...Jesus came to call sinners not righteous.
Luke 24:46-47 Repentance would be proclaimed in His name beginning at Jerusalem! The Gospel is for sinners. The Jews hated this message! He exposed them to be violators of the law.
The Lord's teaching exposed sins and no one wants or likes to have their sins exposed!
John 5:45
Amos 3:2
The mere having the law does not justify!! Some have a Bible. It's a life line to salvation but they don't read it or obey it. There is no merit in having it. Sovereign grace through Jesus Christ is what justifies. No religion or ceremonies will save.
2. External religion does not justify.
v. 25 it comes to full force where Paul deals with circumcision.
Being born into a Christian family does not justify anyone.
Your religion will not justify you.
No ceremony or ritual has no meaning whatsoever in justification. None of them justify. They are no benefit unless the truth represented is understood.
They violated the very law they boasted in! Their sins were so notorious it brought reproach on the name of God among the Gentiles! v. 24
Matt. 23:25-28 Woe to Scribes and Pharisees!
Mark 12:38-40 Beware of the Scribes who are hypocrites!
Matt. 23:2-7 Do not do what they do...they say one thing and do another. They do their deeds to be noticed by men!
Nothing justifies us except faith through Jesus Christ.
3. Knowledge of the Law is not a way to justification.
They boasted in the Law, knew God's will, instructed in the law, taught others regarding the Law, they thought themselves a light to the blind.
Notice how they used it v.21-22...they violated to such a degree that it caused the name of God to be blasphemed among the Gentiles!
What were they teaching? They were teaching the additions to the law!
Paul's message is shocking to the Jews! Jesus' message was also shocking to the Jews. The Gospel destroys circumstance, comfort and ceremony as methods for salvation.
True worship takes place where ever believers are gathered. Big buildings, ritual, ceremony, pomp, circumstances, candles, pictures...none of this stuff means anything in justification! None of it will justify.
The more knowledge we have the more we should be humbled because we see that we are accountable to God. Knowledge should never puff us up.
Mal. 3:8 Robbing God....this is likely the meaning of...v21
v.22 every sin can be categorized as idolatry!
It is a serious thing to know God's law. Light requires action! You shine your flashlight in the basement and it reveals a mess...you need to take actions and clean it up!. The Light of the Law shines on our lives and we are to take action on what it reveals!
Repentance is not a doctrine to be only understood, it is a doctrine to be obeyed. Knowing you are doing wrong is worthless. Repentance is needed! James 4:17 If you know to do right and do not do it, it is sin!
Arrogance is a large part of Paul's issues here....confident to teach others yet they got it wrong! Matt. 23:24-28
Luke 6:49-52
The actions required is to turn the light on yourself and then take action on what it reveals!!! If we ignore the Word, then that is the road to ruin!
No one is exempt. We are all sinners!
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