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Romans 2 Part 2
You who call yourselves Jews are relying on
God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. You know what he wants; you know what is
right because you have been taught his law. You are convinced that you are a
guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. You think you can instruct the ignorant and
teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you
complete knowledge and truth.
Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you
teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? You say it is
wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry but
do you use items stolen from pagan temples? You are so proud of knowing the
law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.
No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God
because of you.” The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey
God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an
uncircumcised Gentile. And if the
Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? In fact,
uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are
circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.
For you
are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you
have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.
No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true
circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a
change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks
praise from God, not from people. Romans 2:17-29
This
portion of scripture focuses mostly on how the Jews then needed to know how to
behave, or act, now that they were saved, but they point out some very
important things for us to apply to our lives today.
- How can you teach someone the
Word of God? Can you just pick it up and share it? Or do you need to go to
Bible College?
- Does it help sharing how the
Bible helps you? In other words, can you share a testimony and change a life?
- Is God’s Word written on your
heart? ( Use a search engine to find the scripture that talks about this!)
- Define “blaspheme” and explain
why you think they would be considering
Blaspheming?
-What
does it take for a Jew to be saved? What does it take a ‘Gentile” to be saved?
Is there really much difference according to these verses?
See Acts
16:31, and a little before that even, and see what it says about salvation.
Does it say Jews cannot be saved? Or
ahead in Romans 4.
And when
God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was
recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as
righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the
dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to
life to make us right with God. Romans 4:23-25
God gave Israel the law to allow them to try to live up to His standards of obedience. Of course we could not. See Acts 16:31, and a little before that even, and see what it says about salvation. Does it say Jews cannot be saved? Or ahead in Romans 4.
And when
God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was
recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as
righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the
dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to
life to make us right with God. Romans 4:23-25
21 Well
then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to
steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you
commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan
temples?[b] 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by
breaking it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name
of God because of you.”
25 The
Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if
you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.
26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own
people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you
Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.
For you
are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you
have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose
heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter
of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a
person with a changed heart seeks praise[d] from God, not from people. Romans
2:21-29
The
whole group can be summed up in the point Paul makes that those who are circumcised
of the heart are those who are set apart for God. Its not the physical act that
made them Jews. In turn our hearts must be set apart to follow Christ as well.
We need to teach and be taught to set aside our lives and sometimes our selfish
dreams to do the will of the Father. Just like Jesus did. He set aside his will
as Jesus the guy walking on earth who knew the plans had to go a certain way to
make us free from sin, saved for eternal lifetimes. He knew the Father’s will
set Him apart and showed us that we too need to set ourselves apart to follow
His Will.
Did you
catch that? Set apart and chosen by God we Christians are also a part of the
Family of God just like the Jewish Believers. Love one another, have only God
as your God and Do all the Word.
Re read
the chapter and think on these things!
Watch for
Chapter 3 Coming soon!