August 29, 2010

 Romans 2: 25-29

For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?   For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:   But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
 
Last time we saw several rhetorical questions (means used for creative effect) to show the aggravation of Jewish condemnation.

We saw the privilege and profession of the of the Jews contrasted with the Practice of the Jews.

Now here in verses 25-29 we will see another segment showing that special privileges do not exclude ANYONE from obedience and judgment.

2 Things to look at: I. Reaffirmation of Hypocrisy , II. Reasons for no Advantage.

I. Reaffirmation of Hypocrisy verse 24

“The name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles through you.”

Recall that the chosen people were to be a light to the Gentiles that the nations might see and praise God and be drawn to God. Their devotedness to pure living and loving care of one another was to be God’s magnet, yet they had begun to glorify the system, idolize the law and not the dog who gave it. They had ceased being a light to the world and had become a laughing stock bringing DISHONOR not GLORY to God.

Can we talk?  When God’s people are inconsistent , when their walk doesn’t match their talk it brings reproach on God.

Jesus said that all men would know you are my disciples  by the way you love each other. Jesus also said in Matt. 5:16 we are to let our light shine so men may see the face of God revealed. WE have been given the task of being a light to the nations as well. All who are outside should be able to see our pureness of life, our caring for one another and be drawn to the Father. But more often they see us dividing, bickering, see churches splitting, see alleged Christians running down other Christians…everything BUT love. And the name of God is blasphemed among the nations.

This verse,24, is the opposite of Matt. 5:16. May God grant us the grace to overcome  our spiritual sloth  and stand out as shining examples of his love. That we might not be ashamed at his soon coming. 1 John 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

 and 3:2-3   Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.   And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
 / We are called to be lights, let us be lights.

Back to our text, We saw vs. 24 Reaffirmation of hypocrisy, now in verses 25-29, We see II. Reasons for no advantage.

V25 ( For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.   ) The law is a “doing “ system, if they don’t keep the law they are no different that the Gentiles. Now keep in mind that nowhere does the New Testament teach that if  a man could keep the law he would go to heaven.
 
They say “But no-one can…but if they could, if you could keep the whole law he would be just as lost. Gal. 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. .

Ephesians 2:9 says it is not of works lest any man should boast.

There is no possibility of heaven outside the grace of God through Jesus Christ, so Paul is not saying “If you Jews keep the law you will be saved.” He is saying “you claim the law as your savior and you don’t do what it says.”

V26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

 / If you are going by that, if the gentiles keep your law of Moses then they are as good as the Jews, the Mosaic law was an advantage as a sign IF they keep it.

V27:And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?  / There is no advantage of being a Jew if you don’t keep the law you are counting on. Then in verses 28-29 He gives a definition of a “true Jew.:\” All Jews are not true Jews. A true Jew is one who is concerned with the internal nature of men, not just externals.

Even the holy Torah (Deut. 10:16) says “circumcise the foreskins of your heart and don’t be stiff necked, and Jeremiah 4:14 repeats that internal command of God. God is concerned with HEART things not with letter things. The Pharisees of Jesus day were ones with an outward show looking for the praise of men. Not the praise and honor of God

God has not changed. He has the same desire today, he wants us to have a heart towards him, not just an outward show. L. Nelson Bell (medical missionary to China and Billy Graham’s father in law) said “the church spends much of it’s time trying to make non-Christians act like Christians. Many “Churchians are like Christmas trees, decorated on the outside but dead on the inside.

Some of our petty Christian games are like that.  A great Polish tragedienne, Madam Modjeska was guest at a dinner party. The company pressed her for a recitation from some play. At first she declined, her memory might desert her without props, stage. Lights etc. The insisted. So she began to recite in her native tongue. Some were moved to tears by her recitation. When asked later, what was the name of that touching story she said “I counted to 100 in Polish.”

How foolish God must think us when we sport our flowery oratory, play our silly games and really decline to Obey the one who bought us with his own blood.

Are you a hypocrite? Do you have a reputation that doesn’t match your character? Do people think you is what you ain’t?

It is easy to put on a façade, and people are quick to notice it.

We want to be the real McCoy, honest in who we are, not putting on the face of a Sunday saint and sinning big all week. We all sin…don’t pit on airs…just repent and be honest about your need.

Death of Stalin
 
The death of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin is reputed to have been caused by a seizure suffered at a meeting of the Presidium, the Communist party executive committee.

Livid with fury, Stalin leaped from his seat, only to crash to the floor unconscious. While other Presidium members stared at the prone figure, scheming bureaucrat Laverenti Beria jumped up and danced around the body shouting, “We’re free at last! Free at last!”

But as Stalin’s daughter forced her way into the room and fell on her knees by her father, the dictator stirred and opened one eye. Beria at once dropped down beside Stalin, seized his hand, and covered it with kisses.

Moody Bible Institute’s Today in the Word, September, 1991, p. 16

We need to be who we claim to be, live what we claim to live.

St Francis of Assisi was a holy man. His reputation was Europe wide. One day a stranger approached him and asked “Art  thou St. Francis?” He said that he was. “Art thou that St. Francis of whom all men speak?”

Then the stranger said “See then that thou art what all men proclaim thee to be.”

“Art thou that a believer in Jesus Christ? Art thou one of those of whom all men speak?”
  “See then that thou art what all men proclaim thee to be.”
  

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