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Romans 2:25-29
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. Last time Paul told the Jews, God is way more interested in obedience to the law, from the heart, than He is interested in us just knowing the Law and what it teaches. Just knowing the law without living it from one’s heart in daily life, is what James refers to as faith without works, and that kind of faith is dead, or not really faith at all! Let’s take a closer look at how The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to show is the truth revealed in the behavior of belief! 1st notice
- THE CONSISTENCY OF OUR BEHAVIOR – V. 25. As you know circumcision was the sign of the covenant God made with Abraham. You can read it in Gen. 17:1-14. God takes all His covenants seriously. This one was so serious to Him, He told Abe that any male who wasn’t circumcised was to be cut off from his people because that man had broken the covenant. So when Paul talks about circumcision becoming uncircumcision, it is in effect a death notice, because being cut off from God is death! To help us keep this closer to home and more in line with the way we think today, in place of the word “circumcision” use the words “salvation, and baptism.” Paul says the “value” of the covenant is in obedience! If people, saved or unsaved, read The Bible then watch you as you go about every day being you, is what they see in your behavior, consistent with what they read in Scripture? In our study, perhaps to make it easier to understand our adoption into God’s family, instead of using circumcision, let’s use salvation and baptism. It is discovered in:
- THE CONSIDERATION OF OUR BEHAVIOR! 26. Here is an example of how a verse within a passage helps make the meaning of, not just the passage, but the whole concept of consistency in daily living so important. Paul’s point is that people who have no ties or background with – in this case – Judaism, or in our case, with Christianity, obey the requirements of the written Law of God, they would be thought of as Jews, or in our case, Christians because their lives were considered more Godly than those who claim to be saved, but don’t live like it. One author says, “It is one’s actions, not one’s physical features, that count. In the final analysis conduct prevails over doctrine. One Biblical commentator defines doctrine as “The body of teachings of the Christian faith concerning its central beliefs. Doctrine is grounded in Scripture and aims to maintain the integrity of Christianity by distinguishing it from non-Christian beliefs. Doctrine is of central importance in Christian preaching and teaching in that it equips the people of God for effective and faithful service in His world.” Paul doesn’t stop there, he continues with
- THE CONDEMNATION OF OUR BEHAVIOR – V. 27. This is perhaps one of the most pointed statements Paul makes. Paul’s point here is rituals, memberships, and any other outward signs do not make a person who calls themselves a Jew, a Jew. Neither do baptism, communion, memberships and any other outward signs do not make a person who calls themselves a Christian, a Christian. The condemnation of our behavior is realized when people use these outward signs to say “because I do these things, or show these outward signs in my life, I am a true Jew or a true Christian. The condemnation of our behavior leads to a wrong interpretation of:
- THE CONCEPT OF OUR BEHAVIOR – V. 28. Paul summarizes now what it really means to be a Jew. We can apply the same truth to us as Gentiles who are Christians. Scripture is teaching that one is not a true Jew, nor a true Christian, just because a person boasts of outward signs, or even birthright! One cannot say because they are born into the Jewish community they are a true Jew according to Scripture. Equally true, one cannot say, “because my parents were Christians, I am also a Christian.” Here is why such unrighteous thinking is so dangerous to the community. Paul ends the paragraph with the truth in:
- THE COMPARISON OF OUR BEHAVIOR –V. 29, which is self-explanatory. Anyone who has a real understanding of what it means to be a real Jew, or a real Christian knows it is in the heart of the person. When a person comes to Scripture and reads it, The Holy Spirit immediately begins to work in the heart of the person prompting them to repent of their sin, by turning to Christ for salvation from their heart! Praise Him for His great work in our hearts, and we thank Him for His love to us!
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