WITH GOD, IT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT WHAT'S

January 6, 2014

WITH GOD, IT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS!

Romans 2:17–29

Lisabeth Bowman

Central Truth

Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with God. It is not works-based, it's about your personal relationship with God. He wants your heart to be circumcised versus whatever you might do on the outside to show your faith. Don't circumcise for the show; circumcise for Christ.

For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (Romans 2:28-29)

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded^{1

2:26
Or counted} as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically^{2

2:27
Or is by nature} uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code^{3

2:27
Or the letter} and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Footnotes

[1] 2:26 Or counted
[2] 2:27 Or is by nature
[3] 2:27 Or the letter

Before coming to Watermark, I faithfully attended a different church. I was involved, serving well and doing the things a Christian was supposed to be doing. My husband was a leader, I was in Bible studies and helped my husband to lead our Sunday school class. We decided to enhance our marriage and attend Re|Engage -- Watermark's marriage ministry that helps couples move toward oneness with each other -- even though we weren't members of Watermark. Until Re|Engage, I had never been in a group that, in Christ, loved each other enough that they were willing to risk conflict and transparency to be faithful. I'd always felt we needed to appear as "shiny, happy people" if we were Christians. We had to be happy and doing all the right things.

Here, Paul is trying to get the church in Rome (read: church in Dallas) to see that being a follower of Christ is not about outward actions, but a matter of the heart. They were making a religion out of God's Law. The Jews (and I) focused on the Law instead of God. They were more concerned with religiosity and who was doing what on the outside instead of what God really cares about -- their motives.

I realized quickly after being in a community of believers that were looking toward Christ and wanting to have their lives reflect the glory of Christ in their lives that I had been going through the motions, but not truly looking to Christ. I can empathize with the Jews whom Paul is addressing. I was checking all the boxes. I was doing what I thought God wanted me to do, but was only doing what culture was telling me God wanted. I wasn't looking to God for guidance; I had just been following the "rules."

Only after letting go of the worldly view of what Christians should look like -- the act of trying to be perfect -- did I finally find what being in Christ truly meant. As Paul writes in Romans 2:29, the praise should not be from men, but from God.

1. Can you list things you might be doing to check the box rather than glorify Christ?

2. How do you sometimes present yourself/marriage/family/kids as a package that looks perfect, but when it's opened, might be ugly and tarnished? Do you feel you can't let others see the inside of the package? Why?

3. What does biblical community look like in your life?