August 5, 2020
It's a Matter of Heart
Romans 2:17-29
Sammie Johnston
Central Truth
Being one of God's children is not to simply be a circumcised Jew. It is to be a person who loves God and has a pure, obedient heart.
Key Verse | Romans 2:28-29
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 2:17-29
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.
Dive Deeper | Romans 2:17-29
I've been a competitive person for as long as I can remember. I always wanted to be THE best. When I became a believer, this translated to wanting to be a spiritual giant, THE best in ministry, so I involved myself in as many ministries as possible. My agenda, pride, arrogance, and misguided motivation totally got in the way of what God desired of me—to seek Him first with a quiet, listening, teachable heart.
Paul points out in today's passage that even though Jews in his audience had God's divine law, knew right from wrong, and worshiped the one true God, they had a heart problem. God called the nation of Israel to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 49:5-6). Paul was addressing those who considered themselves better than the people they were supposed to be teaching and weren't living out what they were "teaching." They had high self-esteem and low self-evaluation. They were arrogant and didn't put their spiritual knowledge into action.
Having, knowing, and reading the Law wasn't enough if they didn't understand God's Law, had false confidence in it, or didn't apply it in their life. What they missed was understanding that the Law was a guideline for living according to God's will for those who please God by maintaining a right relationship with Him. It's easier to SAY the right words than it is to LIVE them. To advise others spiritually, you must live by your own advice, or you will dishonor God, discourage others, and cause them to speak evil about God (Isaiah 52:5).
Physical circumcision, performed on the eight-day-old Jewish male child, was a physical symbol of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants (Genesis 17:9-14). Paul points out that this physical mark is meaningless unless it's accompanied by love for God and an obedient heart. Moses (Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 4:4, 9:25) also taught this.
It's less about the one who's called and more about the One who calls. You don't have to be a ministry giant. Be who God created you to be!
Discussion Questions
1. Would someone consider you to be religiously privileged because you grew up in a Christian family? If you claim to be a Christian, how are you living out that name? What do your actions and words communicate to nonbelievers about the nature of your faith? What words/actions of yours might communicate a "holier-than-you" attitude to nonbelievers? What reactions does this produce in them? What is your heart condition?
2. If you have biblical knowledge and/or have been exposed to biblical truths, are you grounded in faith and trusting in God's grace, or are you deluded by self-righteousness? Do you excuse some of your sins because you're doing so well in other areas? Do you think your service to God will earn you special benefits? Does your relationship to church leaders make you more acceptable to God? What does Ephesians 2:8-9 say about this?
3. Is it hard for you to accept that there is no way for you to earn God's favor or to work your way into heaven? We can never do enough to deserve God's gift of salvation. We can never repay God for His great mercy. At our very best, we fall short of God's perfect standard of righteous living. In what ways do you get caught up in the externals of religious practice and lose sight of your need for complete dependence on God's grace for your salvation? Read Romans 10:4 and Romans 10:8-13. How do these verses apply to you?
4. How have you tried to earn God's approval or repay Him for forgiving your sins? The only way your sins can be forgiven is if you accept God's gift (Romans 6:23).
5. Thank God for His grace and mercy. Thank Him for His unfailing, unconditional love for you. Thank Him for His free gift of salvation in Christ (John 3:16-17).