Romans - Week 5

Teach Yourself

READ

Romans 2:21-22

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?

Paul now focuses on those who thought they were superior because they knew the Old Testament law. They were teaching others how to have proper conduct, but they did not have it themselves. They knew the statements in the law but did not understand the complete significance of them. Jesus explained this further in His Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5-7. It is one thing to know the law; quite another to practice it.

REFLECT

Are you teaching others anything that you are not actually living yourself? Be sure not to teach what you do not practice.

RESPOND

Read Ezra 7:10 to see the three things said about this Old Testament prophet. He first studied the law, then he obeyed it, and then he taught it. See also Matthew 5:21-30 that reveals what is in the heart is what matters.         

Because of You

READ

Romans 2:23-24

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.”

Some boast about how they live for God but at the same time are doing things that do not honor Him. Note the results of such behavior: it causes others to dishonor the Lord. It is heartbreaking when someone who should be a godly leader dishonors God and causes others to lose their hope and also dishonor Him. There are examples of that in the Bible and 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 gives instructions to older believers in the faith.

REFLECT

Others are watching you whether you realize it or not. Ask God to make you sensitive to sin so you are not living one thing and teaching another. As the Holy Spirit convicts you of anything, read and apply 1 John 1:9 to your situation.

RESPOND

Read an Old Testament example of one who dishonored God and suffered a significant penalty. In the wilderness, God instructed Moses to speak to the rock to obtain water. Moses was upset with the people, however, and struck the rock twice. Read Numbers 20:1-12 to see why Moses was not able to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

No Better Off

READ

Romans 2:25-27

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.

The Jewish people were insistent on the rite of circumcision, a procedure performed on a Jewish boy at eight days of age. In fact, some later even wanted the rite to be added to the Gospel presentation of the apostle Paul who proclaimed salvation was by grace alone through faith in Christ alone.  Here Paul says if those so concerned about this religious ritual do not keep the law themselves, they are no different than the uncircumcised Gentiles. Unbelievably to the Jews, Paul said the uncircumcised Gentiles would condemn them for their hypocrisy.

REFLECT

If you come from a family who wanted some religious ritual done for you as an infant, you need to thank the Lord your parents were concerned about you. You need to think, however, about what Paul is saying here. The Jews had been through many religious rituals, yet the majority of them were Christ rejecters. So the question remains: What have you done with the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you believed in Him for salvation?

RESPOND

Read Acts 15:1-11 that tells of the debate about adding circumcision to faith in Jesus in order to be saved. The apostle Peter, who had dealt with Cornelius as told in Acts 10, tells those mentioned in chapter 15 that everyone is saved by grace.

Day 4

READ

Romans 2:28-29

28 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. 29 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.

In this passage Paul identifies what is a “true Jew.” The word “Jew” is a shortened form of “Judah,” the prominent southern tribe during Old Testament times. Sometimes, however, the term is used to refer to all Israelites. The word “Judah” referred to praise. Paul builds on this meaning of the word by indicating a true Jew is not just someone heeding the Old Testament law of circumcision, but one whose heart is right with God. That is the one who seeks “praise from God.” The added words, “not from people” was Paul’s emphasis about the Jews doing much because of what others thought.

REFLECT

From this passage it is seen that a changed heart is one who seeks praise from God. Do your friends see a difference in you from what you were like before you became serious about your trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation? A changed life is one of the greatest testimonies no one can question.

RESPOND

A “disciple” is basically a “learner.” Do you have someone learning along with you about what the Scriptures teach? Consider the passage in this post. Talk with someone who is also interested in learning about what it teaches. Believers should live what they teach and not just do things because certain people may be watching. It is important to have a good testimony to those around you, but most of all you should want to live to please God.

Entrusted

READ

Romans 3:1-2

1 Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.

Without chapter breaks in the original letter, one would read right on to Paul’s questions. The last words in chapter 2 may have left readers wondering if there were any advantages to being a Jew. The great advantage the Jewish nation had was that God had given His revelation to them. It was not just meant for them, however, they were to share it with other nations. God had not given His revelation to any other nation, so this should have been considered one of the Jews’ greatest benefits.

REFLECT     

Think how special it is that you now have God’s completed revelation in your language. But as the Jewish nation, it is meant to be shared with others. Pray for those translating God’s Word into other languages and be sure you share it with others.

RESPOND

Read Jude 1:1-4. This explains how Jude realized it was not enough just to teach about salvation but also to urge believers to defend the faith God has revealed once for all time to His people. Jude was not minimizing the need for evangelism but was emphasizing the need to teach the entire Word of God because of false teaching that was spreading into churches.