THE BOOK OF ROMANS

THE BOOK OF ROMANS
“God’s Case Against The Religionist (Jew)”
Romans 2:17-29
December 21, 2011

Let’s begin tonight by posing a question that each of us should consider. Here’s the question: How genuine is your faith? In our current culture, being viewed as a spiritual person is in vogue. The whole issue of spirituality, good and bad, is something that many consider. People want to be appear to be spiritual for a variety of reasons and with a variety of motives. Significance in life is something that modern man is looking for but in all of the wrong places. The end result is that man investigates what he is looking for in the way of significance and then they create a religion which is false. In an effort fool or impress others or himself, and maybe even God, man has embraced a cheap imitation of the real deal.

Consequently man winds up being impure with a false heart and without a genuine faith in Jesus Christ. In this area of Scripture, Paul presents his case against the Jews who thought they were better than anyone else just because they were Jews. In this same context, Paul’s presentation is also for the church and the Christian of today. Paul states basically 4 points about God’s case against what we will call “religionists.” The first point is that:

THE RELIGIONIST PROFESSES RELIGION -- Romans 2:17-20 (NASB) “But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth….”

Let’s pose another question. Why is spiritual pride such a trap to people? WAIT If you had to describe the difference between a true believer and a person who is considered to be a religionist, what would you say? WAIT

A religionist accepts the name of his religion no matter what it is – Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, JW’s whatever. They show enough interest in their religion to make them feel secure. There are several mistakes that the religionist make and that Paul addressed to the Jews.

First, they rest in the law or the Word of God. They have the Scriptures in their homes, they carry the Bible to church with them, they honor the Word of God and, they even read it. So, they feel that they are pleasing God because they have and honor the Word of God. But that is a mistake of the religionist because God does not accept a person who happens to have His Word in their possession. God DOES accept a person who DOES the Word of God – they live it and they obey it. James 1:22 states But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Second, the religionist professes God. To profess means to boast, to glory, to feel proud about their profession of God and their religion. In other words, they openly profess their belief in and about God. He’s not ashamed of their religious affiliation or his beliefs. So, he believes that God accepts him because he professes his belief. But here again they make a mistake. God is not interested in a man’s profession but He is interested in a man’s life – a man who lives for Christ and doesn’t just profess and talk about the Lord – a man or woman who not only talks the talk but walks the walk.

Another thing is that a person who is a religionist is someone who knows the will of God. Vs 18 says, and know his will. He knows what God wants done; he knows the commandments and know right from wrong. So he feels that he’s ok with God. They fail to see that just KNOWING the will of God isn’t enough. God wants people to DO His will.

Ezekiel 33:31-32 “And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it.”

The religionist is someone who is taught the Word of God by his family, his church, his friends and because he is taught the Word of God by someone, he thinks that he has a right relationship with God. But, once again, God isn’t interested in what a person knows but what a person does. God expects us to take what we have learned from Him through others and put it into practice. God wants us to live what we have been taught.

Another thing is that a person who is a religionist thinks that he is a sure light to those who are in darkness and who can’t find the light. He feels that, since he has found the light that he, therefore, is a light to those who are searching for it. But the mistake here is that religion is not the light of the world. Jesus Christ is.

John 8:12 says, Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Finally, the religionist has the Word of God at his disposal. He has every opportunity to know the truth. But again, having and knowing and thinking is not enough. God accepts and uses only those who live the Word, who keep The Word.

2 Timothy 3:5 says, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

Being totally honest, how often does the Bible sit on a table in your home? Is there any real security in just having a Bible? What is it that separates the religionist from a true believer in Jesus Christ?

A true believer follows Jesus Christ and not a religion. Christ lives in another world, in a spiritual dimension. The believer is in touch with Him every day communicating through the Holy Spirit and through prayer. What the true believer does is follow Jesus and live the life of Christ and not the rules of religion. They live out the truth of Galatians 2:20 which says, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Father, we love Your Word because it is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Grant us Your grace to not only be people who possess Your Word but to be a people who DO Your Word. And in so doing, may our lives reflect the Light of Christ in us so that we can see all men being drawn to Jesus. In Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN.