The Dangers of Religion

Paul May

Romans • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

Romans 2:17–29

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English Standard Version Chapter 2

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 as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code 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.

Pride of the Jews

Verse 17

You Call Yourself a Jew— Proud of Nationality

You Rely on the Law— proud of having and knowing the law— It came from Moses, their ancestor

You “Brag about your relationship to God”— Proud of being Chosen by God

“You Know His Will and Approve of What is Superior”— Ethical Superiority

You are Instructed by the Law— didn’t only have the law, but perceived to have mastered it, quoting, cross referencing

You are Convinced you are a guide for the blind—they know they can see but others cant, because they are lost to Idolatry.

Is Paul Saying they should not have any national pride, forget the law, and not try to guide those who don't know the way?

Morality vs Moralism

Morality-1. conformity to the rules of right conduct; moral or virtuous conduct. 2. moral quality or character. 3.virtue in sexual matters; chastity. 4. a doctrine or system of morals. 5.moral instruction; a moral lesson, precept, discourse, or utterance.

Moralism- 1. the habit of moralizing. 2.a moral maxim. 3. emphasis, especially undue emphasis, on morality. 4. the practice of morality, as distinct from religion.

Morality is a good thing, moralism is making that thing you god.

Practice What You Preach!

Verse 21 and following

We make it hard to evangelize to others, when we fail so hard at what we are preaching. How can we preach that something is wrong if we do it? To some extent this always happens, but when it is super obvious it kills our message before we even start.

Christian Moralism fails in 2 ways

Outright Hipocracy

Pastor has an affair, or deacon embezzling funds

Continual sins of the heart

Not actively doing anything, but approving of the sin.

Like writing articles for a pornography magazine the writing articles isn’t bad, but publishing them in the magazine condones the conduct.

So Paul here is speaking similarly to Jesus in Mathew 5 when He extends the commands to include the mind.

Empty Faith

2 signs

Theoretical stance toward the word of God.

Does the living word of God impact your life? Convicting, making you think about your morality?

Moral Superiority

Do you get puffed up by your knowledge? Are you better than everyone else, in your own mind, and don’t care who knows it?

Small Group Questions

What was the best thing to happen in the last week?

What was the worst thing to happen in the last week?

How well do you practice what you preach?

Are there areas you are failing to do this?

How Can you Fix it?

Make a Prayer List, and pray together.

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