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True Faith and the Danger of Hypocrisy 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Thanks for joining me this morning as we look at Romans chapter 2 verse 29, but he is a Jew who was 1 inwardly. And0:22 circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter whose praise is not from men, but from God. Religion can blind us while God's moral law can guide us, but0:33 only Jesus Christ can save us. We're gonna talk more about that in just a moment. Verse 1 of chapter 2. Therefore, you are inexcusable, old man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another, you0:45 condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. Now in chapter 1, Paul had just described in great detail the progressive nature of sin, and now0:57 he turns to those who have cloaked their sinful nature in religion rather than repenting and turning to Christ. That's a dangerous place to be, making yourself,1:09 like, feel like everything is okay because you've cloaked your sin in religion. Now this is 1 of those passages that, condemns judging that many like to seize upon, but it1:21 requires a little closer scrutiny. First, Paul had just laid out behavior that was contrary to god and leaves those who do it condemned by god. So for him to then turn and say that you are1:33 not to judge between right and wrong would be duplicitous. What Paul is saying is that they were condoning and passing sentence upon the gentile world, essentially said you're going to hell and you deserve it, when1:45 they were doing the very same thing. What the religious crowd that Paul was writing to was doing was condoning those who were not playing church. Okay? They were not they didn't have the1:56 the outward, religious symbolism in their lives. Rather, they were simply living like the world lives. The problem was that the religious crowd was engaging in the same behavior that was just2:08 as offensive to god. Now I need to pay close attention to this because this is still happening today. In verse 2, but we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice2:20 such things. And do you think this, oh, man, you who judge those practicing such things and doing the same that you will escape the judgment of God? Hypocrite, do you think2:32 you're gonna escape the degree of damnation by God because you cloaked yourself in religion? If so, think again. It's not baptism. It's not church membership. You know, it's2:44 not the, Sunday school attendance button you have. Verse 4, or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to2:56 repentance? Alright. Don't mistake what he's saying here is the patience of God. For those living the the this duplicitous lifestyle3:08 that somehow God is condoning their choices of their sin. That is God's goodness, allowing time for repentance before it is too late. So just because you're getting away with or somebody's3:20 getting away with something doesn't mean that god approves it or condones it. He is just merciful. Alright. Verse 5, but in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart,3:32 you are treasuring up for yourselves wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of righteous judgment of God who will render to each 1 according to his deeds, eternal life, to3:44 those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality, but to those who are self seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,3:56 indignation, and wrath. There's only 2 ways to go. Tribulation and anguish on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, the the Greek. But glory, honor, and peace to everyone who4:08 works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Now pay pay close attention to where you're going. That's what he says. Do not be distracted. Examine your life according to the4:20 unaltering truth of god's word. Obey the truth of god, and you'll never be sorry or ashamed. Now you don't earn your salvation, but once we come to know the Lord, Jesus said4:32 this, if you love me, you'll keep my commandments. God judges he does not judge on the curve. He judges well, look at verse 11. For there is no partiality with4:43 God. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without the law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law. Right? Doesn't matter. You're you4:55 had the law. You were Jew. You didn't have the law. You were Greek. The standard is the same. For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers5:09 same standard applies to all mankind. Being religious, in this case, adhering to the old covenant of circumcision will not save you. Just as being baptized today or being a part of a church5:20 doesn't save you. What saves you is turning to Jesus. Verse 14. For when Gentiles who do not have the law by nature do the things in the law, these, although not5:32 having the law or a law to themselves. Now I just love the way Paul talks, his logic, his reasoning here. You gotta follow him closely. Verse 15, who show the work of the law written in their5:44 hearts, their conscience also bearing witness in between themselves, their thoughts, excusing accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the5:56 secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Okay. This is this is important statement that Paul just made here. The moral law of God written on the hearts of human beings6:07 is evidence of the creator. We're all created by God. We bear his image, and then inscribed on our heart is this moral law. It's the universal law of god. It's often6:19 referred to as the moral law. And and how do we know it's there? Because murder, theft, adultery, among other things, they're recognized as being wrong with or6:31 without written laws in every culture, every place. The these things these big things are recognized as being wrong. But here's what happens. Our willful and6:43 repeated sin can suppress this moral law. Paul described this in chapter 1. In fact, this is why in the Old Testament, the written law was given. This was inscribed on our6:55 hearts at the very beginning, but because of sin, it was suppressed on our hearts. The the truth of god was suppressed in unrighteousness. So the the god had to give7:06 the written law in stone to remind man of what was written on his heart. So religion can blind us while god's moral law can guide us. Right? So the the7:18 law of god is good for anybody. It the moral law that's on our heart just by adhering to that, not killing somebody, not committing adultery, not stealing. You know what? You're gonna benefit if you just live by that,7:30 but that's not enough to save you. Only Jesus Christ can save us. And that's where Paul turns to in the rest of this chapter beginning verse 17. Indeed, you are called a Jew and rest on the law and make7:42 your boast in god and know his will and approve the things that are excellent being instructed out of the law and are confident that you yourselves are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an7:53 instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. Teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. What Paul is saying here to these moralizing Jews who8:03 were critical of the Gentiles, you know, were quick to judge them. He says, you had the privilege of the law and the promises of god. You could have been a guide providing light to those in8:14 darkness. Now, alright, before we start looking back on those Jews in the early church, this truth applies even more to us as followers of8:26 Christ today whose eyes have been open to the truth, who have the truth, the word of God, and the Holy Spirit. See, rather than criticizing the world for acting8:46 duplicitous lives, if we're doing the same things that we're accusing the world of doing, and there's been a lot of compromise in the body of Christ among the leadership. And and, folks,8:58 there's no way we can reach the world if we're not living lives committed and in lives that are holy and committed to the lord Jesus Christ. Verse 21. You9:10 therefore who teach another alright. Listen. Therefore, you who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say do not do9:22 not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make the boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? For9:34 the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written. For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law. But if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has9:46 become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his un circumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physical9:58 physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who even with your written code and circumcision are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is 1 outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is10:08 outward in the flesh.10:20 Obedience to God that marks the life of a disciple of Jesus. Verse 29. But he is a Jew who is 1 inwardly, and circumcision is that of the10:32 heart in the spirit, not in the letter whose praise is not from men but from God. So here's the bottom line. It is what is in the heart, unseen to10:44 the eyes of man, but seen before God that justifies. You see, religion religion seeks the praise of man, but seeking and knowing Jesus10:56 gains the praise of God. Wow. This is some great stuff from the apostle Paul. Father, we thank you for your word, and I pray, Lord, that we would not carry,11:08 you know, and and weigh and lean upon the outward signs of of of religious signs, church membership, baptism. Although those things are all important, and they11:20 have their place, but we don't gain any standing by that. That's certainly not where our salvation comes. Our salvation comes from Jesus Christ and the righteousness by what we do11:32 if we walk. Now we're not we know we're not saved. We're saved by grace alone as we have our faith in Jesus Christ. But as Jesus said, if you love me, you'll keep my commandments. And so,11:44 father, as I pray, I pray that as we seek to to reach a lost and dying world that, lord, we would not be duplicitous, that our lives would be not not be marked by11:56 hypocrisy. But, lord, may we live, lord, according to your word, lord, seeking to please you and glorify you, loving others and, and loving you. So I12:08 pray the Holy Spirit would continue to guide us on this journey and use us, father, for your kingdom. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Before I let you go, just a reminder, pray vote stand summit taking place12:20 in Southern California at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills on Friday and Saturday. So if you live in California, Southern California in driving distance, there's still room. I encourage you to find out more. Go12:32 to pray, vote, stand dot o r g. Alright. Until next time, keep standing on the word.12:40 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you12:52 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 True Faith and the Danger of Hypocrisy
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