Transcript Sermon Notes - University Chapel

Romans:
2. Human Sinfulness: Legalism
& Religiousness
Romans 2:17 – 3:8
p. 1038 - 1039
Better than others
 Another special group – the earnestly religious
 The Jews – feel superior because they have:
 The Law (Scripture)
 The sign of the Covenant (Circumcision)
 Still common today in the same two areas !!
1. Scripture
 The one who calls himself a Jew ...
... “relies on the Law” (v 17)
 Muslim Respect for the Qu’ran
 The way we treat the Bible can offend them.
 Bar Mitzvah – reverence for the scrolls of Torah
 Jews “rely on the Law
 BUT they don’t do it !!!
 So God’s name is dishonoured in the nations (Is 52:5)
1. Scripture . . .
 Having the Scriptures and knowing them is useless if we don’t do
them.
 Ritualistic reverence is no substitute for daily obedience.
 V 22 “... Robbing temples [committing sacriledge] ...”
• May refer to melting small idols for the metal (Deut 7:25)
2. Sign of the Covenant
 Old Covenant: Circumcision (Gen 17:1-14)
 New Covenant: Spirit (Ez. 36:27; Jn. 14:17; Ro 8:9; Eph 1:13; ...)
 Circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit (v 29)
 Same for those who think Spirit gifts are signs of spiritual pedigree (1
Cor 13:1-3)
 Outward signs are meaningless without transformation of the heart.
– Bringing these two together –
 Common ways fro Christians to rank themselves:
 Bible knowledge
 Spirit manifestations
 Often mutually exclusive in churches:
 Emphasis on the Word: neglect the Sprit
 Emphasis on Spirit: neglect the Word.
 Problem is in the human heart
3. Seeking a Sense of Self
 Want to belong, feel important, be valued.
 Becomes a basis for pride or false humility.
 Rightly handled brings penitent “obedience of faith”
The Weak are Made Strong
 Using gifts of Word and Spirit to lord it over others we fall into the
same trap!
 The Jews were not “light to the nations” (Isa 52:6-7)
 Western society: treat ourselves as weak/broken
 A form of self absoption
 Releases us from serving others.
 Seems so humble!
 In Christ we are made strong! (2 Cor 12:10)
The Weak are Made Strong . . .
 Called to serve and share in spite of our weakness
 From our series in John:
 God will not override our resistance
 God will empower us in our weakness
 Faithful to do what God lays before us to do!