Above The Law

Sermon of the Week

Romans 2:17-29 (NIV)

"Above The Law"

¹⁷Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; ¹⁸if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; ¹⁹if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, ²⁰an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

²¹you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ²²You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? ²⁴As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

 ²⁵Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. ²⁶If those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? ²⁷The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the^[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.   ²⁸A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. ²⁹No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

Message Introduction

The apostle Paul is speaking directly to the Jews and his message to them is very clear.  He identifies who the audience is in verse 17 when he says, “Now you, if you call yourself a Jew . . .” This makes it very clear he is talking to the Jews.  And if we were to look at today’s sermon in a precept forum, we would circle or mark the word “law” 10 times throughout these 12 verses.  And if we were to go back and review verses 12 thru 15, we would see that the word “law” was used 10 times within those 4 verses.  Within the last 17 verses of Romans 2, the word “law” is used 20 times.  This gives a strong indication that his message is in reference to the law and how the Jews are not obeying it.  Paul is telling the Jews to stop breaking the laws, which they are responsible for keeping. 

If you have a wonderful . . . cooked to perfection . . . 40 oz steak, would you try to shove the whole thing in your mouth at one time?  Of course not!  If you did try, more than likely you would choke, or miss the whole experience of the tender, well cooked meal.  Nor would you try to shove an entire cake down your throat!  How would you eat the steak or cake?  One bite at a time!  So, instead of trying to consume all these verses at once to understand what Paul is telling the Jews, let’s break it down into bite-size pieces, starting with verses 17-20. 

1.      No One Is Above The Law (vs. 17-20)

·         The Jews felt that since they were inheritance of the law, keepers of the law and the chosen people of GOD, they could disregard honoring the law.  They felt they were above the law.

·         Paul is letting them know that being a Jew, does not place them above the law.  In fact, for that very reason, the Jew should be the first to honor and obey GOD’s laws.

·         Matthew 5:16-18.  JESUS said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

2.      Practice What You Preach (vs.21-24)

·         Paul is speaking to the hypocritical Jews.  He is asking them, “Do you practice what you preach!” 

·         The Jews instructed others to keep the law, but they did not keep the law themselves. 

·         Even the Gentiles could see that the Jews were being hypocrites.  In doing so, the Jews were not bringing honor and glory to GOD.  Instead, GOD’s name was blasphemed among the Gentiles because of them.  The Gentiles could see that the Jews were saying one thing and doing the exact opposite.

·         Matthew 7:3-5. JESUS said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?  How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

3.      Be True Outward & Inward (vs. 25-29)

·         Paul is telling the Jews that being circumcised is an outward obedience that means nothing if there is no obedience in the heart. 

·         In fact, the uncircumcised who keep the law will condemn those who are circumcised and do not keep the law. 

·         In the last two verses Paul is telling them that a man is not a Jew based on the outward appearance of a physical circumcision, but when a man of inheritance and relationship has been circumcised in the heart, then he is a true Jew.

·         Matthew 22:35-40.  One of them, an expert in the law, tested HIM with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” JESUS replied: “Love the LORD your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Message Conclusion

Paul’s urgency and directness in this passage is to warn the Jews of their hypocritical conduct.  He is telling them that you cannot boast on the fact of being a Jew without doing what is required by GOD’s law as a Jew.  He urges the Jews to practice what they preach.  They cannot continue to tell others what GOD’s law is, then disregard HIS laws because they are born Jews. And finally, Paul wants the Jews to understand that they are to be Jews inwardly.  A Jew must believe in their heart that they are a Jew before they can demonstrate it outwardly.  JESUS wants us to understand that we cannot put ourselves above GOD’s Law; we have got to practice what we preach.  Our Christian walk is not just for us, but also for the unbeliever who is watching.  We have to be a Christian in our hearts first, before we can walk as a Christian outwardly.  The greatest commandment of the Law starts with the love of GOD in our hearts.  If we cannot love GOD from the heart, we can never truly love others or ourselves and this makes us lawbreakers!

Invitation

No one is above GOD’s Law; however, please understand that it is not by our works that we are saved.  It is by the grace of GOD and our acceptance of HIS Son as our personal LORD and Savior.  If you want to love GOD with all your heart, you must believe that JESUS died on the cross for our sins and that HE rose in three days with all power in HIS hand.  Know that JESUS is the One who can help you through all of your trials and tribulations.  HE will never leave you nor forsake you if you accept HIM.  HE will be your lawyer for every case the devil tries to bring before GOD.  Please, it’s time for you to make the best decision of your eternal life.  Simply put . . . do you choose heaven or hell?  One has an eternal life of peace and joy, and the other has an eternal life of chaos and torment. I am not trying to scare you, but I have been transparent throughout the entire sermon, there is no sense in pulling back during the most important part of the worship service.  Are you listening!  Not from my voice to your ears, but are you listening to GOD’s voice speaking to your heart.

Prayer

LORD, thank YOU for giving us a Law is perfect in YOUR grace!  Thank YOU for setting us apart, that we may be able and willing to live according to YOUR Will.  Help us with our unbelief and strengthen us in our walk of faith!  So that we may be fully persuaded that YOU will do just what YOU have promised!  Have mercy on us FATHER!  Keep YOUR hand of protection upon us!  It is in JESUS name we pray! Amen!

We are without excuse of knowing what GOD requires of us!  Apart from CHRIST, we cannot fulfill one law or keep one commandment!  We must seek the help of GOD to do what HE has called us to do!  Get involved in your local church!  Find a healthy bible study and Sunday school program to be involved with!  Don't just attend . . . be involved!  If you have any questions pertaining to this sermon, please post a comment or contact me at nhishand@comcast.net