Getting to the Heart of the Issue (Romans 2:17-29)

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.

Introduction

In the Great Divorce, C. S. Lewis leads us in a reflection on good versus evil, and heaven versus hell. One dialogue between two old friends portrays an attitude that is common among people who have rejected Christ. One is a resident of heaven who is visiting his friend in hell- though he apparently doesn't realize he is in hell. The resident of hell recalls that his visitor from heaven had gotten rather narrow-minded in his later years, even going so far as to believe in a literal heaven and hell. Let's jump into the conversation with the visitor from heaven speaking.

Though Lewis knew that people in hell would certainly know that they are there, this conversation portrays to us the mislead confidence that so many have who are eternally lost.

Someday, people beyond number will stand before the Great White Throne (Revelation 20:11-15). Perhaps initially they will be shocked that they are even there, that there even is such a thing. And though they may have lived a "good life" and even have been a "church person"- a devout one!- they will realize the terrifying truth of what Jesus proclaimed when He walked among us. ²¹"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:21-23).

Kent Hughes reinforces this harsh reality many will face. (I gratefully draw heavily on Hughes' insights throughout this message.) "It is difficult to conceive that earnest, sincere religious people will be lost, but this (passage which I have just read) and other Scriptures indicate this is indeed so. Moreover, some who will be judged come from among orthodox people who subscribe to the Apostle's Creed and can repeat the Nicene Creed:

"Some who believe in the inerrancy of the original autographs of Scripture- some who would fight to the last for the veracity of the Bible- will be lost! Why? Because they have been lulled by a false religious security which has prevented them from getting to the heart of the matter."

Transition

As we turn our attention to Romans 2:17-29, we come to understand that the heart of the issue is the issue of the heart. In these verses, Paul talks about a spiritual and religious group of people who have a false religious security. They have become blinded to their need and condition. These well-intentioned people face two dangers that may affect their eternity: (1) the danger of overconfidence- thinking everything is okay because we possess the truth, and (2) the danger of salvation by association- thinking everything is okay because of who we affiliate with. Paul concludes that the heart of the issue is the issue of the heart. These dangers can be avoided by (3) the assurance of a right heart

The danger of overconfidence

Paul had declared, in no uncertain terms, the fallen and depraved condition of the Gentile world in chapter one. In chapter two, he addressed a group of smug self-righteous people who, as it were, had been standing just off to the side, nodding in self-justified agreement to Paul's assessment. The apostle was quick to point out that God does not show favoritism. The smug observers could not pass judgement for they too were guilty. In 2:17, we see that specifically, Paul is addressing the Jews.

These spiritually-minded, religious people were in danger of overconfidence. They were people of privilege- and they knew it. 2:17-18 describes for us six aspects of their privileged position that led to their overconfidence.

1. 17Now you, if you call yourself a Jew . . . Jew means "praise to Jehovah." The Jews wore the title with pride. If you were a Jew among Gentiles you would be sure to have posted on your house and written on your business card in bold letters, Steve Read, Jew.
2. . . . if you rely on the law . . . The Jews depended on their possession of the Law, the Torah. It gave them their special standing with God. But their special standing didn't come from living the Law, but from simply possessing it.
3. . . . and brag about your relationship to God . . . They were boastful about their relationship with God. Boasting in the Lord can be good if He is the object of one's boast and is receiving the glory. But these people were boasting about how special they were because they were God's chosen people.
4. . . . ¹⁸if you know his will . . . They prided themselves on knowing God's will because they had the Ten Commandments and the Old Testament Scriptures. But to know God's will and to not live is to live in danger of overconfidence.
5. . . . and approve of what is superior . . . They prided themselves in being able to make superior moral judgements. Certainly they were better then the Gentiles who were morally corrupt!
6. . . . because you are instructed by the law . . . The law was their guide, their light, their instructor. Their overconfidence throbbed with misplaced confidence. The instructions of God are empty when they are not lived.

These six aspects of their privileged position lulled them into believing they were favored by God over the Gentiles. "Of course," they reasoned, "we are accepted by God. Look how enlightened we are compared to these depraved pagan Gentiles." Their presumptions placed them in danger of overconfidence.

The error of the Jews is clear to us today. But let us beware lest we inadvertently also place our confidence in our privileges rather than in God's grace to us. It is easy for us to think that we are okay with God because we know so much more about the Bible than these post-moderns, the seculars and non-Christians, who generate much of the steam that drives our culture today. But like the Jews, it is presumptuous to know the Bible without living the Bible. It is possible today to own a couple dozen versions of the Bible, to be a faithful member in church, to boast about our special standing with God, and to entirely miss the boat. ²²Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:22-23).

Paul puts an exclamation point on this overconfident spirit of presumption in 2:19-24. 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."

The Jews were convinced of all these positive characteristics. In their minds they were guides, lights, instructors. But Paul asks, "Why don't you teach yourselves? Are you so blind you don't see your own need? Is the log so big in your own eye that you are gouging out the eyes of others as you grope to remove the speck from theirs?

All these negative traits that Paul lists were aspects of the reputation that Jews had in the pagan society- stealing, adultery, desecration of other people's pagan places of worship. William Barclay tells us that the Roman historian, Tacitus, reflected on the society's impression of these overconfident, religious moralists: "'Among themselves their honesty is inflexible, their compassion quick to move, but to all other persons they show the hatred of antagonism.' In Alexandria the story was that the Jews had taken an oath never to show kindness to a Gentile."

Before we ourselves fall guilty to the same overconfident presumption of the Jews, let us remember that Christians often have no better reputation in society today. We have all heard of people who will not consider the claims of Christianity because of the inconsistencies they see in the lives of people who claim to be Christians. We have heard of Christian leaders caught in embezzlement. We have heard of the reputation of certain TV personalities. We have heard of adultery, incest, abuse- even done by Christians in positions of authority in the church. We have heard of angry, unloving Christians who bear unresolved grudges against friends, families, and neighbors.

My friends, having insight into God's Word is empty unless it is lived. Outward conformity and appearances are meaningless when the heart is not right. Knowledge may lead to presumptuous overconfidence if the truth of God's Word is not planted in the heart, bearing fruit that testifies to God's sufficiency and our desperate dependence on Him. Even the well-educated pastor who stands in the pulpit with his carefully prepared exegesis of the Scripture is in danger of overconfidence if his heart is not throbbing with life-transforming faith in the Author of Scripture. Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

The danger of salvation by association

Paul has presented the danger of overconfidence- thinking everything is okay because we possess the truth. In 2:25-27, he warns against danger of salvation by association- thinking everything is okay because of who we affiliate with.

Romans 2:25-27. 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 written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

The Jews believed that circumcision guaranteed their salvation. One rabbi wrote in his commentary on the Book of Moses, "Our Rabbis have said that no circumcised man will see Hell" (Hodge). Another said, "Circumcision saves from Hell." Yet another rabbinical commentator said, "God swore to Abraham that no one who was circumcised should be sent to Hell."

Circumcision is a wonderful thing when one knew and lived it's meaning. Circumcision was a physical sign of an inward reality. In 4:11, Paul says, And he (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. As with all who are given God's righteousness, it was Abraham's faith that made him right with God. Circumcision was a outward sign of that inward reality, of the condition of the heart.

But circumcision had become so much more for the Jews. The outward sign had become for them the determining factor in their right standing with God. Paul makes it clear that to have the outward sign and yet to continue to live in a way that does not demonstrate the inward reality of faith is futile. Such a person will be judged. Hughes reinforces, "Circumcision was of great value if one understood and lived its intended significance. However, if its meaning was disregarded, it was as meaningless as a wedding ring on an adulterer's finger. Faith and performance gave circumcision its reality."

With the circumcision came identification, association, affiliation. To be circumcised was to be a Jew. In their minds, to be a Jew was to be accepted and privileged by God. Paul is making it clear that there is danger in assuming salvation by association. Just because someone has all the outward indicators of being accepted by God does not mean he or she is accepted by God. Not everyone who claims His name at the judgement will enter the kingdom of heaven.

In applying it to our setting, there are those who believe that they will be saved by affiliation. But they will not be. They will substitute "circumcision" for any number of things, but it will meaningless to God.

"But I am a Baptist- Methodist- Presbyterian- charismatic, I raise my hands, I sing praise songs." I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

"But I have been member of the church for twenty years!" I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

"But I have been confirmed in the church." I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

"But I have been baptized in the church." I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

"But I was a regular attender. I even had my own pew." I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

Outward "circumcisions" will never convince God.

The assurance of a right heart

Outward "circumcisions" will never convince God because the heart of the issue is the issue of the heart.

Romans 2:28, 29. 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.

There is a danger of overconfidence. There is a danger of salvation by association. But thank God there is also the assurance of a right heart.

The Old Testament recognized that circumcision was a matter of the heart. Moses said, ⁶ The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live (Deuteronomy 30:6).

The prophets recognized that circumcision was a matter of the heart. Jeremiah exhorted, ⁴Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your heart (Jeremiah 4:4a).

The New Testament acknowledges that circumcision is of the heart. Paul declares to the Colossians, ⁹For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. ¹¹In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ (2:9-11).

Our acceptance by God has nothing to do with knowledge, perceived privilege, affiliation, or association. It is a matter of the heart. As we reflect on these things this morning, we must ask ourselves, "Where does my confidence lie? Am I depending on anything other than the righteousness that Jesus Christ provides me through faith?" If we are, we have placed our confidence wrongly. We are in danger of hearing one day, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!

It need not be that way. We can have assurance in our heart. God promises us in Romans 10:9-10, If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

An outward declaration- publicly confessing with the mouth- of an inward reality- believing in the heart. The heart of the issue is the issue of the heart. Is there is a danger that you have placed your confidence and faith in anything other than God's grace, His gift of His righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ's sacrifice for us when He died on the cross? Then perhaps this is the day to settle the issue of the heart. Confess to Him that you need Him. From your heart, declare His right to rule over all things, including your life. The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes . . . The righteous will live by faith (Romans 1:16, 17).

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