For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, But the righteous will live by faith.

-Romans 1:16-17 (NASB)

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.

-Romans 1:18-19 (NLT)

One: The Delusion of Moral Superiority

Therefore you have no excuse, you foolish person, everyone of you who passes judgment; for in that matter in which you judge someone else, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God?

-Romans 2:1-3 (NASB)

Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.

-Romans 1:29-31 (NLT)

We are all capable of great evil - but we tend to think we are not.

Even in prison, murderers, rapists and thieves have no tolerance for child molesters. And have no compunction about mistreating or even killing them.

-Chuck Swindoll

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest. David was furious. As surely as the Lord lives, he vowed, any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity. Then Nathan said to David, You are that man!

-2 Samuel 12:1-7a (NLT)

We work ourselves up into a state of righteous indignation over the disgraceful behavior of other people, while the same behaviour seems not so serious when it's ours, rather than theirs.

-John Stott, The Message of Romans

Our criticism of others is quicker and harsher. That is why Jesus told us to remove the log in our eye before trying to remove the speck of dust in another person’s.

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will repay each person according to his deeds:

-Romans 2:4-6 (NASB)

We are saved by grace through faith.

For there is no partiality with God.

-Romans 2:11 (NASB)

For God does not show favoritism.

-Romans 2:11 (NLT)

For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.

-Romans 2:12-16 (NASB)

Paul argues that the gentiles/ non christians have the natural law written in their hearts that points them towards God. They will be judged on that.

  POINT: THE TRUTH IS AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WE ARE ALL THE SAME; THE GOOD PERSON AND THE BAD PERSON

TWO: THE DELUSION OF RELIGIOUS COMPETENCY

  Paul now moves to from the Moral person to the religious person

But if you call yourself a Jew and rely upon the Law and boast in God, and know His will and distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the Law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to people who are blind, a light to those in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, possessing in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— you, therefore, who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one is not to steal, do you steal? You who say that one is not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who loathe idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, just as it is written.

-Romans 2:17-24 (NASB)

Paul is not saying there is something wrong about being a Jew. He is a Jew himself. He is telling the Jews that the problem is that they brag about it and their special status.

You call yourself a born-again Christian and you are sure you are right with God because you signed a commitment or walked down the aisle or prayed a prayer…you remember you had strong feelings for God, so you must have been converted that night. And hence you have memorized dozens of Scripture verses and you know the right answer to a large array of questions. You have led other people to commit to Christ….

-Timothy Keller

Why do you come to church?

  Religious people do things to win God’s favor.

According to Chuck Swindoll, religion reveals itself in 3 ways:

• Religion emphasizes the physical over the spiritual It underscores pious activities and the appearance of sacrificial labour- you must go on this pilgrimage, you must pray these beads; if you are worthy, you can attend services at the temple, if you fast these number of days then you are good with God.

• Religion emphasizes secondary matters while ignoring matters of primary importance - outward appearances become the focus of attention rather than sincere belief and genuine obedience

• Religion promotes self-interest above all else. The religious zealot is self-centred

  Max Lucado comments that one thing we know for sure is that Judas Iscariot never had a relationship with the Master.

He had seen Jesus but did not know Him. He had heard Jesus but did not understand Him. He had religion but not relationship. So as Satan worked his way around the table in the Upper Room, he needed a special kind of man to betray our lord. He needed a man who had seen Jesus but did not know Him. He needed a man who knew the actions of Jesus but missed out on the mission of Jesus… Judas bore the cloak of religion, but he never knew the heart of Christ.

-Max Lucado

  Satan's best tools for destruction don't come from Hollywood or Washington, but from within the church: people with religion and no relationship.

You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. No wonder the Scriptures say, The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.

-Romans 2:23-24 (NLT)

A life of Religious legalism is always distasteful to those outside the faith.

-Timothy Keller

  If you choose to behave like a religious person, it will lead to failure and frustration because you cannot achieve perfection or keep up the pretense.

  The Gospel is unique in that none of us can measure up to our own moral standard, let alone God’s.

THREE: TRUE TRANSFORMATION IS AT THE HEART LEVEL

Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The 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. A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

-Romans 2:25-29 (NIV)

  Unless the heart is transformed by the Holy Spirit, you will continue to be a religious person.

So what if you have been baptized? So what if you are a church member? This only counts for anything if there has been real change in your life, if your heart has been truly affected. Don't you know you are not a Christian if you are one externally? Real Christianity is not about having confidence in external things. No, a Christian is someone who is a Christian inside; what matters is inner baptism, a heart- membership of God’s people. And this is a supernatural work, not a human one. 

-Tim Keller, adapted from John Stott’s The Message of Romans

Dead Orthodoxy makes church into a religious cushion for people who think they are Christians, but in fact they are radically and subconsciously insecure about their acceptance before God. So every Sunday (Weekend) people gather to be reassured that they are all right.”

-Timothy Keller

No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.

-Romans 2:29a (NIV)

In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands… When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.

-Colossians 2:11, 13 (NIV)

  So this circumcision is a supernatural thing done by the Holy Spirit according to Romans. It is a gift of grace given to those who submit themselves to God, who understand only God can change the human heart.

What is the heart? In relation to the Bible, the heart is the centre of knowledge leading to intentions and actions.

-Ray Anderson, , the late theologian and Senior Professor of Theology and Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary.

  So when your heart is circumcised by the Holy Spirit, He starts to fill your heart with the things of God so that your intentions and actions change to do His will.

  A circumcised heart is:

• One that is spiritually melted- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8
• One with an active prayer life out of love and devotion to God
• One of daily mission with God for His purposes because of new knowledge learned from God’s Word and activated by God’s Spirit

  PERSONAL AUDIT: How big is the gap between Scripture knowledge and Practice in your own life?.

  There will always be a gap because we are human - but is the gap getting smaller?

Have you seen Jesus but do not know Him. Have you heard Jesus but do not understand Him. Do you have religion but not relationship.

-Russian Soldier in Communist Russia

Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law. Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.

-Psalms 119:29, 33-36 (NIV)

CONGREGATIONAL AUDIT: IS OUR CHURCH DEAD OR ALIVE?

  What does worship feel like corporately? Are we gathered anticipating God wants to meet us? Do we feel a sense of deadness and /or emptiness?  Do we come on the weekend to fulfill an obligation?

  Coming to church is one thing.  Is your heart drawing near to God? James says, draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

MISSION AUDIT - HOW MISSION-MINDED ARE YOU?

  God has given all of us Scripture - We have been entrusted with the Good News. We have the Full Revelation given of Jesus in the Bible.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

-2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV)

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!

-Romans 10:14 (NIV)

Make a Decision