In yesterday's study the apostle warned his readers that God judges by what is in the heart. Being a Jew, Paul knows that many of his own countrymen are trusting in their status as God's chosen people. Because the law and the prophets were given to them, some of them have developed the mindset that their place in heaven is guaranteed. But Paul points out today that the true Jew is the one who honors God in his heart and who tries to live by God's precepts. This is why he will make the statement in Chapter 9, "Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel."
The same can be said today of the church. Not everyone who sits in church is a Christian. It's possible to show up for every service, to carry a Bible, to look the right way, to talk the right way, even to sing in the choir---and not be right with the Lord at heart. I ought to know. I grew up in the church, I heard the gospel every Sunday, I participated in Sunday school classes, I participated in Christmas programs, I knew how to talk the talk, I knew how to behave, I knew how to dress for the part---but I wasn't right with the Lord. I don't think anyone ever suspected, but God knew. It wasn't until I was twenty-two years old that I gave my heart to the Lord.
Paul issues a stern warning to anyone who is trusting in his status as a member of the nation of Israel rather than in the Lord to make him righteous. "Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth---you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: 'God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.'" (Romans 2:17-24)
He says to the Jews, "It is not enough to have the law; you must obey the law." He could say the same to those who sit in church, "It is not enough to have a Bible; you must believe the gospel message contained within it, and you must belong to Jesus Christ." When a person claims to belong to the Lord, yet lives in a way that proves he does not, it gives unbelievers an opportunity to mock God. I couldn't tell you how many times I've heard unbelievers that they aren't about to set foot in church because there are so many hypocrites there. They know people who behave one way in church and another way in the community. It causes them to have a distaste for the church and, sadly, for Christ. When a non-Christian is aware that someone who professes to be a Christian is caught up in an adulterous relationship, or has been embezzling funds from his workplace, or has been swindling people in business deals, or has fallen prey to various addictions, it causes the unbeliever to scornfully say, "Why do these Christians think they are any better than I am? I've never cheated on my wife or stolen from my work or done drugs or cheated people out of their hard-earned money. I'm living a more moral life than some of these Christians. Why do I need to be in church? Why do I need Christ?" Just as not everyone who is of Israel is Israel, not everyone who attends Christian services is really a Christian.
Some of Paul's countrymen believe being of "the circumcision" protects them from the wrath of God, but he warns them this isn't the case. "Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you have not been circumcised. So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law's requirements, will they not be regarded as though they are 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." (Romans 2:25-27)
He says, "Some of the Gentiles have succeeded where some of you have failed. Though they are not of 'the circumcision', though the law and the prophets weren't given to them, though they are not the children of Abraham and heirs to the promises God made to Abraham, they have obtained these things by being circumcised in their hearts. Their hearts are right with God and, just as Abraham's faith made him right with God, the faith of the Gentiles has made them right with God." Paul doesn't want either group looking down on the other. Both Jews and Gentiles have to be right with God in their hearts. If a Jew lives contrary to the Lord then he might as well not be a member of God's chosen nation. If a Gentile lives in obedience to the Lord it is as if he is one of God's chosen people.
"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 2:28-29) The Lord's brother James, who became a leader of the church at Jerusalem, said something similar, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22)
In Paul's day some of the teachers of the law knew the law inside and out and yet did a poor job of keeping it. There are those who can quote passages from all over the Bible and yet don't belong to Christ. We can put on a front and fool our fellow man into thinking we are someone we are not, but if we want the approval of a holy God we can't "play church". We have to really be the church. God doesn't care whether we carry a big Bible and attend services and wear nice dresses or fancy suits and quote Scripture from morning til night. God cares about the state of our hearts. If our hearts aren't right with Him, everything else is meaningless.
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