Objection to God's judgment on the Jews............1) We have the law Romans 2 v 17-24.
Paul's argument here is why are we relying on, boasting about the law? The law only condemns us, "as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law." Romans 2 v 12. Not one of you have kept the law, you are guilty of breaking God's law; it will only judge you. All you have is a FORM of knowledge and FORM of the truth in the law (v 20), just an outward appearance of it, but not the reality.
Perhaps the worst offenders of this hypocrisy, were the Pharisees and the scribes, at the time of Jesus.
They were a strict religious sect, about 6000 in number (Paul was one of them), who not only claimed superior piety, but tended to force it on others. They became bitter enemies of Jesus, who was not impressed one iota with their sham.
In the, now-famous denunciation of the sect in Matthew 23, the Lord exposes the shallowness, and ruthlessness of their empty religion.
Matthew 23v 5 "They do all their works to be seen of men"
Matthew 23 v 13 v14 v 15 v 25 v 27 "Hypocrites"
Matthew 23 v 15 "Ye travel land and sea to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twice the child of hell than yourselves".
Matthew 23 v 16 "blind leaders of the blind".
Matthew 23 v 27 "Whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of uncleanness."
It is too easy to present a pious front to men, but it is hateful to God, and He sees right through it; it is empty, it is worthless, and is condemned.
Paul, now in five rapier-like challenges to them, in the form of rhetorical questions, proceeds to take off the mask.
"You that teach others, do you not teach yourself?"
"You that preach do not steal, do you steal?"
"You that say do not commit adultery, are you guilty of it?"
"You that abhor idols, do you rob temples?" thus exposing the idol in your heart-money!
"You that boast in the law, through breaking the law do you dishonour God?"
How many religious frauds have there been in the world; how many are there today?
We are saddened by the reports of apparent child sex abuse in so-called churches, people who claim to serve God, and speak for God, publicly exposed, and none too quick to say sorry. However the aim of this is not to indulge in finger-pointing, but for us all to search our hearts before an all-seeing, and all- knowing God.
"Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" Galatians 6 v 7.
Paul continues; here is the history, here is the evidence:
"The name of God is blasphemed, among the Gentiles through you, as it is written."
Where is it written?......he makes no specific reference, it's as if to say it is written all over the scriptures, all over our history! The stark reality is that we who were to proclaim the glory of God, the beauty of God, the attractiveness of God to the world, instead have brought shame upon His Holy Name, have left His reputation in tatters. We have disgraced His Name. SOLEMN WORDS.
"My name, continually every day is blasphemed." Isaiah 52 v 5.
"And when they entered unto the nations, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them these are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land, but I had pity for MY HOLY NAME, which the house of Israel had profaned whither they went: and I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the nations, which ye profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I AM THE LORD, saith the Lord God, when I will be sanctified in you before their eyes." Ezekiel 36 v 20-23.
"The daughters of the Philistines are ashamed of thy lewd way". Ezekiel 16 v 27.
"Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast insatiable". Ezekiel 16 v 28.
The sham of religion is present with us in all generations. Only God's judgment will expose it.
Tomorrow d. v. Objection 2 We are the circumcision.
Paul's argument here is why are we relying on, boasting about the law? The law only condemns us, "as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law." Romans 2 v 12. Not one of you have kept the law, you are guilty of breaking God's law; it will only judge you. All you have is a FORM of knowledge and FORM of the truth in the law (v 20), just an outward appearance of it, but not the reality.
Perhaps the worst offenders of this hypocrisy, were the Pharisees and the scribes, at the time of Jesus.
They were a strict religious sect, about 6000 in number (Paul was one of them), who not only claimed superior piety, but tended to force it on others. They became bitter enemies of Jesus, who was not impressed one iota with their sham.
In the, now-famous denunciation of the sect in Matthew 23, the Lord exposes the shallowness, and ruthlessness of their empty religion.
Matthew 23v 5 "They do all their works to be seen of men"
Matthew 23 v 13 v14 v 15 v 25 v 27 "Hypocrites"
Matthew 23 v 15 "Ye travel land and sea to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twice the child of hell than yourselves".
Matthew 23 v 16 "blind leaders of the blind".
Matthew 23 v 27 "Whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of uncleanness."
It is too easy to present a pious front to men, but it is hateful to God, and He sees right through it; it is empty, it is worthless, and is condemned.
Paul, now in five rapier-like challenges to them, in the form of rhetorical questions, proceeds to take off the mask.
"You that teach others, do you not teach yourself?"
"You that preach do not steal, do you steal?"
"You that say do not commit adultery, are you guilty of it?"
"You that abhor idols, do you rob temples?" thus exposing the idol in your heart-money!
"You that boast in the law, through breaking the law do you dishonour God?"
How many religious frauds have there been in the world; how many are there today?
We are saddened by the reports of apparent child sex abuse in so-called churches, people who claim to serve God, and speak for God, publicly exposed, and none too quick to say sorry. However the aim of this is not to indulge in finger-pointing, but for us all to search our hearts before an all-seeing, and all- knowing God.
"Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" Galatians 6 v 7.
Paul continues; here is the history, here is the evidence:
"The name of God is blasphemed, among the Gentiles through you, as it is written."
Where is it written?......he makes no specific reference, it's as if to say it is written all over the scriptures, all over our history! The stark reality is that we who were to proclaim the glory of God, the beauty of God, the attractiveness of God to the world, instead have brought shame upon His Holy Name, have left His reputation in tatters. We have disgraced His Name. SOLEMN WORDS.
"My name, continually every day is blasphemed." Isaiah 52 v 5.
"And when they entered unto the nations, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them these are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land, but I had pity for MY HOLY NAME, which the house of Israel had profaned whither they went: and I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the nations, which ye profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I AM THE LORD, saith the Lord God, when I will be sanctified in you before their eyes." Ezekiel 36 v 20-23.
"The daughters of the Philistines are ashamed of thy lewd way". Ezekiel 16 v 27.
"Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast insatiable". Ezekiel 16 v 28.
The sham of religion is present with us in all generations. Only God's judgment will expose it.
Tomorrow d. v. Objection 2 We are the circumcision.
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