Religiosity is not spirituality
Read Romans 2:17-29 [17]Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,[18]And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;[19]And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,[20]An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.[21]Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?[22]Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?[23]Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?[24]For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.[25]For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.[26]Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?[27]And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?[28]For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:[29]But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
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MEMORISE: You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? (Romans 2:21)
EXPOSITION
The Jews were people who had special relationship with God. They were adopted by God; they had excellent pedigrees and could boast in the fathers. They received the Law of God, and so knew His will. Hence, they saw themselves as guides (v. 19) to the world. They were in covenant with God, and from them, Christ, the Saviour of the whole world came! What a privilege! (cf. Rom. 2:17-18, 9:4-5) However, they were hypocrisy; merely religious but not spiritual! This act of hypocrisy made the Gentiles to blaspheme God's name because of them. Consequently, Paul redefined what it actually means to be a Jew: For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (Romans 2:28,29 NKJV)
So, a person may be very religious but lacking real relationship with God. Two persons may appear before Christ for His view on their daily walks; one takes pride in thoroughly keeping the traditions of his denomination and of elders, while the other genuinely demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). What would Christ's verdict be? We know that a person may be outwardly a Christian and inwardly something else! Therefore, reflect on the following two questions today:
- What makes a person a true Christian?
- How much does peer pressure from friends and co-workers influence our beliefs and behaviours as Christians?
PRAYER POINTS
- Lord, help me to change every inconsistent behaviour and attitude in my Christian life.
- Lord, help me to be more concerned about pleasing You than pleasing other people.
- Pray that through you, the name of the Lord will not be blasphemed.