Romans 2:17-24

17: But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God,
18: and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,
19: and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20: a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,
21: you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
22: You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23: You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
24: For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written.

*** 

Paul continued the thought that the Jews were not to rely on just being a Jew to consider themselves right with God. They knew His will because they had learned it from the Law. So if they were confident enough in knowing what was right that they could guide the blind, correct those in error, and teach the immature, then wouldn't they also teach themselves? Did they say one thing and do another thinking that was okay? For them to think there would be no consequence for sin was simply not true.

Paul then reminded them of what the Prophet Isaiah said and quoted a Scripture from Isaiah 52:5, “The Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” This was referring to the exile of the Israelites caused by their sin which resulted in the unbelievers in the other nations to speak against God. It made Him appear as if He was no better than a false god or idol because He couldn’t keep His people in the land. However, God made it clear in Ezekiel 36:16-38 that it wasn’t His fault they were exiled, it was due to their sin. Paul reminded them of this prophecy as a safeguard against any arrogant thinking the Jews might have had which would lead to a fatal misunderstanding of how they were to receive salvation.

Today, we enjoy the benefit of having a new heart and spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. We enjoy the benefit of being filled with His Holy Spirit so we can live a life pleasing to God, despising sin. We don’t ever want to make the mistake of thinking that just because we’re a Christian, we can sin whenever we want and simply ask for forgiveness to be right with God. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of the heart. When we are truly filled with His Spirit, the desires of our heart begin to line up with His and we can live a life pleasing to the Lord.

 

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