All people, whether Jew or Gentile, have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. The Jews thought they were righteous because they had the law of Moses and were descendants of Abraham, but keeping the law perfectly was impossible. True righteousness comes only through faith in Jesus Christ. While Gentiles without the law can still do righteous acts by nature, no one can claim spiritual superiority - all need salvation. True circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit, not outward observance of rituals. God alone can judge what is in our hearts, so we should not judge others.
1. Romans 3 21-23
But now the
Righteousness of God withoutRighteousness of God without
the Lawthe Law is manifestedmanifested, being
witnessed by the Law and the
prophets; Even the Right-
eousness of God which is by
faith of Jesus Christ unto all
and upon all them that
believe: for there is no
difference: For allall have
sinned, and come short of the
glory of God;
111-14-2010
2. Rom 2:12
For as many as have sinned without law
(Gentiles) shall also perish without law: and as many
as have sinned in the law (Jews) shall be judged by
the law; 13
(For notnot the hearers of the law are just
before God, but the doersdoers of the law shall be justified.
2
To be justified in our ownown righteousness,
We would have to be perfect in every detailevery detail.
Therefore, every manevery man, whether Jew or Gentile,
Must receive the Righteousness of Jesus ChristJesus Christ,
be forgivenforgiven of our sins,
And be bornborn of the Holy Spirit of God.
3. 14
For when the Gentiles, which have not the Law,
do by nature the things contained in the Law,
these, having not the Law, are a law unto
themselves:
15
Which shew the work of the law written in their
hearts, their conscienceconscience also bearing witness, and
their thoughts the mean while accusing or else
excusing one another;)
3
There are gentiles who are
good moralmoral men and women.
They still need to be savedbe saved.
4. 16
In the day when God shall judge the secretssecrets of
men by Jesus Christ according to my Gospel.
4
Nothing speaks more terror to sinners, and more
comfort to saints, than that Christ shall be the
Judge. Secret servicesSecret services shall be rewarded, secretsecret
sinssins shall be then punished, and brought to light.
Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary.
5. Luke 12 1-3
… He began to say unto His disciples
first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the
Pharisees, which is hypocrisyhypocrisy. For there is nothing
covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that
shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have
spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and
that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets
shall be proclaimed upon the housetopsshall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
5
Proverbs 28 13
He that covereth his sins shall not
prosper: but whoso confessethconfesseth and forsakethforsaketh them
shall have mercy.
6. Isaiah 43 25
I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy
transgressions for Mine Own sake, and will notwill not
remember thy sinsremember thy sins.
6
Hebrews 8 12
For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquitiestheir sins and their iniquities
will I remember no morewill I remember no more.
Those sinsThose sins which we have confessedconfessed and of
which we have been forgivenbeen forgiven,
Will nevernever be brought up against us again.
7. 17
Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the
law, and makest thy boastthy boast of God, 18
And knowest
His Will, and approvest the things that are more
excellent, being instructed out of the law;
7
All men willAll men will come to judgment before God.
The Jews thought they didn't need to worry:
They had the Law of Moses;
They were descendants of Abraham.
8. The Jews boasted of their specialspecial
relationshiprelationship with God.
8
They were taught the Law of MosesLaw of Moses.
They knewknew God's Will.
They approved God's WayGod's Way as good.
9. 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.
9
They were arrogant in their self-righteousness.
They saw themselves as superior in every way
to the Gentiles.
10. 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?
10
It's no goodno good to teach against sin,
And then walk in sinwalk in sin.
11. 23
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through
breaking the law dishonorest thou God? 24
For the
Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles
through youthrough 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.
11
Paul is speaking to Jews in these verses.
They thought they were spiritually superiorspiritually superior
to all other people.
But like everyone else, they fell shortfell short
of God's standard.
12. 26
Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the
righteousness of the Law, shall not his uncir-
cumcision be counted for circumcision?
27
And shall not uncircumcision which is by
nature, if it fulfill the Law, judge thee, who by the
letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?
12
We will all be judgedall be judged by a holy and just God.
If a Gentile lived a righteous liferighteous life, he would be
found to be a son of God.
If a Jew did not livedid not live a righteous life, he would
be judged the samesame as a Gentile.
13. 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.
13
Just as we found in chapter one,
salvation is of the heartheart.
It matters not how menmen may praise us or not.
GodGod must praise us before praise is valid.
14. Just as Jesus told Nicodemus,
"Ye must be born again."
14
So must we allwe all be born again.
No oneNo one can live up to every detailevery detail of
God's Holy StandardGod's Holy Standard.
All have sinned and come short of the glory of
God.
15. None of us can look downlook down
our nose at another.
All areAll are sinners in need of a
Savior.
15
But, I am afraid that, as Christiansas Christians,
We are sometimes guilty of the samesame
attitudeattitude of superioritysuperiority
about which PaulPaul was speaking to the JewsJews.
16. Even as Christians looking at other Christiansother Christians, we
sometimes judge ourselves as better than theybetter than they.
16
Such a mindset harmsharms the cause of Christ.
Philippians 2 5
Let this mind be in you, which was
also in Christ Jesus: 6
Who, being in the form of
God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7
But made Himselfmade Himself of no reputation, and took
upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in
the likeness of men: 8
And being found in fashion
as a man, He humbled HimselfHe humbled Himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
17. Godly MindsetGodly Mindset
17
1. Know whoKnow who we are - sons and daughters of God.
2. Be thankfulBe thankful for that relationship.
3. Be and remain in humblehumble obedience to God.
4. Depend totallyDepend totally upon the Righteousness of
Jesus ChristJesus Christ for justification and salvation.
18. Friday, January 7, 2011
1811-14-10
Men's Fellowship and Meeting
Saturday, November 20 at 5:30 PM
Golden Corral