All messages are free to download.
Letting The Law Go And Embracing The Spirit (Romans 2:17-29)
Mick Mooney, April 14, 2010Part of the Romans series, preached at a Web message service
An in depth study of Paul's letter to the Romans
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
DownloadRomans 2:17-29
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. (ESV)
Hiya, just been listening to your ephesians (enjoyed romans – very much) cos I’m studying ephesians and I came across this teaching which really blessed me in reading eph 1 and thought I’d share it with you too, it also linked with Gal 3:24- Gal 4:7.
In our culture when we talk about the adoption of a son we are actually talking about taking a non biological child and including it as part of your family. That’s a wonderful practice but that’s not what the bible means when it talks about adoption and it’s important we understand this. When the bible speaks about adoption it speaks about a father having his own biological son. What happened in those days was a father would take his son and would contract tutors and teachers to teach that child in certain areas to become effective in those areas. Once the Father was happy with the development of the Son he would then call a ceremony which was called the adoption ceremony. It was the acknowledgement of the young child now becoming mature, and in that moment the father identified the son as his heir. (The Jews still have a similar ceremony, BHAMITZVA where he becomes a son of the law, he has accomplished his learning).
The words then which the son is referred to changes, what he was always referred to was nepios meaning a little child, one that doesn’t have legal standing yet (Gal 4:1), but the reference then changes to a different word, Huios , meaning sonship, a mature son an Heir, one that can inherit.
If we can understand this meaning of sonship then you know you have been included not that you have to try to become, and we can take hold of our full inheritance.
At this adoption ceremony two important things happened the first thing is that the father prepared a cloak or robe for his child. A cloak was a very important thing in biblical times because it referred to your identity. It revealed who you are, just like a uniform identifies your status in society today. For example if you were a king you had a king’s cloak, a priest; a priest’s cloak, a butcher; a butcher’s cloak and so on.
The father prepared a robe for his son that would identify him as an inheritor, whenever he put on this robe everyone would know that he is now an heir.
The second important thing at the ceremony was that the father would shout out publicly “This is my Son” (still done at Bhamitzva’s) .
This information is helpful in understanding our identity as ‘adopted sons’ and our inheritance both of which the bible speaks a lot of.
WOW! Enjoy love from rachel.
That’s awesome Rachel, thanks so much for explaning this, it gave me some well needed enlightment on our heavenly Father’s perspective and intention in His act of adoption towards us, Kingdom kids. Thanks again, and be blessed abundantly.
Keeper.
Thanks brother -:) I am listing now..
Great; enjoy the good news!
Enjoyed listing….Thanks for sharing. Blessings
Thanks for listening Hagere
Glad to hear you enjoyed the message.
Mick, i just started listening to Romans 1:1-31. It's wonderful to know i don't have to judge people. My church is talking about the need of accountibility partners. Isn't that the same thing as judging one another? You are a blessing to me. Agnes Grace
Romans 5,1-11 was just mindblowingly amazing Mick! I feel like looking for more synonyms for 'good' as I run out of adjectives to describe Jesus… haha
Amen, Love you all!