Unashamed Reading Plan – W3D2
Check out all the previous Unashamed readings here.
Unashamed Reading Plan | Week 3 | Day 2
Prayer
Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Thank God for time to spend with Him and ask Him to meet with you.
Bible Reading: Romans 2:17-3:8
Read these verses three times slowly.
Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge.”
But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!
Reflection & Questions
As we read yesterday, Paul is making the argument in our readings this week that no one is righteous; no one is exempt from being completely dependent on the gospel. He gets even more in the Jewish Christian’s face today. There’s a saying that ministry is about comforting the hurting and hurting the comfortable. Paul is hurting the comfortable for sure in these verses today.
The Jews are comfortable in the fact they are God’s special people. They received the law. They have a special covenant with God. They are circumcised (a command God gave the Jews to separate them from the Gentiles). They believe they are “are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children.” With all this spiritual blessing that they have inherited, they’re coasting.
However, Paul shoots across their bow. Their cruising makes Paul wonder if they are truly saved and truly Jewish. They might have all these outward signs. But being saved is shown in a heart transformation. “A person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.” In other words, there’s no birthright into God’s grace. In fact, birthrights lead to arrogance, pride and coasting. The very things that lead to the saddest part of all this: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Paul is hurting the comfortable, the faith-coasters, all with the hopes of them coming to their senses, that they need change and they need Jesus just as much as the next guy.
- What are behaviors or birthrights that people today think give them good standing before God? What would Paul say?
- Have you become comfortable in your faith? Talk to God about that.
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Bible Reading: Romans 2:17-23
Read these verses three times slowly.
Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Reflection & Questions
As we read yesterday, Paul is explaining that no one is righteous, every person should be completely dependent on the story of salvation written in the gospel. He gets even more in the faces of those Roman Jewish Christians who are just too comfortable with themselves as God’s special people. They have received the law and have a special covenant with God. They are separate from the Gentiles. They believe they “are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children.” With all of the spiritual blessings that they have been given, they are taking it easy!
Paul, however, shoots them straight! He questions if they are truly saved and truly Jewish. They might have all these outward signs, but truly being saved is shown through a heart transformation, on the INside! They don’t get to just coast into the grace of God, believing they deserve it. They need change on the inside and they need Jesus just as much as the next guy!
- Have you become comfortable in living your life as a Christian? Can you think of some ways that being a Christian should be difficult that you are avoiding?
Pray
Ask Jesus to show you some ways that you are coasting through your Christian life and to help you tackle some of the difficult parts of being a Christian.
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
