False Security 

Scripture Reading: Romans 2:17-29.

Memory Verse: "I am the door: by me if any man shall enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9).

Introduction: Overconfidence. "This, of course, was the great danger for the religious-minded Jew of Bible times. Every Jew realized that in respect to the truth he was privileged far above the rest of the people on the earth. Paul insightfully describes this sense of privilege in verses 17, 18:
  Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and being about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law . . .
  "In this one sentence the apostle notes that their sense of privilege had six aspects:
  "First, they were called Jews, which means 'praise to Jehovah . . .'
  "Second, they relied upon the possession of the Law (the Torah) as giving them a unique standing before God . . .
  "Third, they bragged regarding God . . . they were boasting because of their being God's favorites, the true people of God.
  "Fourth, they prided themselves on knowing his revealed will, derived from the Ten Commandments and other Old Covenant Scriptures.
  "Fifth, they discerned the things that were essential. That is, they prided themselves on being able to make superior moral judgments.
  "Sixth, they were instructed from the Law. The Law was a light to their feet.
  "These six things were wonderful privileges. But as wonderful as they were, they had a deluding effect on the Jews. When they compared their enlightenment with the abysmal theological ignorance of the Gentiles they looked very good. Of course they were acceptable to God!
  "We today recognize their spiritual blindness. But the blade cuts both ways, does it not? The sword that pierces the heart of the religious Jew also pierces ours . . .
  "Whenever a follower of Christ feels superior, he should beware, for such an attitude is not a sign of God's grace. To come into a position of spiritual privilege only to succumb to self-righteous arrogance indicates that one's soul is in great danger. Our familiarity with holy things must never give way to spiritual presumption."--John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Romans 1-8, p. 144.

Lesson Questions:

1. Will a man's racial or religious heritage save him? Romans 2:17a; Micah 3:9-12; John 8:31-39; Matthew 3:7-9; Philippians 3:2-7.
". . . The profession of religion, even though it be divinely revealed religion, is not enough if the one who professes the religion is not in some sense transformed by it. The reality of possession is ten thousand times more important than the formality of profession."--R. Kent Hughes, Romans, Righteousness From Heaven, pp. 63,65.

2. Is knowledge of the law sufficient for salvation? Romans 2:17b,18; Luke 18:9-13; Jeremiah 7:3-7; James 4:15-17; Amos 6:1.

3. How does Paul sarcastically accuse the self-righteous Jews who were steeping their Gentile converts in empty tradition? Romans 2:19,20; Matthew 23:15,23-28; 2 Timothy 3:5; Galatians 4:10,11; Mark 7:5-13.

4. Of what spiritual and moral hypocrisy were they guilty? Romans 2:21,22; James 3:1; Matthew 23:3,14; 5:27-32; Ezekiel 22:12.
"Although by New Testament times the nation of Israel had long since ceased conquering Gentile territories, it is possible that individual rogue Jews plundered pagan temples for purely mercenary reasons. The statement by the town clerk at Ephesus that Paul and his associates were not robbers of temples (Acts 19:37) suggests that it was not uncommon for Jews to be guilty of that offense . . . "--Donald Grey Barnhouse, God's Wrath, (Romans 2-3:1-20), p. 111.

5. What was the result of those who boasted in the Law of God but failed to keep it? Romans 2:23,24; Ezekiel 16:17-21; 2 Samuel 12:14; Nehemiah 5:9; 2 Peter 2:2.

6. What made circumcision meaningful and beneficial? Romans 2:25; Galatians 5:3; Jeremiah 9:25,26; Philippians 3:2.
"Important as it was, circumcision was only an outward symbol. And rather than freeing Jews from God's law, circumcision made them even more responsible for obeying it, because that ritual testified to their greater knowledge of their sin, of God, and of His will in regard to them."--John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Romans 1-8, p. 157.

7. Contrasting the obedient Gentile to the disobedient Jew, which one will find favor with God? Romans 2:26,27; Matthew 12:41,42; 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 51:16-19.
"Circumcision alone does not justify a man [neither does baptism]. His actions must be consonant with his profession of faith."--John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Romans 1-8, p. 160.

8. What is the true definition of a Jew? Romans 2:28,29; Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6; Galatians 6:14,15; Colossians 2:10-12; Philippians 3:3.