Hypocrisy Gets an Audit - Part B

You are whoever you really are matters most. Before God knows you really well. So in the end it is a matter what your friends think it is a matter what your parents think is a matter what your kids think is a matter what your spouse does not matter what your pastor thinks. What matters is God. Many of us know the phrase practice what that's especially important for believers to be effective ambassadors for Jesus connect with Skip I think today as he shares what it really means for you to live a sincere and honorable life before the Lord hears an eye-opening resource that gives you insight into her marriage and the family all began never walk into a movie like you may never catch up on the one well seems to the Bible is the opening book your questions with Genesis is the foundation is the ground floor. If we don't understand the book of Genesis won't understand what follows that's divisive reminding that our redemption, death and resurrection starts in the book of Genesis, God says to Satan, I will put enmity between you and the woman between your seed and her seed is a promise of the plot of the rest of the Bible discover the foundation of your faith, the book of Genesis. Our gift to you $35 or more today. Request your copy when you get online securely connectwithskip.com/Oliver or call 800-9200 92 1888. Okay, let's get into today's stick. We're in Romans chapter 2. As we begin our study with skip, Jesus told his followers made his followers size and type. He said you are the light of your the light of the world. You're the light of the world.

You are the light of the world. The city set upon a hill cannot be hit so let your light shine among man that people will see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven, so we too have the right business even more so that's why Christians who never witness like kids playing with flashlights when you know they shine the light of the flashlight in each other's eyes is going came in my flashlight brighter down. It's like okay I'm glad you're having fun but the purpose of a flashlight is to lead people out of darkness make it useful. So sometimes we love to get together and have our events and have our parties and hooted up in celebrate. That's good, but we got to take the light where the light really counts, and be an exporter of truth to enlighten those who are unenlightened, so that's their assets right background right book right business. Now let's let's turn and consider the next thing the auditor does is get the list of deficits they did wrong or if you're like me, but I love vinyl records, probably not a lot of you do.

I love vinyl records. I still play records on a record player. Some of you don't even know what I'm talking of using a language not familiar with, but but let me just tell you little bit about vinyl records just a moment in the day. Bands were put out records and often a record would sell just because of a song or two on the a side but there was always the B side and you listen to it because you're devoted to the group or the or the singer Yosemite. But when you flip it over and play the B say I can see whites on the visa and see why they don't start with a sock right so you buy at all. And you gotta flip it over so Paul plays the ace side said you're good there should get a bag you got this banality flip beside, here's the visa and there's a list of deficits they have the wrong practice the wrong prominence all explained that in the wrong perspective that's what's wrong was of the deficits in this audit. Let's look at the wrong practice. Verse 21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself, you who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal, you who say, do not commit adultery, do you commit adultery you who abhor idols, do you rob temples you make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law, you get the drift. They had the right background. They had the right book problem.

They didn't do it. They didn't practice what they preached in theological terms, we would say they had orthodoxy without ortho proxy.

They had right beliefs without having the right behavior to match the beliefs, it would be like a policeman who loves to write speeding tickets, but when he is in his own vehicle. He breaks the speed loss or like firemen who hears the true story firemen in San Jose, California, arrested because he was burning trash in the backyard illegal to do in the state of California fire got out of control burn 100 acres. The irony is that that man, Luke Goodrich was the fire chief of the city of San Jose, California. When that happened, or dislike of the medical student that I read about.

He said he was a doctor, but he was a third-year medical student, so he had the profession of being a doctor, but at the practice of a third-year medical student caught up with. I miss prescribed things wrong procedures got them into trouble and he was arrested so Paul is giving a spiritual spreadsheet got the right profession. You got the wrong practice. There is a church in Germany, Lubec, Germany.

It's a cathedral Lutheran Cathedral practice on the the most important historic city sites in Lubec and as you enter into this Cathedral there is an engraving. I wanted to read to you. Imagine walking into church in reading this, thus speaketh Christ our Lord, to us, you call me master and obey me not you call me light, but you see me not you call me the way, but you walk me not you call me the life, but you live me not you call me wise, but you follow me, not you call me fair but you love me not you call me eternal, yet you seek me not you call me noble but you certainly not you, gracious but you trust me not you call me might, but you honor me not you call me distrust, but you fear me not so if I condemn you then blame me not out right. I feel that out when I read passages in the Bible never get that. So there's a passage in Luke. I love it and I hated a lot because Jesus said it is true. I hate it because it's true.

He said why do you call me Lord, Lord, but you don't do what I say to good? Very basic question to ask any disciple any follow. Why do you say Lord good saying she don't do what I say not come to believe that Jesus has a lot of fans but not as many followers as you might think a week. We like him in a Facebook kind of away.

We follow him and and Instagram kind of away. Following him with the practice that matches the profession, not always. So that's in their deficit, wrong practice. Second, because of that wrong prominence. They were known for the wrong thing.

The wrong reputation. Verse 24.

Four. Notice the quotes after the words always referring back to an Old Testament passage.

A few of them actually but summing it up for the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you as it is written, all loosely translate that hypocrite gives God a bad name. I hypocrite gives God a blackeye. The context series talking to the Jewish person for a Jew to live differently then he preaches would make a non-Jew and Gentile dismissed the claims of the Jew. Why should I proselytize into your religion and and be a part of this culture. When you live this way differently than what you speak. That's the context in that verse.

So he's quoting the Old Testament passage know this sounds very similar. You recognize this to win Nathan the prophet, went to David who had committed adultery with Bathsheba and didn't confess it. Nathan came and pointed his prep profit finger Adam poked him in the chassis that here the guy you send before God. So David cries confesses his sin. Nathan the prophet said to him, the Lord also has put away your sin and you will not die but because of this, listen to because of this, you have given great occasion for the enemies of the Lord, to blaspheme David to the head of God's people and you did this so enemies of God will point the finger and say look at that guy and they will blaspheme because of what you did when a believer falls into sin.

His witnesses ruined in God's name is sullied and the world will then justifiably ridicule us they will think or say. You always tell me to repent. Why should I you didn't so that that's what I mean by the wrong prominence you're being known for the wrong thing so you have the wrong practice which brings the wrong prominence and it's all because of 1/3 deficit is all because of a wrong perspective. Here's the crux of it.

Verse 25 for circumcision. I get to that moment for circumcision is indeed profitable valuable of good gain. If you keep the law, but if you are a breaker of the law for circumcision is become an circumcision means nothing. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law will not his on circumcision be counted as circumcision and will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law judge you who, even with no written code and circumcision are a transgressor of the law cannot circumcision was an outward sign of an inward change.

Eight-day-old Jewish male was circumcised cutaway the foreskin of his flesh. It was a sign of commitment to God sign of the covenant an outward sign of an inward change. Here's the deal.

The ritual circumcision pointed to a reality.

The reality being I follow God. That's reality. I'm a God follower so if I'm a God follower I I signify that by ritual. Here's the ritual. It points to the reality. I follow God.

Now, if you have the ritual circumcision, the points the reality.

I follow God, but you don't follow God all you have is empty ritual means nothing matters will not do it. There is no value and it's only valuable if you follow God.

What happened is they began to view the ritual of circumcision is sort of a magic charm and insurance policy if you will against God's wrath. In fact, some of the rabbis developed sayings about the ritual of circumcision. I want you to hear a couple of them number one they said and I quote circumcised men do not descend into Gehenna. Gehenna is another word for hell and a second saying circumcision will deliver Israel from Gehenna.

In other words only thing you need to do to keep yourself out of hell is go to the ritual circumcision is get that little thing done your good to go at all you have to do so. The ceremony became a substitute for obedience following God that the rituals are following got everyone follow not just an empty ritual.

Why do it empty and meaningless estimating of verse 25 for circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law, but if you're breaker of the law, your circumcision is become on circumcision. This is why God when he gave the law. Circumcision in the Old Testament. He said in that same Old Testament in the same Torah. Deuteronomy 10 is God speaking circumcised. Therefore, the foreskin of your heart and be stiffnecked no longer. I don't want just the ritual I want the reality with the ritual I want the heart in it. I went the spirit in it. I want you all in not just going to the ritual like a ring. I have a wedding ring. You could put it this way, your ring is honorable as long as your faithful when you're unfaithful to your spouse now is just a piece of metal becomes meaningless, it loses its profit, its meaning, wearing a ring doesn't make you married.

But if you wear a ring you assume someone is married and in that assumption you assume there faithful in their merit, but what's outward may not always be what's in word and Paul differentiates between that verse 28 for he is not a Jew who is one outwardly ignores the circumcision that which is outward in the flesh is a Jew who is one inwardly in the circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter. In 1922 Howard Carter, a British archaeologist made a discovery is one of the greatest discoveries archaeologically in history. He found the tomb of King tenant using pictures or if you been to the museums when it's been on parade you seen some of you the tomb of Quinta amazing when it when they brought to him or when he found that that great burial case, the sarcophagus of King tut was enormous it was, or ornate stone and decorations gold jams when they open the lid of the sarcophagus they found within it. Another casket and it was goldleaf I think of the word.

I made the mistake, but it was gold goldleaf hammered over this cask.

They open that one up. They found get 1/3 casket this time of solid gold. Imagine that that's on display in the museums they open L1 and they found a gold role of sorts wrapped around the body without aerial mascots that magnificent burial mask you seen pictures of King tut over that goal.

Rovers face all that limited the mask off, took the robe off you nose under their leathery with her wrinkled old dead guy, but he sure looked good before they got down to that level.

Think you get my drift.

When we met wear masks.

That's what hypocrite is one who wears a mask we can do a lot of things smoke and mirrors to look really great, but who we really are.

There may not really be life under all that what Paul is writing about in regards to circumcision concert certainly beset a baptism and being a Christian. If you go get baptized but your heart is and then it you just got wet. Congratulations and hope you're refreshed the feel-good towel off now had a good day, but it means nothing at all.

Your baptism is useless unless your hearts tenant and so you could write for he is not a Christian who is one outwardly ignores that church membership or church attendance or baptism, that which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Christian who is one inwardly and this church membership, church attendance baptism is that of the heart in the spirit and not an letter, so policy auditor said assets got a lot of good stuff going for it. Deficits the wrong practice known for the wrong things. That's because you you have the wrong perspective for you. It's all outward. But there's death underneath. Let's let's close by looking at the last part of the last verse of this is the third night is the net appraisal, read all of verse 29. Indulge me, but he is a Jew who is one outwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit not in the letter. It is whose praise you could translate that honor whose praise or honor is not from men but from God. The only one you need approval from for your life is the one who matters most met Scott in the end he's the only one who judges according to truth were told the beginning part of this chapter he sees it all. He knows it all.

We covered that in the end he is either approve or disapprove of your life. So who you are. Whoever you really are matters most. Before God because he he knows you really well. So in the end it doesn't matter what your friends think it does matter what your parents think is matter what your kids think is a matter what your spouse thinks it does not matter what your pastor thinks. What matters is what God thinks he's the one is no proof honor and praise its plan words. I think Jew Jew.means praise and so he ends without thought, whose praise is not from men but from God. I love how you guys are together. So in summing up Romans one and two so far. Romans one says no one is so bad that he can't be saved. Romans two says no one is so good that he doesn't need to be said. He saying all y'all. Whether you're the raunchy crowd or the religious crowd or the self-righteous hypocrite critical. Probably only the same thing.

The only the same thing and that is God's grace. So if you're making the right speech, but missing the right stuff. You won't be approved. Think of the shock of so many people in the end of days, standing before God at the great white throne judgment. First of all, shocked that there even there. And Jesus said, many will say to me on that day, Lord. They know is title. Did we not prophesy in your name, they work for him and in your name cast out demons and perform miracles. They did powerful things in his name and I will say to them. I never knew you depart for me, you who work iniquity. I know you who are you, but pivot for math thought and now think of the sheer joy for those who simply believed and trusted follow from the heart was real to them was in the Sunday thing put on the King tut mask and look regal but it was real and God will audit them and they'll pass with flying colors that audit God will honor them in the end, that's all that counts. The final appraisal as before, so my favorite stories is a group of musicians who used to travel Europe years ago and things were getting hard. They were traveling they they play in like little dinner clubs, you know, people would eat their dinner and they would sing and dance, but times were hard in Europe at the time and in less and less people were coming out to see them perform. They were buying the tickets they were supporting them and us. So one evening before their show.

One very discouraged member of that group address the group and said let's just quit. Let's stop me that nobody's come at the CS that the money to pay look outside starting to snow.

You think people that are. Whether that come see us. I doubt you may have two or three show up alive and do this to stop the square when the older members of the group said no. We made a commitment we have responsibility, let's do it. If this our last show make it our best.

So he encourage them in so they went out one last show they did better than ever. The good thing is good thing because what was all done in the people left and the doors were closed. One of the young members of that musical group had a note in his hand. He was so excited.

Listen to this. He opened it up before the others and said here's what the note reads, thank you for a beautiful performance and was signed.

Your King. The king there King had been traveling through that area and happened to be in that room that night to hear them and was delighted with their performance and everybody else's ill opinion didn't matter at that moment the king liked in the end, your King will sign off on your life as approved, praiseworthy, noble Hon. or not, that's the net appraisal. So don't be dumping whitewashed be washed right the blood of Jesus Christ his basket message from the series partnership you Skip to share how you can keep these messages going strong to connect more people to the gospel of Jesus Bible tells us that God has put eternity in your heart that is a longing that points you back to him. But you don't have to wait for heaven to draw near to him today we want to equip listeners like you and help you connect to his truth. That's why we share these Bible teachings and through your generosity. Today you can help others come to know and experience God's truth as well here so you can give a gift and help connect others to the Lord visit connectwithskip.com/donate to give a gift that's connectwithskip.com/donate or call 892 to 18 8892 to 18. Thank you for your generosity. Come back tomorrow. Skip Heitzig to give you practical wisdom and encouragement to help you put feet to your faith, the Bible doesn't just change your life change is a lifestyle. However not everybody exposed the truth, lives by the truth that some people hear the truth and the West and so with Skip presentation of connection communications to God's unchanging truth