Why Religion Cannot Save

Romans 2:17-29

Introduction:

There are three groups identified in Romans 1 and 2:

• Gentiles (1:18-32) -- the Rebellious group. They rebel against God outwardly. They repress, reject and replace the truth of God. They were guilty of godlessness and wickedness.
• Self-righteous Moralists (2:1-16) -- the Respectable group. They feel superior and quickly judge people whose sins are more gross and open.
• Jews (2:17-29) -- the Religious group. These are the people who are trusting religion to save them.

Religion -- man’s best attempt to get to God.

1. Religious People Rely on their Privileges for their Salvation. (vs.17-18)

The Jews were very much aware of their special status as God’s chosen people. They were privileged among all the peoples of the world.

1. They Had the Law, the Torah. They were also instructed in the Law and because of that, they knew God’s will in a way the Romans and the Greeks never knew it.

2. They Had God. They boast that the miracle-working God of the Old Testament, the Creator of the universe is the God of Israel.

Unfortunately, their religion was empty and has no eternal significance. They had a religious experience, but no reality.

Religious people nowadays rely on their labels or names (Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Evangelical, etc.) to go to heaven. One trait of religion is the belief that their denomination or their church is the only group of true believers.

Religious people nowadays also rely on having or owning a Bible for their salvation.

1. Religious People Rely on their Knowledge for their Salvation. (vs. 18-20, NCV)

Religious knowledge alone is not basis to be declared righteous by God. If so, the Jews would have already been declared righteous, but they were not.

The Jews became an expert at telling others what they knew and how they should behave, but when it came to living up to their own standards, they failed miserably.

Because of people’s “religiosity,” non-religious people are turned off! (v.24)

1. Religious People Rely on Rituals for their Salvation. (vs.25-27)

Paul gave the example of circumcision to prove that rituals cannot save. Circumcision had become the supreme symbol of Jewish superiority. Its practice has become a ritual, an end of itself.

Paul says that circumcision is only useful if accompanied by a changed life. (v.25) He is also saying that all religious ritual is worthless unless something has already happened in the heart!

Being a Christian is not a matter of racial heritage or religious ritual, but is instead a matter of the heart.

A true believer in Christ is a spiritual Jew.

Christianity is a relationship, not a religion.