WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:00.719 Well, good morning. 00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:03.839 We are continuing our study through the book of Romans. 00:00:03.919 --> 00:00:07.360 So this is Paul's letter to the church in Rome in the New Testament. 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:22.800 We've been saying that it is Paul's theological masterpiece in the New Testament as he is helping us see our own sinfulness and depravity or imperfection as for us to increase our joy in the gospel and in Jesus. 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:34.479 So last week Paul begins to take away the religiosity of the Jewish people, that they're trying to use their religious performance to feel secure with God rather than trust Jesus. 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:39.439 He continues the same thing today as we jump in, Romans 2, verse 25. 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:50.640 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, and he's saying, hey, like hint, hint, all of us, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:57.520 Point number one is this doing religious things does not always equate to knowing God. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:04.879 Now it's possible, possible that your religious activities are entirely about knowing God. 00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:05.760 That's wonderful. 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:06.480 That's amazing. 00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:07.760 That's how we would want it to be. 00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:18.239 But it's also possible for your religious activities to be more about your control and your reputation as a religious person. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:25.760 So to talk about that, we get to talk about circumcision, which I know you're so excited about because that's why you woke up and came here on a rainy sun. 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.239 Is that let's talk about circumcision? 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:35.760 So just to be clear, technical, not crude, circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of the males, you know. 00:01:35.920 --> 00:01:44.480 And so I'm uncomfortable in ancient biblical times, this was performed on all male babies on the eighth day. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:47.200 It was it was a marking of God's people. 00:01:47.280 --> 00:01:53.680 It was a symbol of the removal of sin and a symbol of the purity of those people. 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:55.359 They live differently. 00:01:55.599 --> 00:01:56.480 They are different. 00:01:56.640 --> 00:02:01.439 And practically speaking, it was a much healthier way to live. 00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:09.599 Now, Paul's point in this is that you don't have to fix yourself with external works. 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:11.039 In fact, you can't. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:16.000 You can change some external things, you change some behaviors, but you can't change the heart. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:19.120 We don't need a new religious rule, we need a new heart. 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:30.159 That biblical word heart is deeper than emotions, it's encompassing the core of who we are, our inner person, our thoughts, our desires, our affections, our wills, our motivations. 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:32.159 It's the core of who you are. 00:02:32.319 --> 00:02:34.400 We need a new heart. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:40.159 Paul's entire argument exists because religion continues to fail us. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:47.680 We can be moral, we can be Bible-believing, obedient, but our hearts can still be about ourselves. 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:54.879 In this way, Romans 2 is a clear picture of the elder brother from Luke 15. 00:02:55.039 --> 00:02:55.360 Right? 00:02:55.520 --> 00:03:04.960 So if you think about our Rembrandt that hangs in the back lobby of the prodigal son, that Luke 15 story, the wild, rebellious brother has returned home. 00:03:05.039 --> 00:03:09.599 He's broken, he's fallen before the father just to receive grace, he has nothing to offer. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:12.560 The elder brother is up to the right. 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:18.879 And my friend Michael, he told me in between services, you notice the elder brother's dressed like the father? 00:03:19.120 --> 00:03:28.479 Like the elder brother has all the exterior lined up, but he has a heart problem because the elder brother's self-righteous. 00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:34.560 The elder brother thinks, shouldn't this younger brother have to earn his way back into the father's love? 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:36.000 The elder brother doesn't get it. 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:37.919 He doesn't understand the father's love. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:40.080 So Romans 1, we have the little brother. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:42.800 Romans 2, we have the elder brother. 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:46.080 But both of them are lost. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:48.400 Both of them are rebellious in their own ways. 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:58.000 The elder brother just trying to establish his security with the father based on his performance and his external Romans 2, just like the Jewish people. 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:11.360 So in Tim Keller fashion, as we often review, that Luke 15, the Rembrandt, Romans 1 and 2, what it teaches us is it teaches us that irreligion, I don't need God, I'll live my own way. 00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:13.520 Younger brother, Romans 1. 00:04:13.759 --> 00:04:16.879 Religion moralism, elder brother, Romans 2. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:19.920 I've obeyed God, so God owes me. 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:22.079 Look what I've done. 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:23.839 Now you owe me. 00:04:24.959 --> 00:04:26.879 You owe me with forgiveness. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:28.720 You owe me with righteousness. 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:30.720 You owe me with a good life or a comfortable life. 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:32.079 And Paul is saying, no, no, no, no. 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:34.240 We need a third way. 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:36.319 We need a third way. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:37.439 We need a new heart. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:38.480 Verse 26. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:46.959 So if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:48.480 Now that's time out. 00:04:48.879 --> 00:05:00.720 An ancient Jew hears that, so offended, incredibly offended, talking about a Gentile dog outside the Jewish family could be like me, secure and righteous elder brother. 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:02.480 I mean, how dare Paul say this? 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:03.439 Verse 27. 00:05:03.680 --> 00:05:13.360 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have written the code and circumcision but break the law. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:19.920 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:26.720 Point number two is this God's law moves past external behaviors and it moves to the heart. 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:28.720 It goes into our hearts. 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:34.079 A couple months ago, I went out fishing with a group of my fishing buddies, and we were gonna go out for the whole day. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:43.199 So I rigged my rod, I packed up my bag, and we're gonna be out for the day, so I packed my lunch, which is always salami and cheese and pretzels in a Snickers bar. 00:05:43.519 --> 00:05:47.279 I love a Snickers bar on like a fishing day. 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:48.720 And so I put it in my bag. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:54.160 We're out fishing, we we broke for lunch, and I ate the salami and the cheese and the pretzel. 00:05:54.399 --> 00:05:55.519 I forgot about the Snicker bar. 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:56.639 I just forgot about it. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.959 So fish all afternoon, it gets pretty hot, got pretty hot. 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:08.319 Get back to the truck, and I remembered that I was so hungry, there was nothing in the truck, but I remember I had the Snickers bar in my bag. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.000 I was so excited. 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:11.839 I was like, oh, I got the Snickers bar. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:12.720 That's amazing. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:15.120 And I went and got it, and it looked beautiful. 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:18.959 It looked, I mean, pristine elder brother rapper. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:20.319 I mean, it looked great. 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:21.839 And you know what happened, right? 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:23.120 You broke it open. 00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:25.120 It's just, it's a mess. 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:26.319 It was nasty. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:27.920 It was horrible on the inside. 00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:29.600 The outside looked great. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:31.279 You ever feel like that? 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:35.519 You ever feel like on the outside you couldn't get the elder brother look going? 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:43.680 You can get all the religiosity going, but on the inside, if anybody knew, you're really a mess falling apart. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:46.160 Of course, you see my point. 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:49.839 The Jewish people are like the shiny Snickers bar. 00:06:50.399 --> 00:06:56.240 The exterior was right with all the religious rules, but Paul's saying is always deeper. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:59.519 And if we go into our hearts, we all have problems. 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:01.600 We all need God's grace. 00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:02.800 It's about the heart. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:14.639 Verse 26 uses the word regarded, the Greek word regarded as loye setu, and it means be counted, reckoned, or regarded. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:20.720 And this is about what God counts and how he regards us. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:24.079 Now he regards us as righteous in Jesus. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:25.360 That's amazing. 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:33.439 And he's not regarding us based on what we look like on the outside or our performance or our record. 00:07:33.680 --> 00:07:35.279 Now we like to do that. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:45.920 We like to count and regard based on heritage and religious credentials and you know, net worth, and your grades, and your friend group, and your talents, and your net, you know, your club memberships. 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:47.279 And God cuts through all that. 00:07:47.360 --> 00:07:50.399 He just wants to go to the heart, the inner core. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:54.959 What's going on in your heart? 00:07:55.439 --> 00:08:02.720 Point number three is that God's heart is for us to know him, not just know of him. 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:08.000 There's a difference there between knowing somebody and knowing of somebody. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:25.839 And in this way, in church, it's so easy that we can turn all the good stuff like quiet times and Bible knowledge, church membership, communion, uh, family heritage, moral behavior into substitutes for knowing God, for being a spiritual person that knows God. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:31.839 Who would y'all say is the most famous CEO in the world? 00:08:33.679 --> 00:08:34.639 That's just a chattel. 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:37.679 Musk, thank you. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:41.120 I took a big chance in the first service and I got it on the first guest. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:47.519 Elon Musk is probably, there's other famous, famous CEOs, but Elon Musk was might be the most famous CEO in the world. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:49.120 There's Elon as a kiddo. 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:51.919 He was born in South Africa in 1971. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:55.360 He sold his first company in 1999 for$22 million. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:57.679 He didn't start Tesla, I didn't know that. 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:58.879 He bought into Tesla. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:00.159 He started SpaceX. 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:03.440 He has 12 children born to three different women. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:04.720 That was new information to me. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:07.519 He works a lot, like a lot, a lot, a lot. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:09.679 And he's the richest man in the world. 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:16.639 Now, I know of Elon Musk, the CEO. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:18.080 I know of him. 00:09:18.559 --> 00:09:20.480 I do not know him. 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:23.600 Now, here's another CEO. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:27.519 Uh on the right, that's Casey Queen, Chrissy's little brother. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:28.480 It's my brother-in-law. 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:30.720 He's CEO of a small construction company. 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:33.200 I've known him since he was a little boy. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:35.600 I know he's very fast. 00:09:36.080 --> 00:09:37.039 Like speed. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:37.600 He's very fast. 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:38.480 He'd run fast. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:39.840 And he was very fast when he was little. 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:41.200 He was safety on the football team. 00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:42.720 I went to his high school football teams. 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:44.159 I remember he was a little boy. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:47.039 I remember the first time he brought his wife to meet our family. 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:48.559 I know all five of his children. 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:50.480 I know he loves Sid Mashburn clothing. 00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:52.080 He loves Auburn University. 00:09:52.240 --> 00:09:53.120 He loves Jesus. 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:54.240 He loves his family. 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:55.919 He loves construction products. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:10:00.240 And I can call him anytime I want and he'll pick up. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:07.039 Now I know of Elon Musk, but I know Casey. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:10.559 That's the difference in relationship. 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:12.720 To know of versus know. 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:16.639 Religion and moralism is a way of knowing of God. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:19.440 But not knowing God. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:24.480 A personal relationship, an inner core connected to your creator. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:30.799 And Paul says we need a new heart, but the way we do it is not by religious performance or rules. 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:34.159 It's a death and a resurrection. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:36.320 It's a surrendering into. 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:39.120 It's a Lord help me. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:45.120 And that's when God shows up into our lives and our hearts, where the transformation begins. 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:53.039 Verse 29, but a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart by the spirit, not by the letter. 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:56.399 His praise is not from man, but from God. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:11:01.840 Point number four is this true spirituality is a spirit-transformed heart. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:06.000 This is the climax of argument in Romans 2. 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:12.000 Paul doesn't merely call us to another set of better rules or performance. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:14.399 The fundamental issues, the heart. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:17.120 And Paul writes, circumcision is the matter of the heart. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:21.039 I mean, we're going to get to in Romans 3 that this is going to be by faith. 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:24.320 By faith, by grace. 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:38.159 To summarize verse 29, the letter or the law tells us externally what God requires, yet the Spirit performs that inner work of transformation in our hearts. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:47.519 Christy, I married 22 years ago, and for her wedding present to me, she contacted a friend of ours who was doing some art on the side and had a piece of art done for me. 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.480 It hangs in my office. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:49.919 Here's a picture of that piece of art. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:52.080 It hangs behind my desk chair. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:54.879 It's called Circumcision of the Heart. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:57.840 And on the back, our friend Jason wrote this. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:00.320 Paul talks about a circumcision of the heart. 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:02.240 So he's in Romans 2. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:06.159 We have received new hearts in the Spirit. 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:09.679 And these new hearts mark a wonderful new beginning. 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:13.679 Now, I don't notice this piece of artwork every time I walk into my office. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:17.440 It's on the wall, it's always there, but it's kind of always there, so I don't always notice it. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:23.200 But when I do notice it, it definitely reminds me that I don't need another religious rule. 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:27.600 And my report card to God is not going to ever be good enough. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:29.679 I need his grace to me. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:32.080 I need a new heart. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:33.759 I need Jesus for me. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:35.840 Point number five is this. 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:38.480 This would be like, what's the implication of all this? 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:39.360 Okay, great, great. 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:41.679 What does this mean for me today? 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:47.200 Point number five: our new heart is free from the addiction of people pleasing. 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:51.279 And maybe you notice it there at the end of verse 29, almost like a tag on. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:55.840 It feels like the argument's been made, and then Paul just sort of tags on this implication. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:13:03.519 His praise, meaning the praise we receive and we desire, is not from man but from God. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:08.879 That Greek word praise meaning praise, commendation, approval. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:15.360 So the question for us is whose approval is ultimately governing our lives? 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:20.399 Whose approval helps us decide our direction? 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:23.039 Whose approval are we living for? 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:24.720 Human approval or God's approval? 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:30.320 My mentor Scotty Smith, he always says this is like the umbilical cord of the baby back to the mama. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:33.279 The baby receives the nourishment from mom. 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:44.639 When it comes to people's approval, that is like us walking around connecting our umbilical cord to other people, trying to suck life from them to feel fulfilled. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:48.559 Here's what he wrote in a prayer entitled A Prayer for People Pleasing. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:52.639 I can see how people pleasing plays out in two directions. 00:13:52.879 --> 00:14:01.120 On one hand, there are people to whom I attach my umbilical cord, metaphorically speaking, inspect them to give me life. 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:07.200 On the other hand, there are people whose umbilical cords I grab and plug into me, assuming the role of life giver. 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.080 I grieve both of these patterns, Father. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:13.440 Lord Jesus, I don't want to live as an approval suck. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:17.039 I want to love others as you love me and as you love them. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:24.240 It's flat out wrong for me to give anybody the power to control me through their affirmation or their rejection. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:31.840 It's because of your life of perfect obedience that I can be free from living as opposer, pretender, and performer. 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:39.279 It's because of your death for me on the cross that I can live with the absolute assurance of God's everlasting approval and his steady kindness. 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:44.399 So, God the Holy Spirit, keep gossiping this gospel to my heart. 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:49.919 Keep bearing witness with my Spirit that I am a beloved child of Abba Father. 00:14:50.159 --> 00:14:58.159 Keep giving me the power to repent of all forms of living for the approval of people, a life-sucking snare indeed. 00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:00.320 I pray in Jesus' liberating name. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:00.960 Amen. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:19.519 So the Holy Spirit will apply the gospel to our hearts, and slowly and imperfectly we will begin to live from God's approval as our definition, the core of who we are, and even our motivation rather than other people's. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:32.559 So I've been preaching weekly for 20 years. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:36.399 So say 20 times 50 is a thousand. 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:41.360 Um it's probably not 50 a year, so maybe 800. 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:45.679 I've probably preached 850 sermons. 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:59.759 It feels really good when people say some sort of praise, but what I have found is it only lasts so long and it can only go so deep. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:03.120 Now, the reverse is also true. 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:08.159 It stings a little when I get criticism. 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:10.320 And I I do. 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:17.360 They are 22 minutes. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:18.559 I I know how long they're. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:20.240 The sermons aren't long enough. 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:24.000 It stings a little because you want something, I'm not delivering it. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:28.879 I want to learn from that, but you know that criticism can only go so deep. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:31.519 It works both ways, doesn't it? 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:38.159 Like when our approval is from God, the praise only has so much ability to actually fulfill me. 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:48.639 The criticism has only so much ability to like deflate me if I'm living plugged in to God's approval. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:51.120 But that's the gift that we have. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:54.559 That's the grace that we have, that's the freedom that we have. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:17:01.440 When the umbilical cord is not connected to each other, we can hear your praise and you can hear my praise. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:14.000 I can hear your criticism and you can hear my criticism, but it only has so much effect because the core of who you are is governed and motivated by God's regard to you. 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:27.039 And that's where we're headed in Romans and three and four, and it's gonna get better and better because all of this has just been about us seeing our need as to increase our joy in the gospel. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:30.240 Church, your praise is not from man, but from God. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:35.680 If you have any questions about the sermon, there'll be a pastor down front afterwards to answer those or pray with you. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:37.119 Let's pray together. 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:45.519 Heavenly Father, we're so thankful that you know us, you love us, you regard us as you regard Jesus. 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:50.720 You don't regard us based on our performance or what we look like or how obedient we are. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:55.200 You regard us of Jesus' righteousness that's put on us. 00:17:56.640 --> 00:18:04.480 And when we think about Luke 15 and Romans 1 and Romans 2, we're all a little bit of Romans 1 and we're all a little bit of Romans 2. 00:18:04.640 --> 00:18:10.240 We're all a little wild when we shouldn't be, and we're all a little self-righteous when we shouldn't be. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:13.680 And so we thank you that you love us, anyways. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:19.359 And that Jesus' forgiveness is enough for us, and Jesus' righteousness is enough for us. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:26.559 Holy Spirit, do a new work in us, a new heart with a new source of affirmation. 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:28.480 Pray this in Jesus' name. 00:18:28.640 --> 00:18:29.039 Amen.