God Knows Last week we saw how God judges humanity not only based on our submission to his truth but by our motives and actions as we live.

THE DAMAGE OF THE HYPOCRITE JUDGMENT THE DAMAGE OF THE HYPOCRITE ROMANS 2:17-16

Romans 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

Personal Perceptions vs. Reality Jewish Heritage – “Called a Jew” The Jew had a heritage that gave them an advantage in terms of knowing God. Your spiritual heritage is not a measuremen of your relationship with God.

Personal Perceptions vs. Reality Jewish Knowledge – “Knowest his will and approvest” The Jew had unique access to the truth that gave them a clear spiritual advantage in the world. Your biblical IQ is not a measurement of your relationship with God.

Personal Perceptions vs. Reality Jewish Authority – “thou thyself art a guide of the blind” The Jew set himself up as a teacher of others and did so with pride and scorn for the ignorance of others. Your opportunities and positions are not a measurement of your relationship with God

Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

KEY QUESTION How have you been measuring your spiritual maturity? - By what church you go to, who your parents are or how you were raised? - By what you know and what you have learned? - By what roles you have at MBT and how you are perceived? - OR do you measure spiritual growth based on your intimacy and obedience to Christ?

A Walking Contradiction 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

A Walking Contradiction Stealing?! Mat 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. A thief is someone who takes advantage of the resources of the weak or exploits the resources of other people.

A Walking Contradiction Stealing?! Psalm 50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? 17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. 18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers You are a partaker of thievery by your permissiveness of sin in your associations

A Walking Contradiction Adultery?! 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? “Adultery” or “cheating” calls our relationship with God optional and inconvenient. A hypocrite is someone who might preach against physical adultery yet justify their own spiritual infidelity as necessary.

A Walking Contradiction Adultery and a Guarded Mind The war we wage against adultery is a war of the mind. Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

A Walking Contradiction Christ’s Example of a Guarded Mind - Matthew 4:1-11 Tempted to Fulfill the Desires of His  Flesh…. It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God Tempted his Pride...It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Tempted to Covet with His Eyes ...for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

A Walking Contradiction Adultery and Guarded Lifestyles We tempt God and ourselves by saying that we can endure sinful situations without falling. Mat. 12:43 A hypocrite is so proud that he condemns sin yet leaves the door open for sin in his or her own life.

A Walking Contradiction Sacrilege?! 22b….thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Sacrilege means stealing from a holy place (Mal 3:8,9) You commit sacrilege when you hold back what you know belongs to God. (Acts 5)

The Harm of Your Hypocrisy 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? Your religious contradictions are an offence to God

The Harm of Your Hypocrisy 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. Your religious contradictions are a stumbling block to the lost. Mat. 23:3-5,15; Rom 14:3

The Waste of Your Hypocrisy Romans 2:25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

The Waste of Your Hypocrisy God is concerned with the inward man. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

KEY POINT Without the daily exacting power of God’s Word and obedience, we will always tend towards contradiction.