Title: Practice What You Preach!
Main Text: Romans 2:17-29 New International Version (NIV)
17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonour God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. 28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
Now read Romans 2:17-29 Paraphrased for Application Purposes:
Now you, if you call yourself a Christian, if you rely on the Bible and boast in God… if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the word. If you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the Bible the embodiment of knowledge and truth. You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? (Why don’t you practice what you preach?)
You who preach against stealing, do you steal?
You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?
You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (withhold from the true God what is due Him?)
You who boast in the word, do you dishonour God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Christianity has value if you are Christlike, but if you are not Christlike it is as though you were never a Christian (Genuine Salvation leads to a transformation (you can no longer be conforming to the base standards of this world – Romans 12:2). So, if those who are not Christians act as if they are Christlike, such would condemn those who are Christians but are not Christlike.
A person is not a Christian who is only on the outward, nor is Christianity merely outward and physical. A person is a Christian who is inwardly, and Christianity is of the Heart, by the Spirit and not by some written code (not just mere letters) …
2 Corinthians 3:6 The Passion Translation (TPT) 6 He alone makes us adequate ministers who are focused on an entirely new covenant. Our ministry is not based on the letter of the law but through the power of the Spirit. The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit pours out life.
Romans 10:8-11 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
8b-11 It is the secret of faith, which is the burden of our preaching, and it says, in effect, “If you openly admit by your own mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord, and if you believe in your own heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” For it is believing in the heart that makes a man righteous before God, and it is stating his belief by his own mouth that confirms his salvation. And the scripture says: ‘Whoever believes on him will not be put to shame’.
…Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God (Christianity is all about pleasing God and not mere men). To be Christlike (truly Christian) after a genuine salvation experience we must live with the awareness of representing Jesus Christ correctly to the world. We are the ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 20). We ought to practice what we preach!
Think on These – Focus on Pleasing God:
- Learn what pleases the Lord. (Ephesians 5:10)
Ephesians 5:10-11 New International Version (NIV)
10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
- No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Hebrews 11:6 New International Version (NIV)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
- Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. (Romans 12:1)
Romans 12:1 New International Version (NIV)
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
- Make it a goal to always want to please God (2 Corinthians 5:9)
2 Corinthians 5:9 New International Version (NIV)
9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
Finally read…Galatians 6:8-10 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)
The inevitability of life’s harvest
7-10 Don’t be under any illusion: you cannot make a fool of God! A man’s harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows. If he sows for his own lower nature his harvest will be the decay and death of his own nature. But if he sows for the Spirit, he will reap the harvest of everlasting life by that Spirit. Let us not grow tired of doing good, for, unless we throw in our hand, the ultimate harvest is assured. Let us then do good to all men as opportunity offers, especially to those who belong to the Christian household.
The Message Bearer
Cornelius Bella
corneliusbella 