Romans 2:17-29 - We Need A Relationship Not A Religion

Today, Sunday January 10 – Romans 2:17-29 – Over the years I’ve often asked people that I encounter, “Where do you go to church?” It’s a question that they might expect from a pastor. And the answers I often get are very interesting, especially when they can’t remember the name of the church or the pastor’s name. But many times they will be honest and say that they don’t go to church and haven’t been to a church for years. At that point I usually will respond and say, “That is good”. They usually are shocked that a preacher will say that it’s good that they don’t go to church and ask me why I would say that. And my answer is that so many people think, that going to church and being religious will get them to heaven, and since they don’t go, they sure don’t have that problem. Actually, that is exactly what Paul is dealing with in the last part of Chapter 2. He is making it very clear that the Jew, who has the law of God, and has a head knowledge of the true God, still has to have a heart relationship with God, which is not by the letter of the law, but by the spirit. Romans 2:29 “But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Religion, ritual, ceremonies and good deeds are no substitute for a heart relationship with the true God. God is looking on the heart that can only be made right with Him through the forgiveness of sins, which comes as result of repentance and faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on His cross. Please today, make sure that you have more than religious beliefs, but that you have an intimate personal relationship with God. Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:23-24, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." God bless! Have a great day!