In these four verses, Paul has moved from addressing the Gentiles (or those without the written Word of God) to addressing the proud Jews, who did have the written law, and were proud of it. While most of us are not Jews, as Christians we can easily insert ourselves as the target audience here because we do have God's written word, and we do know His commandments.
Paul writes these four verses in order to set the context for the verses to follow. He describes what characteristics of his audience he is about to discuss. As we go through these verses, we need to pray for God to reveal if we are being described here in any way. If we are, then we need to pay very close attention because in the verses to come (next post), God is going to provide some instruction for us through Paul.
But if you call yourself a Jew
The Jews being addressed were very proud of their heritage, and even looked down on those who weren't Jews. We may not fall into this trap as much today, because we know that Christ died for all nations.
However, we must keep ourselves from looking at someone and subconsciously judging them - determining if it's worth our time to share the gospel with them based on their appearance or situation. All people need to hear the gospel of God proclaimed.
The Jews were relying on the law in order to lift themselves up. They felt that they did a pretty good job keeping the law, and as a result were good examples to those around them. They even boasted in God - not in a humbling way as God had intended - but in a proud way, as though their God was not for every one, but for them alone. They didn't want to share their God.
There is a very subtle point here about relying on the law that is very important. The Jews knew the law, and how detailed and intense it was. Yet they looked at themselves and considered themselves able to satisfy the demands of the law.
As Christians, we cannot rely on the law to satisfy our need to feel accepted before God. No amount of self sacrifice or commandment keeping will gain us acceptance before God - we are completely accepted based on Christ's blood alone.
and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law
Paul acknowledges that the Jews had an extensive and deep knowledge of the law. Then knew what it said word for word. Unfortunately they completely missed the point behind it.
and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children
Paul describes here the way the Jews viewed themselves. They saw themselves as leaders, lights in the darkness, instructors, and teachers. In their vanity, they saw themselves as great examples of what God's law was to look like being lived out. It's a good thing to look at our life and see what God has done. We are called to live as examples, and God working in our lives provides a perfect example to those around us.
However, when we view what God has done with the awareness that our sin is continually being revealed and the work that remains, we have a different perspective. We are humbled and thankful instead of proud and vain.
having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth
Here again, Paul acknowledges the fact that the Jews had everything laid out in front of them. They knew God's commands laid out in the law very well. They were consumed with keeping the commands as perfectly as possible, keeping the law defined who they were.
Are we consumed with living a Christian life, do we strive to keep God's commands perfectly?
For what purpose?
Has keeping God's commandments become the source of our identity?
Is this what we live for?
If so we need to repent - the purpose of Gods commands is not to provide a source of identity for His children, but to reveal who we are in our sinfulness. We are to be consumed with pursing a relationship with God - that is what we are to live for. As we draw close to God, the desire to turn from sin will follow, leading to sanctification. As God's children, our identity is in Christ and the fact that He lived a life that did perfectly satisfy the commands of our perfect and holy God.
Our love for God alone should define who we are.
We will touch on the main points of this post next time as Paul reveals the error of the Jews' way of thinking (and ours at times, perhaps?)
Next post:1.23.13
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