A Pitiful Sight

A Pitiful Sight

Romans 4:9-25

http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/PitifulSight.html

Every hear a great throng of people make pilgrimage to the Shrine of Guadalupe in Mexico, a site where supposedly the Virgin Mary once stood...however unlikely that is. They go there hoping to get her attention, and to get her to intervene for them w/ her son Jesus. They crawl on their hands and knees for a quarter mile, and enter and light candles, one for every friend who has died, in hopes of reducing the amount of time they spend in purgatory. It is a pitiful sight.

Every 12 years a multitude of Hindus gather at the convergence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. They make a 6 week journey for the largest religious festival in the world. Naked holy men lead the parade into the icy waters, and the people follow because one of their holy books declares they will go to heaven if they do. Another book of theirs says even if they have committed a hundred crimes, they will be forgiven as soon as they touch those waters. It’s a pitiful sight, and all the more because I know of a book that says we can indeed be forgiven no matter what we’ve done, not because of some silly ritual, but because of a heavenly sacrifice: Jesus on the cross! Forgiven, not because of stepping into water, but being plunged beneath the crimson flood of the blood of God’s Son who died in our place!

Along the shore are "shaving booths" where every hair is removed from their bodies, including eyebrows and lashes...they gather them and throw them into the river because one of their books says for every hair they throw in, they will live a million years in heaven.

Some at this festival cut out their tongues, believing if they sentence themselves to eternal silence, they will gain heavenly favor. Others stare at the sun until blind to appease their gods. It’s a pitiful sight of works centered religion.

The book of Romans is an all out assault on works based religion.

The Jews Paul dealt with thought there were 2 things it took to get to heaven: The outward mark of circumcision and obedience to the OT Law.

They believed the moment an 8 day old child was circumcised it was automatic they would go to heaven, regardless of what they believed or did in their life. And they thought keeping the law somehow played a role as well.

Paul uses chronology to disprove them. He asks, when was your Father Abraham justified [saved] and when was he circumcised.

v. 9-10 It was before circumcision that Abe was saved [Gen. 15:6]. Then later in chapter 17, about 14 years later, he was circumcised.

How is this relevant today? Because people are still doing the same sort of thing. They think being a good person, doing good works, being baptized, or joining a church will save them. They give offerings and perform services in hopes of eternal life. They confess, are confirmed, and complete rituals they have been told to do that aren’t in the Bible...and that’s a pitiful sight! It’s outward ritual instead of inward faith.

The Bible says you must be born again!

So why is circumcision even a thought? Why did God make circumcision binding for all of Abraham’s descendants if it had nothing to do w/ being saved?

v. 11 ’sign’ ... ’seal’

Circumcision is a sign and a seal.

A sign is an evidence that the Jew was one of God’s chosen people. Much like baptism today. Baptism is a sign you were truly saved, not a sacrament needed to be saved. It’s just an outward sign pointing back to that which has already taken place.

A sign points to something, but a seal guarantees it!

A seal placed on a letter or decree meant the authenticity was guaranteed. Circumcision sealed some promises God made to His people, and guaranteed He would keep those promises. So, what is our seal today? The Holy Spirit!

Ephesians 1:13-14

13 ...after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Earnest means down payment. The earnest is forfeited [like earnest money] if you renege. God said, I’m so sure this one’s gonna be in heaven that I’m placing the down payment of the Spirit in his heart...and if this one ends up in hell, I’ll forfeit the earnest of the Spirit to go to hell along with him! [not gonna happen]

v. 12 You see, Abraham is our father too...father not only of the Jews, but of Gentiles who believe by faith! [sing ’Father Abraham’]

So, we’re not saved by circumcision or any outward work. Next, we’re not saved by keeping the Law either.