The NEED · Sunday 4 of 32
The NEED of the Religious, Pt. 2
Romans 2:17-3:8 · Sunday, 18 May 2025 · 8 preachers
The 8 treatments
Same passage, same morning, different rooms.
Caleb Combs
Spiritual Privilege
Spiritual Privilege is the title of the teaching from Romans 2:17‑24. Paul warns those with a spiritual heritage that relying on identity—whether Jewish, denominational or family tradition—without…
Chuck Lindsey
Religion and salvation are the focus of the sermon from Romans 2, which explains that even the religious person needs to be saved, because religion cannot save anyone. It describes religion as a…
Elijah Edwards
Matter of the Heart
Elijah Edwards explains that Romans 2–3 shows Paul warning against boasting in outward signs like the law or circumcision while our hearts stay unchanged. He calls each listener to examine whether we…
Gary Wright
Paul's argument in Romans 2:17–3:8 shows that the Jews had the advantage of God’s word, but possessing Scripture does not change a heart. Using a school‑bus rodeo story, the speaker illustrates that…
Jayson Combs
A warning about self‑righteous religious confidence. In Romans 2:17‑29 the pastor shows that those who rely on the law, boasting in their heritage or knowledge, set up barriers that keep them from…
John Carter
Religious knowledge without spiritual transformation is examined in a message from Romans 2, part of a series in Romans. The sermon points a mirror at religious teachers who know the Word but distort…
Josh Combs
Paul’s message to the Romans warns that a polished religious résumé—knowing the law, teaching others, outward piety—does not prove a relationship with God when the heart remains unchanged. Jesus…
Randy Johnson
Relationship Not Religion
The sermon explores Romans 2:17‑24, warning that merely belonging to a religious tradition can give false security. It contrasts outward religion with a true, heart‑circumcised relationship with God…
The passage
Read Romans 2:17-3:8 (ESV)
Chapter 2
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;
19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.
24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.
29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
Chapter 3
1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?
2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, “That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”
5 But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)
6 By no means! For then how could God judge the world?
7 But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?
8 And why not do evil that good may come?—as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.
Where else these verses were handled
Other Sundays of this series whose preachers spoke into this passage — counted from verified spoken references, not from the schedule.
| Sunday | Passage | References | Preachers |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Are Guilty Before God and NEED to be Saved | 3:9-20 | 16 | 3 |
| Through One Man | 5:12-21 | 12 | 2 |
| Righteousness Illustrated, Pt. 1 | 4:1-12 | 11 | 2 |
| Israel's Present | 9:30-10:21 | 11 | 1 |
| The Spirit - Sets Us Free | 8:1-8 | 7 | 2 |
| Applying Righteousness: Towards Others/Government | 13:1-10 | 7 | 2 |
| Israel's Future | 11:1-36 | 4 | 2 |
| Applying Righteousness: Towards Others/Church | 12:3-8 | 4 | 2 |
| The NEED of the Religious, Pt. 1 | 2:1-16 | 3 | 2 |
| Israel's Past | 9:1-29 | 3 | 2 |
| The NEED of the World | 1:18-32 | 2 | 2 |
| The Spirit - Gives Us Life | 8:9-11 | 2 | 2 |