Legalism in religion is a tale as old as time. When Jesus walked this earth, He would often engage in discussions with religious leaders who very publicly spoke of just how good they were at following religious rules. But Jesus came preaching something new: being justified by faith apart from works of the law (Romans 3:28).

So, when people asked what they should do to be saved, Jesus’s answer to simply believe in Him, seemed far-fetched. Like, okay, I believe, but now what do I do? How do I live? Can I wear this? Am I allowed to do this? Because as humans, we often find safety in checklists of do’s and don’ts. So, what role does religious law have to play in a Christian’s life today? 

Read Romans 2:12-29 and journal through the following questions this week: 

• When Apostle Paul writes about “the law,” what is he referring to? Remember, this is a letter from Paul to the Roman church, which would have likely been made up of mostly Jews at that time. 

• Read Galatians 3:10-14. How did Christ change our relationship with the law? 

• What role do religious rules play in a Christian’s life today? 

  • Find Scripture to support your answer (this website makes it easy to do topical Bible study). 

• What does Paul mean in verses 14-17 about Gentiles creating laws for themselves?

• In this passage, Paul continually calls out the people’s reliance on the law to prove that they’re God’s chosen people. To apply this to the modern church, rewrite verses 17-20 and 25-29, but every time you see the word “circumcision,” replace it with “church membership,” and the word “Jew” with “Christian.” How does this challenge us as professing Christians today? 

• Are there any religious rules or traditions that you follow that make you feel and look like a “good Christian”? 

• Just because we call ourselves Christians, doesn’t mean we have living faith. Paul points out four red flags for believers whose faith is merely outward: 

1. Seeing the Bible as only theories, applicable to others, but not to you, so even if you read the Bible, it doesn’t actually challenge or change you (v. 21). 

2. Feeling morally superior (v. 17). We look down on others and become defensive when our weaknesses are exposed. 

3. Lacking spiritual life (v. 29). We care more about what people think and often just go through the motions of looking like a Christian, with no inward spiritual growth. 

4. Hypocrisy (v. 22). This can often look like living one way in church or online but a completely different person at home or enslaved to hidden, secret sins. 

Do any of these particularly challenge you? 

• Jesus preached often about not seeking praise from man but from God (v. 29). Read Matthew 23:25-28 for one example of Jesus’s teachings on this. What exactly is Jesus accusing the Pharisees of in this passage? Can you think of what this looks like today? 

Reflect & Respond

• What does this passage teach me about God?

• How does this change the way I live? 

Scripture to memorize: 

“But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” -Romans 2:29 (ESV)

As a reminder, if you’d like to discuss the above study questions or ask other questions about what we’re reading, post it here and we’ll figure it out together!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yelena is the founder and editor in chief Tirzah. Yelena works as an attorney in tax and in her spare time, she is working on her first book for unmarried twenty-something women in extended waiting seasons and running Tirzah. She has a passion for pointing young women to Christ, and enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with her family.