Nominalism

A philosophy called nominalism describes people who have nothing in common but their name. Paul said in Romans 2:28-29 that people labeled as Jews were essentially Jewish in name only. A true Jew worships and serves the Lord, and is not just a Jew in name only.

These people (Romans 2:17-20) assumed they were exempt from God’s judgment simply because they were Jewish. In fact they were prideful about (1) being Jewish, (2) possessed the Law, (3) God was on their side, (4) knew His will, (5) understood what was essential, (6) being educated by and about God, (7) being qualified to be leaders, (8) were guides to the lesser people, (9) a light in darkness, and (10) teachers of the ignorant. These attitudes lead to blasphemy of God’s name by others not called Jews (Romans 2:24).

How do people labeled as Christians view themselves relative to the unsaved? As a result is God’s name blasphemed today by those not called Christians? Life Bible Fellowship Church’s pastor Tim Peck offers In Name Only an excellent sermon with good examples on these questions.

The student study guide for this week’s lesson offered by bible.org at Romans 2:1-29 paraphrases Romans 2:17-20 with Christian phrases (see day 4, question 14). Read this to the class and ask how Christians might self-righteously boast today.