READING ROMANS, CHAPTER 2

 

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

 INTRODUCING ROMANS, CHAPTER 2 

Having just concluded a list of terrible sins humanity indulges in as a result of rejecting God, Paul turns to religious people and says, ''This applies to you, too.'' {Review Romans 1: 28-32}Nobody can judge arrogantly, because we are all guilty. Even God's people the Jews will stand before Him in judgment based on their works. Having the law only matters if someone can keep the law. Paul asks his Jewish readers why they don't and shows that they must be Jewish and circumcised in their hearts for it to matter.  (https://www.bibleref.com/Romans/2/Romans-chapter-2.html)

1)God's Righteous Judgement (Part 1) 1-8, JEANNIE

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ² Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? ⁵ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”^[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸ But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

NOTATIONS:

• Paul describes humanity's sinfulness
• Paul refers to the religious leaders as hypocritical

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What did Paul say about judging others? (V.1)

2. What is intended to lead to repentance? (V.4)

3. What causes God's wrath against us? (V.5)

4. What happens to those who are persistent in doing good? (V.7)

5. What happens to those who reject the truth? (V.8)

Think about the term "Good Works". How would you personally define Good Works and what are some examples in your life?

2) God's Righteous Judgement (Part 2) 9-16, DESTINY

⁹ There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; ¹⁰ but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹ For God does not show favoritism. ¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) ¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

NOTATIONS:

• One God, One Judgment, One Standard
• "All those who sin apart from the Law will also perish apart from the Law"
• Read verses 14 and 15 in The Passion Translation. 

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What happens to evil doers? (V.9)

2. What is given to everyone who does good? (V.10)

3. Who are the righteous in God's sight? (V.13)

We read verses 14 and 15 in TPT. How do you think God makes this possible for us?

3) The Jews and the Law, Verses 17-29, MRS. ELNORA

¹⁷ Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; ¹⁸ if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; ¹⁹ if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹ you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ²² You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³ You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? ²⁴ As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”²⁵ Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. ²⁶ So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? ²⁷ The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the^[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. ²⁸ A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. ²⁹ No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

NOTATIONS:

• Boasting in the Law
• What is the value in circumcision? 
• The True Jewish Nation

SECTION QUESTIONS:

1. What did Paul explain to the Jews? (V.21-24)

2. What value is circumcision if you observe the Law, but break it? (V.25)

3. What did Paul say about one not being circumcised, but obeys the Law? (V. 27)

4. How does Paul describe a true Jew? (V. 29)

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Journal Entry/Share:

“But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Romans 2:29)

What does this scripture mean to you?

Prayer Confession: 

Dear Lord, we thank you for blessing us to study your Word and apply it to our lives. We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us not to judge others. We know that if we do, we are condemning ourselves. Help us to be persistent in doing good and seeking the truth, so that we may inherit eternal life. Thank you for giving your Son, Jesus Christ, who took away the sins of the world and brought us salvation. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who guides us into living righteously. We love you, we honor you, and we give you praise, always. Thank you for hearing our prayer. In your Son, Jesus' name we pray. Amen.