Opening prayer: Session # 3 Pg.1
Father God we ask your blessing on this study tonight, that you would open our minds and our hearts to your word. Bring us to the realization of those matters that you would have us learn from this study. Make us aware that in this world you do not always work independently. Help us to realize that we too are vessels that you use to further your Kingdom on this earth. We pray that your peace and comfort be with those of us who are sick or disabled and cannot be here tonight. We ask that you share our blessing with them. Lead us now and give us understanding as we study Your Word as given to us in Paul’s letter to the Romans. In Jesus Name we pray Amen.
Prelude
Paul’s life as a God fearing obedient Jew, an intense persecutor of Christians was suddenly and vitally reshaped by a dramatic meeting with Christ on the Road to Damascus. It was this drama, coupled with his fervor that drove Paul to take the Message of Jesus to what was then most of the known world. A devout Jew that would now seek to bring the message of Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to the gentile world. This effort would mold Christianity for the next two Millennia.
He succeeded in making Christianity a universal religion, not just in the spiritual sense but also in the physical sense. Spreading the Gospel far and wide across the Roman Empire was Paul's mission. His missionary journeys brought him to Asia Minor, Greece, Macedonia and eventually Rome. There is no question that his Roman citizenship and his intense training as a Pharisee helped him immensely in this mission. He was arrested several times because of his preaching and several times was saved because of his elevated status within the Empire.
Paul was a charismatic individual. He was a sure leader of men. Seldom did he doubt himself. He saw his mission as not only bringing the "Good News" to the Gentiles, but also to organize the Church so that it would grow, even when he was not present to urge it on. Thus, he created an organization and trained leaders. This organization would one day become modern Christianity as it came to supersede the original authority of the Church in Jerusalem. Ultimately, it was Paul who both physically and theologically made Christianity a "universal" church.
Scripture reading
The Judgment Of God, Romans Chapter 2: vs 1-8:
Rom 2:1 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." 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.
Pg.2
Discussion
Paul is telling us that judgment is relative, we pass judgment on others, and we have judgment passed on us. No one will escape judgment, not even the Jew. This condition will show that we have a tendency to judge all things which come to our notice. Then whether or not they meet the expectations that our life experiences have taught us, we make a judgment, as to our reaction. We also have a tendency to believe that what goes around comes around. Now then, because we have admitted that there must be a judgment of all human deeds. We’d better get right with God, because for a certainty we will be judged.
Now Paul is saying that Israel, deserving of her merits, having rejected the Messiah, has laid herself open to God’s judgment and could be justly blotted from the face of the earth.. But God is longsuffering, still exercising patience with His people. Why? Paul explains what the Jew did not recognize: “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance”, God will not coerce the will. He allows that we will have time to make the right decision of our own choosing being lead to repentance by His goodness. And that choice will lead to our Obedience to his word.
Obedience means submission. If we obey the law because it is God’s law, we are showing trust in Him. But if we “do what is right,” ignoring the element of obedience, and judging it right of our own volition, we are acting in pride. Such “good deeds” are faithless and sinful, no better “than filthy rags”. True obedience is a sign of faith, and only those who trust and obey will be saved. Paul further tells us that there will be a day of Judgment, a day of joy, when the obedient will reap their reward, and a day of Wrath when God will declare his final judgment of all sin. Are you ready? (see also Zephaniah 1:15–18). And Romans 1: vs 32
Q.1 What are your feelings about the words of Paul in these verses to the Roman church?
Q.2 What if any of these criticisms can be applied to our present day?
Q.3 What is there about judging others that is so consoling to our conscience
Q.4 Why is it so, that we do not like being judged?
Scripture reading
The Impartiality Of God, Romans Chapter 2: vs 9-16
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.
Pg.3
Discussion
Scripture’s teaching on the depravity of man is clear that “there is none who does good” (Psalms. 14:1–3). Paul indicates that unbelievers sometimes do simply by natural instinct what the law requires. This does not make anyone righteous apart from Christ? .
When Paul says that Gentiles do instinctively what the law requires, He means that it is the nature of man to obey God’s law, even though that decision is not from the heart. They do not obey in response to God, but simply by natural instinct. Even without Christ, people know enough in most instances to “do right”, but this does not lead one to righteousness.
God’s judgment will not be based on mere appearance but on truth (see vs.2). God’s judgment will also take into account our knowledge and privilege. The Jew of Paul’s day, having more knowledge and greater access to the truth, will be judged by the stricter standard of the revealed law. The Gentiles will be judged according to their inner knowledge of God, a knowledge all men possess, as we have seen. Since all men do evil, all men are under the condemnation of God. Being a Jew and having the law avails nothing if you do not keep it in an attitude of faithfulness, and obedience.
Keeping God’s commandments requires a response to God’s word. Paul says that the first-century Jews are not true followers of God’s law. They do not fully exemplify what God has said in (Heb_8:10) The above verses remind us how seriously God takes the principles set out in his laws. Paul is making his point that while having Scripture is an advantage in that it gives the Jew knowledge of God, this knowledge is of no help for salvation if it is not put to use. Similarly, we cannot rest merely in the fact that we have God’s Word to guide us, But it must be put into action in the living of it. It must also be in our minds and hearts.
Q.1 “First for the Jew, then for the Gentile” Paul puts God’s condemnation of sin, and God’s honor
and glory for those who do good in that order, why is that?
Q.2 What does Paul say is needed for one to be declared righteous in God’s sight?
Q.3 Ignorance of the law is no excuse, have you heard that before? What does it
mean when applied to this study?
Q.4 God’s law written in your mind, and in your heart. What does that mean?
Q.5 Is Paul telling us that there are varying degrees of judgment? Under the law, and not under the law, What does that mean?
Pg.4
Commentary
In Romans 2:14, Paul is telling us that even those without divine revelation make laws that forbid things like murder, theft. child molestation and human bondage. Nevertheless, even now, immorality and relativism prevail because the public demands it. Not because it is good, but because it is deemed socially correct. How far astray have we as a society gone.
But consider this; Had Paul not taken on the role of Apostle, and we not knowing of God through someone’s revealing it to us, where would we be in God’s judgment? One cannot save oneself in the doing of good, nor in the belief of a superior being, nor even in the belief that there is a God. There must be Jesus.
Think about it. Paul revealed to the world, what the Jews were taught, and who they have rejected. He taught that there is a Savior, a Rabbi, Teacher, Interpreter of the law, a Devine Authority, a Son of God. One who will stand with us in Judgment, One who has taken all our sins, our shortcomings, our evil deeds, our pride, our arrogance, our selfish acts, our insolence and our disrespectful thoughts, words and deeds, as his own, then He died for us, to free us from the certain condemnation from God that those sins would otherwise bring down on each of us. Had Jesus not lead Paul to us from the Damascus road where would we be today?
God has answered that. With Paul’s letter to Titus which we will study at a latter date.
Tit 1:15 & 16 and Tit 2:1.
1. Is Paul is writing to Jews or to Gentiles here?, or is his message for today's Christian?
2. What is there about judging the ways and words of others that is so addicting to humankind?
3. Why does Paul say we have no right to judge others on any of these things if we do or do not
approve any of these things?
4. Paul says that God’s kindness, patience and forbearance, will lead one to repentance, How
would one explain that to a non believer?
5. How do you feel our judgment of others could affect their repentance?
6. How does your judgment compares to Paul’s description of the righteous judgment of God?
7. What do you understand Paul to be saying is required for salvation?
7. Is obedience to God’s law a needed condition for our salvation or is it a result of God’s
kindness, patience and forbearance”
9. What does verse 2:14-15 tell you about innocent children or remote peoples who have never heard of Jesus?
10 Read vs,16. To what is Paul referring with the words “when God judges people's secrets
through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares”?
Closing Prayer
Father God, we close our study tonight with this prayer for your protection of our souls from the wiles of Satan. Let none of us slip in our efforts to live a good and moral, God centered life. Be with those of our acquaintance who need your healing touch______________Bring to these our friends, and loved ones, Your healing touch give them strength and courage and rest. Help them to recover their health. Bless them Lord, and those who care for them. Be with us now as we go our separate ways, and bring us together again next week. We pray this in Jesus Name Amen.
Pg.5
Scripture readings
Zephaniah 1: 15-18: . 15 That day will be a day of wrath-- a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness--16 a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. 17 "I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like those who are blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath." In the fire of his jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.
Romans 1: vs 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Psalm 14:1-3 For the director of music. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Heb_8:10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Titus 1:15 & 16 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Tit 2:1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.
Pg.6
Meditation
We live in a fallen world, on any given day one is inundated with news of Murder, rape, child molestation, theft, and fraud. Then we see our society in a state of accepting some form of sin and corruption, and even glorifying that which God has forbidden. Our world leaders give themselves over to a thirst for wealth and power, at the peril of the people over whom they rule. And this even filters down to us through our local governance. It even infects the education of our children. It is even infiltrating our religious institutions.
To counter this all consuming passion for making sin to be “not sin”, the Christian is faced with the choice of joining in or rejecting what the world offers. Adam and Eve were tempted in this way. As we read of their fall we become aware that they had choices to make. They looked upon the fruit, it was pleasant to view, after all it had been put there by God. They took it in their hand, it felt normal, like what they expected, and they felt no need to discard it. Then they had another decision to make. If they wanted to be fully informed, and live forever like God, they must partake of it. So they did. Sin for them was made to be appealing. All sin is offered by Satan to us, in like manner. It is made to seem like an appealing and good choice
No need to go into the matter of what happened next, but we all need to understand our choices. We have many and they are all before us. In the middle of the darkness and gloom of Genesis chapter three - verse 15 to be exact - we have the first promise by God that a Savior is coming who will defeat the work of Satan. In The Old Testament we see this promise over and over and as well, in The New Testament. Jesus is born in fulfillment of the prophecies and the Provider of redemption and hope to all who believe and repent of their sins.
When a conversion to Christ occurs, many things change; the new Christian has new purpose, responsibility, and a new relationship with God. But at the same time, there is a perplexing realization that many things also remain the same. He or she still lives in the same fallen world with its evil, corruption and suffering. And temptation is still there as well, and ultimately the disappointing realization that there is still a long way to go before perfection is reached; mistakes are still made and there will be times where one will stumble. How does one live successfully as a Christian in such an environment?
First. We must gain wisdom from the scriptures, Jesus used Scripture to turn Satan away, from this we must learn the nature of Satan and sin. Satan can be very deceptive sometimes even appearing to be the opposite of what we might expect . Sin deceives, often offering more than it can deliver while obscuring the horrible reality of the ultimate outcome.
Second. As Did Jesus, we must be aware of and develop a hatred for sin. God hates sin and continually through scripture warns us that we must not be merely indifferent about it, we must flee from it, and condemn it as God’s hated enemy.
Third. We should remember how Jesus met temptation. He was absolutely successful. He met every temptation with Scripture. Scripture was His absolute authority for right and wrong and His guide for conduct. It should be for you and me as well.
Fourth. We should pray for wisdom, strength and guidance in doing what is right 1n the sight of God for the sake of our faith. Again, this is like Jesus handled His dread of the cross. He found strength in this approach (Matt. 26:39).
Finally, Learn how to be positive about good and negative about evil. Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Christianity is not only putting away sin, but also adding goodness and kindness to our lives as we obey the gospel of Christ…..Amen
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