Read through verses 1 4 and count the number of times the words judge, judgment, condemn, or similar words are used.

Transcription

1 LESSON 3B Romans 2 Day One: Pre-Reading Verses 1 4 Read through verses 1 4 and count the number of times the words judge, judgment, condemn, or similar words are used. 1. Can you guess what we will be studying today? Verse 1 mirrors Jesus own words found in Matthew 7:1 5. What do these verses say? 2. Now read 1 Corinthians 2:15, which seems to be in contradiction to what we have just studied. Write out this verse below. Confusion can often arise concerning what the Bible teaches about Christians judging others. To clarify, let s examine the word judge as used in both contexts. The original word found in both Romans and Matthew (Question 1 above) is the word krino and according to Strong s Concordance, it means, to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish: avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think. In Question 2 the word judge is actually anakrino which is to scrutinize, that is, (by implication) investigate, interrogate, determine: ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search. 3. Based on this information, write the difference between these two ideas in your own words below. 1

2 (Optional) If you are interested in pursuing further study on this topic, here are some additional references for you to look at. Record any thoughts and insights. 1 Kings 3:9; 1 John 4:1 3; Luke 12: 54 57; Acts 17:11; Romans 14: 10 13; James 4:12 4. Read Romans 2, verse 4. What is it that leads men to repentance? 5. Read the account of the woman caught in adultery to see how these verses were practiced by Jesus. It is in John 8:2 11. How is this story an example of what we have studied today? When you answer, think about what you have learned about discerning judgment, condemning judgment, kindness, and repentance. Scripture Memory: This week s Scripture Memory passage contains one of the major themes that continues throughout Romans. Take time right now to ask God for his help in committing this week s verse to memory, then repeat it to yourself out loud several times. Attempt, throughout the day, to recall it to mind. For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart. Romans 2:28 29a NKJV Day Two: Verses Verse 5 speaks of those who despise the riches of God s goodness. What is in store for those with an impenitent heart? 2

3 2. God will render to each according to his deeds. Compare below those who seek the things of God (verses 7 and 10) with those who seek themselves (verses 8 9). What types of things do they pursue and what is in store for them? Those who seek God Those who seek self 3. Verse 11 is short and to-the-point. Write it out below. 4. What do the following verses indicate about God s righteous judgment? Matthew 25: Peter 1:7 Proverbs 11: Scripture Memory: Fill in the missing words from memory. Review this passage several times today and ask the Lord who made your mind to keep this passage there. For he is not a Jew who is one, nor is circumcision that which is in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one ; and circumcision is that of the heart. Romans 2:28 29a NKJV 3

4 Day Three: Verses Read verses and attempt to summarize them in your own words. 2. Today we are going to read about an example of a Gentile who, though he did not have the law, showed the work of the law written in his heart. This account also shows how God s impartiality between Jew and Gentile was demonstrated very early in church history. Please read Acts 10:1 through 11:18 and answer the following. a. What does Acts 10:2 say about Cornelius heart and deeds? b. What did Peter have to say about God s impartiality in Acts 10:34 35? c. What important realization did the Jews in Jerusalem make in Acts 11:18? d. Read again Romans 2:7, 10. How do these verses apply to the story of Cornelius? Scripture Memory: Fill in the missing words from memory. Review this passage several times today and meditate on its meaning. For he is not a who is one, nor is circumcision that which is in the flesh; but he is a who is one ; and circumcision is that of the. Romans :28 29a NKJV 4

5 Day Four: Verses Read verses It is easy to dismiss today s passage as not for me, if you are not Jewish, but that is not true! List the things that the Jews had to boast about, found in verses Couldn t the modern Christian boast in most, if not all, of these things as well? 2. Verse 19 uses the phrase, a light to those who are in darkness. What did Jesus tell His disciples about being a light to those who are in darkness? (See Matthew 5:14 16.) 3. In verses 21 23, Paul asks a series of questions confronting the hypocrisy of those Jews who were resting on the law, and felt themselves superior to the Gentiles. Read how Jesus addressed the scribes and Pharisees and confronted their hypocrisy in Matthew 23: What comparisons did Jesus use to describe the Pharisees? What type of language and punctuation do you find? 4. In verse 24, Paul uses the same words that the prophet Nathan said to King David, when he confronted David about his sin with Bathsheba. (You may read about it in 2 Samuel 11 and 12, if you like.) Based on your answers to the last question, describe how Jesus felt when the name of God was blasphemed among the Gentiles because of [those Jews]. Because God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we know that God still feels that way today when His name is blasphemed among the nations by those who would call themselves Christians. 5. Read Jesus words in Matthew 5:21 22, How do these verses intensify Paul s questions to the Jews here in Romans 2:21 23? 5

6 Scripture Memory: Fill in the missing words from memory. Repeat it to yourself, out loud, several times. For he is not a who is one, nor is that which is in the ; but he is a who is one ; and is that of the. : - Day Five: Verses Today s passage speaks of circumcision. Later in Romans we will study the origin and significance of this act, but for today let s examine a general definition of circumcision. Terms and Definitions: Circumcision Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the male sex organ. This action served as a sign of God s Covenant relation with His people. It signified their responsibility to serve as the holy people whom God had called as His special servants in the midst of a pagan world. Circumcision... became a badge of [the Jews ] spiritual and national superiority, fostering a spirit of exclusivism... Gentiles came to be regarded by the Jews as the uncircumcision, a term of disrespect implying that the non-jewish people were outside the circle of God s love. i 1. In today s reading, Paul is redefining the concepts of circumcision and uncircumcision in the minds of his readers at Rome. Read through verses and summarize these redefinitions below: To be circumcised does not just mean to be a Jew, it means: To be uncircumcised does not just mean to be a Gentile, it means: 2. What do the following verses have to say about this topic? Philippians 3:3 Deuteronomy 30:6 Jeremiah 4:4 6

7 Scripture Memory: Try to write the entire Scripture Memory passage completely from memory. Continue to review it several times daily.. : Day Six: Personal Application and Review 1. In verse 4, we read that it is the goodness of God [that] leads you to repentance. Think about what does not lead a person to repentance. No amount of arguing, begging, threatening, debating, bargaining, or harassing will compel a sinner to repentance. It is the goodness of God that draws them. Do you long for someone in your life to come to repentance? Lift up that person right now in prayer and write down one practical way you can display God s goodness to them in the near future. Ask the Spirit for help in this area, since goodness is one of the natural fruits of the Spirit s presence in your life (see Galatians 5:22). 2. On Day Two, we read that there is no partiality with God. God does not show favoritism or preference, as He judges righteously. This does not mean that He treats us all equally, but that He treats us all fairly, because He loves us all equally. What about you? Fathers, have you shown favoritism lately among your children? Bosses, are you partial to one employee over another? Christian, do you love only those who are easy to love? It is easy to be a respecter of persons without realizing it. Therefore, ask the Holy Spirit to shed His light on any areas of partiality in your life. Record any thoughts about this below. 3. When we read the story of Peter and Cornelius on Day Three, we saw that salvation came to the Gentiles and was not just granted to the Jews alone. Are you a Gentile? Rejoice that you have been included in God s favor! Thank God that He has, in His infinite mercy, allowed you the privilege of becoming an adopted son or daughter in the family of God. Are you a Jew? Praise Him that you are part of such a special people that God has reached out to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Thank God that since Jesus was a Jew, you can relate to Him in another special way. Whichever your case may be, write out a prayer of thanksgiving and rejoicing below. 7

8 4. We talked, on Day Four, about the hypocrisy of the Jews during the time of Christ and the early church. But ask yourself, Christian, is the name of God blasphemed among the nations because of you? Do you give reason for your neighbors, coworkers, husband, wife, or children to resent hypocrisy in your life? Does the name of Jesus leave a bad taste in the mouths of those around you because you call yourself a Christian but don t act like one? Stop and reflect before you answer. Paul encouraged Timothy to be an example, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12). Let this verse encourage you also to be a person of integrity and godly character. Remember how strongly Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees of His day, and ask the Lord for His forgiveness in any hypocritical area in your life. 5. In Day Five, we were reminded by Paul that God is not as concerned about outward acts and appearances as He is about the heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7.) Have you, like the Jews of Paul s day, been under the impression that because you have done certain acts, rites, or rituals, that you are on good terms with God? You may have been circumcised, baptized, or deputized; you may have gone through confirmation, flagellation, or education. But these things alone will not make you right with God. No amount of penance, seminary, or religious ceremony will earn you salvation from your sins. Do you have a circumcised heart? If you are unsure about how reconciliation with God is obtained, ask your group leader to help you know for certain. Scripture Memory: Write the entire passage completely from memory. Can you do it? Of course you can. Now that you have it stored inside, pray that the Lord will someday use it for His glory, through you.. : 8