The Book of Romans, Lesson Four , 2:1-3: 8 , a review of last week before moving on.
A Review of Last Week
In chapter 1, we learned that the Gentiles were in need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because they were lost. In chapter 2, we learned that the Jew was in need of the Gospel of Jesus because they were lost.
Last Week, chapter 2: 1-16.
The Jews were truly in Need of Justification for; If God's judgment was going to be:
1. According to the truth (v. 2
2. With no respect of persons (v. 6)
3. According to doing and not hearing (v. 13)
II. Then the Jews were in need for:
1. According to the truth v.2
a. The Jews condemned others and practiced what they condemned. (v.1)
b. The Jew thought they ought to be treated special. v. 3.
c. They thought that God's mercy was a license to sin v. 4.
d. By his hard heart and unrepentant attitude, he was only increasing wrath v. 5.
III. According to his works v.6
a. To the steadfast well doer is eternal life v. 7.
b. To the factious and disobedient awaits hell v. 8.
c. This will be given to everyone, both Jew and Gentile vs. 9-10.
IV. With no respect of persons v. 11
a. Even the Gentiles will be judged by this standard. They do “by nature” their law and will be judged according. vs. 14-15
In that day God will judge the secrets of the hearts of men and it will be: a. According to the truth
b. According to works.
c. With no respect of persons
d. According to doing.
This is and was the case and the Jew failed on all four points.
The Jew condemned by Law (vs. 17-24).
I. We are proud of the name Jew because!
a. We rely on the law
b. God is our God!
c. We know His will!
d. We can discriminate between right and wrong!
e. We are a guide to the blind (v. 19)
f. We are a light in the darkness (v. 19)
g. We are the corrector of the foolish (v. 20)
h. We are the teachers of the immature (v.20).
i. We have a body of the truth (v. 20).
II. Oh yes, but the Jews are hypocrites! (Vs. 21-24).
a. Most all of the things we (the Jews) teach not to do, we do.
b. We dishonor God by breaking the law (v. 23)
c. It is because of the hypocrisy of the Jews that the name of YHWH is blasphemed among the Gentiles (v. 24).
III. If a Person keeps one point of the Law as law, they are obliged to keep the entire law (vs. 25-29; Gal. 5: 3).
a. For circumcision to be valid, must keep the entire law (v. 25).
b. A circumcised person may be saved if they keep the law since God is not looking for ceremonial religion (v. 26).
c. The point is keeping the law and not circumcision (v. 27).
d. Outward appearance does not make one a Jew, not does outward circumcision (Col. 2:11-12).
e. Must only look for the
praise of God (v. 28).
Chapter 3, and Let's talk about this Sin Problem (3: 1-21).
The Three Objections by the Jew and the Three answers:
1. If the moral Gentile is better off than the immoral Jew, what becomes of the Jews advantage?
Answer: They still have many advantages. The Oracles of God and the promises of the coming Messiah. Thus, the Jew was privileged in that he was the one who should have welcomed and the Christ.
2, The second objection is suggested by the answer to the first. Since the Jew have the oracles of God, which contain God's will, will not their unbelief and disobedience cancel God's promise (3:3)
Answer: God forbid. If every Jew on earth were a liar, it would not affect the truthfulness of God. It is as the Psalmist has said: “God is just in every word spoken and in every case brought to trial His is proved true. The Jewish lack of faithfulness only makes God's righteousness shine (3:4).
3. Again, the third objection comes from the answer to the second. Question: If our unrighteousness only magnifies God's righteousness, is He not unrighteous to visit us with wrath? 3:5
Answer: How then shall God judge the world? If you say that God now excuses evil and counts it God because His righteous dealings with the evil serves the purpose of establishing His faithfulness, where is the standard for judgment? 3:6
4. If the truth of God, which you claim to have (the Jews) is made to abound by me tellings lies about this Jesus, why are you calling me a sinner? vs. 3: 7-8.
5. A final word about Jews being better than Gentiles (v. 9), NO.
by Lane