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In Romans 1 Paul addresses the fate of the unbeliever.  He talks about their progression from not acknowledging God to their descent into depravity.  Paul then changes his focus because Paul realized we have a tendency to see other people’s faults but not our own.  The Jew looked at all Jews as chosen and all Gentiles as pagans.  Even in the church this “division” exists.  Now imagine the Romans “pointing out the spec” in others’ eyes but not noticing the log in theirs.

 

  1. Do we have a tendency to think of some sins as “more acceptable” or not as bad as others?  In other words, do we, as believers, say, “Thank God I am not a sinner like that”?  Please explain.

 

 

Do we use this “logic” (at lease I don’t lie, steal, get drunk, murder, etc.) to justify our condition? 

 

 

How does this thinking keep us from seeing our need to change?

 

 

  1. Paul now turns to the Roman believers and to us.  Paul says there is only one righteousness that applies to all people.  This righteousness is available to all through Jesus Christ.  We have talked about this some before, but this is not a universal doctrine in the church.  Why is such dangerous teaching?

 

 

What can you do about it?

 

 

What does this truth mean to us and to the church?

 

 

  1. Who is the “you” Paul is addressing in verse 1?

 

 

How would react if this part of the letter were addressed to you?

 

 

  1. Paul writes that they are without excuse.  What does this mean?

 

 

  1. Read carefully verse 1 again.  What does it mean to you? 

 

 

How does one condemn himself?

 

 

Why do you believe Paul is being so blunt?

 

 

  1. Read verse 2.  Paul says that God’s judgment is based on truth.  What does this mean to you?

 

 

Paul seems to be reminding the Roman believers that God’s judgment is the same for all people, Jew and Gentile alike.  Do we still need to hear this truth?  In other words, do some in the church believe they hold a “special” position with God while others will be judged more harshly?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. Are there still people who believe they will “escape” God’s judgment because of works or service or position?  Please explain.

 

 

How would you address this belief?

 

 

Is Paul saying that our relationship with God will not save us from judgment?  Please explain.

 

 

How do you think the Jewish believers would react to these statements?

 

 

  1. In verse 4, Paul states that we can react to the riches of God’s kindness, tolerance and patience, in different ways.  What are these ways?

 

 

How does one show contempt for God’s kindness?

 

 

According to Paul, what is the purpose of God’s patience, tolerance, and kindness?

 

How is it possible that we can mistake God’s patience and kindness for God’s approval?  Please explain.

 

 

Can you think of an example or examples of people mistaking God’s patience for His acceptance such that they see no need for repentance?

 

 

Can you think of a time when God’s patience, kindness and tolerance did lead to true repentance?

 

 

  1. Is God ever indifferent to sin?  Please explain.

 

 

What are the implications of this truth for all mankind?

 

 

  1. In verse 5 Paul mentions the day of God’s wrath.  What does this mean to you?

 

 

Paul also says that those who remain stubborn and unrepentant will store or treasure up wrath against themselves.  What does this mean?

 

 

Therefore, we can conclude that all people are storing up for God’s day of wrath.  God says we will be either storing up treasures that cannot be destroyed or wrath that cannot be ignored.  How do you think this message would be received in most churches today?  Please explain.

 

 

On this day of wrath the world will see God’s righteous judgment.  What is God’s righteous judgment?

 

 

  1. In light of these scriptures, how would you go about explaining to a person who is good and moral and just and loving and caring that he/she still needs God’s forgiveness and righteousness?

 

 

How would you explain that he/she is storing up God’s wrath even while being such a good person?

 

 

  1. What does verse 6 mean to you?

 

 

How would you reconcile this verse with the one that says we are not saved by works?

 

 

Read Psalm 62:12 and Proverbs 24:12.   Again, what do these verses mean to you?

 

 

What impact do these verses have on your relationship with Jesus Christ?

 

 

  1. Read carefully vv. 6-8.  Paul gives us only two courses in life.  What are they?

 

 

At first reading it would seen that these verses teach salvation by works instead of salvation by faith.  Yet, in his other letters Paul clearly tells us that salvation is a gift of God and comes only through faith.  How, then, do you explain Paul’s statement in verse 7?

 

 

What does it mean to you to persistently seek to do good?

 

 

What does this have to do with faith?

 

 

  1. Verse 8 goes into the other choice.  It talks about people who are self-seeking or contentious.  How would you describe a self-seeking or contentious person?

 

 

What will happen to those who reject the truth?

 

 

At this early stage of his letter, what point do you believe Paul is making?

 

  1. Read vv. 8-10.  Paul says that all our works will result a response from God.  What will be the response from God for those who persist in doing evil?

 

 

What will be God’s response for those who persist in doing good?

 

 

Now after reading vv. 9 & 10, we learn that the Jew will be punished first and rewarded first.  What does this mean to you? 

 

 

Why do you believe this to be true?

 

 

What does this mean to the church?

 

 

  1. Still addressing the Jews, Paul states in verse 11 that God is not a respecter of persons or God does not show favoritism.  Why do you think Paul made this statement to the Jews?

 

 

Do you believe the church has shown favoritism in the past?  Please explain.

 

 

Do you believe the church still does?  If so, in what ways?

 

 

Jesus is the head of the church, and if Jesus does not show favoritism, what should be our response?

 

 

Based upon this truth alone, what does Christ’s church look like?

 

 

  1. Read carefully vv. 12-15.  Again Paul mentions two groups of people.  Explain verse 12 as you understand it.

 

 

Keeping in mind that God does not show favoritism, are those who know the law going to receive special treatment over those who do not know the law?  Please explain.

To the Romans, who were the ones with the law?  The ones without the law? 

 

 

No matter in which group you fall, all are answerable to whom?

 

 

Paul says that the Gentiles will be judged not because they don't have the law but because they have sinned. Therefore, we can say that God's judgment is based upon what?

 

 

  1. Verse 13 tells us whom God will declare righteous.  According to Paul whom will God declare righteous?

 

 

How do you believe the Jews reacted to this statement?

 

 

Applying this verse to the church today, what do we have to do to be declared righteous in God’s eyes?  (Be careful.)

 

 

Reread your answer.  Are we advocating that righteousness can be earned?  Please explain.

 

 

Paul closes many doors that appears to lead to God and opens only one. What door does Paul open?

 

 

 

  1. Verses 14 & 15 are very interesting.  Paul states that Gentiles do not have the law; however, this does not prevent them from obeying the law.  Please explain what Paul means?

 

 

Explain how people who do not know God’s law can by nature keep that law.  Can you give examples?

 

 

According to Paul, where can these Gentiles find the law?

What “bears witness” to God’s law?  What accuses or excuses them?

 

 

Now, apply these verses to your life before you accepted Jesus as your Savior.  Can you think of a time when your conscious bore witness to God’s law written on your heart?

 

 

If this is true, is Paul saying that we have no need of church, the Bible, or of Jesus?  Please explain.

 

 

Is Paul saying that ''being good" will result in salvation?  Please explain.

 

 

  1. In these verses Paul talks about a universal law established by God.  What would you say are some 'universal" do's and don't's?

 

 

How would you explain what our conscience is?  What causes us to ignore our conscience?

 

 

  1. Verse 16 states that God not only judges our actions but also the secrets of all mankind.  What does this mean to you?

 

 

What is our secret life?

 

 

What does God say about doing things in secret? (See Mat. 6:3-4 and Mark 4:22 and Ecc. 12:14.) 

 

 

Paul makes it very clear that all people will be judged.  However, he adds ''through Jesus".  What does it mean to you that we will be judged through Jesus Christ?

 

 

For both Jew and Gentile, Paul says that we will all stand before God as equals. We will be equally REWARDED OR EQUALLY JUDGED. How do you believe the Jews reacted to this idea? Please explain.

Do you think there is still the belief in the church that some will be rewarded over others because of their beliefs or because they attend a particular church? How do these scriptures address this belief?

 

 

 

What standard will God use to judge our hearts?

 

 

  1. What does it mean to you to be called a Christian?

 

 

Verses 17-23 present an if-then argument. Restate this argument in your words.

 

 

 

Now replace the word "Jew" in verse 17 with "Christian" and tell what these verses mean to you.

 

 

Verses 18-23 list Paul’s “if" arguments.  Each "if" statement can be viewed as a responsibility God gave to the Jews. What were and are these responsibilities?

 

 

Do these responsibilities apply to us? Please explain.

 

 

What are the implications of the questions Paul asks in vv. 21-23?

 

 

  1. What does it mean to you to teach someone?

 

 

Can we effectively teach what we do not practice?  Please explain.

 

 

According to Paul’s admonitions, who would make the best teacher?

 

 

Do you fit this category?  Why or why not?

 

 

  1. According to God, why is His name being blasphemed in the world?

 

 

Please explain how and why this is true.

 

 

What does it mean to you that God’s name is blasphemed among unbelievers because of the Jews and because of us?

 

 

 

  1. In verse 25 Paul turns to the covenant of circumcision.  What can you learn about this covenant?  Why was and is circumcision so important to Jews?

 

 

Paul says that circumcision has value ONLY if one observes the law.  What does this mean to you?

 

 

Why do you believe Paul made this statement to the Jews in Rome?

 

 

What can we learn from Paul’s statement?

 

 

  1. Paul goes even further.  He says that an uncircumcised person who keeps the law will be considered as one being circumcised.  What implications did this hold for the Jews?  For the Gentiles?

 

 

Why do you think Paul is mentioning circumcision at this point in his letter?

 

 

According to verses 25 and 26, what is more important to Paul, circumcision or obedience?  Please explain.

 

Read Proverbs 21:3.  How does this relate to what Paul is saying about circumcision?

 

 

  1. Read verse 27 very carefully.  What does it mean to you?

How could an uncircumcised Gentile “condemn” a circumcised Jew?

 

 

What does this mean for us as believers?

 

 

  1. Who or what is a Jew?

 

 

Read verses 28-29.  According to Paul, who is a Jew?

 

 

Do we attach certain religious rites to define a Christian?  Please explain.

 

 

According to Paul, true circumcision is circumcision of the heart.  What does this mean?

 

 

How is one’s heart circumcised?

 

 

  1. Paul ends this section of his letter by saying that we can receive praise from God or from man.  Whom does God praise?

 

 

What does it mean to you to be praised by God?

 

 

  1. Can you give an example from the scriptures of someone who was spiritually circumcised but not physically circumcised?

 

 

  1. Briefly summarize these opening chapters of Paul’s letter to the Romans.  What are his major points?