Lesson 3

GOD’S JUDGMENT IS DESERVED UPON ALL JEWISH PEOPLE

Romans 2:17-3:20

REVIEW

Be prepared to answer: Every person you ever meet in your life has a conscience. A conscience that in part is telling them they have done some things that are wrong. How can that be helpful as we share our faith with someone?

What is the meaning and thought of the word “declare righteous?”

ROMANS 2:17-24

In the previous section (Romans 2:1-16) Paul spoke about people who lived very moral lives. They could have been Gentiles or Jews, but their lives were marked with far better morals than those described and convicted of guilt in Romans 1. They are however, still guilty because they haven’t consistently kept the law.

Now Paul turns his attention to the Jews in particular. He begins with a series of clauses. Each starts with the word “if”. The thought of each clause is a common held perception the Jews had of themselves. They would have quickly agreed with the points. I am glad I am a Jew, I have the law of God and I am in a relationship with God. I know his will because we are the nation that received the revelations from God. I have tested the law and approve of what really matters in life. I am constantly taught by the law.

Paul makes a turn in the thought in verse 19. He portrayed their privileged position as a Jew. Now he describes the attitude of the Jew toward others. The Jews felt they were in a position to help the spiritually blind, to teach those in the dark about knowing the true God, to instruct those who didn’t have a clue (foolish) about God, to help the helpless (infants) to understand the living Lord.

The Jews were in a unique position but now Paul suddenly starts raising some questions. Were they learning and applying God’s law to themselves? With each question the initial answer might be, “No, I don’t do those things.” After a closer examination, they would have to confess, “Yes, I have.” Their hypocrisy was obvious to the Gentiles and they weren’t attracted to the Lord but rather spoke against the God of Israel. They couldn’t claim salvation on the basis of the law and obedience. They were sinners.

DISCUSSION

  1. We like the Jews also are privileged to have and learn from God’s

    Word. Why do we need to apply God’s law to our lives as Paul is doing here to the Jews?

  2. How can God’s name be blasphemed (dishonored) in the eyes of people

    around us?

  3. Remember there is no gospel in these early chapters of Romans, as we

    apply these words to ourselves why do we need to flee to Jesus for comfort and strength?

ROMANS 2:25-29

The Jew could still think, but I have been circumcised. That will count before God. Paul demolishes that thought! Paul’s first point is that circumcision only has value if the law is still kept perfectly. If one breaks the law, circumcision wouldn’t help, the person is like an uncircumcised individual (vs 25). If the Jew is like an uncircumcised person, they aren’t part of God’s people. In verse 26, Paul reverses it. If an uncircumcised person keeps God’s law consistently (in theory – this isn’t possible because we are all sinners) they will be regarded as a child of God (circumcised).

Paul continues by saying the Gentile (uncircumcised) will condemn the Jew who hasn’t kept God’s law perfectly. Is that what Jesus was saying in Matthew 12:41-42? The Gentiles who heard God’s call to repentance will stand in judgment over the Jews who rejected the Savior. The Jewish trust in their family background, their partial obedience to God’s will and that they were outwardly circumcised has been blown apart by these words.

Paul isn’t done. In verse 28-29, he makes the point that circumcision is something inward worked by the Spirt in someone’s heart and has an outward action to remind the person they are a child of God. A Jew before God is first someone whose heart has been changed by the Spirit. This isn’t a new thought in Scripture. Remember Old Testament passages where God spoke of Israel’s uncircumcised hearts (Leviticus 26:41)? God called upon Israel to circumcise their hearts (Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6). Circumcision was always spiritual with an outward sign to remind each person. Circumcision was always a cutting of the heart (cutting away sin – repentance) and a trust in the compassionate and gracious God who forgave their sin through the promised Messiah.

Notice that the identity of God’s people isn’t based on family or obedience but on the Spirit working in the heart of a person. The Bible says, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29). The believer in Jesus is Abraham’s seed – a descendant of Abraham – not by a physical connection but by a faith like Abraham trusting God’s word and promise.

DISCUSSION

  1. What can be some dangerous thoughts or attitudes (similar to the

    Jews) that could give us a false sense of security that we are God’s children?

  2. In what way could it be said that every believer, no matter what

    their ethnic background, is a Jew? 28-29

ROMANS 3:1-4

Paul has made the strong point that simply being a circumcised Jew doesn’t result in the person being a child of God and an heir of eternal life. An inward circumcision of the heart, a belief in God’s Word was critical. This was jarring for most Jews because they believed the most important things were outward. Anticipating their object he asks their question, What is the advantage of being a Jew? He answers quickly you have the inspired Word of God. If someone doesn’t believe the Word of God that doesn’t make God’s Word a lie. God’s Word remains true and will never be proved false.

Part of the difficulty of this section is that Paul moves quickly from one question to an answer to another logical question that might be raised and then a quick answer again.

DISCUSSION

  1. What important reminder for us is found in vs. 1-2?

  2. How does God’s absolute faithfulness even when we are unfaithful

    give us encouragement and strength?

ROMANS 3:5-8

As Paul continues his rapid fire questions and answers, we get the impression these were actual human arguments that he has heard people raise. People do try to challenge the Christian faith by using human not G odly logic. The questions raised end up trying to ridicule Christianity by setting up some false logical conclusions that end up saying, “Do evil so that God looks holier and more just!” The accusation has even been made that was Paul’s teaching. Paul destroys each question. He finally simply says, “Their condemnation is deserved.” (Romans 3:8) Remember the ongoing point unbelieving Jews are also guilty before God and every attempt to say anything different will only end in judgment of God.

DISCUSSION

  1. Someone might argue, “If you tell someone their sins are completely,

    fully paid for by Jesus and you simply invite them to believe it. They will then sin all the more because they think they have forgiveness.” How would you respond?

ROMANS 3:9-18

The Jews are not in a better position nor a worse position before God. Paul gives the reason in the second half of verse 9 “all under sin.” We are all under the continuing condition of sin’s domination. Paul uses seven Old Testament quotations to support his point of the universal nature of sin among humans. He says twice - all have gone their own way; four times – no one is righteous; two times – not even one. There are no exceptions – God can’t find anyone who has kept his will perfectly.

He then portrays the terrible results of sin in the world. As an open grave with a body decaying in it has a strong odor, so are our sinful throats whose words are foul smelling before God. Mouths that speak deceitful words, hurtful words (poison), cursing or bitter words. Bitter words are rebellion against God as we are angry or frustrated with a difficulty that God has allowed into our life. The actions of humans reflect sin as well (vs. 15-16). As people live in this rebellion there is no respect for God but only refusal to listen to him and a lifting up of self before God. The evidence of the universality of sin is seen in every single human being.

DISCUSSION

  1. What does it mean to be “under sin” (vs 9)?

  2. Paul says, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (18) How is

    that the root sin of all others?

ROMANS 3:19-20

The last word of this section is “sin.” Literally the Greek word means to miss the mark. It is used in the context of archery and an arrow missing the bull’s eye. This obviously is an important word in the Bible. God’s law identifies the target we are to hit with a perfect obedience but we miss the mark. We fail to keep it perfectly and so we fall short of hitting the center of the target. Because of the law we are aware, conscious, of the fact that we are sinful. The law only brings us a knowledge of our sin, not the forgiveness of sins. Since we cannot find the perfection inside of us, we will only find it outside of us.

KEYWORD: SIN – Miss the mark, failing to hit the bull’s eye of perfection to the law

DISCUSSION

  1. What does the word “accountable to God” communicate to you?

  2. Why do we have to keep teaching the law over and over again to God’s

    people?

[PREPARING FOR NEXT WEEK’S CLASS]{.ul}

  1. Read Romans 3:21 – 3:31

  2. Read Romans – the People’s Bible Pages 57-67

  3. Read Romans 3:21 – 3:31 a second time but this time out loud.

Be prepared to answer: Why do we need to continually apply the law to our own heart?

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