Romans 2 Bible Study (Watch)

A biblical teaching of Romans 2 –  Bible Study Questions in Romans 2:1-29

Remembering in chapter 1 we talked about this long list of things that make us sinners and everyone was guilty. Gossip. Disobedience to parents etc.

So everyone is under wrath, everyone is under condemnation unless God does something incredible (i.e. Jesus).

Q: What Leads People to Repent of Sin, Law, or Grace? (answered later). Let’s start the study.

[Romans 2:1] Therefore you have no excuse, every one of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

Again, it may not be the same things, but you still practice the things from the same list. So stumble at one point and you’re guilty of doing it all

[Romans 2:2-3] 2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. 3 But do you suppose this, O man,

O man. It’s not O Christian or O believer, it’s O everyone.

[Romans 2:3 contd] when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?

In other words, if all these things are sins and you’re cherry-picking the sins you commit as not being as bad and pointing your finger at the others as having a worse sin than you and saying “look at them”. You’ve taken God’s standard and applied it to them, but you’ve forgotten yourself. So what he’s after here – is hypocrites. Religious hypocrites, moral hypocrites Whatever.

[Romans 2:4] 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

In other words, do you really think your judgment will lead to repentance?  What did Paul say leads us to repent? It’s only Gods KINDNESS

It’s certainly NOT this idea of needing a balance of Law and Grace.

[Romans 2:5] 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

(remember it was written to O MAN) Paul said unrepentant heart. That’s an unbeliever. He is NOT talking to about wrath for believers. So if you’re unsaved and you’re going to play the law game you better win. But you’re going to lose and that’s what we are getting ready to see.

Let’s look at the next verse carefully because it’s easy to think he’s saying it’s not about grace, but about mixing grace and works and performance.

[Romans 2:6] 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:

Now in contrast remember he is currently talking to an UNBELIEVER.

[Romans 2:7] 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;

Now does God want you to seek Glory for yourself? Honor for yourself? Immorality? Let’s just call it what it is, its Jesus Christ in us. The point here is who is it that really does good? and by the end of the chapter Pauls going to show you that it’s NO ONE.

[Romans 2:8-9] 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress  for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,

So right now we are looking at unsaved sinners in the hands of an angry God, but the end of the Romans it will be saints in the arms of a loving God.

[Romans 2:10-11] 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

So some would be thinking now I better get out there and do a bunch of Good, but we’re getting ready to see that NO ONE DOES GOOD.

[Romans 2:12] 12 For all who have sinned  without the Law

Who sins without the law? The Gentiles! They don’t have the law.

Talk about a good verse for debating law and grace!

 will also perish  without the Law, and all who have sinned  under the Law will be judged  by the Law;

So your hope so far is doing good under the law, but Gentiles you don’t even have to the law, and Jews are sinning under the law. So we are all in trouble.

 [Romans 2:13] 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

But who are the doers of the law? It’s true they’d be saved IF there were ANY doers of the law.

Romans 3:19-20 tells us “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be SHUT UP, and the “whole world” may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

The righteous man is going to live by FAITH, not by law. In conclusion, No one obeys the law, NO one does good, no one wins at the law game.

 [Romans 2:14] 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having  the Law, are a law to themselves,

Again, a good verse for all those Christians running around teaching OT law.

[Romans 2:15-16] 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

The Jew Is Condemned by the Law.

[Romans 2:17-20] 17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely  upon the Law and boast in God,18 and know His will and  approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a  corrector of the foolish, a teacher of  the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,

Paul is saying you’re out there beating your chest like you’re a big deal.

 [Romans 2:21-22] 21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?

Where is Paul getting these questions from? The 10 Commandments.

[Romans 2:23-24] You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.

[Romans 2:25-29] 25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

So Paul is saying they have had the law for thousands of years and it was their big deal and they bragged about their ability to keep it, but here’s the news flash, it was never about that, the righteous man always lived by faith.

See Entire Romans Series  Below

Romans 1 - WatchRomans 3 - WatchRomans 4 - WatchRomans 5 - WatchRomans 6 - WatchRomans 7 - WatchRomans 8 - WatchRomans 9 - WatchRomans 10 - WatchRomans 11 - WatchRomans 12 - WatchRomans 13 - WatchRomans 14 - WatchRomans 15-16 - Watch