Romans 2:17-3:20

ALL PEOPLE NEED SALVATION, Part II:
Jews Should Not Rely On Their History Or Their Law

Romans 2:17-3:20
As taught by Dave Lindstrom

I. The Jews need to watch out for boastful pride which will keep them from Christ (2:17-29).

A. In this verse, Paul definitely directly addresses the Jews (vs 17).

B. They were confident of their standing before God and viewed themselves as guides, lights, instructors, and teachers to the Gentile believers (vs 19,20).

1.The stumbling block to God's Law is humanity getting a hold of it and creating easier man-made laws that make it doable. Therefore, humans create their own system to be declared righteous in God's eyes (vs 21-23; Matt. 5:27,28).

2. Because of this type of thinking, God is blasphemed among the Gentiles (vs 24; Isa. 52:5; Ezek. 36:22).

3. Circumcision (peritoma- cut around) was meant by God to be an outward representation of an inward act of believing in God's promise and covenant (Gen. 17). Rather than being a symbol of God's work in the heart, it had become for many, man's work for the flesh to boast about (vs 25-29; Phil. 3:1-3).

Thought: Can it be harder for someone brought up in a works oriented religious environment to accept the Gospel?

II. The advantages the Jews have (Rom. 3:1-20).

A. They have been given the words of God (vs 2). This includes the entire 39 Books of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible). Paul believed in the inspiration of the Hebrew Bible (Rom. 9:3-6).

1. Some who know the Law still do not believe what it says but God will still be true to His word (vs 3,4; Ps. 51:4; Ps. 89:30-37).

2. Those that have reasoned that they can keep God's Law have a hard time not seeing God as unjust (vs 5-8).

B. Everybody is under sin whether Jew or Greek (vs 9-20).

1. Paul supports his claim by many texts in the Hebrew Scriptures (vs 10-18; Ps. 14:1-3, 53:1-3; Ecces. 7:20; Ps. 5:9; Ps. 140:3; Ps. 10:7; Isa. 59:7,8; Ps. 36:1).

2. The Law speaks to those under the Law (the Jews)(vs 19).

3. The purpose of the Law is to bring the knowledge of sin (vs 20; Gal. 3:19-25).

Thought: In what areas of life will a person struggle if they view God as unjust?

Romans 1:18-2:16

ALL PEOPLE NEED SALVATION: SUPPRESSING THE TRUTH REVEALS THE WRATH OF GOD
Romans 1:18-2:16

As taught by Dave Lindstrom

I. While the righteousness of God is being revealed in the Gospel, the wrath of God is being revealed in truth suppression (Rom. 1:18-32).

A. Created inside every person is a certain knowledge of God. In theology (the study of God), we call this general revelation (vs 19, 20: Ps. 19:1-6, Eccles. 3:11).

1. People should see all around them God’s eternal power.
2. People should see all around them God’s Godness “theotas”(many of his attributes).

B. Paul says that because of this people are without legal defense “anapologatos.”

Thought: How much understanding is God expecting from people around the world concerning Him? (Acts 17:24-28)

C. By not glorifying (assigning importance to) or thanking God, people who were created to do these things assign these traits to idols(vs 21-24).

Thought: What idols do we have in our world today?

D. Therefore (as a result, “dio”), God gave them over (vs 24-32, especially vs 24, 26,28).

1. God seems to increasingly remove his sin restraining power (2 Thes. 2:7).
2. The human tendency is toward more and more moral decay.
3. God does view homosexuality as moral perversion and sin in the Old Testament and the New Testament (vs 26, 27: Lev. 18:22; I Cor. 6:9; I Tim. 1:10; Rev. 22:15).
4. Paul lists 21 nouns and adjectives that people fill themselves up with (vs 29-31).

II. All unrighteous people are without excuse against God’s true righteous judgment (Rom. 2:1-16).

A. Thinking your self-righteousness will bring you right standing with God is ridiculous (vs 1-3). However, don’t confuse this and Matt. 7:1 for the same thing as true godly discernment (I Cor.5:12-6:6).
B. God is being patient “makrothumias” (which means long-suffering) toward humanity, leading people to repentance (a change of mind)(vs 4).
C. By not believing the Gospel of God’s righteousness, people store up God’s wrath for what they have believed and done. By believing the gospel and living in it, people receive eternal life and reward (vs 5_16; I Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:11-15).