Romans 2 

2:1-5

1: In Romans 1:28-32 Paul lists many sins that the people who have turned from God involved themselves in. However believers are in no place to judge them, for we are still sinners and still commit some of the very same things.

4: (Probably directed towards Jewish Christians) Paul is saying that even as God’s chosen people, the Jews are also to repent of their sin and turn to Jesus. We all need Jesus regardless of our race, social status, power, etc.

Question: Why should God’s love, kindness, and patience lead us to repentance? What things have lead you to repent and seek God’s forgiveness for your sins?????

2:6-11

6: While salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ, our actions do have eternal value. Elsewhere the New Testament talks about rewards that will be received in heaven for our good works, as well as different degrees of punishment in hell for those who have rejected Christ.

11: Again we see that God shows no partiality. Even the Jews need to turn and believe in Jesus. There is no other way in which people can be saved except through Christ (Acts 4:12).

There was the belief among some Jews that as God’s chosen people, they did not have to trust in Christ for their salvation. Paul is making it quite clear (as Jesus did himself) that only those who follow Christ will be saved. Everyone will be rewarded/judged on a level playing field.

Question: The Jews who thought they didn’t need Jesus are comparable today to many who have grown up in or have gone to church for a long period of time and consider themselves Christians simply because of that fact. Yet only those who trust and follow Jesus are true believers. Was there a time in your life when you realized this for the first time (that following Jesus is a lifestyle, not a Sunday event)? What was it that changed your perspective?

2:12-25

12-15: The Jews had the Law of Moses that clearly showed them what was and was not sin. The Gentiles (everyone who is not Jewish) did not have the law, yet they still violated their conscious and would do things that they knew were still wrong. Therefore, whether they had God’s law (the Jews) or didn’t (the Gentiles) everyone still sinned. Even people who do not believe in God will admit to you that they are not perfect (thus proving Paul’s point).

24: Because the Jews had the law and still repeatedly turned from God in the Old Testament, the Jews therefore made a mockery of and blasphemed God in front of the Gentile nations.

Question: The quote, “you may be the only Bible someone ever sees” comes to mind here. In what ways do you need to be more sensitive to this fact in your life? Where are the areas where you a prone to misrepresent God and how he has called you to live?

2:26-29

The point Paul is making here is that by being Jewish (and circumcised) does not make one any better than one who is not Jewish and uncircumcised. What matters is whether or not we follow Jesus and honor God with our lives by how we live.

Question: His praise is not from man but from God (verse 29). Following Jesus is a lifelong pursuit. How does seeking praise from God rather than man cause you to live differently?

Romans 1 

Written by the Apostle Paul around 57 AD probably from Corinth on his third missionary journey. Paul likely writes the letter to address particular issues of concern to the Roman Church, specifically issues that dealt with and include both Jewish and Gentile Christians.

1:1-7

This is the longest introduction of all of Paul’s letters since he had not actually yet been to Rome at the time of this writing.

1: Paul calls himself an apostle. Meaning his authority is equal to that of Jesus’ twelve disciples. As an apostle, he was called specifically by Jesus and had seen the risen Jesus (Damascus road…), and therefore had the authority to speak and teach the words of God.

8-15

8: Proclaimed in all the world means that the message of Jesus is one for the entire world, not just the Jews.

10: Paul expresses his desire to visit Rome, which he is yet to do.

11-12: All believers can strengthen and encourage one another no matter our social class, economic standing, or our perceived “holiness” from others. Paul himself was an apostle, yet he was encouraged by their faith as much as they were encouraged be his.

Question: When have you been personally encouraged by another’s faith? What was it that encouraged you?

16-17

17: Righteousness is simply our “right-standing” before God. A termed used throughout this letter.

The Gospel is for everyone and saves everyone who believes in Christ no matter ones race, gender, social status, etc.

Question: What does it look like practically to live unashamed of your faith (at work, with friends, doing hobbies)? How can you do this without being either pushy or coming across as too strong or fake around others?

18-23

20: We are all without excuse. No one can claim that God has not provided the evidence of his existence.

22: Those who deny God’s existence must come up with alternative explanations for many things. Therefore, claiming to be wise, they became fools.

It is important to note that many people turn from God not because of intellectual disbelief, but because of God’s high standard of morality. It is easier to live a life of sin by denying God’s existence than to willfully admit one is disobeying how God has called us to live.

Question: What are some ways in which we are “without excuse?” We all worship something in our lives. What are some things that you can easily replace God with in your life if you are not careful?

24-32

Verses 24-27 shows us God’s design for sexual relationships. That is that homosexuality is contrary to God’s original design.

Because we all worship something, we ultimately give our minds and lives to the things we hold most dear. If that is not God, it will be our own selfish desires that will control us.

32: As Christians, it is not enough to avoid things that dishonor God. We must also be careful of the things we consciously or subconsciously condone, even if we are not taking part in those things.

Do not forget that doing the list of things in verses 28-31 that Paul mentions is not what makes someone unrighteous. For we all sin and have taken part of some of those things even as believers. They were counted as unrighteous because their faith and trust was not in Jesus.

Question: What stuck out to you in this section or in this chapter as a whole?

As I have said before, organization and details are not my strong suits. My wife, Christina, on the other hand is a different story. According to her, everything must have a “home.” If you’re like me many times you can look at a mess and not see a mess, but that doesn’t work too well when you’re married to someone that actually sees what it is: a mess.

My current campsite of books

After a year of marriage Christina has realized that I will always be helpless in this area, and so she has graciously let me break her “home” rule and allowed me to put mystuff into “campsites.” She describes a campsite as a “home away from home” for my stuff. Since I can’t seem to put things away back where they go, I’m allowed to put things out of place but orderly.

So my books for my current seminary classes, for example, can’t be out all over the place but they can be nicely piled on the coffee table instead of their “home,” the bookshelf. Then the apparent mess (that I do not see) doesn’t look so much like a mess.

New planner!

So I just recently got one of those monthly planners that separates your days into hours so that you can better plan out in detail your schedule. Growing up, my dad always used one of these things, and I honestly never imagined myself using one.

I’m also guessing that August isn’t much of a money-making month for those who sell yearly calendars, so I can feel good about myself for helping the calendar people in their time of need.

Personally, I am not very detail oriented at all, I am very much a big picture person. However, if I am not careful, this can lead me to dreaming about what I want to be doing in the future while I am not taking any steps to get there. It seems that if there was one word to describe the difference between those who are most successful and those who are not, it would be this: