Lesson 4
Romans 2:1-16
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Living by Faith: A Study in Romans
...God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Romans 2:16
In chapter 1 Paul spoke of "they." Now, in chapter two, he uses the pronoun "you" to address a representative of a certain group. In chapter one Paul spoke of the general guilt of mankind but he now shifts his focus to Jews. Just as Gentiles suppress the truth, likewise, Jews are also guilty and without excuse.
Read Romans 2:1-16
1) What do verses 1 and 2 teach about:
2) How does God's judgment differ from man's judgment?
3) Paul speaks elsewhere of judgment in a positive sense. See 1 Corinthians 2:14-15; 5:12-13; 6:2 and write what you learn about righteous judgment.
4) Now that we've seen righteous judgment, let's look at a few verses that give us a fuller understanding of the wrong kind of judgment Paul is talking about. What does James teach about judgment in James 2:4 and 4:11-12?
5) How would you explain the difference between the two kinds of judging people do?
6) Read James 2:13. How does mercy triumph over judgment?
7) What have your attitudes toward others been and how does the awareness of your own judgment by God help you to be merciful?
8a) How would you describe the person Paul speaks of in Romans 2:3-5?
b) What charges does Paul bring against this person?
The presumptuous person does not use God's standard of truth to discern between right and wrong but rather judges from a hard and impenitent heart, wanting justice for others while ignoring his own guilt.
9) What does Romans 2:6-10 teach about the basis for God's judgment?
10) Compare Romans 2:6-10 with Ephesians 2:8-10 and explain the relationship between faith and doing works that are pleasing to God.
11) Read Romans 2:12-15. What does this passage teach about:
12) According to verse 16, what does God judge and by whom?
Each of us can give an appearance of righteousness and maybe even keep the Law most of the time, but we all fall short of God's perfect standard of Christ and need the gospel. Thanks be to God, Jesus did on our behalf what we could never do; he kept the Law of God perfectly. And what is more, the Holy Spirit works in us to conform us to Christ and enables us to please God.
13) What role does Scripture play in preparing us for Judgment Day? See Hebrews 4:12-13 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
14) What new insights have you gained this week and how will these truths help you be all that God wants you to be?
And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!" Revelation 16:7
Copyright © 2009, Carol Duffy. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Romans 2:1-16
Read Mark Learn Bible Studies
Living by Faith: A Study in Romans
...God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. Romans 2:16
In chapter 1 Paul spoke of "they." Now, in chapter two, he uses the pronoun "you" to address a representative of a certain group. In chapter one Paul spoke of the general guilt of mankind but he now shifts his focus to Jews. Just as Gentiles suppress the truth, likewise, Jews are also guilty and without excuse.
Read Romans 2:1-16
1) What do verses 1 and 2 teach about:
- judging others?
- the judgment of God?
2) How does God's judgment differ from man's judgment?
3) Paul speaks elsewhere of judgment in a positive sense. See 1 Corinthians 2:14-15; 5:12-13; 6:2 and write what you learn about righteous judgment.
4) Now that we've seen righteous judgment, let's look at a few verses that give us a fuller understanding of the wrong kind of judgment Paul is talking about. What does James teach about judgment in James 2:4 and 4:11-12?
5) How would you explain the difference between the two kinds of judging people do?
6) Read James 2:13. How does mercy triumph over judgment?
7) What have your attitudes toward others been and how does the awareness of your own judgment by God help you to be merciful?
8a) How would you describe the person Paul speaks of in Romans 2:3-5?
b) What charges does Paul bring against this person?
The presumptuous person does not use God's standard of truth to discern between right and wrong but rather judges from a hard and impenitent heart, wanting justice for others while ignoring his own guilt.
9) What does Romans 2:6-10 teach about the basis for God's judgment?
10) Compare Romans 2:6-10 with Ephesians 2:8-10 and explain the relationship between faith and doing works that are pleasing to God.
11) Read Romans 2:12-15. What does this passage teach about:
- the Law?
- justification?
- the conscience?
12) According to verse 16, what does God judge and by whom?
Each of us can give an appearance of righteousness and maybe even keep the Law most of the time, but we all fall short of God's perfect standard of Christ and need the gospel. Thanks be to God, Jesus did on our behalf what we could never do; he kept the Law of God perfectly. And what is more, the Holy Spirit works in us to conform us to Christ and enables us to please God.
13) What role does Scripture play in preparing us for Judgment Day? See Hebrews 4:12-13 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
14) What new insights have you gained this week and how will these truths help you be all that God wants you to be?
And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!" Revelation 16:7
Copyright © 2009, Carol Duffy. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
