June 08, 2025

ROMANS 2: RELIGION ON TRIAL

June 08, 2025

 Teaching Pastor Charles Billingsley

Today we are in the second chapter of Romans, as we continue our new series in this amazing book that includes nearly every doctrine of Christianity. Last week, the first chapter introduced us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Paul, who began by telling the bad news for the people who have no time to worship the Creator God, continues the second chapter, censuring the self-righteous Judaizers for their actions. He emphasizes that righteousness is based on the heart, with faith in Jesus Christ, and obedience to His commands. Following Christ is not an easy commitment—but one that will reap wonderful rewards for eternity.

Focal Passages: Romans 2; Matthew 7:2; Romans 3:10, 5:8-11, 2 Cor. 5:21.

God judges religious people, too:

  • Read Romans 1:24-25. Who was Paul writing about in those two verses? Read Romans 2:1. Apparently those whom Paul condemned in Rom. 1:24-25 felt he wasn’t talking to them. What does he continue saying? Are we not all like this to some extent?
  • Have you ever sinned, gotten victory over it, then vehemently judged a fellow Christian for falling into the same sin? What should you immediately do? Why do we not remember the grace God has given us?
  • How can we train ourselves not to judge others because of their actions? Why should we?
  • Who would you classify in the ‘religious’ group? Why are they so volatile against actions that are not what they consider to be Biblical?
  • Read Matt. 7:2. Why do we like our own sins so much better than other people’s? Who’s is the only standard we should use as we interact with others?
  • Read Rom. 2:2-11. If those who commit a sin judge others who commit the same sin, how will they be judged by God? We are judging without any grace; in vs. 4, how does God judge?

God reveals Himself not just through Creation, but also in our conscience:

  • Read Rom. 2:12-16. What did Paul mean in verse 12? How will God judge the people? How will some be judged by their conscience? Why?
  • How does verse 15 describe how those who have no law understand right and wrong?
  • When we have secrets that need to be exposed, how will God do it? Read Mark 4:22. Do you believe this? Does it scare you? Why?
  • Read Gen. 12:13-20. What happened here? How does this illustrate our Romans passage? Did Pharoah know God? How did he know taking another man’s wife was wrong?

It is not just who you are—it is what you do:

  • Read Rom. 2:17-20. How did Paul summarize the Judaizers? Was he using sarcasm? Why?
  • What are the things he accuses them of? Why such a stern warning? Read Matt. 23:25, 27.

These are two of many verses against the Pharisees. What was their sin?

  • Read 2:21-24. What was Paul trying to get them to see? Did they seem to be setting standards for the citizens they themselves did not meet?
  • We see this so much today! Why must our walk match our talk?

It is not just what you do—it is who you are:

  • Read Rom. 2:25-29. Why does Paul flip the coin here? What does he now say? Isn’t he saying the same thing he just said, except in reverse?
  • What matters to God (verse 29)? If your heart is not sold out to God, is He impressed with what brand T-shirt you wear? Why not?
  • Read Rom. 3:10. Is there any hope for any of us? How? How does John 3:16 fit in here?

Read James 2:13. Were the Pharisees showing mercy? Can God still judge fairly by showing mercy? How?

  • Read Rom. 6:23. What does He see when He looks at a Christ-follower? Read Rom. 5:8-11. What are the 9 clauses identifying Christians in this passage? Read 2 Cor. 5:21. How does it feel to know God’s wrath will not be on you when you die? Can news be any better?

THE FOUR PURPOSES OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS:

1) To announce Paul’s plans to visit the Christians in Rome, and to enlist support in his mission;
2) To teach the fundamental doctrine of salvation in order to fortify the believers against Judaizers;                                                                                                                                         3) To explain the unbelief of Israel and vindicate God’s faithfulness in his dealings with that nation;                                                                                                                                               4) To give practical instruction in Christian living.

Close:

What is the best news you can think of? Are you saved? It should be, then, the news that the wrath of God was put onto Jesus Christ in order for your sins to be forgiven. If you were a prisoner on death row, and received Jesus as Savior, can you imagine that at the moment of death, you will leave one room and enter another—in paradise, with Jesus for eternity?! Death is such a tiny moment of our lives (unless you have a lingering illness for a very long time), yet eternity is so long we can not grasp the reality. Here, on earth, we know only a life revolving around a clock and a calendar, and we have no conception of no light. There, in heaven, the light is Jesus; no time—it is forever; no tears, no sorrow, no pain, no illness, no death, no temptation, no hatred, no self-pity, –and we can go on for days, right? Life with God will be, as the Bible says, so wonderful that our eyes have not seen, nor our ears heard, nor has entered into the heart of man [we can’t even imagine it!], the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. Hallelujah!

By Sandy Day
June 08, 2025

/by