Romans Chapter 2-3
A. Chapter
Two: God?s Righteousness Revealed in Judgment and Wrath
1.
Introduction
a.
The Court of the Cosmos and who is on trial
1)
God is the defendant
2)
God?s righteousness by judgment and wrath
b.
God?s wrath on those who suppress the truth of God?s eternal power and Godhead
(1:18-20)
c.
God?s wrath on the Heathen/Pagan (?Immoral?)
1)
Chapter 1 (v.32) left off with those who have gotten to a debased point and
knowing God?s judgment on the wickedness that they keep practicing, not only
keep doing it, but rejoice in those who do it with them.
2.
God?s Judgment on the ?Moral?
a.
The ?Moral? Judge
1)
Condemns himself (2:1-3)
2)
God is giving him time to repent (2:4) and the ?moralist? despises this gift
that God has given him.
3)
Hardens his heart against God
4)
Treasures wrath for himself (2:5)
a)
In the day of wrath and the revealing of God?s righteous judgment
5)
Introduced to God?s Judgment
a)
By works
b)
By the continuation of good works
c)
With either eternity or tribulation as the reward or penalty
d)
For the Jews first then the Greeks (Gentiles)
b.
The Jew: ?Moralist? and Law ?Keeper?
1)
God shows no partiality (2:11)
a)
His ?chosen? people under the law will be judged by that law, and those not
under the law will die without the law (2:12)
b)
Law keeping is defined by those who keep the law verses those who hear the law:
Gentiles who keep the law have a law unto themselves because both get judged
by God through Jesus Christ according to the gospel Paul preaches(2:13-16)
c)
Circumcision isn?t of the flesh but is of the Spirit (not Holy Spirit)?an inward
change verses outward because circumcision is perfect for law-keepers, but lawbreakers
have no place there. (2: 25-29)
2)
Jew boasts in God dishonors God by breaking His law
a)
Even the Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of the Jew?s outward religion.
3)
Advantage of the Jew
a)
Many, but the chief advantage is that the oracles of God were committed to the
Jews (3:1-2)
(1) Does this mean
that being God?s chosen people lets them be sinners that even with their unbelief
they?re still saved?
(a) Of course
not. Let God be proved true and all men be proved to be liars.
b)
No benefit when it comes to salvation (3:9)
3.
God?s Judgment on Humanity
a.
Both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) guilty (3: 9)
b.
Both groups are under sin as previously charged (3: 9)
c.
There is none righteous no not one, etc. (3:10-18)
1)
Quoting: Ps. 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccl. 7:20; Ps. 5:9; 140:3; Ps 10:7; Prov 1:16;
Is 59:7,8; Ps. 36:1
2)
Going through the condemned body parts of the man?condemned in his entirety?even
his mouth is like an open grave, putrid and foul.
d.
The law
1)
Stops the mouth of man (3:19)
2)
Makes all guilty before God (3:20)
3)
Assures that by the deeds of the law, no flesh shall be justified ( 3:20)
4)
Is the knowledge of sin (3:20)
4.
Conclusion
a.
Salvation doesn?t come by ignoring God
1)
That path is strewn with imminent wrath
b.
Salvation doesn?t come by being ?moral?
1)
That path ends with heaped up wrath
c.
Salvation doesn?t come by following the law
1)
That path ends with judgment based on the law
d.
Salvation doesn?t come by works
1)
That path is littered with futility and destruction
2)
The law points out sin
e.
In the cosmic trial, God?s righteousness (regarding God?s Judgment)
is valid because all of us are unrighteous
1)
Because we are unrighteous He must judge sin
2)
No one is righteous no not one