Book of Romans
Lesson 3
Teacher: Peter Tan-Chi
Theme: RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD (Romans 1:16)
Chapters:
1-3 SIN - Righteousness needed
3-5 SALVATION - Righteousness imparted
Objective:
Opening Question:
Are you sure if we die w/o Jesus we will not go to heaven?
Will the people of Africa when they die, they will not go to heaven?
*Remember your belief system will affect your behavior
Memory Verse:
Romans 1:16 Why is the Gospel important?
Review previous week lesson outline:
1:18-19 What is our dilemma? We suppress the truth
1:20-23 We are without excuse
1:24-32 We are given over
1:19-20 What can be known about God?
When we look at the sun, moon, the flowers? What is our conclusion?
- There is a creator.
1:21-23 But because of sin, instead of becoming worshippers we became philosophers…
Everything came by accident. (Theory of Evolution)
1:24,26,28 God gave them over, What is this in Tagalog?
Bahala na po kayo.
Illustrate: Saddest thing when Parents tell their children (because they are stubborn) bahala ka na. That is bad.
That is what God did… because man was stubborn…
God gave them over. Bahala ka na.
Lesson Tonight: What is our next dilemma? Rom. 2:1 God will judge us.
How will God judge us?
To understand God’s judgment we need a clearer picture of who God is.
We need a balance picture of who God is.
Love of God and Judgement
mercy of god holiness of god
kindness of god a holy god is angry at sin
One side cannot exist without the other
Suggested Homework: Look at a concordance and count the number of times the love of God and the wrath of God is mentioned.
Conclusion: There will be more verses about the wrath of God. Why?
A perfect God cannot be indifferent to sin.
- riches of His kindness
- forbearance
- patience
What is the purpose?
- To lead us to repentance
- There will come a day when God’s wrath will be
revealed
What do I mean? turn to Rev. 6:12
Illustrate: There are now more earthquakes in our time compared to the last 200 years ago. You know why? The
bible tells us before Jesus comes there will be earthquakes.
How is this possible? Remember Pinatubo.
v. 14-15 Read!! Why will they hide? Look at v. 16-17
On the judgment day some will want to die but they can’t die.
Will you risk your life, will you gamble your eternal destiny?
What are our options?
Option I: There is no God. They don’t believe God.
What are the possibilities of this option?
Option II: There is a God and I live in accordance with the will of God.
What are the possibilities?
How will God judge us?
God will judge us righteously.
When God will judge us, He will be fair.
Some are worried, what about my baby who died. How will God judge the baby?
Don’t worry… God is fair He is a righteous judge. He will not make mistake.
God will judge us according to our deeds.
I thought we are saved by faith? Is there a conflict in the bible?
How come you are saying God will judge according to our deeds? Is there a conflict?
Romans 1:16 How are we saved? By faith, look at v.17.
Why will we then be judge by our deeds?
Eph. 2:8-9 Genuine faith produces deeds.
Readv.8-10: v.8-9 salvation is by faith not by works
v.10 you are created for what purpose? For good works.
In judgment day, what is the evidence that you have faith? That your faith is genuine?
Illustrate: If you walk like a duck, look like a duck, talk like a duck… you are probably a? Duck
If you say you have faith and if I look at your life… you are cheating, having immoral relationship… and you say you are a Christian. What is the conclusion? Something is wrong!!!
How will God judge us? Lets review
v.7 What kind of deeds?
v.8 Contrast?
v.9-10 What is the judgment?
Third criteria is found in verse 11 ff. 13
What is the law of God? Ten commandments/bible
Do you have the bible with you?
Do you have the Ten commandments?
How many of you will make it so far?
Let us check using the third criteria… ten commandments.
Commandment 1: There shall be no other God before Me… do you have other gods?
Commandment 2: Do you have idols in you life?
Commandment 8: Is bringing home office supplies, stealing? Are you guilty.
How about the gentiles… they do not have the law.
How will God judge them? They will be judge.
What does it mean? If you do not have the written law you have the unwritten law in your heart. Look at Romans 2:14-15
What is the bible saying?
In different cultures/society… people have standards. Conscience might not be the best standard… however in our limited conscience the bible tells us your conscience will convict you in judgment day.
Illustrate: Robber rob someone, got all his money and gave the victim P20.00.. and said, konsensya ko iyan.
What kind of conscience? Distorted
No matter how distorted… that conscience will accuse us.
What is the difference between your mind and conscience?
mind - we rationalize… making what is wrong right. No matter how I rationalize… I am still bothered.
Conscience - is what bother us… our conscience is both judge and jury.
How can our conscience be seared?
Illustrate: Shoes… Ladies want to wear smaller size shoes.
Men want to wear comfortable shoes.
Consciences are like ladies who wear tight fitting shoes… Initially it hurts but later on you don’t feel the pain… Why? It becomes callused.
So what is the lesson? Listen to your conscience and do not rationalize.
Review: How will God judge us?
How many of you have passed the test?
What is the last criteria?
Romans 2:16 According to our secrets? Do you have secrets? From the moment you were born up to the present God will expose your secrets… parang video: You might say… Exaggerating… turn to…
Luke 12:1 hypocrisy… trying to be what you are not.
Luke 12:2 What is that? secrets.
Luke 12:3 What is the meaning of this?
Before God brings you to hell… He will show you your secrets… You can’t say it’s unfair.
Review: How will we be judged?
Romans 2:17-29 Paul gives examples of religious people. Some people will say "I am not like them". (previous verse)
Show a different outline.
Ch. 1:18-32 Gentiles - What is their strategy? Satisfy my passion.
Ch2:1-16 Self righteous - Compare myself to others… I may be bad but not as bad as others.
Religious one:
Ch 2:17-20 What kind of person?
Ch 2:21-23 This guy has blind spots?
Illustrate: Father telling his son not to steal but in the office… he steals office supplies.
What is Paul saying? If you are doing these things (verses 17-20)
Wonderful!!! But are you breaking the laws of God.
What is the conclusion?
Romans 2:24-25 This guy is relying on religious ritual and circumcision.
Let’s finish reading… v:26-29.
What is Paul saying? They claim…
… because you are circumcised you are going to heaven.
… because you know the Law you are going to heaven.
… but the issue is this… are you obeying the Law?
For us to appreciate what circumcision is… turn to Genesis 17:3-8. What is the equivalent of circumcision in our time? Being a member of a certain religion.
v.1-8 - Circumcision is from God.
What is the meaning of covenant? God made an unwritten contract. I will be your God. You will be my people. I will bless you… etc.
As sign that they are God’s covenant people, God instituted circumcision. Look at v.9-11.
Illustrate: Like a wedding ring… it is a sign. Why do you wear a wedding ring?… covenant. Ladies how would you feel if your husband will tell you… I am beating you up, I am unfaithful to you… but since I am wearing this ring it’s okay. Ladies how would you feel? Okay? as long as you wear the ring.
The ring is just a sign, a symbol of something far greater, it will not replace love. The Jewish people were circumcised… they placed their faith in circumcision.
What ever religious ritual you perform, what are you depending on for the forgiveness of your sin.
Application:
What are you depending on to bring you to heaven?
Paul has just concluded…
Gentiles are not going to make it.
Self righteous people are not going to make it.
Religious people are not going to make it.
Advance lesson for next week…
Romans 3:9-11 As for now in the eyes of God is the world guilty? Yes.
In the eyes of men some may think they are righteous. What is Paul saying…Romans 2:29.
v.29 Someday we will all be accountable to God. The whole issue is will your praise come from me or God.
Are we guilty before God? If God is speaking to you tonight, Don’t point your finger at your neighbor… look at yourself… are you guilty?
What must you do tonight? Study Ch 3-5.
Will you come back next week?
1Cor. 4-5 Don’t criticize other people.
When the Lord comes what must you do?
Who will be judge? Next week.
How will you be judged? Next week.
Closing Prayer: Humble ourselves.
Open our eyes.
Open our hearts.
Gives us the desire to know you.
Not to focus on people but upon you.