sunday school lesson_2010_01_16

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And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

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Romans

Lesson 4Misplaced Confidence

Romans 2:17-3:8

What are some false assumptions that

people make about gaining God’s favor?

Opening Question

H.L. Wilmington. What you Need to Know About the Book of Romans. LU Digital Commons

Favor (n): something done or granted out of goodwill, rather than from justice or for remuneration; a kind act: to ask a favor.

Favor (v): to prefer; treat with partiality: The father favored his younger son.

Opening Question

H.L. Wilmington. What you Need to Know About the Book of Romans. LU Digital Commons

17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth.

Romans 2:17-29

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

 21 Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.” 25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.

Romans 2:17-29

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it. 28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.

Romans 2:17-29

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise[c] from God, not from people.

Romans 2:17-29

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

The people described in verses 17-29 assumed that they had a

good relationship with God. What kinds of things did they depend on to give them that

relationship?

Question 1

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

• They knew what God wanted because they had been taught his law (v. 18)

• They were certain that God’s law gave them complete knowledge and truth (v. 20)

• They taught the ways of God to others (v. 20)

• They performed ceremonies prescribed by God’s law (v. 25, 28)

Question 1

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

What is Paul trying to show his readers with the list of questions in verses 21-23?

Question 2

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

In verse 24 Paul says, “God’s name is

blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Why?

Question 3

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

We claim to be His representatives, but don’t

resemble Him in anything we think, say, or do.

Question 3

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

What is the relationship between circumcision and keeping the

law (vv. 25-29)

Question 4

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

Question 4

Synthesis DegradationCircumcision Uncircumcision

Obedience

Circumcision was to be a mark or a symbol of God’s covenant with the Hebrews.

But the evidence of the covenant was in their

obedience.

Question 4

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

What does it mean to have a

circumcised heart (v. 29)?

Question 5

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

It is a change of heartproduced by God’s Spirit.

To make us obedient – not on the outside – but on the

inside

Question 5

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

How have you sensed theSpirit at work in your

heart?

Question 6

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

1 Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision? 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.3 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful? 4 Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him,

Romans 3:1-8

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

“You will be proved right in what you say,      and you will win your case in court.”

 5 “But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.) 6 Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world?

Romans 3:1-8

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

7 “But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” 8 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.

Romans 3:1-8

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

In what ways had the Jews “been entrusted with the

very words of God”?

Question 7

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

They had received the entirety of the law to guard, apply,

and transmit

Question 7

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

Notice the list of questions women throughout verses 1-8.

What objections to faith do these questions raise?

Question 8

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

Question 8

Question1. What’s the advantage

of being a Jew, or following rituals like circumcision? Is God’s covenant irrelevant?

Answer• There are great benefits.

The Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

Question 8

Question2. If you are unfaithful –

does that mean God will be unfaithful?

Answer• Even if everyone else is a

liar, God is true.

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

Question 8

Question3. Our sin highlights God’s

righteousness, so isn’t it unfair that God should punish us for it?

Answer• If God were not entirely

fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world?

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

Question 8

Question4. Our dishonesty highlights

God’s truthfulness and brings him more glory, so how can we be condemned because of it?

Answer• Those who say such things

deserve to be condemned.

• (God’s true glory is only promoted by good and never by evil)

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

1. What’s the advantage of being a Jew, or following rituals like circumcision?

2. If you are unfaithful – does that mean God will be unfaithful?

3. Our sin highlights God’s righteousness, so isn’t it unfair that God should punish us for it?

4. Our dishonesty highlights God truthfulness and brings him more glory, so how can we be condemned because of it?

Question 8

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

How can God condemn me for my sin, if my sin shows his

goodness and therefore serves a good purpose?

God is not interested in us – because everything, even

sin, serves his own purpose.

Question 8

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

How would you respond to a person who said, “I’m glad I fell so deeply into wrong. It shows

how good God is and how much he will forgive” (vv. 5-8).

Question 9

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

It is not God’s desire that anyone should fall into sin – but often that is the only place we can

fully see him and be willing to trust in him, instead of

ourselves.

Question 9

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

This section of Romans ends with the words “Their condemnation

is deserved.” What did Paul mean?

Question 10

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

Some people have completely rejected the truth (they are not

just ignorant of it) and they have sealed their judgment even before the judgment day.

Question 10

And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

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And without faith it is impossible to please God,because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists

and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.(Hebrews 11:6)