Romans 2:17-3:8: God's Bad News - Part 3
- Book of Romans was written: by the Apostle Paul in AD 57, likely from Corinth
- Recipients were believers in Rome, from both Jewish and Gentile backgrounds
Questions
- 2:17-19, 3:1,2 What are advantages of being Jewish?
- 2:21-24 What are the problems with religious pride? (cf. John 5:39-44)
- 2: 25-29 Circumcision is the mark of God's covenant with Abraham and with
the Jews. What is God is looking for? Who are the true believers, the
heirs of the promises (cf. Philippians 3:3, Gal 3:7,29,6:16, Romans 9:6)?
Who performs the inner change to which circumcision points? What are the implications for religious pride?
[The word "Jew" is derived from Judah, the name of a tribe of Israel. For background
see Genesis 49:8 - Judah sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for praise.]
- 3:3-8 God honors his covenants even if we do not. What are the
implications for our view of scripture, of the Jewish nation, the church,
governments, marriage? Also, what misunderstandings can arise regarding God's justice and our
moral responsibility?
Discussion
Read the passage again, looking for application by substituting Christianity for
Judaism: Jew-Christian, Baptism-Circumcision, Christ's teaching-the Law.
- For those who grew up in a religious household, what do you see as the
advantages and disadvantages? For those from a country with an avowed
religious character, what are the advantages and disadvantages?
- How is baptism analogous to circumcision? Now, if God considers those
who live according to the Law to be Jews regardless of whether they are
circumcised, by the same reasoning is it possible that baptism is not a strict
necessity? What is necessary for salvation (cf. Romans 10:8-10)?
- God in his mercy keeps promises in spite of us. How do you answer
those who say God's mercy means he will not punish anyone?
- Since God brings good out of evil, does it really matter what we do?