Not Ashamed of the Gospel: Romans 2

July 23, 2023 in The Power of the Gospel - Studies in Romans

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“Power UP” - The Power of the Gospel
Romans 2 (also being the study in the Lads to Leaders Program)

INTRODUCTION:
The theme for our VBS this year is “Power UP” which is based on a video-game theme. The theme of “Power” actually corresponds to the study that our Lads to Leaders program is doing from the letter of Romans.

The key verse for the letter of Romans is 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

On June 4th, we looked at Romans 1. Today, I want us to consider Romans 2…

LET’S BRIEFLY REVIEW ROMANS 1:
Paul was called an apostle, set apart for the gospel, which was promised in the OT, and concerns God’s Son.
Paul thanked God for the Romans. He longed to see them. He was also eager to preach the gospel to them, because it was God’s power to save, both Jews and Greeks.
In the gospel, the righteousness and wrath of God are revealed. Man is without excuse. Man exchanged the truth of God for a lie, so God “gave them up” and they practiced things worthy of death.

The Judgment of the Gospel: Romans 2:1-10:
The first paragraph of chapter two highlights God’s judgment. One will “judge himself” if he practices what he condemns in others (ver. 1). God judges according to truth (the “gospel;” ver. 2). Hypocrites will not escape God’s judgment (ver. 3). God’s goodness should compel us to repent (ver. 4). With a hard and impenitent heart, we “treasure up” God’s wrath against ourselves (ver. 5). God will judge according to our behavior (ver. 6). For those who seek glory, honor, and immortality, they will receive eternal life (ver. 7), glory, honor, and peace (ver. 10). For those who seek self and refuse to obey the Gospel, they will receive indignation and wrath (ver. 8), tribulation and anguish (ver. 9).

Here are the major points Paul is making here:
1) Men condemn themselves when they practice what they preach against (ver. 1).
2) God’s judgment will be according to truth (ver. 2).
3) The goodness of God on sinners is not indicative of His approval of their sins but of His patience for their repentance (ver. 4).
4) God’s judgment is based on man’s response (ver. 6).
5) Man’s response, put simply, must be obedience (ver. 8).
6) The greater the blessing, the greater the responsibility (ver. 9).

The Judgment of the Gospel: Romans 2:11-21:
The second paragraph of chapter two highlights the spiritual condition of two groups: Gentiles (verses 11-16) and Jews (verses 17-21). Gentiles did not have the Law (ver. 12), but they did good things (ver. 14), showing that the moral principles were written on their hearts (ver. 15). Yet, they will be judged by the gospel (ver. 16). Jews, on the other hand, thought very highly of themselves, but they were practicing what they condemned in others (ver. 17-21).

Here are the major points Paul is making here:
1) God is not partial (ver. 11).
2) Judgment, then, is based on the light men had at the time (before the gospel); (ver. 141-5).
3) Judgment today will be according to the NT (ver. 16).
4) Judgment today will be through / by Jesus Christ (ver. 16).

‘Jews’ Under the Gospel: Romans 2:22-29:
The third paragraph of chapter two continues to contrast Jews, who do not obey the Law (ver. 22-24) with Gentiles who “obey” the Law (live righteous lives without knowledge of the Law) (ver. 25-27). God defines a “Jew” today as one who is spiritually circumcised as opposed to physical circumcision (ver. 28-29).

Here are the major points Paul is making here:
1) The Jews thought they are God’s gift to mankind!
2) But they were violating the law left and right.
3) Which made the Gentiles blaspheme the name of God.
4) If a Jew was not faithful to the Law, his circumcision was not of any value.
5) If a Gentile, uncircumcised, obeyed God, then he would be blessed.
6) God does not consider anymore a “Jew” who is physically circumcised.
7) Rather, God considers one a “Jew” who is spiritual circumcised.

CONCLUSION:
“In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Col. 2:11-12).

Take home message: Christians should make sure we are practicing what we preach and that we are obeying Christ’s gospel as closely as we can.