LESSON - ROMANS 2:17-3:18 (NIV based)

THEME - Religious People And All Mankind Are Guilty Before God

OBJECTIVE - to search for the qualities and make personal applications

Q: Is being religious good enough for a person to get into heaven?

v.17 rely on the law; brag about their relationship to God

v.18 know God's will; instructed by the law

v.19 convinced they are enlightened

v.20 their source of knowledge & truth is embodied in the Law

v.23 break the Law themselves - hypocrites

v.25-27 rely on outward ritual - circumcision

Q: How can we determine if we ourselves and/or other religious people have what it takes to be acceptable to God?

v.29 KEY VERSE: inward circumcision of the heart by the Holy Spirit - not the Law

Q: Is it possible for anyone to have enough intrinsic goodness to be acceptable to God based solely on that goodness?

POINT:  all of mankind is guilty before God - this includes the wicked, heathen, good people, and religious people

EVIDENCE:

v.3:9 all are under sin

v.3:10 there is no one righteous - not even 1

RIGHTEOUSNESS = acting in accord with or conforming to a moral standard, especially the standard of God's own righteousness

v.3:11 no one truly seeks God - on their own

v.3:12 all have turned away - together have become worthless = no intrinsic value of our own righteousness or goodness

Q: Can anyone come to God by their own efforts?  A: v.3:12, 11 cannot get to God without God's help; v. 2:29 from God

Q: How does a person get to God if they cannot initiate and achieve it on their own?  A: John 6:44-45, 65  Father draws people to the Son; in evangelism God uses us as a mouthpiece to draw people to the Son

BIG IDEA:  There is no room for personal pride or merit in our salvation.  God initiated or reached out to us.  We did not reach out to Him - even though we think we did.  We had all turned away.  We were all condemned in our sins before God - no matter if we were wicked, morally good, or religious.  God in His grace has performed circumcision on our hearts.  Shouldn't that instill in each one of us a strong sense of thankfulness?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyrights:
Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Copyright © 2015 Mel W. Coddington, and permission is hereby granted that this document may be used, copied, and distributed non-commercially to non-profit organizations, individuals, churches, ministries, and schools worldwide, provided the copies are distributed at no charge and retain this sources documentation as supplied herein. This document is not for sale, resale, or for use as a gift or premium to be offered in connection with solicitations or contributions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
File name: Romans2_17-3_18-Lesson.___ (.htm, .doc, .pdf)
Translation used: NIV
Source: www.BelieverAssist.com
Updated: 1-3-15