This is my installment for the Blogger Small Group post on Romans chapter 2. There is always time for anyone to join in if they like (seeBlogger Small Group Rules/Guidlelines). Right now we are a few weeks into the group, which started in James.
No need to try and catch up, just start in the same place we are and post your opinions.
God’s Righteous Judgment
1 – 3 we are all sinners – and all sin is equal in God’s eyes. So if all sin is equal – how can I possibly judge someone else? It is best left to God. The perfect example of this a lot of time is in the church itself – how many times have I heard someone talking about another – then now many times did I NOT stop this discussion? Sin on both parts – I think so…just looking at this on a micro scale how can I judge them, and on a macro scale I think of 100s of reasons that I shouldn’t judge them – starting with this verse.
4 – How easy is it to take God’s grace for granted. I seem to slide through life – believe what I believe – and there are times in my life where I forget to ask for forgiveness thinking it has already been given. Basically for me this is telling me to live a righteous life – if we don’t well we know what the consequences are.
5 – For me this is pride… pride… pride. I hate to admit I am wrong. Let me say that again, I hate to admit I am wrong. Repenting is saying I am wrong… what will others think about me… will they view me as weak? Pride…pride… pride.
6 – 8 okay so here it is… spelled out for us. If I choose the right path – eternal life. If I choose the wrong path – well lets’ just say it is not going to be fun. I cannot even imagine what God wrath and anger will look like. If that is not incentive enough, what is?
9 – 11 Two things working here. First a pattern of hope for the Gentiles – they are included, not just the Jews in God’s plan. There are no favorites. Second – do good.
I think about my daughter, Monica who came to me while we were going into a store. “Dad, do you see that old lady?”
“Yeah.”
“I think see needs some help.”
“Why don’t you go help her?”
“I can’t, I need you…”
Wow… this is one of those little life moments. Easy to miss. My daughter cared enough, was observant enough, but didn’t feel empowered enough. Dad… I need you. How many times have I said the same thing…? I can’t do this…I am not good enough. I don’t know enough… I am not worthy… I need You.
12 Not sure here… does this mean that if I don’t know better I will be judged accordingly? Help me out here…
13 Hear and obey. Keyword – obey. It is one thing to hear the something, it is another to hear and obey it. For me this is kinda like churches – we go to church hear the message and then have a choice – do we go home and live our life the same as before, or do we allow what we heard to sink in and change our soul? If we allow it to sink in and it changes our soul then obedience will happen automatically. If we only hear the message, nothing is automatic – everything is hard.
14-16 This is another section that is giving hope to the non-Jew – the Gentile Christian. They didn’t know the law. But, even though they did not know the law, they were basically living the life of a Christian inside and out.
The Jews and the Law
17 – 21 For me this tells me that teachers need to be careful. The need to continue to grow and learn. They need to continue to grow closer to God. They need teachers themselves – if not they will not grow. I think that is why it is so important for new pastors to find mentors. They need someone to help them. For me this is like reading a passage in the bible, deciding what it means and moving on. If I shared this view with others, they may point out something I missed. Allowing me to look at that passage differently. Allowing me to grow and learn. But as we learned in James – we need to choose our mentors wisely.
21-24 This brings me back to the Book of James again and his talk about being two-faced. If you claim one thing, yet do another you are not only a hypocrite, but you are sinning and blaspheming God’s name. Be ready for that wrath and anger thing again…
25-29 Challenging the current status of Jews and some of their thought processes. Rebel time if you will. If your heart is in the right place, you are better off than if you are doing the deed without your heart. Oh I get it… If I go to church just to go to church, but my heart is not there, I am not better off than the guy who stays home, but truly lives a Christian life. Walking the walk, not just talking the talk.
Recent Comments