Romans 2:1-5

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Even "Good" People Are Guilty Before God

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Moral people are guilty before God because they don’t aspire to their own standards.

  2. Moral people are guilty before God because they don’t acknowledge the grace of God.

  3. Moral people are guilty before God because they don’t admit they are wrong.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Would you live below a dam that was about to break?

QUESTIONS

  1. Is everyone guilty before a holy and righteous God?

  2. Are the pagan and heathen, who haven’t had a chance to hear about Christ, guilty?

  3. Give an example of people who not only reject the truth, but suppress it.

  4. What does it mean that people don’t aspire to their own standards?

  5. Explain Doctrinal Point #2.

ANSWERS

  1. Yes. Apart from salvation in Christ, everyone is guilty, and therefore under the judgment of God. The one exception, of course, is Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect and sinless life.

  2. Yes. Romans 1 answers that question. God does not condemn people for ignorance, but no person is ignorant because God has revealed Himself and His truth in creation with enough evidence for everyone to respond to Him.

  3. Many people today would rather believe that the universe is eternal or created itself without a Creator. They promote their own theories rather than acknowledging God’s spoken word.

  4. They don’t attain or live up to their own standards. Even though they may have higher standards than others, they condemn themselves when they judge others who don’t live up to those standards.

  5. Moral people think they are good enough on their own, and that they don’t need the grace of God.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Rather than admit to wrong, moral people compare themselves to people whom they consider inferior, or they change the standards relative to their situation. Are there moral people like this in our country today? Are you praying that they will see and acknowledge the truth of God?

  2. Would you live below a dam that was about to break? Would you warn others about this dam?

CHALLENGE

  1. “Do you despise the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering?” Romans 2:4

KEY VERSES

  • “And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” Romans 2:3

  • “Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” Romans 2:4



Romans, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsRomans 2:1-5