Boasting and Faith

Rom 3:27-31

27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

• Which is more appealing to you: works-oriented Christianity or faith-oriented Christianity? Why?
  
• What are the "risks" of a works-orientation?
  
• To whom might you boast about your good works?
  
• Who have you "judged" in the last year because their works do not match your own?
  
• How do you measure someone's faith? Is your observation of their works an accurate measure?
  
• Who is real judge? What measure does He use?

All fall short

Rom 3:19-26

19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being [1] will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Footnotes

[1] 3:20 Greek flesh

• When have you done something and later found out it was wrong? How did you feel?
  
• What was the purpose of the Law of Moses?
  
• What problem did the Law of Moses leave us with?
  
• Who could be considered righteous under the Law of Moses?
  
• How can a person be righteous now?
  
• What is involved in having faith in Jesus Christ?

Law of Moses

Rom 2:17-24

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

• Although this passage is about Jews and the Law of Moses, what does it say to you and your Christian walk?
  
• What areas of Christian life are you willing to preach, teach, discuss, argue, or just know but are not willing to do?
  
• How does knowing how to obey God but also knowing you don't obey God affect your willingness to teach, etc.?
  
• When might the name of God have been blasphemed among unbelievers because of your actions?

Having the law

Rom 2:11-16

11 For God shows no partiality. 12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

• Why is it important for you to know that God is not partial?
  
• What law is Paul talking about here?
  
• Who is justified before God?
  
• What was the difference between the Jew and Gentile stated here?
  
• How far can you extend the "I just knew in my heart it was the right thing to do" approach to life?
  
• What criteria do you use to determine what your thoughts and behavior will be?
  
• What criteria will God use to judge your thoughts and behavior?

Judgment is coming

Rom 2:5-11

5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking [1] and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

Footnotes
[1] 2:8 Or contentious

• What is the outcome of those who obey the truth?
  
• What is the outcome of those who do not obey the truth?
  
• What attitudes result in punishment?
  
• What do stubbornness, unrepentant heart, and selfish ambition have in common?
  
• What will be the basis of God's judgment?
  
• Why is repentance so important in facing God's judgment?
  

And you did it too!

Rom 1:32-2:4

32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. 2:1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

• What is the difference between "giving approval" and "passing judgment"?
  
• What is meant by passing judgment?
  
• What is the problem with mankind passing judgment on mankind?
  
• How should you respond to the fact that God judges people who practice sin?
  
• What is the "range of sins" listed in v. 28-32?
  
• How would you rank the sins in the list from worst to less worse?
  
• How does God rank the sins in the list?
  
• What is the reason for God's kindness?
  
• In what way has God's kindness led you to repent in the past?
  
• What sins do you need to repent of now?

Keep your prize

Col 2:16-19

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, [1] puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

Footnotes
[1] 2:18 Or about the things he has seen

• What are some things today that are mere shadows of what is to come?
  
• What is the prize in this passage?
  
• Where did the self-abasement, angel worship, and personal visions come from?
  
• Why is it so important for you to hold on to Christ, the head of the body?
  
• How does the body grow?

You are different

1 Pe 4:1-6

4:1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, [1] arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

Footnotes
[1] 4:1 Some manuscripts add for us; some for you

• What is the "same way of thinking" that you are to arm yourself with?
  
• What does "arm yourself" imply?
  
• How does suffering in the flesh relate to sin?
  
• How does God want you to live your life in the flesh?
  
• How much of "what the Gentiles want to do" have you done previously?
  
• Why does the changed life of a Christian surprise non-Christians?
  
• What friends did you lose when you became a Christian?
  
• How different is your life from that of the world?
  
• In what ways do/did you suffer for not "pursuing a course" of sin?
  
• What assurance and encouragement is there in knowing that God is the judge of all?
  
• What is the purpose of the gospel and why is it preached?
  
• How does verse 6 indicate the gospel is about more than conversion?
  
• When you look at your life in the flesh...
  - how different is it from the world around you?
  - how different is it from living in the spirit according to God's will?

And in conclusion...

Eccles. 12:13-14

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. [1] 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with [2] every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Footnotes
[1] 12:13 Or the duty of all mankind
[2] 12:14 Or into the judgment on

• What had Solomon tried in his quest for meaning in his life under the sun?
  
• What do you see as Solomon's appraisal of life under the sun?
  
• From what source should a person look for happiness under the sun?
  
• What conclusion did Solomon reach at the end of his quest?
  
• How do you feel about his conclusion?
  - Where is your happiness in this conclusion?
  - What happiness is there in being afraid?
  - What happiness is there in being obedient to a bunch of restrictive rules?
  
• Where in the New Testament is the warning about every act being judged basically repeated?
  
• How often do you need to remember this warning in order to be more obedient?