Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday. Tomorrow is when we remember the Last Supper. We remember the washing of the disciples feet by their King…
Today we remember that Jesus knew He was to die… He knew He was born to die.
“Now My soul has become troubled;
and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’?
But for this purpose I came to this hour.
Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came out of heaven:
“I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
So the crowd of people who stood by
and heard it were saying that it had thundered;
others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
Jesus answered and said,
“This voice has not come for My sake,
but for your sakes.
Now judgment is upon this world;
now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men to Myself.”
But He was saying this to indicate
the kind of death by which He was to die.
John 12:27-33
Jesus will go to the cross.
The kind of death that He shall die will be one of the cross.
Jesus came not to just save the Jews, but He came to save the whole world.
We discover through the book of Romans, that both Jew and Gentile stand guilty before our Creator God. The Jew is guilty of transgressing the Law, of manipulating the Law, of adding to the Law, of trying to work around the Law… and the Gentile is guilty by their suppression of the truth on which is the Law. Guilty. Jew and Gentile stand condemned before a Holy God. Both being dead in sin. The obviousness of their deadness being seen in and by their suppression and rebellion to Truth.
Jesus came to die for both Jew and Gentile…
We see this even displayed in the death that He would die.
He would not be merely condemned by the Jews and stoned by their Law… leaving all guilt on their hand… but He would be condemned by the Jews… and then judged by the laws of the Gentile.
He would be sentenced to death both by Jew and Gentile.
Both would carry the blood of Jesus, King of the Jews, on their hands. Both would carry the guilt of putting to death the Son of God, the One who was Fully Man and Fully God, the Word made flesh that came to dwell among them, to live to know them, to suffer to be able to sympathize with them, to be tempted to be able to understand them, and then to die to save them.
This day… many moons ago, the Savior of the world, the Lamb who was to be slain… said His soul had become troubled within Him… our God, our Creator, our Lord… His soul became troubled.
Troubled is tarasso in the Greek and it means:
to agitate, trouble (a thing, by the movement of its parts to and fro)
to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mind, disturb his equanimity
to disquiet, make restless
to stir up
to trouble to render anxious or distressed
to strike one’s spirit with fear and dread
to perplex the mind of one by suggesting scruples or doubts
Then tomorrow He will wash His disciples feet… even the feet of the very one who would betray Him.
Reverence Him… reverence Him with trembling and awe.
We continue in our study in Romans… Here is the study for Romans 2:11-29.
Romans 2:11-29
11 For there is no partiality with God.
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 just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God,
18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,
21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.
25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
Read Romans 2:11. What does it mean to you to know that God treats all people the same?
______________________________________
______________________________________
Read Romans 2:12. Now fill in the blanks with the word “Bible”.
For all who have sinned without the __ __ __ __ __ will also perish without the __ __ __ __ __, and all who have sinned under the __ __ __ __ __ will be judged by the __ __ __ __ __;
According to this verse can a person use NOT having a Bible as an excuse to not receive the wrath of God? Circle your answer.
Yes No
Read Romand 2:13. Once again fill in the blanks with the word “Bible”.
for it is not the hearers of the __ __ __ __ __ who are just before God, but the doers of
the __ __ __ __ __ will be justified.
Look up and read Matthew 5:20.
Whose righteousness must you surpass in order to get into heaven?
the __ __ __ __ __ __ __
and __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Read Romans 2:13 again.
According to this verse if a person can keep all of the Law and Word and will of God perfectly and never break any of it then they can be saved by the Law. Can you do that?
Circle your answer.
Yes No
Do you know anyone who can or did do this?
Circle your answer.
Yes No Jesus
Read Romans 2:14-15. Then once again fill in the blanks with the word “Bible”
For when Gentiles who do not have the __ __ __ __ __ do instinctively the things of the __ __ __ __ __, these, not having the __ __ __ __ __, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the __ __ __ __ __ written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them
Read Romans 2:15 again.
Where is the Law written?
in their __ __ __ __ __ __
What bears witness to them?
their __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
The word conscience in this verse is Suneidesis
and it means:
the soul as distinguishing between what is morally good and bad, encouraging to do the good and not do the bad
Look up and read Romans 1:19-20.
How do we know about God?
That which is known about God is evident __ __ __ __ __ __ them
What does that mean about us?
What are we all without __ __ __ __ __ __
Look up and read Acts 17:24-31.
What do we learn about God in Acts 17:27?
He is not __ __ __ from __ __ __ __ one of us
Check out this to illustrate Romans 2:14-15 and help it stick.
THINK ABOUT IT…
When you are faced with an opportunity to do something, how long does it take you to decide if it is okay to do it? What do you use to decide if it is okay?
Ask your parents or grandparents or teacher to tell you a story about a time they let their conscience be their guide. Then ask them if their is a difference in their conscience since they asked Jesus to be their Savior and the Holy Spirit moved inside of them.
Spend the next couple of days trying really hard to listen to your conscience and see how it leads you.
Read Romans 2:16. What will judge all men by?
Unscramble the words to find the answer.
GSPLOE the __ __ __ __ __ __
What will God judge? Fill in the blanks.
the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of men
Who will He judge them through?
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Read Romans 2:17. What does this verse begin with?
__ __ __ (remember this is one of our important words)
Read Romans 2:17.
Now replace the word “Jew” with “Christian”. Replace the word “Law” with “Bible”.
In the blank following the word “you” write your own name.
But if you, _______________________________ bear the name “__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __” and rely upon the __ __ __ __ __ and boast in God,
and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the __ __ __ __ __,
and are confident that you, _____________ yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the __ __ __ __ __ the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,
you, therefore, who teach another, do you, ________________ not teach yourself? You, ___________ who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
Look up and read Matthew 5:20-22.
What commandment is Jesus talking about?
You shall not commit __ __ __ __ __ __.
What did Jesus say made you guilty enough before the court to send you to the fiery hell?
everyone who is __ __ __ __ __
and whoever says to his brother “__ __ __ __ __ __ __-__ __ __- __ __ __ __ __ __ __”
whoever says “__ __ __ __ __ __ __”
Look up and read and Matthew 7:1-5.
Whose sins do we need to point out first?
Your own Your brothers A strangers
THINK ABOUT IT….
When we grow up in church we learn a lot about the Bible and God’s Law. We hear what He says is good and bad. Sometimes we use what we know as a tool to point out other people’s sin just to keep people from seeing our sin. Have you ever told on someone else to get your mom or dad’s eyes off of you hoping you would not get in trouble for what you did wrong?
Read Romans 2:23-24. Once againreplace the word “Law” with “Bible”. Also replace the word “Gentiles” with “world”
You who boast in the __ __ __ __ __, through your breaking the __ __ __ __ __, do you dishonor God?
For “the name of God is blasphemed among the __ __ __ __ __ because of you,” just as it is written.
THINK ABOUT IT…
Many times a person calls themselves a Christian, they even claim they know the Bible, but they live their lives the exact opposite that God says to in the Bible. When we do this we blaspheme the name of God to those who do not know Him yet.
How important is it that our words and our lives match? Is it more important to your parents that you say that you love them or that you show that you love them by respecting them, obeying them, and wanting to spend time with them?
Read Romans 2:25. Do you know why Paul is talking to the Jews about circumcision?
Let’s do some background research. Sit down with your mom or dad and read Genesis 17:1-14.
Now look back at Genesis 17:11. What was circumcision meant to be?
a __ __ __ __ of the __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Read Exodus 20:1-17.
This is the Ten Commandments. Usually when we think of the Law of God we think of these, but the Law also included God’s ordinances and the rules for worship and sacrifices in the tabernacle.
Read Exodus 24:3-8. What was the “words of the LORD and all the ordinances”?
Circle your answer.
a sign the covenant
Read Romans 2:25 again. Now that you know more about circumcision and the Law, according to Romans 2:25 which is more important to God? Circle your answer.
Be circumcised. Obey the Law
Hang on to all this information about circumcision, signs, Law, and covenants. We will come back to it later as we go farther into the book of Romans. I am so proud of you for studying all this!!! Keep going! You are doing great! It doesn’t have to all make sense to you yet… just keep praying and studying!
Read Romans 2:25-29.
If you are not a Jew, then circumcision is not a sign that you might connect to being a Christian.
To help us understand these verses we are going to replace the word “circumcision” with “baptism” and replace the word “Jew” with “Christian”
For indeed __ __ __ __ __ __ __ is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your __ __ __ __ __ __ __ has become un__ __ __ __ __ __ __
So if the unbaptized man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his un__ __ __ __ __ __ __ be regarded as __ __ __ __ __ __ __?
And he who is physically unbaptized if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
For he is not a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ who is one outwardly, nor is __ __ __ __ __ __ __ that which is outward in the flesh.
But he is a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
Look up and read Deuteronomy 10:16. Moses wrote the book of Deuteronomy. What does he say we need to circumcise?
Do you think you can circumcise your own heart? Circle your answer.
Yes No
Look up and read Deuteronomy 30:6 and see who it is that can circumcise your heart. Fill in the blanks with your answer.
The __ __ __ __ your __ __ __
According to Deuteronomy 30:6 what is a circumcised heart able to do?
Fill in the blanks.
To __ __ __ __ the Lord your God with all your __ __ __ __ __ and with all
your __ __ __ __, so that you may __ __ __ __.
Read Luke 10:25-28.
Who is speaking?
a lawyer and __ __ __ __ __
What does Jesus say one must do to inherit eternal life?
“You shall __ __ __ __ the Lord your God with all your __ __ __ __ __, and with all your __ __ __ __, and with all your __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and with all your __ __ __ __; and your __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ as yourself.”
Read 1 John 4:20-21 and 1 John 5:1-3.
How do we know that we love God?
__ __ __ __ others
__ __ __ __ God and __ __ __ __ His commandment
THINK ABOUT IT…
Draw a heart below. Spend some quiet time today and ask God to show you what is in your heart. Draw pictures inside the heart of what you find.
The writing and teachings of Nicole Love Halbrooks Vaughn
