EXPLORE THE TEXT
Unbelievers need to understand that good works will not justify them before God.
12 For all who sin without the law will also perish without the law,
and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
13 For the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, this
but the doers of the law will be justified.
Consider the distinctions between hearing God’s words and
obeying God’s words.
Why would Paul (and God) place such an emphasis
on doing, not just hearing.
Summarize this information from page 25 of the PSG.
Dig deeper into the need for obedience:
“For anyone to be righteous before God,
they would need to do more than just hear the words
of Scripture. They had to be doers.
Being a doer does not suggest that people can work their way
into being right with God. .Only one person who has ever lived was a righteous doer of the law-Jesus Christ. [But] doers of the law are those who put their faith in Him.”
Define “justification.”
God's declaration about the sinner, that the sinner is declared
not guilty.
Justification is not possible by works of the law, but by the price of blood paid by Jesus.
Note other words that appear in these verses (examples:
sin, law, righteous).
Emphasize that hearing the gospel is not sufficient for salvation.
People must embrace Jesus’s sacrifice and His offer of salvation.
Walk the group through the Plan of Salvation on
the inside front cover the PSG.
Reflect on what they are trusting to justify themselves before God.
Assure adults that you are available to speak with anyone who has questions about a personal relationship with Jesus.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 27 of the Personal Study Guide:
Place adults in groups of three or four and direct each group to discuss the first set of questions on page 27 of the PSG. After a few minutes, allow volunteers to share what some people trust to be right with God. Encourage the larger group to compare those beliefs to what Paul expressed in Romans 2.
Highlight the second set of questions on page 27 of the PSG. Challenge adults to spend time during the week reflecting on their personal relationship with Jesus. Remind them that you are available to speak with anyone who has questions about Jesus. Note that even those who have a relationship with Jesus still need to trust Him fully each day.
Refer back to Pack Item 9 (Handout: Praying Scripture in Romans) and encourage the group to pray Romans 2:11 back to God throughout the week. Challenge them to be open to what He says about their own biases and prejudices toward those they think are “more sinful.” Close the session in prayer, asking God to move in powerful ways during the week.
Reinforce the session by sending the group a text or email that assures them you are praying for them. Encourage them to share requests with you so your prayers can be more focused. Remind them to read and reflect on the second set of questions from page 27 of the PSG and to make use of Pack Item 9 (Handout: Praying Scripture in Romans). Share that the next session will focus on Romans 3:21-4:5.
In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. (See Genesis 3; Psalm 51:5.)
Use multiple Scripture passages to understand a major doctrine.
People have used Romans 2:13 and other passages to claim that salvation is achieved by works that are needed in addition to faith. Read the following passages and determine what the Bible teaches about salvation by faith: John 6:28-29; 11:26; Acts 16:31; Romans 1:17; 4:6-8; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 3:9. How do these verses relate to Paul’s words to the Romans about the universality of judgment?