Don’t forget to ask these 4 questions when reading the text:
Who is God?
What has He done?
Who are we?
What are we to do?
The following questions are intended to help individuals and groups learn Romans.
Please use these questions as tools and not rules. As the Holy Spirit guides your time in Scripture, and as you have discussion with others, the goal is not finishing all of the questions but rather meeting with God through learning the Bible. Consider this time more as a compass pointing you in a direction than a map that directs your every step
MC DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Summary:
After Paul described the content of the Gospel of Jesus (Romans 1:3-4), and completed the introduction of his letter to the church at Rome (1:1-15), he concludes his opening thoughts by introducing the Power of the Gospel to reveal the Righteousness of God and provide Salvation to everyone who believes in the Gospel by Faith (1:16-17).
Paul then transitions his thoughts to the universal unrighteousness of all people and the subsequent wrath of God for all sinners (1:18- 3:20). Paul’s indictment of all people is strong and thorough. He declares that God is righteous, has given us His law to obey, that we have all broken His good law and become unrighteous, and are therefore separated from the good and perfect God. Paul further declares that there is absolutely nothing that we can do to remedy our lost condition in sin. God has therefore been just, and our damnation is deserved and right.
Paul then returns to proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus in 3:21-31 by which the sinner is declared righteous before God, and made right with God, by faith in and grace from Jesus Christ.
This section of Romans is one of the most important texts in the entirety of the Protestant Reformation. It has been summarized as:
•Scripture Alone – only the Bible reveals the Gospel completely and perfectly, not the traditions or thoughts of men.
•Grace Alone – we are saved from the penalty of our sin solely by God’s Grace, not our own efforts, as Jesus lived the righteous life we have not lived and paid the ultimate price we should have paid.
•Faith Alone – we are saved from the penalty of our sin solely by placing Faith in Jesus’ work on our behalf, not on our own works.
•Christ Alone – we are saved from the penalty of our sin by Jesus alone, not by anyone or anything else in addition to or in place of Christ.
•To God be the Glory – we are to give glory, thanks and praise to God alone for our salvation, not to anyone or anything else.
Study Questions:
Regarding human sin, how extensive does Paul say that the problem of human unrighteousness extends in 3:23? Do you truly believe that this includes you personally?
Paul says that religious people try to either earn their righteousness with good deeds, traditions, and other human efforts in 3:27-28, including the Jewish people and himself as he sought to earn righteousness through dedicated religious devotion. What things have you, and people you know, sought to use to earn for yourself right standing before God (e.g. baptism, speaking in tongues, suffering, tithing, serving, paying off karmic debt, etc.)?
Gentiles are non-Jewish people, and God loves them as well. Read Genesis 22:15-18 to see the angelic declaration that God’s plan was to bless all the Gentile nations through Jesus Christ. How is the promise of Genesis fulfilled in Romans 3:28-30?
List all the ways and times in this section of Scripture that explain how and why all we need for forgiveness of sin and a righteous standing before God is found fully and only in Jesus Christ.
Discussion Questions:
1. How have you sought, or seen people you know, seek to be righteous by non-religious works like social or political causes, moral crusades, pointing out everyone else’s sin instead of their own, etc.?
2. How have you sought, or seen people you know, seek to be righteous by religious works that make them arrogant and judgmental of others?
3. How is it a humbling relief to trust that, if you have Jesus, you have everything to be right with God? What burdens does this lift for you personally?
4. Paul says that after Jesus saves us, we uphold the law. We do this by agreeing that the law has shown us our sin, and then getting a new nature with new desires from the Holy Spirit by which what God did for us in Jesus, and does in us through the Spirit, flows through us to change how we live. For the Christian, we do not live for our righteousness, but we live from Jesus’ righteousness. How has your life changed since Jesus made you righteous?