St Paul's Epistle to the Romans
Lesson 4: Sinfulness Among God’s People
Reading
Romans 2:1-16
Romans 2:17-29
Romans 3:9
Romans 3:10-20
St. Paul opens Chapter 2 of Romans with a general condemnation of those individuals who sit in judgement of their fellow man. The same problem that caused the Jews to be expelled from Rome under Emperor Claudius had returned. Jewish Christians were, once again, judging the Gentile Christians by the Mosaic Law, causing conflict within the community. He said those who judge according to the Mosaic Law are guilty of violating it themselves. (Romans 2:1-16)
St. Paul writes that those who are circumcised according to the Jewish Law become uncircumcised when they violate the law. Knowing and teaching the law does not provide justification before God on the Day of Judgement. Those who are not circumcised but keep the law are inwardly circumcised; circumcised “of the heart in the spirit. ”(Romans 2:17-29) St. Paul writes that we are all guilty before the law. We all
fall short. (Romans 3:9)
The law acts as a yardstick by which we measure our guilt before God, not our accomplishments and self-perceived righteousness. On the Day of Judgement, having kept the Law will not be enough to save us. It will only reveal our failure in loving God and our fellow man. (Romans 3:10-20)
Discussion & Reflection
Q1: What does St. Paul say about judging our fellow man?
A1: St Paul says when we judge one another, we condemn ourselves. God will be our judge “rendering to each according to his deeds.
Q2: How can we prepare for God’s dread Judgement Seat?
A2: Knowing we are to be judged according to God’s righteousness, we should be led to repentance. With repentance, we should be doers of good works and be doers of the law. The summary of the law is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
Q3: The Christian community in Rome had an on-going problem between Jewish Christians - who were still zealous in obeying the Mosaic Law - and Gentile Christians, who were free from circumcision and the Mosaic Law. The result was discord and conflict in the community. How do such conflicts take away from Christ? How are new and existing members driven away by such communities?
A3: The earliest church communities were commended by and attractive to the outside world because of the love
of God that was evident in those communities. Conflicts within the community only serve to steal the focus from Christ and His Church. Many of our churches are diverse with various ethnic groups, including people born into Orthodoxy and those who have come to Orthodoxy later in life and/or from another religion. Unless we show patience, love, and forbearance to one another and not judge the faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ, members will be driven away.
Resources
- Orthodox Study Bible: Epistle to the Romans
- St. John Chrysostom’s Commentary on Romans
- (https://sites.google.com/site/aquinasstudybible/home/romans/st-john-
- chrysostom-on-romans)
- Podcast: "The Whole Counsel of God" Romans, Chapter 2 & Romans, Chapter 3
- by Fr. Stephen De Young (www.antientfaith.org/podcasts/wholecounsel)
Meditation & Activity
As a family: Wad up three sheets of paper into three balls. As a target, place a trash can several feet away from the group so that hitting the target is a challenge but not impossible. Each family member will take three shots. Nearly all will miss the
intended target.
The word “sin” means missing the mark (target). Sin is missing God’s mark of keeping His commandments. Take a few minutes to ask yourself (and/or family) and answer these questions: Do we all miss? Do we all come up short?
St. Paul’s message in Chapter 2 of Romans is our answer: We all (Cradle/Convert Christian, Gentile, Jewish) come up short of what God wants us to do. We all sin and are subject to His judgement. We must remember “that a man is justified by faithapart from the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28)
Church Wisdom
Troparion (Tone 4)
First-enthroned of the apostles,
teachers of the universe:
Entreat the Master of all
to grant peace to the world,
and to our souls great mercy!
Words of St. John Chrysostom
“He (St. Paul) had accused the Gentiles, he had accused the Jews; it came next in order to mention the righteousness which is by faith. For if the law of nature availed not, and the written Law was of no advantage, but both weighed down those that used them not aright, and made it plain that they were worthy of greater punishment, then after this the salvation which is by grace was necessary.”