Romans 1-8

The Religious Sinner

1:1-17 1:18-3:20

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE

THE THREE TYPES OF SINNERS

The Immoral Sinner1:18-32

The Moral Sinner2:1-16

The Religious Sinner

2:17-3:8

Accountable for the Gospel

1:1-5

AddresseesThe Romans

1:6-7

Aspirations in the Gospel

1:8-15

Acclamation of the Gospel:

Salvation to all who believe

1:16-17

ROMANS

The Justice of God Revealed

Enter through the narrow

gate; for the gate is wide and

the way is broad that leads to

destruction, and there are

many who enter through it.

Matthew 7:13

The moral sinner Romans 2:1-16

The immoral sinner Romans 1:18-

32

The religious sinner Romans 2:17-

3:8

Believe on the Lord Jesus

Christ

Religious Sinner

C. Romans 2:17-3:8 – God’s condemnation rightly falls on the Religious Sinner.1. Romans 2:17-20 – The example of the

religious sinner: You bear the name Jew.a) Romans 2:17a – The religious sinner in

this illustration relied on the Law.b) Romans 2:17b – The religious sinners

boasted of having God as their god.

Religious Sinner

c) Romans 2:18a – They said they knew God’s will.

d) Romans 2:18b – They felt they knew God’s requirements: They approve the things that are essential.

e) Romans 2:18c – They said the Law instructed them.

Religious Sinner

f) Romans 2:19 – They felt sure they were1) Romans 2:19a – Guides for the

spiritually blind.2) Romans 2:19b – Lights for those in

spiritual darkness.3) Romans 2:20a – Correctors of the

foolish.4) Romans 2: 20b – Teachers of the

immature.

Religious Sinner

5) Romans 2:20c – Possessors of the Law, the embodiment of knowledge and truth.

Religious Sinner

2. Romans 2:21-24 – God’s evaluation of the religious sinner: You do not practice what you preach. a) Romans 2:21a – You who teach others,

do you not teach yourself?b) Romans 2:21b – You who say it is wrong

to steal, do you not steal?

Religious Sinner

c) Romans 2:22a – You who say it is wrong to commit adultery, do you not commit adultery?

d) Romans 2:22b – You who say it is wrong to have images and other gods, do you not have money as your god?

e) Romans 2:23 – You who boast about having God’s Law, do you not dishonor God when you break the law?

Religious Sinner

3. Romans 2:24-29 – God’s edict against the religious sinnera) Romans 2:24 – Your hypocrisy makes

God’s name into a curse word!b) Romans 2:25-27 – Your religious

identification (circumcision) would be of value only if you were absolutely sinless.

Religious Sinner

c) Romans 2:28-29 – Your external religious identity (Jew, Protestant, Catholic, etc.) or external ritual (circumcision, baptism, or communion) is not valid for salvation.

Religious Sinner

d) Romans 2:29b – God does the work in our salvation! (Ephesians 1:13-14) The circumcision…of the heart, by the Spirit is what counts. This is the work of the Spirit of God (Titus 3:5) in a person’s heart (Philippians 3:3) and He brings about eternal salvation.

Religious Sinner

4. Romans 3:1-9 – Paul EXPOUNDED on some sticky questions. a) Romans 3:1-2 – Is there any advantage in

being a Jew?1) The answer is yes.2) The advantage of being born a Jew as

opposed to a Gentile is that Jews have the very oracles of God, the Bible (Old Testament Scripture).

Religious Sinner

b) Romans 3:3-4 – If someone religious has the Bible and does not believe it or handle it correctly, does that invalidate God or make Him a liar or unfaithful?1) The answer is an emphatic no.2) May it never be: Let God be found

true and every man … a liar.

Religious Sinner

c) Romans 3:5-6 – If someone religious says, “I’m helping God if I am bad because that highlights the fact that God is good,” how should we respond?1) The answer is an emphatic, “No, you

are not helping God!” May it never be! God never condones sin!

2) If God condones sin, He is disqualified to be the Judge of the world.

Religious Sinner

d) Romans 3:7-8 – If someone argues, saying, “My lies make God’s truthfulness really stand out, so I am really helping God when I sin,” what should we answer?1) Once again the answer is, “No, you

are not helping God!”

Religious Sinner

2) Some people say that Paul taught, “Let’s sin so that good may come.”

3) Question: Why was Paul accused of this?

Let’s Recap on the Three Types of Sinners

Enter through the narrow

gate; for the gate is wide and

the way is broad that leads to

destruction, and there are

many who enter through it.

Matthew 7:13

The immoral sinner Romans 1:18-

32The moral sinner Romans 2:1-16The religious sinner Romans 2:17-

3:8Changing lanes on the broad road does not

save you!