Thursday, July 3 – Romans 2, 3

1. What great danger threatens anyone who despises the kindness, patience, and forbearance of God? To what does divine kindness lead? (Romans 2:4)

2. What will be the inevitable outcome of a life of uncontrolled anger and disobedience? (Romans 2:5–9)9)

3. Does someone who sins without knowing God’s law have any excuse? (Romans 2:10-12)

4. How does Paul reveal that even pagan Gentiles, who do not know the law, have no excuse? Where is it written if they don’t have the law written on stone or papyrus? (Romans 2:14–16)

5. What Old Testament text does Paul quote to affirm humanity’s lack of righteousness? (Romans 3:9–18)

Paul’s Epistle to the Romans transcends a simple regional letter; its message is universal, addressed to all believers, not just Romans. Some theologians refer to Romans as “the Gospel according to Paul,” due to its Christ-centered exposé of salvation by grace. Today, we focus on chapters 2 and 3, which are rich in content beyond what time allows. Paul wrote this during his three-month stay in Corinth while en route to Jerusalem with Gentile church contributions, around 57–58 AD. The central theme is universal sinfulness and universal grace.

A key lesson for us today: we must not judge one another. Only God can. As Ellen White states in Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing:

“Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.” (p. 124)

We cannot see hearts; we see only outward acts. Only God, who knows motives and treats each one with love, can judge.
Again, sister White explains:

“Because the law of the Lord is perfect, and therefore changeless, it is impossible for sinful men, in themselves, to meet the standard of its requirement. This was why Jesus came as our Redeemer. It was His mission, by making men partakers of the divine nature, to bring them into harmony with the principles of the law of heaven. When we forsake our sins and receive Christ as our Saviour, the law is exalted. The apostle Paul asks, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Romans 3:31.” (TFTMOB, p. 50)

Refuting those who reject the Old Testament, she adds:

“Many who claim to believe and to teach the gospel are in a similar error. They set aside the Old Testament Scriptures, of which Christ declared, “They are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39. In rejecting the Old, they virtually reject the New; for both are parts of an inseparable whole. No man can rightly present the law of God without the gospel, or the gospel without the law. The law is the gospel embodied, and the gospel is the law unfolded. The law is the root, the gospel is the fragrant blossom and fruit which it bears.” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 127)

We thank the Holy Spirit for illuminating Paul’s teaching that salvation by grace does not nullify obedience to God’s law; rather, it confirms it. These truths cannot be separated.

May that same Spirit fill our minds as we study His Word. Have a richly blessed day!