Romans Chapter 2 Verses 25-29

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.

26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?

27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.

29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.

Prayer

Father God, we are humbled to be able to read and discuss your word. We pray that our words would bring clarity and that you would bless all that study your word with us. Lord, forgive us when we fall short of your standard and we pray we would not cause unbelievers to blaspheme your name. It is in your name Jesus that we pray. Amen.

Romans Chapter 2 Verses 17-24

The Jews and the Law

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;

18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;

19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark,

20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?

22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?

23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.Prayer

Father God, we thank you for your Word. We thank you for your Holy Spirit, which is the best teacher there is. You have written your law upon our hearts so that we might not sin against you, Lord. And when we do, your Holy Spirit convicts us of our behavior. Help us to confess our sins just as quickly as when you convict us, Lord. If there is someone we need to reconcile with, Lord, humble us and help us to do that. If there is a behavior that we are doing that we need to turn from, help us to do it, Lord. You are faithful to forgive us when we come to you with a contract Hart. Praise you, Lord Jesus, amen.

Romans Chapter 2 - Gods Righteous Judgment

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.

15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)

16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Father God, we thank you for your Word. We thank you for your Holy Spirit, which is the best teacher there is. You have written your law upon our hearts so that we might not sin against you, Lord. And when we do, your Holy Spirit convicts us of our behavior. Help us to confess our sins just as quickly as when you convict us, Lord. If there is someone we need to reconcile with, Lord, humble us and help us to do that. If there is a behavior that we are doing that we need to turn from, help us to do it, Lord. You are faithful to forgive us when we come to you with a contrite heart. Praise you, Lord Jesus, amen.

Romans Chapter 2 Verses 3-11 - God's Righteous Judgment.

3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?

4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.

6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”

7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;

10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

11 For God does not show favoritism.

Romans Chapter 1 - Gods wrath against sinful humanity28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,

30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;

31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.

32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans Chapter 2 - God's Righteous Judgement

1. You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.Lord, we come to you asking that you continue to reveal yourself to us and to all who are listening to this. Lord reveal yourself in a new way and speak to each of us about areas of our lives that are not pleasing to you. Lord give us eyes to see ourselves as you see us, and give us compassion for those around us, help us to be loving to one another, even those who are steeped in their sinfulness. Help us to not look at each other with judgmental eyes but rather with eyes to see your creation. Lord remind us daily that it is you that we should put first in our lives, thank you Lord for all that you are, Amen.

Romans Chapter 1 - Gods wrath against sinful humanity

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones.

27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Prayer: Lord Jesus we thankyou for your word which is truth. Help us to apply your truth to our lives today. Don't allow us to look at someone else and say how wrong they are, but reveal in us anything that is getting in the way of putting you first in our lives. You alone are worthy of all praise and honor. You gave us your word not to condemn us but to protect us and show us the best wayto go, which is to follow you , Jesus. Help us to do that Lord. if there is anyone listening today struggling with sinful desires, let them call out to you Jesus. We don't look to the world to tell us that everything we do is OK, we know that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . We look to you Lord Jesus, our identity is in you alone.

This we pray in Jesus name, Amen

Romans Chapter 1- continuing Paul's longing to visit Rome

15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

God’s Wrath Against Sinful Humanity

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.Prayer: Thank you Father God for your Word that is truth. Help us to share your Good News to those around us. Let our light so shine before men that they would know your truth and the truth would set them free. Lord Jesus, let us never be ashamed of the Gospel, for we know that it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. Search our hearts Lord Jesus, if there be any wicked way in us, reveal it, and then cleanse us from all un righteousness. In Jesus name, Amen.

Romans Chapter 1- Paul’s Longing to Visit Rome

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.

9 God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you

10 in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.

11 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—

12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish.

Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus for your Word which is truth. Thank you for teaching us through Paul's letter to the Romans how to communicate to you and to others. How to pray without ceasing. help us to bring all of our concerns to you, no matter how big or small they are. You hear our prayers and you are faithful to answer us in your timing, Lord. Help us to wait on you. Let us use our gifts to bless others. Also, teach us how to receive encouragement from others. Help us build one another up in our faith. We praise you Jesus and that you might be glorified in all we do. Amen