Romans (Youth) 2A - Part 2

Trading God’s Truth for Lie #2 (Being Good) & #3 (Laws)

Scripture: Romans 2:1-16

Exposure to Exposition & Exploring the Scriptures: (10-15 mins)

• Bible Drills (Memorization of OT & NT Book order)

• Guide the children to Romans 2:1-16 in the Bible. (Help them as needed, NT vs OT)

• Say: We are going to continue through Paul's letter to the people of Rome.

• We will learn that the gospel is God’s power to save everyone who believes, and we should never be ashamed of Jesus.

• Read aloud. (Ask kids to start their pointer fingers on V1 and follow along)

Opening Question

“Have you ever pointed your finger at someone for doing wrong, but later realized you’ve done wrong things too? Paul says we must be careful, because only God is the true Judge.”

We cannot reach heaven by doing “good things,” so Paul addresses this issue because many people believe that’s how you get to Heaven.

Romans 2:1-16 NLT
1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

• V1-3 We weren’t “good enough” to save— So Don’t Judge Others!

  • Paul says when we judge others, we also condemn ourselves because we do wrong things too. v1

  • When we judge the people in the world, we are putting ourselves above them. v2-3

  • God’s judgment is perfect and fair- ours is not. v2

  • Kid Point: Only God can judge, because he is Perfect! (We are not)

Romans 2:4-6 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done.

• V4-6 God’s Kindness Leads Us to Repentance

  • God is patient, giving people time to turn back to Him. v4

  • But if people refuse God, they’re storing up God’s judgment. V5

  • God sees every deed and will judge fairly. Concerning salvation & of those saved. v6

  • Kid Point: Don’t take God’s patience lightly- repent while you can!

Romans 2:7-11 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good, for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

• V7-11 God Judges Fairly

  • People who live for God will receive eternal life. v7

  • Those who live selfishly and reject truth face God’s anger or wrath. vv. 8-9

  • God shows no favoritism- Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, everyone is judged by the same standard for salvation.

  • You’re either 100% Righteous (like God) or not. That’s the standard of Heaven. vv. 10-11

  • Kid Point: God’s judgment is always fair.

Following strict rules can't save us! (Nomianism)

Religious Lie #3

Romans 2:12-16 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

• V12-16 Following Strict Rules Can’t Save Anyone! A Heart Change (doing the Law)

  • People who had the Law (like the Jews, Catholics & Mormons, etc.) will be judged by it. v12

  • People without the Law (Gentiles) show heart change- God wrote His law on their hearts. vv13-15

  • On judgment day, even our secrets (our hearts) will be judged through Jesus. v16

  • Kid Point: Rules don’t save. God sees our hearts— only Jesus can save us.

Observation Questions (What did it say?)

1. What happens when we judge others, according to Paul? (We condemn ourselves, because we do the same things. v1)

2. Whose judgment is always fair and based on truth? (God’s. v2)

3. What is God’s kindness meant to lead us to? (Repentance. v4)

4. What does God give to those who seek Him? (Eternal life. vv14-15)

5. Where did Paul say God’s law is written for everyone? (On their hearts, in their conscience. v15)

Understanding Questions (What does it mean?)

1. Why is it wrong to judge others for sin when we sin too? (We are not a perfect judge & we were the same before God saved us. vv1-3)

2. What does it mean that God is patient with us? (We lived apart from Him at one time, and we aren’t judged immediately for our sin. vv4-5)

3. How does your conscience help you know right from wrong? (Because God’s word is written on our hearts when we believe. We do good because we LOVE Jesus. v15)

4. Why do we need Jesus even if we try to do good things? (Because we are 100% sinful if we are not God, so we needed Jesus’ perfect life, death & resurrection to take our place to be payment for sin. v16)

Application Questions (What should I do?)

1. Instead of judging others, what should we do when we see someone sinning? (Pray, help them, remember we also need God’s grace)

2. How can remembering God’s patience help you when you mess up?

3. What’s one way you can keep your heart soft toward God instead of being stubborn?

4. Are you right with God? Do you believe you're a sinner? Do you believe in the work Jesus did for you on the cross?

Activities 

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For Older Kids

Romans (Youth) — Romans (Youth) 2A - Part 2

Remind them: What is the Gospel?

Jesus’ perfect life paid for the sins of all who believe. Jesus died on the cross as the punishment for sin. But Jesus did not stay dead, three days later He rose to life (resurrection) defeating the power of death. Believe, and you will be saved!

• We are all sinful. We all deserve the consequence of sin- death.

• Jesus is what saves us from the sin we all have in our bodies. And one day, he’ll even give us a new body.

Supporting Truths Kids Can Grasp:

• We shouldn’t judge those who aren’t saved. We are just as sinful, if not worse.

• God is patient, giving us time to repent.

• God judges everyone fairly- no favorites.

• Our heart shows us right and wrong, but only Jesus can save us. Not any Law.

• The good news: Jesus saves us from sin and makes us right with God.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.