Romans 2

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authentic life before God, not hidden by your words 2:21-24</div> <div> Trust God's internal transformation, not external actions 2:25-29 </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>You can have assurance of God's approval</I></div> <div> <I>only by living God's transforming work.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>How can Grace apply Romans 2?</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Learn _____________ in the context of:</B></div> <bR> <div> Standing before God Rom. 11:30-33</div> <div> Reaching out Rom. 11:31; 1:16,17</div> <div> Relationship preferences Rom. 12:16; Rom.. 14:3-10</div> <div> Knowledge in growth 1 Cor. 8:1; 10:12<I> </I></div> <div> Stewardship of living 1 Cor. 4:18-5:2</div> <bR> <div> <B>Who do you accept in Church? 1 Cor. 12:20-25</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>How do you assure approval from God?  John 13:34-35</B></div> <div> ____________________________</div> <div> ____________________________</div> <div> ____________________________</div> <div> ____________________________</div> <div> ____________________________</div> <bR> <div> <I><B>In what ways do you see God's acceptance and approval reflected in relationships at Grace and the community</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Amplification of the Passage</B></div> <bR> <div> Pride is a huge challenge to the Roman believers, but also for us.  It is the cause of every sin.  Every time we commit a sin, it's because we act independently of God and His Spirit to think, speak or act.  Pride is the cause of the first sin in the realm of God's creatures.  Read about this in Ezekiel 28:12-19 (esp. 28:15).   This sin of Satan is found in Isaiah 14:12-14 where Satan decided he could be like God and in fact be greater than God.  Stuart Scott has done a marvelous work in the book “The Exemplary Husband” and addresses this issue of pride.  What does pride look like?  It's often easy to see it in others, but much more difficult to see it in ourselves.  Permit me to take his categories and summarize how pride is manifested.  The essential ingredient is the text of Scripture.  I listed the first fifteen last week.  Here's the last fifteen.  The Scripture is the important part.</div> <bR> <div> <I>A lack of compassion.</I>  A proud person is rarely concerned for others and their concerns.  He can't see beyond his own problems or desires (Matthew 5:7; 18:23-35).</div> <div> <I>Being defensive or blame-shifting.</I>  A proud person often says, “Are you saying it's <I>my</I> fault?” or  “Well, what about you?” (Genesis 3:12-13; Proverbs 12:1).</div> <div> <I>A lack of admitting when you are wrong.</I>  A proud person will make a great many excuses, like “I was tired,” or “I was having a bad day” (Proverbs 10:17).</div> <div> <I>A lack of asking forgiveness.</I>  Proud people rarely admit their sin or ask for forgiveness of others.  They either can't see their sin because they are blinded by their pride, or they can't seem to humble themselves before someone else and ask forgiveness (Matthew 5:23-24).</div> <div> <I>A lack of biblical prayer.</I>  Proud people pray very little, if at all.  When they do pray, they center their prayers on themselves, rather than on God and others (Luke 18:10-14).</div> <div> <I>Resisting authority or being disrespectful.</I>  A proud person doesn't like to be told what to do.  He doesn't like to submit, because it's really a pride problem (1 Peter 2:13-17).</div> <div> <I>Voicing preference or opinions when not asked.</I>  A proud person does not be able to keep his preferences or opinions to himself.  Opinions are offered when not asked and without considering others (Philippians 2:1-4).</div> <div> <I>Minimizing your own sin and shortcomings.</I>  A proud person doesn't think his sin is a big deal, but others are the ones with a problem (Matthew 7:3-5). </div> <div> <I>Maximizing others' sin and shortcomings.</I>  The proud person thinks other people are the problem.  They magnify the sins of others by gossip (Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 18:9-14).</div> <div> <I>Being impatient or irritable with others.</I>  A proud person gets angry with people, because their schedule or plans are ruined.  They are inflexible regarding preferences (Ephesians 4:31-32).</div> <div> <I>Being jealous or envious.</I>  Often when they do not enjoy the same benefits, proud people have a hard time being glad for other's successes or blessings (1 Corinthians 13:4).</div> <div> <I>Using others.</I>  The proud person usually views others in terms of what those people can do for them and their interests.  Their focus is on what they can get, not what they can do for others (Matthew 7:12; Philippians 2:3-4).</div> <div> <I>Being deceitful by covering up sins, faults, and mistakes.</I>  Some proud people will do just about anything in order for others not to find out negative things about them (Proverbs 11:3; 28:13).</div> <div> <I>Using attention-</I>getting tactics.  A proud person draws attention to themselves through dress, bizarre behavior, being rebellious, even always talking about their problems, etc. (1 Peter 3:3-4).</div> <div> <I>Not having close relationships.</I>  Proud people often have no use for close relationships, thinking that the trouble outweighs the benefits.  They see themselves as self-sufficient and do not need others (Proverbs 18:1-2; Hebrews 10:24-25).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> What do you think?  Are these great examples or WHAT?  I hope they help you probe as much as they have helped me! (Lamentations 3:40).</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id140.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Romans 3:120"><U><B>Next Page</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grace Evangelical Church"><U><B><IMG SRC="0c740400.gif" border=0 width="64" height="64" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Grace Evangelical Church"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>