Romans: The Obedience of Faith

• Discuss the overall outline of Romans and the theme of each section:
  • Rebellion (chs 1 to 3): wrath, law, sin
  • Salvation (chs 3 to 4): propitiation, justification, salvation
  • Liberation (chs 5 to 7): from wrath, sin, and law
  • Adoption (chs 8 to 11)
  • Transformation (chs 12 to 15)
  • Mission (chs 15 to 16)
• What have been your favorite parts of Romans? Why?
• What parts are hardest for you?

• Where does the modern church place too much emphasis on the superstar pastor who does all the “real” ministry? How do you need to think differently about church work as team-work?
• Discuss your experience with false teachers in the church (smooth words, methods, and mess they leave behind).
• Reflect on the importance of women to the life and ministry of the church. Where has that become distorted today? How can ROC continue to grow in this area?

• What is typically on your wish list when you look for a church? How do you typical define a “good” church?
• Sending on mission: how can your family or community group do more to support missions?
• Sharing blessings: how are you doing at stewarding your time, treasure, and talents to bless other saints in the Lord?
• Striving in prayer: Discuss how you can grow in the battle of prayer… In attesting the Trinity, in thinking of your own specific needs (avoiding vague generalities), and in praying for others?
• Use a scriptural prayer (such as Phil 1:9-10) as a model for personal or group prayer.

• What are the risks of not knowing the ministers and theologians you listen to regularly?
• How does the sacrificial language in Romans 15:16 help you understand your role and the goal of church life?
• Why is accountability for a pastor important?
• Why should we not judge a ministry based on its outward productivity alone?
• What can you do to know your pastor better?

• Where do you find it most difficult to be welcoming? When you’re busy? When you’re tired? When you disagree with someone’s politics?
• Why is it so important today for us to recognize how the gospel welcomes all peoples of the world in fulfillment of biblical promises?
• Share where you have seen some signs of hope that Christ is accomplishing something good in our midst.

• Where is there a root of stubborn pride in you that leads to petty divisions over secondary things?
• Where can you actively seek to build up other Christians with your giftings?
• How can Christ’s work of bearing the our reproaches against God motivate you to seek the good of others?
• Share how you’ve seen Scripture give you comfort and encouragement lately.

• On what issues do you most struggle with granting liberty to other Christians on areas left open by Scripture?
  • Where do you most struggle with restraining your own liberties for the sake of fellowship?
• Reflect: “Being right is not justification for being unloving”
• What does it mean to preserve the unity of the church by exercising your preferences in private? Why should the strong not strive to publicly exercise their freedoms (even if they’re right)?
• What is the responsibility of the weaker person on secondary issues?
• How does keeping the gospel in focus help lead people to greater maturity on secondary issues?

• What are some issues in the Christian life that are matters of “opinion” rather than essentials to the faith? How can we know the difference?
• Discuss the two self-diagnosis questions offered during the sermon, and apply them to some of the topics mentioned:
  • Where am I tempted to judge others & make servants to my own correct opinion?
  • Where do I need to see others in Christ, doing their best to follow conscience, and love them despite our differences? To agree to disagree for the sake of Christ?

• When do you find yourself lacking motivation to love others?
• In the parable of the good Samaritan, why does Jesus say that the Samaritan himself is the “neighbor”? How does that flip the lawyer’s question on its head? What does it mean to “be a neighbor” to someone?
• Study the Westminster Larger Catechism’s treatment of “thou shalt not steal” (below), particularly how it elaborates positively on the duties required. How does this give you a concrete picture of “loving your neighbor”?
• Discuss a way you can show real love this week to someone you don’t want to love.

Q. 140. Which is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.

Q. 141. What are the duties required in the eighth commandment?
A. The duties required in the eighth commandment are, truth, faithfulness, and justice in contracts and commerce between man and man; rendering to every one his due; restitution of goods unlawfully detained from the right owners thereof; giving and lending freely, according to our abilities, and the necessities of others; moderation of our judgments, wills, and affections concerning worldly goods; a provident care and study to get, keep, use, and dispose these things which are necessary and convenient for the sustentation of our nature, and suitable to our condition; a lawful calling, and diligence in it; frugality; avoiding unnecessary lawsuits, and suretiship, or other like engagements; and an endeavor, by all just and lawful means, to procure, preserve, and further the wealth and outward estate of others, as well as our own.

Q. 142. What are the sins forbidden in the eighth commandment?
A. The sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, besides the neglect of the duties required, are, theft, robbery, man-stealing, and receiving anything that is stolen; fraudulent dealing, false weights and measures, removing landmarks, injustice and unfaithfulness in contracts between man and man, or in matters of trust; oppression, extortion, usury, bribery, vexatious lawsuits, unjust enclosures and depredation; engrossing commodities to enhance the price; unlawful callings, and all other unjust or sinful ways of taking or withholding from our neighbor what belongs to him, or of enriching ourselves; covetousness; inordinate prizing and affecting worldly goods; distrustful and distracting cares and studies in getting, keeping, and using them; envying at the prosperity of others; as likewise idleness, prodigality, wasteful gaming; and all other ways whereby we do unduly prejudice our own outward estate, and defrauding ourselves of the due use and comfort of that estate which God hath given us.

• How does knowing the background of the political situation of Rome help calibrate your approach to this text?
• Why do governments exist? What does it mean for a ruler to be God’s servant?
• How are you doing in submitting to government out of conscience?
• How should a Christian think about civil disobedience? What are the costs?
• Where do you find it most difficult to engage in conversation with Christians about politics?
• Where do you face the biggest challenges in your dual citizenship?

• As an expression of life in obedience to the Lord, genuine love needs to be…
• Expressed in the church
  • What aspects of God’s will and character do you find hardest to love, especially when the world scorns God and mocks those who abide by his will?
  • Where do you often fall into lacking love towards others in the church?
  • Where can you grow in hospitality?
• Counterintuitive
  • Where are you tempted to hide behind personal inclination or cultural convention in being unloving?
• Given to enemies in a Christlike way
  • What is your default response when you experience hostility from others?
  • Where have you experienced the power of God in reconciling you with an enemy?

• Create a list of groups and causes that are significant in your life. These can be political affiliations, social issues, social group, hobbies etc…. How can these become a idol in your life and distraction from following Christ?
• Do you know the way in which God has gifted you to serve in the church? If so, what are your gifts and how are you using them?
• Compare Paul’s discussion on spiritual gifts and unity in Romans 12:3-8 and his longer discussion on the topic in 1 Corinthians 12. In what ways do these passages agree? What does 1 Corinthians 12 add to the topic of Christian unity?

• Before today, how did you conceive of the term “worship”? What has shaped your view? Why is worship more than singing style, preaching, and even a full Sunday morning service?
• What are the biggest barriers to devoting your entire body and life to God?
• What parts of your life do you want to hold back from God?
• Reflect on times in the past when you have gone your own way, hoping to find happiness on your own terms, but it didn’t work out that way? Why can true joy only be found in God’s will?

• In what areas of life do you try to figure out all the angles and think you know better than God?
• What does it look like to lay down your own human wisdom and submit to the “depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God”?

• Where have you seen the kindness and mercy of God most magnified in your life?
• Where are you most inclined to think in terms of “my side”? Where does factionalism creep into your life? How have you seen it undermine the gospel personally or corporately? What can you do to act against it?

• How does “remnant theology” in the Bible undermine our performance-driven approach to salvation?
• Where else do you see the theology of the remnant in the Bible?

• How this passage encourage you about preaching the gospel to the nations, whether abroad or right next door?
• How does this passage convict you about your own excuse-making or hesitancy?

• Where are you most tempted to offer God your own righteousness instead of clinging to Christ’s by faith? Morals? Money? Parenting? Job performance?
• How does Paul use the OT to make his argument in this passage?

• Restate in your own words what the “double sovereignty” (or “double predestination”) of God entails?
• Where is this doctrine a challenge for you?
• What assurance do we have from this passage itself about the security of salvation for those who believe?

• What does it mean that God is totally sovereign?
• If God is sovereign over the salvation or condemnation of all, what does that mean for evangelism? How do the first few verses of this passage help us clarify this seeming tension?
• Where do you struggle against the good news that you contribute nothing to your own salvation?

• How is the truth that nothing can separate you from the love of God provide you comfort in the present moment?
• Where do you feel others, Satan, or your own heart accusing you before God today? How can this passage help you?

• Where have you found present sufferings to, in hindsight, be a means God has worked good in your life?
• Where have you seen verse 28 misused? How did this sermon help you see its proper meaning?
• What does it mean to be conformed to the image of Christ? Where are areas in your life where you most fight this process?
• Learn more about the “Golden Chain of Salvation“

• Where have you experienced your own groaning and creation’s groaning? Where have you found hope?
• Describe times in your life where, when you’ve lacked the words to pray, the Spirit has discernibly interceded.

• In your own life of Christian sanctification, where have you recently seen progress in ‘mortification’ of sinful flesh?
• What are the biggest challenges you face in the daily battle of fighting against sin? Where do you need to strengthen your defenses?
• Discuss the privilege we have to address God as “Abba” (the same word Jesus used), and our status as “sons” and “heirs.”

• Where do you need assurance of your standing with God?
• Where have you seen the Spirit work in you a love for God’s Word?
• Reflect on this truth: “Assurance of salvation is not looking at the ongoing work-in-process in your life, but looking at the finished work of Christ for you.”

• Where do you most acutely experience the internal battle between what you know to do/believe (as a Christian) and what your flesh wants to tempt you to do/believe?
• How would it look for you to lean on Christ as the one who delivers you from this “body of death”?
• Further reading on Rom 7
  • Piper: “Romans 7 does describe your Christian experience“
  • Schreiner: “Romans 7 does not describe your Christian experience“
  • Timmins: “What’s really going on in Romans 7“

• Where do you find yourself to be a natural-born rebel when confronted with the commandments of God?
• Where do you struggle with hearing the law of God and immediately wanting to violate it? 
• Where do you need to seek rest in Jesus’s perfect law-keeping on your behalf?

• What place does the law have in your life now if you’ve been saved by grace, and if Christ has fulfilled everything on your behalf?
• 2 masters: Where do you often see sin not an enslaving power but as a means of freedom? Where have you experienced the “ever-weighty chains” of sin even when you thought it offered happiness?
• 2 patterns: How have you experienced grace in breaking patterns of sin-leading-to-more-sin? What does your current pattern of life suggest about your true master?
• 2 destinies: How can reflecting on your eternal destiny spur you on in living a Christ-like life?
• What pattern(s) of holiness can you put in place that will lead to more holiness (the opposite of sin leading to more sin)?
• How has the coronavirus lockdown brought to light key patterns (good and bad) in your life?

• What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ? Why does it matter that you died when Christ died (“crucified with him”)?
  • Where do you most struggle to “walk” the walk of a Christian who has died to sin?
• What encouragement does it bring to you that Christ’s death freed you from the eternal penalty of death?
• Where do you need to be re-energized in your fight against the body of sin and death?
• Learn more about the defense of the truth of the resurrection

• Reign of death through rebellion of Adam: Where are you tempted to downplay the seriousness of your specific sins in the eyes of God (“they’re not that big of a deal, right”)?
• Jesus as a second Adam, the beginning of a new humanity: Where do you find comfort that Jesus’s life of righteousness far surpasses the devastating condemnation of Adams sin? What’s your typical response to the moral law of God?
• God’s grace super-abounds for those in Christ by faith: How can your present circumstances cause you to cast your gave forward in hope of the renewal of all things?

• What kind of “peace” is Paul describing in Rom 5:1? Is it subjective or objective?
• What gets you excited about reflecting the glory of God through what he is doing in your life now?
• Where can you find reason to rejoice in suffering right now? What has been your main response to our present crisis? How can God’s Word reshape your response?

• God does the impossible by…saving those who are unworthy
  • How does the backstory of Abraham’s “imputed” righteousness help us understand our own?
  • Why is the doctrine of imputation so important to Christian theology?
• God does the impossible…by making one people out of many
  • How have you personally experienced the unity of the worldwide church?
  • How can the oneness of the church (across every people, tongue, language) speak to a world of increasing tribalism?
• God does the impossible…by bringing life from death
  • How are you called to “hope against hope” and be unwavering in clinging to God by faith?

• Where are you tempted to think you earn your position in the church? (e.g., being born to Christian parents, good moral behavior, etc.)
• What does it mean to be justified by faith “apart from works”? Review the evidence for this in the passage.
• What does it mean to be “counted” (or “reckoned,” “imputed”) righteous? What is Paul’s logic here?
• What are the implications (a) personally and (b) corporately of the fact that Abraham believed *before* receiving the sign of circumcision? How can the gospel unify us?

• Discuss the meaning of these important terms and how, in Romans, they relate to the gospel?
  • Law
  • Redemption
  • Propitiation
  • Blood
  • Faith
  • Justification/Righteousness
• Why can God not simply let sin go unpunished? What does that say about us as humans?
• Where do you struggle with finding rest in the completed work of Christ?

• Where do you sometimes fall into the pattern of thinking your religious upbringing (or other externals) qualify you to get a free pass from God?
• Where do you pick and choose what you want to listen to from the Bible?
• Think through the implications of the judgment of God. What is it like to feel the weight of impending judgment? Where can (and does) the gospel provide comfort without being a license to “keep on sinning so that grace may abound”?
• Discuss the fact that God cares about our lives because he created us as his image-bearers.

• “God isn’t about your exterior…”
  • What is it like to profess to be one thing on the outside, when you’re different on the inside?
  • What kinds of facades do most people in your social circles hide behind?
  • Where do you find yourself trying to build up a certain Christian image on the outside? How’s it working out? Where do you most fear being exposed?
• “…He wants your heart”
  • Why is Christianity not ultimately about external behaviors and performance?
  • Where does it comfort you that God is mainly concerned with your “heart circumcision”? That he wants your “inward self”?
  • What would it look like for you to give up the treadmill of performance-based Christianity and surrender to God, who wants your heart?

• Where do you stand in judgment (or judgmentalness) over others — when you actually stand condemned for the very same things you judge in others?
• How can you grow in being quick to repent versus critiquing others?
• Discuss: “the gospel makes no sense without Romans 1 and 2.” How do these passages on judgment and wrath magnify the “good” news of the gospel?
• Reflect on what it would be like to “get what you deserve” on the day of wrath. How does that help you see your own need more clearly?
• Where do you try to create your own (easier) standard? How is the imputation of Christ’s righteousness (“He took your calculus exam for you and you just put your name on it”) provide comfort?

• What is the root cause of all the evil in the world?
• Why does rejecting God lead to so much chaos in our hearts and society?
• How does the wrath of God for injustice actually prove his love and moral character?
• Where do you find yourself exchanging the worship of God for the worship of the creation?
• Where do you find yourself in the “vice list” of Romans 1? Where does the gospel of the alien righteousness of Christ give you hope?

• Where do you find yourself struggling with the prospect of losing face over the gospel (shame, culture, cowardice)?
• Can you summarize “the gospel” in 2 sentences?
• Share the story of how you have personally experienced the power of God through the gospel in your own life.
• Discuss “in the gospel God saves us from himself (his wrath).” How does this truth differ from other so-called ‘gospels’ out there in the world?

• What does it look like for you to find gospel refreshment in the gathering of believers? Where do you struggle with this? Where have you seen God use River Oaks to strengthen your faith through other people’s faith?
• Discuss the Bible’s calling to think globally about the gospel.
  • Where do you fall into thinking too “small” about the worldwide nature of the kingdom?
  • Describe how missions plays a role in your own life, and where you can grow.
  • What would it take for you to give up your current status quo and go into the global mission field?
  • Why is this section of Romans, particularly the Greeks-barbarians/Jew-and-Gentile framing of Paul’s mission, so vital in today’s world and church?

• Where do you struggle with the issue, “Why should I submit to this book of the Bible?”
• Calling
  • Who/what are your primary influences on what you think, feel, and do…that complete with the Bible? 
  • What is Paul saying about himself here? What claim to authority is he making?
• Message
  • Summarize the key elements of Paul’s message/gospel in vv 2-4
  • What aspects of this gospel are easiest for you to ignore or downplay?
  • Where do you try to escape the lordship and reign of Jesus? Where is it hardest to submit to him (work, sexuality, possessions, treatment of others, etc.)?
• Mission
  • What is meant by “obedience of faith”? What are some areas in your life where your obedience and your faith are not synced up?
  • Why is the scope of Paul’s message (“all nations”) so important today?

• Read Romans 1:1-17
• Why is Paul writing this letter? To whom is he writing?
• What do you know about Rome and the Roman Empire in the first century?
• What do you think the following terms mean (which are key in Romans)?
  • Faith
  • Righteousness
  • Obedience
  • Imputation
  • Justification
  • Adoption
  • Sanctification
• Why does Paul mention “Jews” and “Greeks” so many times in this letter?