Romans 2

The first commandment at Mount Sinai was "I am the LORD your God who took you out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Exodus 20:2). Why did God introduce himself this way instead of as the God "who Created of the Universe"? In this lecture we will explore the meaning of implications of faith (emunah) as the foundation of our life's journey to the Kingdom.

Paul says, "The Torah is not faith." This seems to imply that, if you want to be a person of faith, the one thing you chould not do is observe the Torah. Does this make sense? In Galatians 3:11-12, Paul quotes Leviticus 18:5 and Habakkuk 2:4 in a manner consistent with rabbinic interpretation to establish that it is not the hearers of the Torah who will be declared righteous but the doers of the Torah. 

Has anyone ever warned you that you might be placing yourself under a curse by keeping the Torah? Paul says, "As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse" (Galatians 3:10). What's the "curse of the law" and how does it apply? 

What does it mean to be "under the law"? Conventional teaching understands Paul's use of the terminology, "under the law," to mean legalism. This teaching from Romans 6 takes a completely different perspective.

What advantage is there to being Jewish? Paul lists lots of advantages, but exemption from judgment is not one of them.

This important study on the first three chapters of Romans makes sense of Paul's discussion about the Law, the Jewish people, the Nations, and how we all stand under God's judgment and in need of atonement and salvation. The discussion reverses several common assumptions about Romans 1-3 by clearly explaining the sequence of Paul's argument, the rhetorical devices he employs, and the specialized terminology he uses such as "under the law" and "the circumcision."

Have you ever heard of "The Romans Road"? This lesson takes a few detours off the regular route. The second class in our study of Paul's Epistle to the Romans explains the concepts of faith and grace before launching into Paul's rhetorical diatribe against the godless Roman idolators--a rant which turns out to be a set up to turn the tables on his readers. This teaching also contains discussion on the Noachide laws and proselytes to set the stage for the ensuing discussions in the book of Romans.