There is a lot to read this session, but I will highlight some main points and let you expand on what is discussed below. Like I said at the beginning, we are going to push the S.O.A.P. Bible study method to do what it is not meant to, in this case, using it for three groups of longer, related passages. Instead of writing out off of these passages, study each one individually and write out some key verses from each. This will also help train you on identifying the main purpose(s) of passages as you continue to study them.

S - Scripture

Romans 1:18-32

18 For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, 19 since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, that is, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what he has made. As a result, people are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
24 Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God delivered them over to disgraceful passions. Their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 The men in the same way also left natural relations with women and were inflamed in their lust for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the appropriate penalty of their error.
28 And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right. 29 They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, arrogant, proud, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 senseless, untrustworthy, unloving,, and unmerciful. 32 Although they know God’s just sentence—that those who practice such things deserve to die,—they not only do them, but even applaud, others who practice them.

Romans 2:1-29

2 Therefore, every one of you, who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. 3 Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. 6 He will repay each one according to his works:, 7 eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth while obeying unrighteousness. 9 There will be affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no favoritism with God.
12 For all who sin without the law will also perish without the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified. 14 So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law, do what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them 16 on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
17 Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior, being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law—21 you then, who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.,
25 Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So if an uncircumcised man keeps the law’s requirements, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter., That person’s praise is not from people but from God.

Romans 3:9b-23

9b For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin,, 10 as it is written:
There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.,
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.,
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.,
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.,
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.,
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.,
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are subject to the law,, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment., 20 For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, attested by the Law and the Prophets., 22 The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction. 23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

O - Observation

vv 1:18-32

• God reveals His wrath
• God's existence and power is recognizable through the evidence of creation
• • They (we) have no excuse
• Humanity can recognize who God is but choose to not follow Him
• What does "God delivered them over" mean? How many times was this repeated?
• What is truth and why is it important? What happens if we turn away from truth?
  vv 2:1-29
• Is judging others bad? What's the standard for judging?
• Am I justified by comparing myself to others and their life? Whether I am a Christian or a better Christian than someone else because of what I do better or don't do that can be judged?
• God shows no favoritism. He looks for the inward change and not the outward actions.
• What does keeping the law mean? And what does breaking the law do?
  vv 3:9b-23
• Everyone is subjected to sin and can't be righteous (at least within their own power)
• What Old Testament verses are mentioned here?
• What's the role of the Law?

A - Application

• God has revealed Himself to us through creation, therefore, He is the One we should worship and praise, not anything created. It can be easy to be pressured to look like the world and just as hard to not want to be different from others.
• "God delivered them over" means He allowed them to continue in their sin because they are choosing to accept judgement (their due punishment).
• Re-read the last few verses of Romans 1. Even though they knew these things were sinful and against God, they chose to continue doing them and applaud others for doing so as well. This is a good reminder that just because people enjoy and celebrate something does not mean it is right. In everything we say, do, and don't do should be pleasing to God (when we filter our actions through a standard, such as God and His Word, we call that a worldview).
• Romans chapter 2 can be difficult to read through. Should I judge others or not? The answer is..... yes. But, the purpose of this passage isn't to give criteria for judgment, rather, it is to align us to the Judge and His righteous judgement that we are due.
• Instead of looking at someone else's sin and comparing theirs to yours, focus on the purpose of the law.
• So, what is the purpose of the law? The law is multifaceted (various purposes), but here in Romans Paul is expressing that the law is not to make one righteous but to recognize sin through knowing God's standard. Paul sums this up very well in Rom 3:23;

  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

• God is the God of everyone (not partiality or favoritism), we can't save ourselves, but because of God's mercy and grace He has provided a way for our salvation.
• I'll end with looking at Romans 2:6-10. What's going on here? Do works save me? If so, does this contradict everything else studied in this section?
• These are important questions and requires us to look even further in scripture. My Bible bolds "He will repay each one according to his works" which indicates that this is actually said in the Old Testament. In this case, Psalms 62:12 and Proverbs 24:12.
• Great, there are some other texts related to this, how does that help me? If you feel like this tracking down cross-references that is understandable. There are almost 64,000 of these in the Bible, you probably won't track all of those down in one sitting (please don't try). Go as far as it makes sense (1-2 levels, no more than 3 is a general rule), you'll figure out what works for you as you continue to study the Bible.
• So what can I learn from these Old Testament passages to better understand Paul concerning works in this passage? To trust in God and an example of living like you do in fact trust Him. Paul is saying that if your faith and trust is rightfully place in Christ, then your life will (at start to) look like Christ's life.
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that we are a new creation as believers, meaning that we don't stay how we are but grow to be more Christlike.

  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!

Romans 1:18-32: Sin of those who reject God's revelation
Romans 2:1-29: Sin of those who trust in themselves (or at least not in God)
Romans 3:9b-23: Sin of everyone and the need for God's saving grace

P - Prayer

Lord,
I recognize that I am unable to save myself, but You have provided the way through.
I pray that You strengthen me to continue to recognize You in You creation and not be conformed to this world that draws me away from You.
Help me recognize my own sin and have grace towards others when they sin towards me.
Let me be a shining light that shows the world Your grace and love that is readily available to them.
Amen.