Week 26

Romans 10:13-21

This may be a good time for a very frank question: Have you called on the name of the LORD? verse 13. 1 Cor 1:2 – seems to imply we should call on the LORD continually, not just once. Not that we need to be saved every day or anything like that, but rather than our prayers indicate an absolute reliance on God.

Leader: for your review
Joel 2 is an amazing chapter that discusses God’s plan for Israel as a people and His plan for all mankind. This topic of Israel in comparison with the Church is going to come up again in chapter 11, it’s good to start thinking about it now. For instance, in Joel 2, God talks about His plan of redemption for Israel in v21-27 and then in v28 He says He will pour out His Spirit on all mankind…does the all in v28 really mean all or does it mean all of one people group or does it mean all humans but only some of them (the elect)?

Leader: for your review
v14,15 Should really be read together with no breaks, “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”"
c.f. Is 52:7

Discussion question: Is this section a tangent of Paul’s to tell us that we need to send people so they can preach to those who have not heard so that they can believe?

Leader: for your review:
It helps his argument that even though some Jews have not believed, it doesn’t not nullify the Word of God (9:6) He quotes Isaiah when he says the good news has been brought to captive Israel and then quotes him again (Is 53:1) that some have not believe their report. So by spelling out the steps of belief, Paul shows that we must hear the entire gospel being preached to us by sent preachers and that we must believe in what we hear and we must call on Him according to what we have heard.

Now that Paul has listed the steps, he can go back to his argument that some have heard and have not believed and this does not mean the Word of God has failed in the case of the Jews.

The great thing about this section is that Paul uses an argument and at the same time shows us how we are to see and perform evangelism.

Discussion question: What does this lead us to do in terms of evangelism?

Discussion question: What is your role in evangelism today?

Discussion question: What is the “word of Christ”?
Col 3:16 – Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Eph 5:26 – so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.
John 15:3 – you are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
John 17:17 – Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
Eph 6:17 – …and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God.
1 John 1:1-2 – What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life–and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us–
Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of go for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteousness man shall live by faith”

Leader: these are the OT quotes given in the following verses:

v18 – Ps 19:4
v19 – Deut 32:21
v20 – Is 65:1
v21 – Is 65:2

Leader: for your review
v18-20 Show the other side of the great mystery: God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility. We see in ch9 that God hardens some and softens others and in ch10 that He holds out His hand all day long to a disobedient people (1 Tim 2:4 “God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth). We cannot know or understand how this is, we simply rest in the fact that it is God’s way as the following verses tell us: Matt 11:25, John 6:35-37, Acts 13:38-48

Week 23

Romans 9:1-6

Discussion question: Do we love the unsaved in the same way that Paul loves his unsaved Jewish brethern?

Discussion question: What are the typical responses Christians have towards the unsaved?

Discussion question: Does the fact that the Jews had the oracles of God grieve Paul more that they don’t know Christ?

Discussion question:What is it that keeps the Jews from salvation?

Leader: for your review:

Hos 5

Deut 17:6

Eph 4:21

Rom 8:16

Phil 3:8

Deut 14:1-2

Ex 4:22

Hos 11:1

Discussion question: Why does Paul make the statement that “it is not as though the word of God has failed?”
He just said the he wishes his brethren could know Christ, but Jews believe they are the promised people (Ex 19:5-6) but Paul has said that it is not heritage that saves a person so the next natural question would be that if some Jews aren’t saved, then God’s promises aren’t secure, we can’t trust them. If His promises aren’t secure, how sovereign is He? Does He re-act or act? Is there a plan B with God? Is there a difference between how Jews were saved and how Christians are saved? Paul will answer this in a long, complete response that will touch on everything from His plan, sovereignty, and plan of salvation.

Discussion question: What would happen if we could not trust in God’s promises and the Word of God had failed? (Read/listen to John Piper’s sermon that answers this question, one of his best)

Discussion question: Does Paul mean that God set aside one covenant for another? In other words, can we be saved if we adhere to the Law? Are there two ways to God today – through the Law or through Christ?
Gal 3:24

Leader: for your review:

Jer 31-new covenant
Heb 7-9
Paul’s discussion of the patriarchs – shows that the covenant has always been in effect

To answer this, Paul must first show that there is not a new plan, but rather the plan has come into full light.
Deut 27:26 “Cursed is everyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.” But certainly, the people were not keeping the law, so they were not trusting in their doing of the law for salvation.
Psalm 130:3-4 “If you, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That you may be feared” Certainly there were some who understood their iniquities would keep them from God, but that God can forgive.

v6. Is 55:11 – God’s word will not return to Him void
Num 23:29 – God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

“For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel”
Romans 2:28,29

Week 18

Romans 8:1-13

Discussion question: What is the main point of this passage?
The Spirit has freed us from the Law by the power of Christ’s work and has allowed the law to be fulfilled in us. God’s Spirit gives us the power to live for God and not for the flesh therefore we are under obligation to live by the Spirit and put to death the deeds of the body.

Discussion question: In v3, ” 3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,” Does this mean that God’s very Law was too weak to save us?

Gal 3:21 if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on the law.
The Law is not weak, the flesh is weak
An offering for sin: Gen 22:8 God provides His own offering for our sin

Discussion question draws from previous question: If so, why did God give His Law to the Jews if He knew that it wouldn’t save anybody?If not, does this mean that the Law does have the power to save and that modern day Jews don’t have to believe in a Messiah to save them? and does that mean that we are powerful enough to save ourselves?

Discussion question: Is the Law a law of works that can save or a law of faith, by faith we are saved?

• Lev 18:5 So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD.
• Deut 27: 26‘Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
• Deut 30:10-14 The Word is near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.
• Is 53:4-7 The suffering servant

Discussion questions: In v4, “so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
- What is the requirement of the Law?
Gal 3:23-25
- How do we fulfill the requirement of the Law?
Romans 13:8
- Do WE fulfill the requirement of the Law?
Col 2:14-17
Ex 34:6-7 – God forgives the repentant
2 Corinthians 5:21 – He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Philippians 3:8-9 – More than that, I count all things to be loss . . .so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.

Discussion questions: In v5-6,
- This seems very black and white, either our minds are set on the Spirit or the are set on the flesh, as Christians, do we go back and forth between the two or is it a one time thing where we believe and our minds are no longer set on the flesh?
- If we do go back and forth, how is it that verse 6 can say that the mind set on the flesh is death when v2 says we are set free from the law of death?

Discussion questions: In v8, “and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
- Does this mean that all the good things going on in the world, for instance the building of a children’s hospital or the charitable donation to the Katrina relief fund, if done by a non-believer, aren’t pleasing to God?
- If so, how can we present this truth to non-believers, how can we tell them that not one thing they do is considered good by the Lord, without having them explode in anger?

Leader: for your review:

1 Cor 6:19-20 – Body is a temple to the Lord, you are not your own, but you have been bought with a price

Eph 6:17 – the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God

Matt 11:12 – violent men take the Kingdom of Heaven by force.
Matt 18 – unless you….you cannot enter into the Kingdom

v.13 – putting to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit:
- 1 Cor 2:13-14
- Eph 6:17
-2 Tim 3:16-17 – profitable for rebuke
-1 Tim 4:13 – public reading of Scripture
-2 Tim 2:7 – pay attention to what I say
-2 Tim 2:15 – AWANA
-Ps 1:2 – he delights in God’s Law and meditates day and night, Josh 1:8
-Ps 119:11 – treasuring God’s word in our hearts
-1 Tim 4:7-8 – discipline

Week 17

Romans 8:1

Leader: This week should be spent discussing the first seven chapters of Romans and bringing up issues that were good discussions or were helpful or difficult to get through. Romans 8:1 is such an important verse and it is a great place to just pause for a week and dwell on.

Overview of Romans Chapters 1-7

Chapter 1

1-15 Paul introduces himself because he did not start the church at Rome, gives background to the Gospel, gives thanks for them at Rome, says he is writing to the believers at Rome, probably mostly Jewish converts at Rome.

16-17 Thesis statement is made, this theme is seen almost everywhere in the letter to the Romans. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.’”

18-32 God has made Himself known to all men, but man has exchanged what is Glorious for what is corrupted and so God has given them over to their degrading passions.

Chapter 2

1-16 There is no partiality with God, Jews and Gentiles alike will be judged for their deeds

17-29 Even the Jews, who follow the Law to the letter, have not understood the spirit of the Law, for it is not outward circumcision that saves, but rather inward circumcision.

Chapter 3

1-2 So what advantage is there to being a Jew? Jews were entrusted with the knowledge of God.

3-4 But the Jewish religion is built upon this law, if some don’t believe in Jesus, wouldn’t that nullify God’s promise to save them? Never! Let an entire religion be found false, let every man be found to be a liar and God be found true.

5-8 But if man needs to be so evil that God may be seen as good, is God wrong for judging us? Or, put another way, if we have to sin so God has something to save us from, why not go on sinning even more so that good may come from it? It’s not even worth refuting such nonsense.

9-31 So, are some then better than others? Not at all, for there is not one who is just, not one seeks after God, all have turned away from God. All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. But God has looked over the sins of the past knowing that Christ would come and be the justifier of all who believe. So there is no boasting in works, for man is justified apart from the works of the Law. Therefore, we don’t nullify the Law by our faith, but rather, we establish it.

Chapter 4

1-25 Take Abraham, for example, he did not have the Law, but it was written, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Just like when you work, your wage is not a favor, but is due to you for your work. But to the one who believes, his faith is credited as righteousness. So Abraham believed and the promise was made to him that his descendants would reign while he was uncircumcised, and circumcision was given to seal the promise.

Chapter 5

1-11 So we have been justified and from this we gain our hope, our hope comes from the fact that it is not our doing but God’s, just look at the example He gave us, while we were completely helpless, Christ died for us. God sent His son to die for us while we were even enemies of God, this is our hope!

12-21 Look at how powerful Christ’s death was, sin came into the world through one man, Adam, and it spread to all men so that all are guilty just because they are men, now there is another event, Christ’s death, that came into the world and saved the world from the consequences of sin. So one act had the power to count all men as guilty, and one act had the power to forgive guilt. So the Law is given to show our guilt, but because of our guilt, grace is made all the more powerful.

Chapter 6

1-23 So if our sins bring about grace, shouldn’t we sin more to bring about more grace? No, don’t you see that you have died to sin? To gain this life that Christ promises us, we have to be baptized into His death so that we can be baptized into His life and being baptized into His death shows us that we are no longer who we once were. Our old selves are dead, let your old ways die as well. Don’t go on in your old ways, for you have died and are now in Christ. You don’t want to be enslaved to sin again do you? The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Chapter 7

1-13 Take the example of the law of marriage. A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives, if she joins with another while her husband is alive, she is found guilty of adultery, but if he dies she is free to join another. So you were made to die to one, sin, so that you can be joined to another, Jesus. We see that the law seems to arouse sin in our lives, but the law is not sin, rather it is the way we can know what sin is. Sin uses the law to deceive us, it uses what is good to make us do evil. But it is not the law that is the cause of evil and death, but rather it is sin working through the law.

14-25 The law is spiritual, it came from God, but we are flesh, in bondage to sin. I can see it at work when I want to do good, but don’t. I agree with what is good, I agree with the law, but the sin that dwells in me is evil and causes me to do evil. I can see then that there is nothing good in me and now there is a struggle because I want to do good, but can’t. Wretched man that I am, who will set me free?? Praise and thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Condensed Overview by Chapter:

1. Introduction, thesis, corruption of man
2. Condemnation of Jews and Greeks
3. All man is evil and deserving of death, but God have forgiven all who believe in Him and not their works
4. Evidence given that this is true
5. Sin came in through one man, and through one man it’s power is broken
6. Consider your old selves dead and the power to live your life to God in Christ
7. Sin no longer has power over us, but it still causes us to struggle

Topics discussed during the study:

• Power of the Gospel
• Do all men know God
• Does the Law save/ if one kept the Law could he be saved
• Is man dead spiritually until God awakens him
• Does anyone know God on his own
• Free will
• Does God deal with men differently than women
• Is there an age of accountability
• What if people have never heard of Christ
• What if people are too young to understand
• Who works first, God or man
• Are we sinners because we sin or do we sin because we’re sinners
• How do we go about santification
• Why does the Gospel, forgiveness of all sins past and future, produce people who don’t want to sin instead of people who say “anything goes now”
• How were OT people saved
• Predestination
• Depravity
• Election

Chapter 8

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Discussion question: Does 8:1 flow logically from 7:25? What is the “therefore” there for?

Leader: for your review:

8:1 seems to be the end of a very long comma separated sentence. Looking at 1:18-3:20 is very condemning, then 21-24 offer the sweetest sound our fallen ears can hear, then a semicolon appears after verse 24 and a long argument is brought up showing proof of faith being counted as righteousness in the old testament (3:25-4:22), then present time is brought back in (4:23-25) to explain our hope and foundation for sanctification (5:1-7:25). Then 8:1 comes back in, which, among other passages in Romans, is so fitting an ending for 3:24.

Leader: the following is an attempt to show how 8:1 seems to be a constant theme that runs throughout the book of Romans. By inserting 8:1 after a series of verses we can see how it is meant to give us comfort, encouragement, and hope as we read the book. All passages are from the book of Romans:

1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2:9-11 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11For there is no partiality with God.8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

3:20-21 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 21But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

4:7-9 “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED. 8″BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.” 9Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

4:20-21 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully assured that what God had promised, 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus., He was able also to perform.

5:1 Therefore, having been justified, 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus., we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 5:3-5 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 6:2 How shall we who died to sin still live in it?

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 6: 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 6:12-14 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 6:22-23 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 7:6 now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

Discussion question: We are counted as righteous, why are we so unable to grasp this? Why is it that we really don’t believe that we are seen as righteous before God and not just forgiven?

John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

Week 8

Romans 4:1-12

Why does Paul bring up justification by faith again? What “new” argument is he bringing up?

Paul brings up Abraham being justified by faith. How is this a great way of approaching apologetics? How can we use this same methodology with unbelievers?It is interesting to note in Gen 15:1 KJV, “I am thy exceeding great reward”

Why is boasting so bad? james 4:6, Psalm 138:6, prov 3:34

What is Paul’s point in bringing up Abraham, specifically, going through the time sequence of events from when Abraham was told, to when he was circumcised?

What is the significance of v11?
Lev 18:5 vs Deut 30:12-14

v20: grow strong & giving glory to God. Why does our growing strong give God glory?

Week 4

Romans 2:17-29

Overview

Paul tells them what they are, they are Jews, instructed out of the Law to tell others about God, they know the will of God, they know the essential things to do to please God, they know how to guide others to God, they know how to correct those who are ignorant, all taken from their intense study of the Law. But it seems that their study of the Law has led them only to knowing how to teach others, and not themselves. They know how to explain the things of the Law, but they didn’t explain it to themselves. Jesus said to do as the Pharasies say but not as they do. But it doesn’t seem like the Pharasies would steal like they tell others not to steal (bread, possessions, etc.), it doesn’t seem like they would commit adultery or take idols from temples, they wouldn’t be caught dead in a Pagan temple where there are idols. Paul is attacking the things done against God’s Glory (idolatry, adultery, theft) in the more spiritual sense. Then he asks, if they boast in the Law, if they use the Law as a light to the ignorant and a guide to the blind, why do they dishonor God by breaking it? They missed the point, the point of the Law was to show that no one could possibly measure up to God, but they only saw it as how others couldn’t measure up to God. No where in God’s Law does it say that if you know the Law, you will be saved. So Paul says that the Greeks blaspheme the name of God because the Jewish teachers/leaders have an attitude that they are better, that they have been given the Law by God Himself, yet they are no better off than any other nation, they are really no different than anyone else.

So, Paul has touched on the Law and says that even though the Jews have the Law, they are still no different, the Gentiles still don’t see any difference. So maybe the Jew would say, “but we are circumsized, we have this covenant with God.” To which Paul answers that their circumcision has become uncircumcision if they don’t keep the Law. That their outward symbol of being God’s Holy people actually shows that they are NOT God’s Holy people if they break the Law. For circumcision is just a symbol of being God’s chosen people for two reasons: women without husbands can be God’s people (men without the means for circumcision as well), the Gentiles who keep the Law can be God’s chosen. Men can see circumcision, only God can see the heart. So Paul is replacing the notion of being a Jew because one is born and raised in the Law with the fact that one is a Jew who is one inwardly, that is, one who keeps the Law in matters of both the heart and outward acts.

Overview:
Ch 1, everyone knows God, those who choose to ignore Him, God gives them over to their lusts.
Ch 2:1-16 Paul says evil doers will be punished, those who do good will be saved (Jew or Greek).
Ch 2:17-29 some Jews (who have the Law) still do evil, some Greeks (who don’t have the Law) still do good.
So, he seems to be going back and forth, maybe there are some who do good? Clarity coming in Ch 3

Deut 6:5 – Greatest commandment, Deut 10:12
Who is Paul addressing here?

It seems like Paul has addressed this issue before (2:13), there is a reason he is going back over it in more detail…there is another issue he wants to take up against the Jews, he has already leveled the playing field by condemning both Jew and Greek, but now it seems he’s going after a certain group within the Jews.

What does Paul seem to emphasize when he tells them they know the essential things, the will, they are a light, etc? The Law.

Now Paul gets into a list of things the Jews do, do these sound like good or bad things to do?

With the list of things they teach, but do, do you think the teachers of the Law actually do these things?

So, if they know the Law (which is good) and they can help others in the ways of the Law (which is also good) and they don’t do the bad things, what is Paul accusing them of?

Relying upon the Law: Micah 3:11, John 5:45

What, in essence, have the Jews, the teachers, then done with the Law? Isaiah 6:9,10

Do you think everyone who believes in God will be saved? These Jews certainly believed in God, they believed in the Law that He gave, what did they miss? Hos 6:6, Is 1:11

Jer 6:19-20 – People can reject God’s Law even if they “keep” it. So, how can we reject “Christ” even if we believe in Him? Matt 12:50 1 John 3:10 Matt 7:15-23 Matt 15:1-14

Ez 36:20-38 is the reference Paul makes here or Is 52:5. Why does Paul, after telling the Jews that they have become lawbreakers because they know the Law but don’t practice it, bring up how God is dishonored amongst the Gentiles because of them?

In v20 how can Christians cause the name of God to be blasphemed? What does Jesus have to say about this: Matt 5:16

Circumcision – Gen 17, John 7:22, Deut 30:6, Deut 10:16

How is circumcision of value if you practice the Law? Could we say the same thing about baptism?

What is uncircumcision?

How do we know circumcision is just a symbol?

What does the last verse get into? Heb 4:12,13

Week 3

Romans 2

Who is Paul talking to here? v2 and v17 seem to imply he is addressing the Jews

We know judgment falls rightly, those who know God.

Why do you think Paul would bring up this point? What is he getting at? non-jews have been condemned previously, now Jews, he is clearing the floor of anyone trying to win salvation by any means other than God (works or blood relatives).

If he is talking to Jews in v3, does this apply to us? How have we seen/done this today?

What is v4 trying to say about the riches of His kindness? Are they not rich enough to save everyone?

How does the kindness of God lead us to repentance?

v6 Prov 24:12 – not quoted directly?

what do v6-16 say about works? what does James say about works? What does Isaiah say? 64:6

What do there verses say about the Law?

If we perish with or without the Law, what does that say about the Law?

How can we use v14-15 in bringing the Gospel to others?

What does Paul mean by “my” Gospel?

How can we define “The Law” after reading these verses? What is the Law really if a Gentile performs it but does not know of it?

Deut 28:15, 8:19, Lev 26:14