Romans 2: God Shows No Favorites

Paul warns that those who judge others while doing the same things condemn themselves. God's goodness, forbearance, and patience are meant to lead people to repentance. God will give to each according to their works, eternal life to those who seek glory and honor by patient well-doing, for there is no partiality with God. Those who have the law should keep it, and Gentiles show the work of the law written in their hearts. Being God's people is a matter of the heart, in the spirit and not the letter, with praise that comes from God.

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Read Romans 2

World English Bible · 29 verses

¹ Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ but to those who are self-seeking and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath, indignation,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ oppression, and anguish on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ For there is no partiality with God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law. As many as have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ For it isn’t the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justifiedThis verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ (for when Gentiles who don’t have the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are a law to themselves,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them)This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Jesus Christ.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Indeed you bear the name of a Jew, rest on the law, glory in God,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ know his will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ and are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babies, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ You therefore who teach another, don’t you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn’t steal, do you steal?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² You who say a man shouldn’t commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ You who glory in the law, do you dishonor God by disobeying the law?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ For circumcision indeed profits, if you are a doer of the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ If therefore the uncircumcised keep the ordinances of the law, won’t his uncircumcision be accounted as circumcision?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ Won’t those who are physically uncircumcised, but fulfill the law, judge you, who with the letter and circumcision are a transgressor of the law?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Romans 2 · Preschool

God Is Fair

Name Date

Color all the different people God loves the same.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“For there is no partiality with God.”

Romans 2:11 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Romans 2 says God shows no partiality. He loves and treats all people fairly. Talk about how we can treat everyone fairly too (Romans 2:11).

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Romans 2 · Grade 4

A Heart That Belongs to God

Name Date

Read and Think

Paul says that whoever judges another person is without excuse, because the one who judges often does the same things. God judges truly. No one will escape by judging others.

"Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" God gives time to turn back to him.

God will pay back each one according to their works. To those who by patient well-doing seek glory, honor, and incorruptibility, he gives eternal life. Glory, honor, and peace go to everyone who works good. "For there is no partiality with God."

It is not hearing the law that makes people right before God, but doing it. Gentiles who do not have the law sometimes do by nature what the law asks, showing the work of the law written in their hearts. Paul says true belonging to God is a matter of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter. Its praise comes not from people, but from God.

Show What You Know

Why is the one who judges without excuse?
To whom does God give eternal life?
What do Gentiles show when they do what the law asks?
Where does the praise of a heart that belongs to God come from?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

withoutGodaccordingglorygood

Paul says that whoever judges another person is excuse, because the one who judges often does the same things.
judges truly.
God will pay back each one to their works.
To those who by patient well-doing seek , honor, and incorruptibility, he gives eternal life.
Glory, honor, and peace go to everyone who works .

Think About It

God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance. How has God been patient with you?
Paul warns against judging others for things we also do. How could you be slower to judge this week?

Memory Verse

“Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

Romans 2:4 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the lesson of God Shows No Favorites. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you look at your own heart first?
What does it mean that God shows no partiality?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Romans 2 · Grade 5

God's Righteous Judgment

Name Date

Read and Think

Paul writes, "Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things." God's judgment is according to truth, and no one who condemns others while doing the same things will escape it.

He asks whether they despise the riches of God's goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads to repentance. A hard and unrepentant heart stores up judgment for the day when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. God will pay back everyone according to their works: eternal life to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek glory, honor, and incorruptibility, and trouble to those who obey unrighteousness.

Glory, honor, and peace come to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. "For there is no partiality with God." Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers. When Gentiles who do not have the law do by nature the things of the law, they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness. God will judge the secrets of people through Jesus Christ.

Paul then speaks to anyone who relies on the law, boasts in God, and teaches others. He asks whether they teach themselves, and warns that God's name can be dishonored among the nations when teachers do not live what they teach. Outward signs are valuable when the law is kept. But Paul says true belonging to God is inward, and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter. Its praise is not from men, but from God.

Show What You Know

What does Paul say the one who judges another does to himself?
What does a hard and unrepentant heart store up?
Through whom will God judge the secrets of people?
Where does Paul say true circumcision is?

Crossword

Across

And are confident that you ____ are a guide of the blind.
To those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for ____.

Down

Therefore you are ____ excuse.
Will pay back to everyone ____ to their works.
For you who ____ practice the same things.

Think About It

Paul asks teachers whether they teach themselves. In what area do you want your actions to match your words?
God looks for a heart that belongs to him, not just outward signs. What does it look like to love God from the inside out?

Memory Verse

“Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

Romans 2:4 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the lesson of God Shows No Favorites. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can we live what we teach?
Why is praise from God better than praise from people?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Romans 2: God Shows No Favorites

Read Romans 2

Worksheets

God Is Fair

Prayer

Take It Home

No Partiality

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

No Partiality

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

God Shows No Favorites

Prayer

Take It Home

God Is Fair to All

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

God's Kindness Leads Us Back

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

God Shows No Favorites

Prayer

Take It Home

A Heart That Belongs to God

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

God's Righteous Judgment

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options