1. God’s Justice Lesson 10 Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing,
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family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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God’s Justice
Lesson 10

2. Lesson Outline Introduction A. Insiders Out B. Lesson Background
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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Lesson Outline
Introduction A. Insiders Out B. Lesson Background

3. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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Lady Justice
This familiar image represents the Roman goddess Justitia, or Lady Justice.
She is meant to personify the ideal of justice in our judicial systems.
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Photo: © Benjaminec / iStock / Thinkstock® 3

4. Lady Justice What does the sword represent?
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family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Lady Justice
What does the sword represent?
The authority behind the law and the ability to punish lawbreakers.
However, since the sword is pointing down, the possibility of mercy is also indicated.
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5. Lady Justice What do the scales represent?
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part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Lady Justice
What do the scales represent?
The scales weigh the evidence for both sides to come to a fair and equitable decision.
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6. Lady Justice What does the blindfold represent?
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family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Lady Justice
What does the blindfold represent?
The blindfold prevents justice from being influenced by a person’s wealth, power, or other characteristics.
Thus, each person is treated impartially.
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7. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Lady Justice
Unlike this ideal, we humans are not able to be so fair and impartial when we judge others.
In fact, Paul tells us it’s not our job to judge other people.
Only God is the perfect, impartial judge who treats each one fairly.
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8. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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Lesson Outline
I. Human Judge (Romans 2:1-4) A. Acting with Hypocrisy (v. 1) B. Awaiting an Exemption (vv. 2, 3) C. Avoiding Repentance (v. 4)

9. Truths and Consequences
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part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Truths and Consequences
When we try to judge other people, we develop several wrong attitudes about them and about ourselves.
Read Romans 2:1-12, and use these verses to help you state the truth to each of the following people and the consequences for their actions.
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Photo: © Lisafx / iStock / Thinkstock 9

10. Truths and Consequences
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Truths and Consequences
Romans 2:1, 2
“I am such a better person than that guy. God has to be pretty unhappy with him!”
Truth: God is also unhappy with you, since you are also a sinner.
Consequence: By condemning him you condemn yourself.
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11. Copyright © 2017
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part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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What Do You Think?
How do you ensure that you are not guilty of the same shortcomings that you note in others?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Regarding people you know personally
Regarding high-profile public figures
Regarding those in groups different from yours 11

12. What Do You Think? How do you answer the “truth is relative” claim?
Copyright © 2017
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part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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What Do You Think?
How do you answer the “truth is relative” claim?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Evidence you use from Scripture
Evidence from outside Scripture
Using logic
Other 12

13. Truths and Consequences
Copyright © 2017
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family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Truths and Consequences
Romans 2:3, 4
“God is so loving and forgiving that I don’t think He will hold my small sins against me!”
Truth: God is patient to allow you time to repent.
Consequence: If you keep on sinning, you will not escape God’s judgment.
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14. Copyright © 2017
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family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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What Do You Think?
Which is the more effective way to win people to Christ: negative messages that cause fear of consequences for rejecting Him or positive messages of hope for accepting Him? Why? 14

15. What Do You Think? Talking Points for Your Discussion
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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What Do You Think?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Considering Bible examples of effective negative messages and events (Luke 3:7-14; etc.)
Considering Bible examples of effective positive messages and events (Acts 8:26-39; etc.)
Considering Bible examples that mix negative and positive somewhat equally (Acts 2:14-41; etc.) 15

16. Copyright © 2017
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family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Lesson Outline
II. Heavenly Judge (Romans 2:5-12) A. No Exceptions (vv. 5-10) B. No Favoritism (vv. 11, 12)

17. Truths and Consequences
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Truths and Consequences
Romans 2:5
“I like my life fine the way it is, and I’m not about to change it any time soon!”
Truth: Hard and unrepentant hearts refuse to repent.
Consequence: You are storing up God’s wrath against yourself, which will be revealed on the Day of Judgment.
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18. Truths and Consequences
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Truths and Consequences
Romans 2:6-10
“I love the Lord so much and am looking forward to eternal life with Him. I only want to serve Him!”
Truth: God honors those who do good.
Consequence: He will give them glory and honor and peace in this life, and eternal life in the next.
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Photo: © Wavebreakmedia Ltd / iStock / Thinkstock® 18

19. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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What Do You Think?
What approach helps you most to maintain the lifestyle of patience and persistence described in verse 7? Why?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Advantages and drawbacks of mentoring
Advantages and drawbacks of having an accountability partner
Advantages and drawbacks of going it alone with spiritual disciplines
Other 19

20. Truths and Consequences
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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Truths and Consequences
Romans 2:11, 12
“My life has been so blessed. I think I must be one of God’s favorites!”
Truth: God shows no partiality.
Consequence: Each person will be judged on the basis of his or her relationship with Jesus and life choices.
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21. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
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family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Horizontal Visual
Ask learners what Scriptures they would add next to Romans 2:9-11 on this gavel to reflect the theme of the depiction.

22. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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What Do You Think?
What have you found to be most helpful in avoiding the ancient Jews’ error of seeing themselves as part of a favored religious elite? Why?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Favorite Scriptures that help
Spiritual disciplines that help
Positive role models that help
Other 22

23. Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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Lesson Outline
Conclusion A. Not Trivial B. Prayer C. Thought to Remember

24. “Good Guys” and “Bad Guys”
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part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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“Good Guys” and “Bad Guys”
It’s easy to point at other people and their sins and condemn them as “bad.”
But in today’s text Paul points a finger at “good guys” with a stern warning: everyone is guilty.
We have all broken God’s law.
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Photo: © AntonioGuillem / iStock / Thinkstock®

25. “Good Guys” and “Bad Guys”
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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“Good Guys” and “Bad Guys”
We are not good people with trivial sin problems.
We are sinners who are sometimes coated with a thin veneer of righteous appearance.
How can a deeper awareness of our own sinfulness make us more merciful toward other people in our lives?
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26. “Good Guys” and “Bad Guys”
Copyright © 2017
Standard Publishing,
part of the David C Cook
family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
All rights reserved.
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“Good Guys” and “Bad Guys”
Why would it be a good idea to get rid of the “good guy/bad guy” mentality?
Is there a lost person in your life to whom you can extend the good news of forgiveness and a restored relationship with God through Jesus Christ?
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27. Copyright © 2017
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family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Thought to Remember
God’s law is a mirror in which we see our flaws, not a club with which to punish others for theirs.

28. Giving justly Next Week’s Lesson Copyright © 2017 Standard Publishing,
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family, Colorado Springs,
Colorado 80918
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Next Week’s Lesson
Giving justly