No Excuses
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Dismiss Children for Children’s ministry.
Would you take your Bibles and open with me to Romans 2. Today’s passage of Scripture will build off of last week’s sermon regarding the righteous judgment and wrath of God. In that, we continue to take all of God’s Word and apply it to our lives.
Many do not like to talk or think about the judgment of God. It brings within us a fear which is a good thing. We should fear the wrath of God. In that, we should fear it in such a way that it draws us to look upon the love of God in repentance over our sin and faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
That being said, what has happened is a grand reversal. Growing resistance to the truth of Scripture regarding the judgment of God has resulted in a flawed view of Scripture that advocates that God will not exercise wrath or judgment. Such a view of Scripture is wrong and contrary to the truth. Such falsehood has resulted in statements that affirm human sinfulness as though it is no big deal.
Statements ring out such as “nobody’s perfect.” Or, “to err is human, to forgive is divine.” One philosopher even writes, “God will forgive…it is his trade.” Such statements seek to diminish the immense gravity of sin. Human sinfulness is a weighty matter. It is not something that should be thought of as no big deal. Human sinfulness is a big deal as it is wrongdoing against a holy God. (drawn from R. Kent Hughes)
Paul seeks to make this clear in today’s passage. The judgment of God is a reality and must be properly understood.
1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.
Pray.
Main idea: The judgment of God is righteous and loving.
Paul writes in a diatribe style which is a dialogue with an imaginary opponent. So, Paul is building an argument in chapter 2 as he counters what would be an opposing argument. From this passage, we will draw out three aspects of God’s judgment.
The judgment of God falls on the unrepentant moralist.
The judgment of God falls on the unrepentant moralist.
Paul has written previously about the sinfulness of humanity primarily pointing to the practices of the pagans. In doing so, he wrote about the ways in which sinful humanity has exchanged the truth of God for idolatry and sinful practices. Now, Paul seeks to continue pointing to the sinfulness of humanity by addressing a different type of sinfulness. Paul calls out the moralists in this passage. One could even narrow down Paul’s target to the Jewish moralist. A moralist is one who seeks to live a good or moral life to earn salvation. However, moralism always leads to hypocrisy as humanity is tainted by a sin-nature.
1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.
Paul echoes his claim from Romans 1:20 in which he states that humanity is without excuse. Again, Paul states that the sinner is without excuse in the opening of chapter 2. The moralist is without excuse as he passes judgment on others. Understand that a moralist is one who has a certain moral philosophy. Or, in other words, this person has a set of standards that he has determined to be right and a set of standards that he has determined to be wrong. These are crafted and designed by himself. It is his own standard.
If the person of interest is a Jewish moralist in Paul’s argument, the standard would be the 10 commandments and law of God. Whatever the case, Paul points to the hypocrisy of the moralist. This individual seeks to judge others according to a standard while at the same time practicing the very same sinful things in opposition to that standard. In essence, he seeks to condemn others for falling short of his moral standard while he himself practices or carries out the very same things. Because of this, the moralist is without excuse.
The moralist is quick to look upon others with scorn and condemnation while he does not even see the sinfulness of himself.
One commentator writes (Calvin):
“This rebuke is directed at the hypocrites who draw attention by their displays of outward sanctity, and even imagine that they have been accepted by God, as though they had afforded him full satisfaction.”
The moralist sees himself as morally upright to the point of right standing before God. However, Paul makes clear the standing of the moralist in verse 2.
2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.
Those who outwardly seems to be good and upright, yet they practice the very sin that they condemn others for. These will know the judgment of God. The judgment of God will fall upon them. Not only will the judgment of God fall upon them, but the judgment of God will rightly fall upon them.
Application: Outward acts of righteousness with private acts of sin will only result in God’s judgment. God knows our actions and sinfulness. Morals do not merit us salvation. Just like the Pharisees, they were outwardly clean while inwardly wretched. Jesus would say
41 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
Likewise, we see the same scenario in the Old Testament with David. David committed adultery with Bathsheba. Not only did he commit adultery, but he would have her husband, Uriah, sent to the frontlines of battle in order to be killed. Upon doing this, Nathan sought to make known to David his sinfulness.
1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
David despised the man who commited such a grievous sin without even recognizing that it was himself.
Outward holiness does nothing but make others looks at you and follow you. Truly holiness makes others notice a change in you and look to Jesus Christ. Knowing this, we must be holy as Christ is holy. We must look out for the way in which we live. We must constantly have a check upon our spiritual lives. This is why the local church is important and fellowship. We are here to hold one another accountable in Christ Jesus. If we have no one helping us look out for our spiritual lives, we will be certain to fall to sin and remain in it. David had Nathan to hold him accountable. Who do you have in your life to help you be held accountable to walk with the Lord? We need each other in the body of Christ to hold one another up and help one another grow in Christlikeness as we kill sin in our lives. Our salvation is in Christ and our lives should look like His.
The judgment of God affords the opportunity for repentance.
The judgment of God affords the opportunity for repentance.
Paul is clear regarding the judgment of God toward the moralist. Likewise, Paul confronts the abuse of God’s grace. Such abuse will store up wrath to be poured out on the day of judgment.
3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?
The moralist supposes or thinks that because he is moral or has a knowledge of right and wrong that it merits him right standing before God. He deems that he will stand before God approved because of his morals all the while he has been practicing the very same sin which he condemns in others.
Understand, apart from Jesus Christ, no one will stand right before God. God’s judgment cannot and will not be escaped by anyone.
4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Paul makes an interesting statement here. The english translation uses the word presume. However, in the greek that word is kataphroneo which means to look down upon or despise. The moralist despises the kindness, forbearance, and patience of God. What Paul is making known here is that the moralist has no regard for God’s patience, kindness, and forbearance. He disregards it and despises it seeking for swift judgment. The moralist does not know or understand that God’s patience toward sinful humanity is for the sake of repentance or turning from sin. The moralist is insensitive to God’s patience toward him seeking for him to turn from his sin.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
God is patient seek for all to reach repentance. He desires that none would perish or be cast into the eternal fire of hell. Yet in that, God will most certain come to execute justice upon sin. Likewise, God is patient toward those who will not turn from sin.
22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
God is enduring with much patience with those who will reject Him. Likewise, this endurance is also for those who will repent and believe in Him to make know the riches of His glory. God is patient in executing His judgment and pouring out His wrath in order that both His power and mercy are made known.
The moralist is taking advantage of God’s kindness. He is abusing God’s mercy extended and carrying on in sin as though nothing will come of it. This is an abuse of the grace of God. He has no fear of God’s judgment thinking that it will certainly not fall on him when at the very core he is the very recipient of God’s wrath. Though it may seem as though sinfulness comes without a cost, there is coming a day when His wrath will be poured out.
5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Because of the hardness of heart and unrepentance, the moralist stores up for himself wrath. He abuses the mercy, grace, and kindness of God. Though he thinks he is doing good and upholding morals, he is dead in sin and practicing sin. He does not recognize his need for repentance and the severity of his sin. Therefore, on the day of wrath, the time in which God will pour out His judgment, the moralist will face the wrath of God. He would not turn from sin. He would not recognize his dreaded sinfulness. He would not repent. The end is wrath that is deserved.
Illustration: “In November 1970, a tragic fire occurred in a dance hall in a town in France. The hall was packed with hundred of young people and adults. A young man inadvertently dropped a lighted match on a foam cushion. Then it happened! A flash fire occured in which 145 of the dancers perished!
In commenting upon the tragic incident, Newsweek said, ‘There was no fire alarm system or telephone, and, during its invariably packed weekend rock dances, it unmarked emergency exits were always padlocked or latched from the inside to prevent gatecrashing.
Myriads today are heedless of the fact that God’s fiery judgment will inevitably fall upon all who spurn His offer of mercy and forgiveness.” (Knight’s Illustrations)
Application: Are we abusing God’s kindness? It is easy to do so. What can happen is that our sinful desires are so deeply rooted that we bank on God’s grace constantly being extended to us. Much of Christian culture has fallen into this trap of abusing the grace of God. We hear it all the time in the words, “God still loves me. God will forgive me. God is good with me.” Those may be true. However, God’s grace extended to you is not a go ahead to sin anyway. God’s grace should draw us to humility, worship, and obedience because of His unmeasurable kindness toward us as sinners. We do not deserve the grace of God. He has freely given it to us in Christ Jesus. Jesus did not die so that we could sin willfully. Jesus died in order that we would crucify our sins and walk with Him bringing glory to His great name.
Furthermore, have we placed our faith in certain criteria deeming that it will get us into heaven? Are we neglecting the reality of God’s judgment as something to merely scare us or do we view it as a reality? Please understand, supposedly good people go to hell all the time. Some of the hardest people to reach are those that are known as “good” people. They do good and point to their good lifestyle while never understanding the reality of their sinfulness. No matter how good the world deems us, we must look to God’s standard to measure our goodness. None of us measure up. We should praise God for His kindness and patience. He has appointed a day or time of wrath and judgment. Then, in His kindness toward us, He extends time patiently in order that we would repent and believe. We do not know when His wrath and judgment will come. But, we do know that it is coming. Will we be ready? We should view the time that we have as God’s kindness and praise Him for our saving faith in Christ Jesus if we have been brought to salvation. It is only through Jesus Christ that we are saved.
There is no such thing as a good person. All have sin and fall short of God’s glory. We are all wretched sinners who committed sin against a holy God, Creator of the universe. Because of that, we are worthy of His wrath. Yet, God in His grace did not immediately execute judgment and wipe humanity out. He extended mercy and grace. So much so, that He sent Jesus, His only Son to earth. Jesus lived perfectly were we did not. We sinned against God. Jesus lived the life that we could not. Then, He was nailed to the cross after being falsely accused and sentenced to death. Upon the cross, His blood was poured out and He bore the wrath of God that you and I deserve to atone for our sins. He bore the wrath of God for those that would believe in Him. This is the grace of God that He poured out the wrath that you and I deserve upon His very own Son so that it would not be poured out on us who repent and believe. This is the grace of God and we are so quick to abuse it in sin. Then, Jesus rose from the grave with life and victory over sin.
The judgment of God reviews works without partiality.
The judgment of God reviews works without partiality.
Paul shifts gears from focusing on the moralists to focusing on the way in which God will judge. God’s judgment takes a look at the works of man. Please understand from the beginning of this point that works do not merit righteousness or salvation.
6 He will render to each one according to his works:
God will render or payback to each person according to his or her works.
7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
To the one that have endured in well-doing seeking glory, honor, and immortality, God will give eternal life. As I mentioned just previously, God does not grant salvation based upon works. Salvation is by faith alone by grace alone in Christ alone. With that, the only way in which one can be saved from sin is through faith in Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross of Calvary and His resurrection. With that, the Christian can only be patient in doing well, seek glory, honor and immortality through the inner working of the Holy Spirit. Notice that the glory sought is not self-glory but the glory of God in doing what God would want. The Christian seeks to honor God. Lastly, the Christian seeks immortality or the final state of glorification with God for eternity. To this person, God gives eternal life because on the basis of faith in Christ.
John MacArthur writes, “The subjective criterion for salvation is faith alone, with nothing added. But the objective reality of that salvation is manifested in the subsequent godly works that the Holy Spirit leads and empowers believers to perform. For that reason, good deeds are a perfectly valid basis for God’s judgment.”
For the unbeliever, he will be judged by his works.
8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,
Those apart from faith in Jesus Christ who are seeking to stand on their own righteousness, they will face the wrath and fury of God because of their sin. Their sins will not be atoned for by Christ as they stand before God guilty in doing evil. This is to the Jew first given that the Jews are God’s chosen people and possessors of the Law. Then, the judgment will be to the Greek or Gentile.
For those that do submit to Christ and place their faith in Him, Glory, honor, and peace comes to them.
10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.
The believer receives glory as he or she will spend eternity with God in heaven. The believer receives honor as he or she is a coheir with Christ Jesus. The believer receives peace as he or she has atonement for sin in Christ Jesus freeing them from the wrath of God.
11 For God shows no partiality.
God shows no favoritism. God judges the works regardless of social standing or ethnic backing. There are those in Christ and those apart from Christ. There are only two placements: in Christ or apart from Him.
Those in Christ Jesus will display the fruit of a believer.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Likewise, lives will be transformed as believers live as though they are regenerate. There is a difference within the lives of believers and that difference is Jesus Christ. Because of our faith and love for God, our lives will reflect our faith in Christ alone. We will not be consumed with hate, malice, envy, covetousness, idolatry, sexual immorality, or pagan practices. We will be consumed with Christ. This will result in a lifestyle that is full of encouragement, prayer, Bible reading, self-control, love, joy, peace, patience, and faithful obedience.
Conclusion
What does your life look like? Who are you trusting in?
God’s judgment is coming.
Do others know that you are a faithful follower of Jesus Christ? More importantly, does God know you salvifically? Are you abusing His grace? Does your daily life align with the Word? Or, are you a Christian in name only while truly remaining in condemnation?
As you ponder those questions, I pray that you will respond as the Spirit leads you. Share the Gospel.
Are you abusing His grace? Or are you resting in it?