The Impartial Judgement of God-Part I

APRIL 5, 2023 STUDY NOTES ROMANS 2:5-7 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES THE IMPARTIAL JUDGMENT OF GOD—Part 1 INTRODUCTION In the fourth verse we were told that people should repent of their sins, Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? If people could only realize how great the kindness of God is toward us, they would repent But instead of realizing the riches of God’s kindness toward us, people despise God’s goodness Verse 5 explains why it is so easy for people to despise the kindness of God Sinful man is stubborn and refuses to repent because of his selfish and sinful heart He does not seek to know the truth of sin and salvation, or the truth of an eternal state Those who are lost do not want to believe in a real place known as Hell Even if they say they believe in Hell they do not believe in the truth of Hell’s punishment They think that Hell is going to be an alright place because all of their friends will be there The lost go to Hell because they did not repent of their sins and receive Jesus as their Savior Hell is Hell because of just being there, but Hell is much more than just being there If that was the only truth related to Hell, the punishment of Hell would be equal for all It is hell to be in Hell, Paul is telling us the punishment of Hell is not equal for all People must realize that dying and going to Hell to live in torment is a terrible thought Paul tells us that the torments of Hell will be according to the earthly life that is lived The punishment and torment of Hell is determined by the life lived upon earth Which simply means that the greater sin will receive the greater punishment And those who sin less will receive less punishment, but all in Hell will be punished Again, refusing to receive Jesus Christ is that which will determine who goes to Hell But the punishment of Hell will be according to the revelation of God they rejected The punishment will be according to the opportunities they had to come to Christ and refused Punishment will be according to the goodness of God that was bestowed upon them and ignored Americans who refuse Christ are more guilty than those in other countries who lack opportunities Therefore, Americans who go to Hell will receive the greater punishment because of opportunity Christians like to think about Heaven and the assurance they have of going to Heaven But Christians must give thought to the fact that there is more to Heaven than just being there It will be Heaven to be in Heaven, but life in Heaven is much more than just being there Paul tells us that the rewards of Heaven will be according to the earthly life that is lived People will go to Heaven because they have received Jesus Christ as their Savior But the rewards of Heaven will be according to the life they lived for Christ while on earth The degrees of punishment in Hell and the degrees of reward in Heaven require a future judgment In the passage that we are studying Paul presents the truth of the judgment of God upon all people The context of the passage is not salvation, it is not teaching that works is a way of salvation The context of the passage is “The Impartial Judgment of God,” so we find--JUDGMENT DESERVED--Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; “But” takes our thoughts back to what was said in verse 4 Referring to the one who refuses to repent and points out why they refuse to repent Page 1 of 6 Instead of repenting of their sins the heart becomes what is described as “hardness” “Hardness” means stubbornness, a hard, stubborn heart that refuses to repent Which is also described as an “impenitent heart,” describing the heart that refuses to repent Refusing to forsake their sins and give their heart to the will of God The only hope for an “impenitent heart” is to receive Jesus into the heart, Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Faith comes from the heart, Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. The heart that refuses God becomes a “storehouse” which Paul now describes The impenitent heart is the heart that “treasurest up unto thyself wrath” The heart becomes a treasure chest, everyone has a treasure chest in their heart “Treasurest up” means “to lay up as treasure,” to store up for future use Treasures are stored up in hope of a good life in the future A sinful heart will plan today the sins of tonight and tonight plan the sins of the weekend All of which is considered to be a storehouse of precious goods for good days But instead of a treasure of good things, sin is a treasure chest of destruction Paul presents the sinful treasures of the heart as a stockpile of “wrath” The heart that refuses to repent is storing up “wrath” “Wrath” refers to the divine judgment of God which will be inflicted upon the wicked The wrath of God has already been revealed to man, Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; The world witnessed the wrath of God in the Garden of Eden Wrath drove fallen man from the Garden of Eden, Gen 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. Again, we find that the wrath of God fell upon the wickedness of man, Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. God’s wrath destroyed all flesh, Gen 6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But God’s grace saved Noah and his family, Gen 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. There is no way sinful man in his own efforts will escape the wrath of God Those who refuse to repent of their sins will face the wrath of God, Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Escape or deliverance from God’s wrath is only through Jesus Christ But there is yet to come that which is known as the “Day of Wrath” The past and present wrath of God assures us that the “Day of Wrath” is sure to come “Against the day of wrath,” which does not refer to a twenty four hour period of time “The day” refers to a lengthy time period of certain events involving God’s wrath Scripture identifies the future “day of wrath” as the “Day of the Lord” Which will occur at the time of the return of Jesus Christ It will be the day of God’s wrath against Satan, sin, and the followers of sin The day of God’s righteous judgment will come, Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? The only reason it has not already come is found in, 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his Page 2 of 6 promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Those who are saved have been delivered from the wrath that is to come, 1Th 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. The day of God’s wrath will also be a day of “revelation” The word “revelation” means that something has been or will be revealed The “day of wrath” yet to come will be a time of “making known” And that which shall be made known is “the righteous judgment of God” The judgment of God will be a “just judgment” upon sin, sin requires God’s judgment As a sinner don’t stand before the God of justice and cry, “I want justice” Sinful man who understands God’s judgment upon sin does not want justice The justice of God must condemn sin, but sinful man can experience the mercy and grace of God JUDGMENT EXPLAINED--Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: Every person will receive a pay day, there will be a “Pay off” for the life lived upon earth The payment of what is due to each and every person It will be an individual matter each individual will receive “according to his deeds” Which means according to their works, which means according to what they have done People will be judged according to the life that they lived upon the earth Some believe that all people will stand before God at the same time to be judged But the Bible does not teach a day of “General Judgment” There will be a final judgment for all people, all people will be judged according to their deeds The saved will stand before the “Judgment Seat of Christ,” 2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. The judgment will be according to their works, 1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (The context is the Judgment Seat of Christ) The lost will stand before the “Great White Throne Judgment,” Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. The lost will be judged according to their works, Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Not one single lost person will be exempt from the judgment of their works, Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. The Great White Throne Judgment will not be another opportunity to be saved The purpose is to determine their degree of punishment in their eternal state of punishment Their eternal state of punishment is the “Lake of Fire,” Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. They will be cast into the “Lake of Fire” because they are not saved and not in the “Book of Life” Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. The lake of fire was prepared for the devil and his angels, Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: The Antichrist and false prophet are the first ones to be cast into the lake of fire, Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive Page 3 of 6 into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Then Satan will be cast into the lake of fire, Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Punishment will be in proportion to their evil deeds and the effect that it had on others People will not only answer for their deeds, but also for their words that can harm others, Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. JUDGMENT OF THE SAVED--Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: Paul presents only two kinds of people, “To them” in verse 7 presents one class of people “Them” in verse 8 presents the other class of people In verse 7 we have those who are saved and possess eternal life, those who are already saved Paul begins by describing them as those who are of “patient continuance” Which means that they patiently endure the trials of life that they daily face Through Christ Christians can persevere and endure the difficult days of suffering and sickness Through faith that results in patience, Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (Same word translated “patient continuance” in Romans 2:7 Patience produces Christian character, Jas 1:4 But let patience (same word) have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. “Patient continuance” is remaining faithful to our Christian duties, stated as “in well doing” This is not salvation by works, you cannot do enough, well enough, long enough, to be saved Salvation is by faith in Christ alone, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: No one will ever be saved by personal works of righteousness, Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Salvation is a gift of God and not the works of man, Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Salvation is by God’s Mercy to those who believe, Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Christians can “work good” because they are a new creation in Christ, Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. There is no “doing well” apart from the imputed righteousness of Christ Righteousness that works in the believer through faith, Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Romans 2:7 describes that which can only be of God working in the believer It is not describing the way to be saved but the way the saved are to live The reason for the endurance that Paul has just presented is to “seek for glory” This is not self-glory but glory unto to God “Glory” represents the working presence of God in the life of the believer, 1Co 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. This verse is easy to explain, Christian do everything in such a way that God is glorified Nothing will be too difficult to endure if it is for the glory of God, 2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; Page 4 of 6 Believers who live for the glory of God today will share in the glory of Christ’s return, Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. God approves of the deeds of our life that glorify Him and He will reward those deeds The deeds of our life are to “honor” God “Honor” speaks of the value that is placed upon a person Value that determines the honor and respect that is to be paid to that person Christians that honor Christ will live an honorable life, 2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. God will honor the life that honors God through the deeds of the daily life God’s approval will be presented in the form of a “W. D. DEGREE,” Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Christians are to also live daily with the expectation of “immortality” The meaning is “incorruptibility” which will be a part of the believers glorification Hallelujah, believers will receive a glorious, resurrected, incorruptible body when Christ returns, 1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, (same word) and this mortal must put on immortality. Within the resurrected, glorified body will be the rewards of well-doing The resurrected body will be a body that will glorify and honor God throughout eternity Which is in contrast to the unbelievers treasure chest of wrath The resurrected body of the lost will not be a glorious incorruptible body It will be a body that continues to bear the marks of sin throughout eternity The present body that lives a life of sin will show the marks of sin, sin marks the body The resurrected corruptible body will be the evidence of the wrath of God upon sin The resurrected body of the lost will show the results of a sinful life throughout eternity Christians have the assurance of “eternal life” “Eternal life” is not the result of man’s good deeds during his life upon earth Paul is not referring to the receiving of eternal life, but to the reward of “eternal life” Paul is referring to the evidence of eternal life, things which pertain to “eternal life” Paul describes the kind of life that “eternal life” is, the fullness of life that Jesus promised, Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. It is the blessed life of God, Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: It is the life of Glory, the life that God is working in, and the life that can only come from God And it is the life that Christians must seek, Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Eternal life describes earthly living with a heavenly mind, which Christians are to live daily, Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Because you are spiritually alive, Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Eternal life will be rewarded with glory, Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Paul is telling us that the glory that will appear in us will be according to our deeds The future glory of the believer will be determined by the life that glorifies God today The present glory of the believer is the life revealing that God is in us and doing something The life that presents God as the one to be glorified and not one seeking self glory Peter explains Glory, 1Pe 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Page 5 of 6 Be faithful in your service, 1Pe 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Be a Christian example, 1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. Leadership is to be an example for others to follow, all Christians are to be examples for Christ And you will receive a crown of glory, 1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Jesus is coming again, and He will judge His people and reward their faithfulness, Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Throughout scripture we find the same truth repeated again and again The daily life that you live will be judged and rewarded according to your works Don’t lose rewards daily, gain rewards daily, 2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. True faithful believers will receive a reward, Paul is an example of “a full reward,” 2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: A full reward will be given to those who keep the faith and live daily for the return of Christ, 2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Salvation is by grace through faith and rewards are by grace through faithfulness Christians cannot lose their presence in Heaven, but they can lose Heavenly rewards 1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Page 6 of 6