God's Righteousness = Judgment
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week, we ended with the last part of Romans 1.
Paul tells us that the problem with mankind is that we’ve traded the knowledge of God for a pack of lies. And that causes humanity to be filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity.
Paul then gives us a long grocery list of the sins that people commit. These sins are committed despite the fact that the results of living a depraved life makes people deserve death.
But it gets worse. Not only do people stop caring about death (both physical and spiritual), but the take things even farther—they end up approving and encouraging others to live a depraved life.
The list of sins is enough to make any respectable Jew cringe. Any respectable Jew would be repulsed at these behaviors, while feeling superior to those vile Gentiles.
Today, I talk to many Christians—good church going people—who get really upset with all of the sinfulness that is going on in our world today, and become like the self-righteous people of Paul’s day. After all, most of us certainly don’t practice the “horrible” sins mention in verse 29-31. And we also don’t encourage others to do such things!
So here’s the problem. It is easy for us to take things too far. It’s easy for us to believe that we are better than the world around us because we don’t do such vile things!
Paul’s Warning to the Self-righteous
Paul’s Warning to the Self-righteous
When we come to verse 1 of chapter 2 we see, that like the rest of the world, those who are “self-righteous” also have a problem.
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
When the self-righteous pass judgment on the “sinners” around them they are really judging themselves.
Thus, they end up condemning themselves when people judge others.
Their condemnation comes because they do the same things. In other words no one is innocent! Later in chapter 3 Paul is going to say, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)
Now, lets continue understanding the problem.
Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.
When God judges His judgment is based on truth:
—The truth of our sin.
—The truth of our actions.
—The truth of our hearts.
But what happens when people judge others? Look at verse 3.
So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?
The problem with anyone judging others is that the one who judges is often guilty of doing the same type of things.
The question that Paul asks us, “Do you think you will escape God’s judgement?” The obvious answer to his rhetorical question is “No.”
Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
When people—especially self-righteous people—judge others Paul says that we are showing contempt for the riches of God’s actions towards mankind. Like:
—His kindness
—His forbearance —tolerance
—His patience
We end up forgetting that God’s kindness to mankind is meant to move us to repentance.
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
Paul says that stubbornness and unrepentance causes people to store up God’s wrath.
Paul tells us that there is coming a day when God’s judgment—His wrath—will be revealed.
God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”
Now, here’s the key God keeps the record books! And Paul says that God will repay each person according to what they have done!
Stop for a minute and think about this statement. God repays EACH person according to what they have done! So how do you think you measure up?
Paul has been contrasting two types of people.
—There are those who buy into the world’s way. This leads them into a life that is filled with self-indulging sin.
—Then there are those who seek to serve the Lord.
Now he is going to lay out the rewards for the two different types of people. Keep in mind this is a contrasts of two types of people and a not a definitive statement on salvation.
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
Those who by persistence in doing good, actually seek three things: glory, honor, and immortality.
God rewards them with eternal life.
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
But to those who are self-seeking, who reject the truth and follow evil.
There will be the wrath and anger of God.
Finally it doesn’t matter whether you are a Jew or a Gentile.
There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;
Anyone who pursues evil—worthless, corrupt, depraved, bad, foul—will reap:
—Trouble—affliction, suffering, hardship.
—Distress—anxiety, calamity, anguish.
God makes NO distinction between the Jew and the Gentile.
but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Those who do good—right—reap:
—Glory
—Honor
—Peace
Again God makes NO distinction between the Jew and the Gentile.
For God does not show favoritism.
God does NOT show any favoritism. He treats all people the same.
Paul’s argument is that our habitual conduct—good or bad—reveals the condition of our heart.
Paul is not saying that “good works” leads to salvation. That would contradict the rest of Scripture which clearly says that salvation is by God’s grace.
But how a person lives reveals the person’s heart. Those who live by doing good works demonstrate that God is at work in them, while those who live evil lives show that they are not listening to or living for God.
So what about the role of the law?
The Role of the Law
The Role of the Law
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
Paul says it really doesn’t matter whether or not you have the law or not.
Without the law of God people who sin (and everyone has sinned) perish apart from the law.
People who have the law will end up judged by the law.
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
This is our memory verse for this week!
Paul tells us that hearing the law does not make someone righteous in God’s sight.
But we are declared righteous by obeying the law!
Paul is not going to show us why just knowing the law, or hearing the law isn’t enough. Look at verse 14.
(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.
Gentiles who don’t know God’s law naturally do the things required by the law.
They actually become a law to themselves—even though they don’t have the law.
They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.)
They show that God’s law is written on people’s hearts.
—Sometimes their conscience can bear witness to them.
—And at times their conscience accuses them.
—And at other times it defends them.
So Paul has shown us how it really doesn’t matter whether the person is a Jew or a Gentile.
God is the ultimate Judge. He will judge the good person and the evil person by the same standard. And God will judge the Jew and the Gentile by the same standard.
So when will this take place? That is the question, and Paul answers it in verse 16.
This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
A day is coming when God will judge people’s secrets.
People will be judged through Jesus Christ.
As Paul’s gospel declares—Paul calls it “his gospel” because there were other gospels out there that were false gospels.
So What?
So What?
While this is a difficult passage to understand; it’s a great passage that reminds us of four things:
First, Paul tells us that there are two kinds of people:
—Those who seek evil.
—Those who seek good.
It all boils down to a heart issue. That means that each of us must examine ourselves and see what we are seeking: evil or good.
Secondly, no one should think that self-righteousness will allow them to escape God’s judgment.
God’s judgment is sure!
And God’s judgment is real!
He will judge ever person. The non-believer is judged based on God’s perfect standard.
While the believe is judged on their actions as seen through the shed blood of Jesus Christ—so they have been “Forgive!” “Redeemed!”
Thirdly, we shouldn’t judge because we do the same things that we judge others for doing.
Those non-believers shouldn’t judge others because they are involved in doing the same thinks.
Believers avoid judging others because we understand how much we have forgiven.
And finally, God’s kindness to mankind—His kindness to you and to me—is meant to lead us to repentance—or a change of direction!
God’s ultimate desire is for every person to change the direction of their life. He desires that they change from a disobedient, sinful life to a life of obedient surrendered to living, loving, and serving Him.
What about you? Are you living a godly life, or are you still serving sin?
Remember God’s kindness is meant to lead you and me to change the direction of our lives through repentance that leads to obedience.
[PRAYER]