Romans 2

Good morning Journey, how are we doing this Sunday morning? I pray this week was once where you wrestled with God in your Spirit about the challenge I talked about last week. When it comes to people far from God, Where do you put conditions on the gospel? Today I want to start by doing something I don’t think I’ve ever done before, I want each one of us to pause for 30 seconds. And I want you to pray this prayer to yourself, “Father God, Open my eyes to see, and my ears to hear the word you have for me today, and the strength and faith to do it.” I’m going to give you 30 seconds to pray for that and anything else that’s on your heart. - Prayer-

Go ahead and open your bibles to Romans 2. This is the place we are going to get to today that I hope is made clear by our discussion on this chapter. Only the Justified Escape God's Judgment. If you remember last week we left off on a pretty bleak picture that the Apostle Paul is painting about the depth of depravity that is inside the human heart that’s given over to its own desires. Those desires lead to evil and wicked actions across the world. In Romans 1:18-32 the Paul is speaking about one specific group of people that we would call, “The Immoralist” this group of people have not standard to live by besides their own, no regard for God, they do what they want, when they want, and they try to lead other people down that path also. If you remember this is what Paul says about such immoral people. Romans 1:29-32 says this, “29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 They are senseless, faithless, heartless and ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. “

When Paul is writing this letter the Audience wouldn’t be made up of immoral people, instead the audience would be made of two different types of people. The first would be the self-identified, “Good Moral Person” Someone who has some sort of standard and way of living that would make them seem like they are at the very least, superior to the immoral person. They would say, “At least I don't (fill in the blank) so I am superior, I am better, I am in the eyes of God good. Then the second group would be Jewish descendants and that would be the “Religious” group. They hold themselves to a completely different standard than the Immoral and Moral person because at least they follow what God says. However, how many of you know that people can follow what God says, and not follow God? They do what God wants not to please God but to try to get into the good graces with God and say something along the lines of “See what I am doing for you God…” So as the good Moral Person and the Religious person are hearing the words of Paul they would look down on, and agree with what is being said. They have received in themselves the penalty, they are godless and probably think the judgment that is coming to them is well deserved.

Now before we get to verse 1 we have to remember that when these words were written, Paul never would have thought his writings would be split into chapters and verses. That was developed in 1227 by the Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton, so that we can find where we are, helps us memorize and know the Bible better. However, when Paul wrote this his original intent wasn’t a stop and start, it was a read all the way through. So at the end of describing this immoral person that everyone would say deserves the judgment, deserves the wrath of God, Paul says this “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. (Romans 2:1) Paul comes down with a hammer to shatter someone’s preconceived idea that they are superior to the immoral by stating they do exactly the same thing. Notice how the moralist and the religious are not condemned for judging, but they are condemned for being guilty of sin.

Remember how this entire discussion kicked off in Romans 1:18 it says, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness” This is the jumping off point where Paul begins to discuss the three types of people that are all guilty, Immoral, Moral and Religious. What are they guilty of? Being in sin, not living up to Gods standard. All of us can find ourselves in that list of three, we know we are immoral, or we know you might live by some standard that makes you think you are superior to someone else, or you are religious and have grown up in the church and that makes you think you are right with God. But all of us fall short to God's standard, when we point out other people’s sin in their life, all we are doing is condemning ourselves for We may not sin the same, but we sin differently.

Verses 2-3 say this, 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 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? Let’s break this down, ill ask you a few questions, 1) If you live an immoral life style do you break Gods standard? (Yes) 2) If you live morally do you break God's standard? (Yes) 3) If you live religiously do you break Gods standard (Yes) Truth is, if you live, you break God standard because we all go against the truth of God. But you might say, “At least I don’t sin like them, at least my intentions to live a better life, a moral life, my intentions to love people better, you see God look how I intend to live, at least I try to live differently than them. Here is a truth we can all understand, “We Judge People based on their actions, but want people to judge us based on our intentions”

In fact Jesus comments on this very idea and we still mess it up all the time, listen to what he says in Luke 18:9-14 “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Moralists and religious people look down and think that they are not under the same judgment.

You can begin to think that if you live morally or even go through the religious routine we can store up for ourselves brownie points in heaven. But God says, you still fall short. You will not escape God's judgment. Those who are repentant and believe in the Gospel are the only ones who can be saved. Verse 4 here is incredibly important, It says, “4 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?” It is the kindness of God that leads sinners to repentance. God blessing you, God being kind to you because of the life you live shouldn’t lead you to think you are better, it should lead you to repentance and thankfulness. In fact, this kindness isnt just for those who follow the Lord, it is for anyone and everyone regardless of the life they have lived, the choices they have made, or sins they have committed. Let me give you an example. Two well known people. Ted Bundy and Jeffery Dohmer.

Both men are two of the worst Serial Killers in American History. Towards the end of his life on death row Ted Bundy allowed a Christian Dr. James Dobson to interview him. Over the course of several hours Dr. James Dobson would say that Ted Bundy had a sincere, repentatvie, transformative moment where he gave his life to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Jeffery Dohmer likewise had a similar interaction with Jesus as Roy Ratcliff lead him to the Lord, and for the last 6 months of Jefferies life he had a Bible study every week, was baptized truly was changed. In fact, this is what Roy said about Jeffery, Jeff confessed to me his great remorse for his crimes. He wished he could do something for the families of his victims to make it right, but there was nothing he could do. He turned to God because there was no one else to turn to, but he showed great courage in his daring to ask the question, ‘Is heaven for me too?’ I think many people are resentful of him for asking that question. But he dared to ask, and he dared to believe the answer. People, moralists, religious and even Christian’s upon hearing this news were infuriated, angry and believed it was a cop out for the things they have done. “Of course they found God” and it wasn’t so much about them finding God forgiving them. As a Christian we celebrate if indeed these men did believe in the Gospel. This is what we want to see, anyone and everyone coming to faith in Jesus. It is God's kindness that leads sinners to repentance. You might sin differently than others but you must be thankful that Gods kindness is for you also.

5 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. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” God holds everyone accountable to his standard. Our good deeds, they are filthy rags compared to what God expects. Ladies has your husband ever done the dishes without you asking? He’s all proud of himself and you look in the dishwasher and it’s a nightmare, stuff is still on the dishes, not organized the way you would have had it and you have to hide behind a fake smile knowing you’ll have to fix it later? Imagine that but God seeing what you think is good compared to what he expects. And according to what you have done, you will be judged for it. Either judged in your sin, or justified in Jesus Christ.

Then Paul goes directly to the religious in the next several verses, “There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 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. 13 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. 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. 15 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.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

A couple of weeks ago as we ended our Rooted series I talked about the fact that following Jesus isn’t in the saying, it isn't saying people you follow Jesus, and it isn't in the hearing, you can’t say you are a Jesus follower if you come to church or group and hear God's word, but rather following Jesus is in the doing. It’s actually putting into practice and living by the standard that God has set fourth in his word. Paul says the same thing in verse 13. It’s it amazing how consistent scripture is? He says, it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. The moral live by their own standard, and as we will see in a moment the religious only follow what they want to when it comes to God and his Law.

Verse 11 is a big one, God does not show favoritism when it comes to his standards as we have discussed. Just because you are a Jew or Gentile we are all held to the same standard? But how can this be? The Jews have a clearer picture of what Gods law, they have the outline but the gentiles don't? As we read last week and as Paul is making clear here also, Gods law is written on our heart and our mind. We have a conscience given to us by God that has his law written upon it. That’s why from a young age we know inside of ourselves what we are doing is wrong. Where does that come from? God. So even if we don't have the written law to follow, God has given us a conscience. How many of you have ignored that voice in your head and did what you know you ought not to do? Exactly, all of us, and we are all guilty because verse 16, God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ. So even the things you hide, God sees, and even if it is hidden you are still accountable to it.

In verse 17 Paul now shift his focus from the moral and the religious and he specifically want to talk to the religious Jew or person. Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; This would be the proud church goer, well I go to church, I serve, I give, I lead a group, I have my bible right here, I boast in God. This is the person that relies on and thinks that their church activity is earning them good grace in God's eye. This is the person that outwardly shows how good they are, but there is no inward conviction or change. How do we know this? Look at the rest of what Paul says, 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?

Christians, or the religious, have this annoying thing maybe you’ve noticed. They condemn others loudly while doing the same thing privately. Pastors get on stage and condmen immoral sexual acts but have affairs, people say the world is all about money and greed and they rob God by not brining the tithe. We condemn pornography yet statistically 70% of people in the room view it monthly. We hate pride yet can stand in our pride and think we are better than others. Christians can be the most hypocritical individuals. We think we are better, Gods salvations shouldn’t make us boast, it should make us understand how sinful we are, and how great he is. Because of this attitude, Paul says an extremely sobering statement. Listen Christian, this could be you, this could be me when Paul says, As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. Do people hate, deny or reject God because of the way you represent him?

There may be people in our lives that have no desire to know Jesus because of the way you treat them in his name. We are judged by God based on our actions and God is seen by people based on your actions. The clearest image some people might see of Jesus to help them come to faith may be the life you live. This is what the Early Church would say, “Do you want to know the Gospel is true? Look at our lives and see if the Gospel is true.” How you live your life should be a true reflection of being justified by Jesus for your sin, we all deserve judgment, but only those who are justified escape it. Being saved doesn’t make you better than others. Rather it makes us frighteningly aware that we do not live up to God’s standard, but we are forgiven for our sin by the atoning work of Jesus on the cross.

My hope today is that you would realize that we cannot stand in arrogance, we cannot stand in pride thinking we are better than the immoral, when in fact we are all equal at the foot of the cross. So here are my questions and take away for you to wrestle with: 1: “Who do you think you are better than? 2: In what areas do you need to humble yourself so others can see Jesus through your life?