It’s All about Who You Know

Introduction

Have you ever hear the phrase “It’s all about who you know?” The phrase is meant to imply that if you just know the right people, if you have the right connections and come from the right families, you can get an advantage in life. Unfortunately this is often the case in our world.

Even in the world of Christianity, this seems to be true. People who are from the right families have an automatic privilege to come to the front of the line. But who you know can only take you so far.

Now our imaginary opponent might be saying “Ok so God won’t be lenient with me because of all the good I’ve done, maybe he’ll be lenient with me because I am a Jew.” I am from the right family and from the right nation. Surely, that must give me some advantages when it comes to being judged.

This is exactly how the Jews thought at the time. John MacArthur quotes from the Dialogue with Trypho in which

Romans: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Chapter 10: Principles of God’s Judgment—Part 1

In his Dialogue with Trypho, the second-century Christian Justin Martyr reports his Jewish opponent as saying, “They who are the seed of Abraham according to the flesh shall in any case, even if they be sinners and unbelieving and disobedient towards God, share in the eternal kingdom.”

Paul deals with this second objection to God’s judgment in our text this morning.

The Basis of our Judgment

Romans 2:6 “Who will render to every man according to his deeds:”

When we covered the judgment of God, it may have been new to you as an evangelical Christian to hear that we will be judged by our works. Isn’t salvation by faith alone? Yes it is, but our judgment is according to our works.

This is actually a consistent teaching in scripture. Notice that Jesus taught this:

Matthew 16:27 “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.”

John 5:29 “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

Paul taught it about false teachers:

2 Corinthians 11:15 “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Even Christians will be judged based on their works:

2 Corinthians 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.”

Paul brings this point up because if we are judged by our works then the scale is fair. In reality, we all want to be judged fairly based on our achievement.

This is the rational behind people’s reactions to affirmative action and white privilege. At some level, they feel like the other group has some privilege that is not based on achievement. I’m not going to weigh in on the politics of either of these positions, but they both highlight how we all want to be treated fairly and the only way to do that is by recognizing only achievement.

The Results of our Judgment

Romans 2:7–10 “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:”

When you stand before the judgment of God, there will only be two groups there: those who did good and those who did evil. Those who are saved and those who are damned. The goats and the sheep. And so there can only be two results of this judgment: eternal life or damnation.

Eternal Life

Vs 7,10 Chiasm (like a pyramid)

6,11

7,10

8,9

These verses seem to be controversial and contradictory. If I were to word this a little bit more up to date and cutting out the modifying phrases this is what the verse would say: to those who persist in doing good, he will give eternal life. If you are paying attention that should strike you as odd. It sounds as if this verse is saying that if you continue to do good you will earn eternal life.

But that doesn’t match up with what Paul said in chapter 1. Romans 1:17 “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” or what he will teach in the rest of the book; so what is going on here? What is Paul saying?

There are two feasible interpretations of this verse:

hypothetical- There is a strand of teaching in Paul’s writing that does affirm that a person would receive eternal life if they could keep the law completely. Romans 2:13 “(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” Romans 7:10 “And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.” This does not contradict with Paul’s teaching because as Romans 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” because Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” So the argument is that Paul here is speaking of a theoretical condition for receiving eternal life: one that actually is impossible.

fruits of salvation- the second plausible view and the one I hold is that works are the evidence of saving faith. Here Paul is consistent with James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Matthew 3:8 “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:” Matthew 7:17–20 “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

So those who inherit eternal life are those who manifest saving faith by a persistent lifestyle of doing good.

Tribulation and Distress

The other group do not inherit eternal life, rather they receive tribulation and distress. Vs 8-9 chaism and say the same thing.

1. tribulation- objective suffering 2 Thessalonians 1:6 “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;”

2. distress- subjective feeling of suffering

Matthew 8:12 “But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

So how do I know if I am part of group A or group B? That is a good question. Paul seems to be arguing that their will be birthmarks of a true believer. The book of 1 John gives us plenty, but here we are given some other birthmarks or fruits of saving faith.

Evidence of Saving Faith

persistence in doing good- When a person gets saved, there is a change. God makes us a new creature and that change of heart will lead to a change of action. Is there a desire in your heart to do good? Are you trying to do the right thing; are you choosing to do the right thing?

seeking glory, honor, immortality- What does it mean to seek these things? All these things can only be found in God; so I believe to seek them is to seek God. Are you seeking after a personal relationship with God? If you can’t even remember the last time you read your bible and prayed and it doesn’t even bother you, you should seriously ask whether you are saved or not. Does your heart crave knowing God?

Evidence of a lack of Saving Faith

Self-seeking- the Greek word for contentious means selfish ambition. Are you consumed with pursuing only what you want? Is your life entirely given over to selfishness?

rejecting the truth- When God’s word is preached, do you sit there wishing the service would be over? If someone confronts you with scripture, do you reject it? When someone shows you a bible principle about some aspect of your life, are you seeking to come up with all the reasons you don’t agree with it.

following evil- Does your heart only ever desire to do the wrong things? Things that will only lead to judgment and God’s wrath.

In these couple verses we are given an evaluation of our hearts.

The Reason for our Judgment

The reason God’s judgment works this way is grounded in the character of God. God judges the way he judges because of who he is.

Romans 2:11 “For there is no respect of persons with God.”

Deuteronomy 10:17 “For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:”

Job 34:19 “How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they all are the work of his hands.”

Acts 10:34 “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:”

Galatians 2:6 “But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:”

This truth is mixed into the entire passage.

Vs 9- every soul of a person- gods impartiality

jew first and also to the gentiles- gods impartiality

In our fallen world, it is easy for parents to have a favorite child. Its usually the one who has similar interests to theirs or makes their life easier. Parents should not act this way and God never does. God does not show favorites.

It doesn’t matter who you are or who you know; God’s judgment will be fair because it will be based on how you lived. You might be a pastor, God will hold you to the same standard. You might be a deacon in your church, God will hold you to the same standard. You might be the leader of the youth group, the good kid; God will judge you based on the same standard because God does not have favorites.

Conclusion

Some struggle with assurance of salvation and I do not want to cause anyone who is saved to doubt their salvation this morning, but more than not, people who are not saved think they are saved. I think the message this morning is a call for us to evaluate our lives. Do we really show the evidences of salvation? If not why?

Heads bowed and eyes closed. This morning, I want to ask if you have heard this message and you have some serious questions about your salvation, would you raise your hand? In a moment, we are going to give you the opportunity to come forward and talk to a counselor. Lets us talk to you and make sure you truly are saved.