Morality’s Death Sentence

Romans 2:1-11

Intro:

Paul is speaking to the Jews

Why-

Always denied their disobedience to God (The OT Prophets were persecuted for the indicting Israel for her Sins- Jesus)

He begins his inditement against them He begins with there notion of Morality

Big Idea: Paul is giving a lesson to the Jews who know right and wrong and place judgement on the heathen sinner and find righteousness in their morality- God’s judgement on morality

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Quote

What is moral is what you feel good after and what is immoral is what you feel bad after. - Ernest Hemingway

Three Characteristics of finding righteousness in ones Morality

Morality’s blind arrogance (VS 1-3)

Passes Judgement- κρίνω (krinō) (cree-no)— to evaluate — to form a critical opinion of something (either positive or negative) by examination or scrutiny.

You Condemn- κατακρίνω (katakrinō)- (caught- ta-cree-no) 1. to condemn (declare guilty) — to pronounce guilt and a punitive sentence on someone in a legal context

By the very view of the Gentiles they Jew’s have condemned themselves-

School yard concept- when you point fingers you have three pointing back at you

This is what our Morality does it brings condemnation on the very notion that we are somehow deserving of Salvation and others are not-

The Jews had a greater responsibility- they are God’s chosen people- what a great love- yet they have found such a blessing to be lorded over gentiles-

This should be our caution as well- I am aware that this same tendency resides in all of us- especially when you are given a position at church or in ministry- we begin to find that the place of humility has now become a place to show our greatness by what we have done- shame on us- what ever blessing God brings in our live is supposed to draw others to the live saving Gospel-

Let me also caution you church goer be careful in your praise and adoration- We have the very word of God- be careful who you praise or look up to.

Why? because of what is stated next… (VS 2)

We know- οἶδα (oida)- (i-dough) to know (cognitive) — to be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about.

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.”

Matthew 5:28 “but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

We all practice such things- if you have heard different, let me level the playing field- we are all guilty-

Rightly- ἀλήθεια -ας, ἡ; (alētheia)- ( a-le-theya) 1. truth (quality) — conformity to reality or actuality; often with the implication of dependability

God’s judgement is based on the whole truth

John 8:31–32 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.””

Morality’s blind arrogance is confronted by Paul

Will escape- ἐκφεύγω (ekpheugō) (ek-fugo) to escape — to successfully run away from or avoid confinement or danger

God’s judgement is inescapable unless we repent

Acts 17:30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,”

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

Morality blind arrogance is the very good that one finds in himself is therefore what brings their condemnation- Unfortunately blind arrogance is not the only Characteristic

2. Morality’s unrepentant pride (VS 4-6)

do you think lightly of- καταφρονέω (kataphroneō)- (caught-ta- phra-neo) 1. to despise — to look down on with contempt

God’s Judgement is delayed as it is evidence to who He is

“People often mistake God’s forbearance and longsuffering for tolerance or indifference. Because God is patient, they think He doesn't care about their sin. But the purpose of His goodness is to turn us around.”- Chuck Smith

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

God provided for Israel- Wonderful Land- righteous law- a temple, a priesthood and His most precious provision Jesus his son

Repentance- μετάνοια (metanoia) (met-tan-no-ya) a change of self (heart and mind) that abandons former dispositions and results in a new self, new behavior, and regret over former behavior and dispositions.

You are storing up- θησαυρίζω (thēsaurizō) (the-sa-ritzo)— to store (lay up)† — to keep or lay aside for future use.

God’s judgement is finalized on the storing up ones guilt (Righteous no partiality)

Revelation 20:11–15 “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

God’s judgement according to ones deeds for those who have found their righteousness in their morality

Israel-

Luke 12:47–48 “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”

Condemning sin

John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Judged by His conduct not on his good deeds, racial or national origin, it is all about a personal decision

How do we reconsile that we are not saved by our works- This passage is for the unbeliever

Good works do not happen until we are made new through Christ

John 6:28–29 “Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.””

Good works are a result of Salvation

Ephesians 2:8–10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

There is truly a wrestling with one who lives a Godly life. I want to pause and encourage you what we must learn from Romans is that it is God doing the work in us- not us trying to do Good works. Our responsibility is obedience-

Counseling- Kerry Rose

Because of Morality’s arrogance and pride we come to its final Characteristic

3. Morality’s evil deeds (VS 7-9)

vs 7- A contrast: A converted life patiently continually seeks glory of heaven that can only come from God- Humble submission

Perserverance- (hypomonē) (hupam- aneigh)—steadfast endurance — the power to withstand hardship or stress; especially the inward fortitude necessary

John 5:44 “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?”

1 Peter 1:4 “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”

John 5:24 ““Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

Mark 10:30 “but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”

vs 8- A moralist has chosen to obey unrighteousness as their lord, characterized by strife, wrangling, and disobedience -deeds of the un converted person , outward expression toward God

Unrighteousness- ἀδικία (adikia) (ada-kia)—1. unrighteousness — failure to adhere to moral principles, commands, or laws.

2 Peter 2:8–10 “(for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,”

Indignation- θυμός -οῦ, ὁ; (thymos) (thumas) —punishment fury — the punitive outworking of God’s righteous indignation at sin; perhaps describing an anger quickly kindled.

Application

1. Evidence of a converted life

Vs10-

What is good- ἀγαθός ; (agathos)- a-ga-thas) good (moral concept) — moral excellence or admirableness

2. God’s response to finding salvation in morality-

VS 11-

Partiality- προσωπολημψία -ας, ἡ; (prosōpolēmpsia) (pros-so-pom-les-sia)—partiality† — an inclination to favor one group or view or opinion over alternatives; especially considered as an injustice.

There is not partiality- come as you are repent- God does the work in your life- Good works come from Him- Righteous living- only possible through the work of Christ on the cross.

What do with what we have heard- I would challenge you and I ask God to search us- make it known to us where we have found some level of morality by our works-

For those who do not know Christ- and you have found a place where you find yourself making a distinction that you don’t need God- its good for them, today make Christ your God- morality has a death sentence your work will come before a Holy God