The Pleas
Notes
Transcript
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
For there is no partiality with God.
INTRO:
INTRO:
AG: Chapter laid out the charges in this trial Paul is reporting. The charge: We are sinners! Now Paul points out the pleas.
TS: Paul describes God’s dealings with three kinds of people. Each is charged with high treason against God.
RS: As we study this text, we will see ourselves and all other people. All of us are left without excuse before God
I. The Moral Person and God (2:1–11)
I. The Moral Person and God (2:1–11)
A. The plea rendered (2:1a)
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
The moral person says, “I should be acquitted on grounds that I am not as bad as some pagans are.”
They judge others and point out their flaws.
They are seeking justification by virtue of being “better” than someone else.
IL: It is like a whole class failing a test, but walking around being proud you made the highest grade! You still failed!!
They practice the same things
They sin even though they know better!
They claim to be morally superior based on their ideas of greater and lesser sins.
This is made up nonsense!
They are hypocrites: judging people and condemning them for the same behaviors they practice themselves!
By having enough knowledge to judge others, they remove their own excuse for sinning.
They demonstrate they know better but sin anyway
B. The plea refuted (2:1b–11)
1. The reason for this (2:1b–4):
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
God says, “You do the same basic things, only in a more refined way!”
They may “look better” but the sin is the same.
IL: A robber with a gun who holds up a liquor store commits the same sin as a banker who embezzles customers money.
Thou shall NOT steal!
It doesn’t matter that one is more dramatic than the other!
2. The results of this (2:5–11)
a. To be the object of God’s terrible wrath (2:5–8)
But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
v. 5 describes a refusal to repent and accept God’s pardon of sin through Jesus Christ.
This refusal makes sinners the objects of God’s wrath
It doesn’t matter how “cleaned up” it looks
Sin makes us objects of God’s wrath
His wrath will be finally displayed on Judgement Day
Scripture makes it clear that repentance not works brings salvation. We can’t earn it and will never deserve it.
It also teaches that judgment comes directly because of our deeds!
judgment is all WE can earn!
His forgiveness gives us eternal Life!
b. To experience sorrow and suffering (2:9–11)
tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;
but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
For there is no partiality with God.
God punishes all the same way, He doesn’t show partiality
Nobody gets a light sentence due to favoritism
Nobody gets an extra hard sentence
All are equally condemned.
II. The Pagan Person and God (2:12–16)
II. The Pagan Person and God (2:12–16)
A. The plea rendered (2:12–13)
For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
The pagan person says, “I should be acquitted on the grounds of ignorance!”
IL: Have you ever heard the phrase, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse?”
God uses that philosophy too!
Really, there is no such thing as those not knowing
Romans 1 pointed out how common sins are. They are a universal problem and go against nature itself.
B. The plea refuted (2:14–16)
for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
God says, “You have the twin witnesses of conscience and nature (see also 1:19–20). Therefore, you will be judged by these and not by the written law.”
Yet they too will sin and violate their conscience and go against nature.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
Without knowing the written law of God, people in pagan society generally value and attempt to practice its most basic tenets. This is normal for cultures instinctively to value justice, honesty, compassion, and goodness toward others, reflecting the divine law written in the heart.
They are a law to themselves. Their practice of some good deeds and their aversion to some evil ones demonstrate an innate knowledge of God’s law—a knowledge that will actually witness against them on the day of judgment.
III. The Religious Person and God (2:17–29)
III. The Religious Person and God (2:17–29)
A. The plea rendered (2:17–20)
Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God,
and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,
and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.
The religious man says, “I should be acquitted on the grounds that I know the law of God and teach courses in religion!”
Paul is addressing Jewish people specifically
They thought, just like we may, “My religious activity should get me off the hook!”
B. The plea refuted (2:21–29)
God says, “You don’t practice what you preach!”
1. The marks of religious Jews (2:21–24)
You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?
You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?
For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
They had the law.... grew up being taught the Law, yet violated it
Because of their hypocrisy, they dishonor God’s holy name among the Gentiles.
They don’t practice what they preach!
2. The marks of redeemed Jews (2:25–29)
For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Their hearts are right with God.
They kept up outward signs, such as circumcision, yet it was only skin deep
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
As an act of obedience and a reminder of their covenant relationship to God. A Jew who continually transgressed God’s law had no more of a saving relationship to God than an uncircumcised Gentile. The outward symbol was nothing without the inner reality.
A gentiles humble obedience to the law should have served as a stern rebuke to the Jews ho lived in disobedience.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
We all stand condemned before God without a Savior
Thanks be the Lord who saves us!
Works Cited:
[1]H. L. Willmington, The Outline Bible(Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999), Ro 2.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
