“But I’m A Good Person, I’m Not Like Them” Rom 2:1-11

Intro: Good morning FE, my name is Josue Aguilar, I am one of the elders here at FE and I would like to welcome you once again, for those watching online we are glad you are with us as well. We are continuing in our series in Romans and for the past couple of weeks we have learned of the person who rejects God, who wants nothing to do with God, this person like the prodigal son says, “I wish you were dead, give me what is mine and just leave me alone.” What this person doesn’t realize is that all that he is and all that he has, is not his but belongs to the Lord. What we have seen the past couple of weeks is that one of the ways the Lord reveals his wrath is he says ok, I will leave you alone and he turns them over to the lust of their heart, turns them over to dishonorable passions, and turns them over to a debased mind and Paul continues to say

Romans 1:28–32 (ESV)

They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

29 estando llenos de toda injusticia, maldad, avaricia y malicia; colmados de envidia, homicidios, pleitos, engaños y malignidad; son chismosos,30 detractores, aborrecedores de Dios, insolentes, soberbios, jactanciosos, inventores de lo malo, desobedientes a los padres, 31 sin entendimiento, indignos de confianza, sin amor, despiadados; 32 los cuales, aunque conocen el decreto de Dios que los que practican tales cosas son dignos de muerte, no solo las hacen, sino que también dan su aprobación a los que las practican.

When God turns someone over they follow their sinful hearts in all sorts of different directions. Instead of acknowledging their Creator and giving him glory and gratitude, they run as fast as they can in the opposite direction filled with all manner of unrighteousness. As Paul is explaining this to the church in Rome, there are most likely people listening to Paul’s explanation agreeing with him “Paul you are right, Rome is full of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness and malice… BUT i’m a good person, i’m glad I am not like them. Rome is full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and maliciousness… but I’m a good person, I am not like them. Rome is full of people who gossip, slander who hate God…but I’m a good person, I’m glad I am not like them. Rome is insolent, haughty, boastful, have you been to the coliseum, they are inventors of evil … but I’m a good person, I’m glad I am not like them. The children in Rome are disobedient to their parents, people are foolish, faithless heartless ruthless… but I’m a good person, I’m glad I am not like them. Josue, have you seen the news, politicians slandering one another, so many people confused by gender confusion, people flaunting their sin for the world to see, people trying to redefine what it is to be a man and woman… but I’m a good person… I am glad I am not like them. Our prisons are full of so many criminals drug dealers, thieves, murderers… but I’m a good person, Im glad I am not like them. People today are so selfish, looking out for their own interest, and they are prideful… but I’m a good person, I’m glad I am not like them…

Romans 2:1–2 (ESV)

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

Por lo cual no tienes excusa, oh hombre, quienquiera que seas tú que juzgas, pues al juzgar a otro, a ti mismo te condenas, porque tú que juzgas practicas las mismas cosas. 2 Y sabemos que el juicio de Dios justamente cae sobre los que practican tales cosas.

The Spirit of God through Paul, anticipates the argument of someone who is listening or reading the end of chapter 1. Which is I am a good person Paul, I am not like them, I am not like the people you were talking about in Romans 1, I do good in my community, I choose to do the right things, I have a good marriage, sure I don’t go to church very much and I am not sure about that Jesus guy, but I believe in God. Those people, they deserve God’s wrath, but me I am a good person, I am not like them… God wouldn’t punish me. Yet Paul says,

The Good Person has no excuse.

But why does Paul say this?

Paul’s argument is basically quoting Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount,

Matthew 7:1–2 (ESV)

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Por lo cual no tienes excusa, oh hombre, quienquiera que seas tú que juzgas, pues al juzgar a otro, a ti mismo te condenas, porque tú que juzgas practicas las mismas cosas. 2 Y sabemos que el juicio de Dios justamente cae sobre los que practican tales cosas.

Both Jesus and Paul are speaking of hypocritical judgement, stating the same judgement the “good person” uses to condemn others will be the same judgement used on them. Here is the reason why… “because you the judge practice the very same things.” You have no excuse because you, o good person, is just as guilty the very same things as the people in Romans 1.

What do you mean? I am a good person, I am not like them! But how many of you have been angry that you think, if I could I would… or how many have looked at someone and lusted after them in your heart… how many times have you dishonored or disrespected your parents… how many of you gossiped about another person… Here is what James says in James 2, I encourage you to go home this week and read the book of James, 5 chapters of wisdom and truth from God, James 2:10 says

James 2:10 (ESV)

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

Porque cualquiera que guarda toda la ley, pero tropieza en un punto, se ha hecho culpable de todos.

Paul’s argument is that the good person, knowing right and wrong, still does wrong and the judgment that he cast on the people from Romans 1, will be the same judgement God uses on the good person, because they think “I am a good person, I am not like them” and yet Paul says they practice the very same things and God’s righteous wrath will fall on them as well.

Paul asks the Good person a couple of questions, here is the first

Romans 2:3–5 (ESV)

Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

3 ¿Y piensas esto, oh hombre, tú que condenas a los que practican tales cosas y haces lo mismo, que escaparás al juicio de Dios?

Do you think you are going to get away with your crimes against Divinity? Do you think you can keep on living in sin and continue thinking “I am a good person, I am not like them” and escape the wrath of God? Paul continues with his second question,

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

4 ¿O tienes en poco las riquezas de su bondad, tolerancia y paciencia, ignorando que la bondad de Dios te guía al arrepentimiento?

What the good person needs to realize, is that the only reason God has not poured out his wrath on sinners, the reason God has not wiped out this world and brought his judgement on us is because of his goodness, his forbearance another word that can be used there is tolerance, and his patience. God is so good, patient and kind that he tolerates sin, he delays judgement… so that when our eyes see the beauty of God’s kindness towards us as sinners who are deserving of the wrath of God, when we see the beauty of God’s goodness in the cross when God poured his wrath on his Son to make a way for sinners like us to be saved from the wrath of God, when see God’s kindness in delaying judgement, it should lead us to repentance. It should lead us to call out to God for mercy and turn from our sin and run to the cross of Christ for refuge from God’s wrath.

What do you mean, “I am a good person, I am not like them” God wouldn’t do that to me, God is a God of love, grace and mercy. God wouldn’t judge me “I’m a good person, I’m not like them”…Unfortunately, because of pride many people who think they are Good People have

But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

5 Mas por causa de tu terquedad y de tu corazón no arrepentido, estás acumulando ira para ti en el día de la ira y de la revelación del justo juicio de Dios,

because of the hardness of heart the good person refuses to repentant, and what does Paul say “you are storing up wrath for yourself” Francis Schaffer called this the “invisible tape recorder” we may call it the “invisible digital recorder” this recorder is recording our life from birth to death, and for the person who dies without turning from their sin and trusting in Christ for salvation. This person will stand before the Lord, and God will play this “invisible digital recorder” of your life on the day of wrath, and your own words, your own actions, your very own sins that you have stored up, all the times you have rejected God’s kindness, every time you suppressed the truth will be played, and your own life decisions will be the very thing God uses to condemn you, because you have refused God’s kindness. God is full of love, kindness, grace and mercy, and God’s love, kindness, grace and mercy is there to lead us to repentance, to turn way from our sinful lives and turn to Jesus to save us from the wrath of God because their will come a day when God’s love, kindness, grace and mercy will come to end and all that will be left for those who have rejected God’s kindness is the day of wrath and

The Good Person will not escape the wrath of God.

Romans 2:6–11 (ESV)

He will render to each one according to his works:

6 el cual pagará a cada uno conforme a sus obras:

Wait a minute, what is this, I thought we were saved by faith alone, what is Paul talking about God judging us based on works?

That is a good observation… it would be hard for me to believe that Paul has for gotten that he said the rightousness of God is revealed from faith for faith… why is he talking about works?

Paul is quoting Psalms 62:12

Psalm 62:12 (ESV)

and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.

For you will render to a man

according to his work.

y tuya es, oh Señor, la misericordia, pues tú pagas al hombre conforme a sus obras.

Now when you read the context of Psalms 62, the Psalmist is describing two groups of people, here is what the Psalmist says about the first group of people

Psalm 62:4 (ESV)

They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.

They take pleasure in falsehood.

They bless with their mouths,

but inwardly they curse. Selah

Solamente consultan para derribarlo de su eminencia; en la falsedad se deleitan; bendicen con la boca, pero por dentro maldicen. (Selah)

The first group of people here in Psalms 62 are people who are plotting against God’s chosen king, people who take pleasure in lying people who say one thing with their lips but their hearts say something totally different. Paul is making the connection that the Good Person, who thinks that he is good enough to escape God’s judgement, is in rebellion against God’s chosen king who is Jesus, is believing a lie, because only God alone is good, and is living a lie, because he says one thing with his mouth “im a good person, Im not like them” but his heart reveals the truth.

This is what the Psalmist says about the second group of people,

Psalm 62:5–8 (ESV)

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

for my hope is from him.

He only is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my salvation and my glory;

my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah

Alma mía, espera en silencio solamente en Dios, pues de Él viene mi esperanza. 6 Solo Él es mi roca y mi salvación, mi refugio, nunca seré sacudido. 7 En Dios descansan mi salvación y mi gloria; la roca de mi fortaleza, mi refugio, está en Dios. 8 Confiad en Él en todo tiempo, oh pueblo; derramad vuestro corazón delante de Él; Dios es nuestro refugio. (Selah)

This second group of people find their hope in God, their salvation in God, God is their glory, God is their refuge, God is the one they trust in and run to. What has the second group “done”? They found that the Lord is their only hope in life and death and they have made God the center of their life. Here is what Paul is saying in Romans 2 by quoting Psalms 62, our works matter, but not as a basis for salvation, we don’t earn our salvation by what we do, but our works are the evidence we are saved. Tim Keller puts it this way

Romans 1–7 for You The Evidence, Not the Basis

the apples on an apple tree prove life, but they don’t provide it. The apples are the evidence that the apple tree is alive, but the roots are what pull in the nourishment to keep it that way. In the same way, faith in Christ alone provides new life (he gives his righteousness, the righteousness of God, to anyone who believes); but a changed life of righteousness is what proves we have real faith

Now lets jump back to Romans 2, in light of what we learned in Psalms 62,

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

6 el cual pagará a cada uno conforme a sus obras:7 a los que por la perseverancia en hacer el bien buscan gloria, honor e inmortalidad: vida eterna; 8 pero a los que son ambiciosos y no obedecen a la verdad, sino que obedecen a la injusticia: ira e indignación. 9 Habrá tribulación y angustia para[c] toda alma humana que hace lo malo, el judío primeramente y también el griego; 10 pero gloria y honor y paz para todo el que hace lo bueno, al judío primeramente, y también al griego. 11 Porque en Dios no hay acepción de personas.

Paul has the same 2 groups people in mind here in Romans 2,

There is one group who

is doing good in all circumstances

this group seeks glory, honour, immortality- they are in pursuit of God and in pursuit of good

They are not self-seeking because God and his glory is what centers their life, they are in pursuit to honor God by obeying his word and living a godly and quiet life.

There is another group of people, the so called good person who is

self seeking - self not God is the center of his life

disobedient to the truth - these people suppress the truth just like the people described in Romans 1.

in pursuit unrighteousness - just like the people of Romans 1.

For the first group of people there will be

eternal life

glory, honor and Peace - because they found their hope and refuge in the cross of Christ, which have turned enemies of God into friends of God

but the second group of people for the Good Person who dies without trusting in Christ

There will be wrath and fury

There will be tribulation and distress

There is no partiality in God’s judgement, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or Gentile, if you have been in church your whole life or you have been living recklessly, if you do not turn from you sin and run to Jesus who is our only hope in life and death, you will face the wrath and fury of God’s judgement on the day of wrath. So my question for you this morning is

What or who are you seeking by your actions?

There was young man in the Bible who stumbled across Jesus teaching one day. This young man was a “good person” and was intrigued by Jesus’ words, there are many people intrigued by Jesus’ words, they will even quote Jesus’ words, the question is what will you do with the words that offer eternal life? This young man runs up to Jesus and says

Mark 10:17–22 (ESV)

“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Maestro bueno, ¿qué haré para heredar la vida eterna? 18 Y Jesús le dijo: ¿Por qué me llamas bueno? Nadie es bueno, sino solo uno, Dios.

Jesus is already making statements to cause him to think, Jesus is trying to get this young man to see reality and reality is, the only person who is good is God and by calling me, Jesus good are you really saying I am God? DO you realize that you are not good, because there is only one who is good. Jesus continues…

You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”

Tú sabes los mandamientos: «No mates, no cometas adulterio, no hurtes, no des falso testimonio, no defraudes, honra a tu padre y a tu madre». 20 Y él le dijo: Maestro, todo esto lo he guardado desde mi juventud.

This is the mentality of good person, they think they are good enough to earn eternal life, they are good enough that God owes them favor. This young man says I have obeyed all these commands from my youth… now I am a parent, many you are parents, what do you think about his statement parents? Thats what I thought… Jesus continues…

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him,

21 Jesús, mirándolo, lo amó y le dijo:

Some of the most beautiful words ever written, Jesus looking at him, loved him. If you are here today and you are the person who says I am a good person, I am not like them… if this message is describing your life, Jesus is looking at you with love, he is calling you to follow him… Jesus tells this young man

“You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

21 Jesús, mirándolo, lo amó y le dijo: Una cosa te falta: ve y vende cuanto tienes y da a los pobres, y tendrás tesoro en el cielo; y ven, sígueme.

Jesus, with this statement was revealing his idolatry, he was revealing his sin, he loved his stuff, he loved his possessions more than Jesus. When faced with the decision of who or what he was seeking, what he loved more his wealth or Jesus, his actions revealed his heart…

Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

22 Pero él, afligido por estas palabras, se fue triste, porque era dueño de muchos bienes.

What are who are you seeking by your actions? Is Paul describing you in this passage? If so its not to late, don’t walk through those doors and leave disheartened, turn away from your sin and run to Jesus, for he is looking down with love from heaven up above and he is saying come and follow me.