Romans 2:1-11 “God’s Righteous Judgment Revealed”

Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City!

Beginning in November, we are launching Mid-Week Service.

This will be on Wed nights 7pm… here at LCA… beginning November 6th.

The 1st & 3rd Wednesdays will be a traditional Calvary Chapel mid-week service teaching through the Old Testament… from Genesis to Malachi.

The 2nd & 4th Wednesdays will start with a Calvary Chapel Distinctives 2.0 class… and whether you have read or sat through all or part of a distinctives class before… you should attend for some fresh perspectives on the movement.

John Butcher and I will co-lead the class… it will be interactive… and we hope to see you there.

Today though… let’s continue in our study of Romans. Please turn in your Bibles to Romans 2. Romans 2:1-11 today.

We find ourselves in somewhat of a court room scene where Paul is bring the entire world that does not believe in Jesus Christ under trial.

Paul lays out the case that all are guilty of sin before God… and that God is righteous for judging sin… and for his punishment of wrath on sin.

Paul is building the case in the first three chapters of Romans against all unbelieving mankind… leading up to the solution for the problem of sin… salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Last time we looked Romans 1:18-32… a powerful passage… one I anticipated preaching for several years now…

… because it clearly paints the picture of the progression… rather digression of a person or a society that rejects God.

And, Paul calls to the stand the witness of nature and how creation clearly testifies of God… therefore mankind is without excuse.

And, in chapter 1… we saw that the people represented in that first sample of mankind… were people… who in their rejection of the witness of creation…

Became futile in their thoughts… their hearts were darkened… and they worshipped idols.

In other words, their thinking became worthless, their hearts became morally insensitive, and their worship devolved into religious stupidity.

Thus, God ‘gave them over’ or abandoned them to their desires.

And, when this happens… especially in a culture… as we read in vv 24-32 of Chapter 1…

There is a negative progression where a culture embraces heterosexual sin, then homosexual sin… and finally all kinds of moral chaos burst forth into that culture as their minds become utterly debased.

And, if you parallel Rom 1 to the more recent history of the United States…

In the 1960’s and 1970’s the USA experienced a “Sexual Revolution” promoting liberal attitudes towards heterosexual sin, abortion, pornography, public nudity, and so forth.

AND, then from 1969 into the 1980’s a “Gay Liberation Movement” promoted lesbian and gay public acceptance.

And, both were widely successful in our general culture.

But, of course man pushed the limits… and now all kinds of debased thinking is erupting.

There is even a rift between homosexuals and transgenders because homosexuals have received mainstream acceptance and transgenders are hurting their movement…

Because people… even gay people… don’t like men competing in women’s sports and men going into women’s bathrooms… and altering the genders of elementary aged children… and so forth.

But… this is also predicted in Rom 1… the next step in cultural decline is a debased or a depraved mind…

Where the individuals and the cultural of unbelievers are… as V29 states “being filled”… they are presently and continually being made full or coming to a place where they are completely filled with all kinds of sinful symptoms… all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness… just read the list in vv 29-31… symptoms characteristic of people who have rejected God… and those who approve of such practices.

And, then Paul shifts in his progression of thought…

Seemingly anticipating the objection, “But what about moral people who live good lives and are good people… those who do not reflect the list of debauchery in Chapter 1? Will they also be condemned to God’s wrath? Do good people need to be saved?”

And, the answer… apart from faith in Jesus Christ… is resoundingly “Yes”…

… and just as Paul called creation to the stand as a witness against the immoral person and culture of Chapter 1…

… now in Chapter 2, Paul calls to the stand “conscience” as a witness against the moral person…

In a message titled, “God’s Righteous Judgement Revealed.”

And, Romans 2 is highly relative as many of us know people who live relatively good and moral lives, but they don’t know Jesus.

This is a great passage to help you know how to communicate to them that they too need saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Let’s Pray!

In reverence for God’s word… if you are able, please stand as I read our passage today.

Romans 2:1–11 “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. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 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? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 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, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.”

Praise God for His word. Please be seated.

If you think back to the past 3 sermon titles… they have all reflected what Paul is revealing about God’s wrath and His righteousness as Paul builds the case that all people are guilty before God… and all people need salvation.

Our sermon title two weeks ago was “God Righteousness Revealed” as Paul wrote in Rom 1:17 “… the righteousness of God is revealed… [by faith]… ”

Our sermon title last week was “God’s Wrath Revealed” as Paul wrote in Rom 1:18 “… the wrath of God is revealed… against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of man… ”

Our sermon title today is reflected in Rom 2:5 “… revelation of the righteous judgment of God...”

And, looking ahead… Paul will build a case against the Jews who have the law… and Rom 3:21 states, “… the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed...”

Paul uses the word “revealed” 5x and “Revelation” 2x in Romans…

Because truly… God IS righteous in His condemnation of Sin… whether Jew or Gentile… for God has revealed knowledge of Himself to all.

Through creation… through the conscience… and through the Mosaic Law.

Paul will ultimately charge all unbelievers for their unbelief… as we will read in Rom 3:9 “For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.”

Both Jews and Greeks (meaning non-Jews or Gentiles)… all will be charged by Paul as being under sin… as guilty of sin… even enslaved to sin…

And… Paul’s purpose is not to "put us in a headlock and poke us in the eye” as one Pastor said.

But to paint the picture that God is just… and God is righteous…

And His righteousness demands justice… and wrath will be poured out on all guilty sinners.

BUT… in His righteousness… He also provided a solution… He provided salvation through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

And, all people… without partiality are in need of the salvation that God provides.

Before diving into the specific verses of Chapter 2… it’s helpful if we can zoom out for a minute to understand the big picture of what Paul is addressing in these 16 verses today… and then we will zoom in and exposit verse by verse.

Shifting from Chapter 1 to Chapter 2, there is some question WHO Paul is indicting in these first 16 verses…

Some think Paul has Jews entirely in mind for Chapter 2 as Paul clearly addresses Jews in V17…

While others believe Paul is addressing mankind, in general… which seems preferred since in V2… Paul uses the word “man”…

“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man...”

Man Gk anthrōpŏs is the same word used in Chapter 1 Verse 18… “the unrighteousness of men...”

Additionally… another support for Chapter 2 continuing on the discussion of Gentile unbelievers… is because not every person who rejected God lacked character like those represented in Chapter 1.

If Chapter 1 were the rule, Chapter 2:1-16 balances this out to say, ‘there are exceptions to the rule.’

And, if chapter 1 were Paul’s sole representation of the gentile world … what great offense would that have caused?

And what misrepresentation would that have been?

Paul, as the Apostle to the Gentiles, knew there were Gentiles with high ethical standards… plus the Bible knows of moral Gentiles.

Ruth… the Moabites is a great OT example… she was not a Jew… and she was loyal to Naomi after all the men in the family died.

She wouldn’t fit in the description of the ungodly and unrighteous Gentiles in Romans 1.

Stoic Philosophers appeared in Acts 17… they believed that virtuous behavior would lead to a good life, so they exercise four key virtues: wisdom, courage, moderation and justice.

They perhaps could be argued to be godless, but they did not seem to reflect the depraved mind in Romans 1.

Cornelius in Acts 10… he was a Romans centurion and was described as a “devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”

God being the God of the Jews… Yahweh. Cornelius was close to being a convert to Judaism… but was not a saved Christian when we first meet him.

Certainly, he doesn’t fit the picture of a Gentile with a depraved mind like those pictured in Romans 1.

And so… going back to Romans… what Paul does in Romans chapter 2… is he establishes the guilt of the relatively moral person before God.

Cornelius is a fine example because even based on his description one might ask, why does a guy like that need to be saved?

He had a good job. He had reverence towards God and he loved people.

He wasn’t described as an immoral person.

Why would a guy like that need to be saved?

Another good example is the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luke 18… beginning in V9.

Jesus told a parable about two men who went up to the Temple to pray…

The Pharisee prayed a very self-righteous prayer, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’”

The Pharisee wasn’t living an immoral lifestyle… and any observer of his outward appearance and of his lifestyle would say, “The Pharisee is a good person.”

He religious, law abiding, moral, financially generous…

Many would think, “Surely he is going to heaven.”

The tax collector on the other hand knew he was a sinner… he would not even approach closely to the Temple… he wouldn’t even lift his eyes to heaven, but was broken and his prayer was, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

This tax collector easily fits the description of the depraved minded person of Romans 1…

Living an ungodly and wicked lifestyle… betraying his God and his people for the love of money… charging excess taxes against his people as tax collectors did to line their own pockets…

You can easily picture him in Rom 1:31 “… undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful...”

Today, it’s easy to make a case of why a person like that would be guilty before God… it’s getting harder though as our culture slides into degradation… and is actively redefining good as evil and evil as good.

But, many people can still recognize evil and be honest about it in their lives.

Standing in contrast to the tax collector though… is the Pharisee who we can easily picture in Romans 2… as he represents the morally upright person.

And, there are many people that we know today… who do not live a degraded moral lifestyle… they are good people, BUT they don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

And that’s the problem.

And so, Paul now builds the case that people from both of these slices of life need salvation in Jesus Christ.

And, since salvation is offered to all and needed by all…

We can deduce that no one is so bad that they cannot place their faith in Jesus and be saved…

And, no one is so good that they can be saved based on their good works.

They still need to place their faith in Jesus Christ.

Don’t get confused by Romans chapters 1-3:20… These are not pointing out the basis for which one is saved.

We will come to that starting in Rom 3:21.

What these opening chapters are doing is Paul is laying out the basis for which man is judged, and the basis of why God will pour out his wrath.

Much of Chapters 1-3 have no direct application to the Christian… or the Christian life…

… except that help us to understand the unbelieving world and the righteous judgment of God, and why He is righteous in expressing his wrath towards unbelief.

Prior to salvation in Jesus Christ… these chapters were very relevant to us when we were unbelievers…

But these chapters have done their work in our lives and as we came to faith in Jesus Christ… the work of these chapters is done… except to be educational and to equip the Christian to evangelize by helping unbelievers understand their need for salvation.

And, just as Paul established the guilt of the morally degraded person in Chapter 1 based on the witness of creation.

Paul in chapter 2 also calls a witness to the stand to testify of and establish the guilt of the person who has not sunk into the depths of sin… but are a moral upstanding citizen…

And, how does Paul make them understand their position as a sinner and their need for salvation?

Paul does it through a discussion on the conscience.

Conscience stands as book ends to this segment…

We see the specific word “conscience” in V15… Gk sunĕidēsis, soon-i´-day-sis… meaning “an inward moral impression of one’s actions and principles” or “the inward faculty of moral judgment.”

And, in V1… in Paul’s discussion on judging… our capacity to judge things in life is an evidence of our conscience.

And so… with that picture painted of where Paul is going in these 16 verses of Romans 2, let’s now get into the text and examine his case.

V1 “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, [mankind] whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”

Beginning in V1, Paul shifts in his writing style to portray a hypothetical conversation.

He anticipates the objection, “I don’t live like that. I’m not sexually immoral, nor homosexual, nor of a debased mind. I’m a good person.”

And, with such a statement… said objector has not cast judgment against the slice of humanity represented in Chapter 1… and they have determined… “I’m better than that. I live a better life then those people.”

They look down their noses at them… considering themselves more civilized, and morally sophisticated…

But, Paul comes right at them as “inexcusable”… which in Gk is the same word translated as “without excuse” in 1:20…

Just because they appear to live a good life, they are still guilty…

Paul’s point in V1 is when these people judged… which judging was NOT the issue… but when they judged, they did so hypocritically…

True they may have not sunken to the depths of wickedness as the Romans 1 crowd, but was there any degree of wickedness in their hearts?

In Romans 1, sexual immorality was thematic in all three phases of God giving unbelievers over to their sin.

And, the Romans 2 moralist could easily say, “I haven’t committed sexual immorality. I’m faithful to my spouse. I don’t participate in pagan love feasts, I don’t worship in pagan temples with temple prostitutes. I’m morally upright.”

But, the Sermon on the Mount Matt 5:27-28 Jesus taught, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

You could be outwardly upright, and still sin in your heart.

Humans have a way of looking at sin and measuring it by degree, frequency, extent, and deeming certain sins as worse then others.

And, I understand that… most of us would agree that murder is worse than theft… for example.

But, the thief needs Jesus just as much as the murderer.

And the moralist who commits adultery in their heart by lusting after another person… they need Jesus just as much as a person who commits an act of sexual immorality, because they still fell short.

Their action may not have been the same, but their conduct was the same.

They still missed the mark of perfection.

And, if you plan to be saved by your good works… that’s what is required… not really good, but perfect.

If you were an archer… and were given a thousand arrows to shoot at 100 yards… saved by good works would require perfect bullseyes for all 1000 shots.

Point is… it’s not happening.

And, to “sin” is an archery term meaning to “miss the mark.” You’re off on your shot…

And, the moral person needs a Savior because their sin… while it can be personally harmful… or cause harm to others… ultimately God takes sin personal.

Because the Bible declares in numerous passages that all sin is against God…

A classic example is after David had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba and tried to deceive her husband Urijah… and when that failed, David ordered Urijah to the front lines of battle where he died (which was murder)…

After all that sin… who did David acknowledge sinning against?

Not Bathsheba for murdering her husband.

Not to Bathsheba’s family… Ahithophel (her Grandfather) or Eliam (her Father)…

When David repented, He repented to GOD… in Psalm 51:4 David wrote “Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight—”

And, no matter the degree of sin… ALL of it is against God… so for the moralist to judge the ungodly and unrighteous person of Romans 1… it is surely a hypocritical judgment…

… because no matter how good a person might be… they have not achieved sinlessness.

And, even though our Romans passage is not addressing believers… I do want to say that there are some believers in error today who misinterpret certain bible verses like Eph 4:13, Col 1:28, and Col 4:12 … and they take the word “perfect” in those verse as a support for sinless perfectionism… when the word “perfect” could easily be translated as “mature.” In fact, most Bible Translations prefer the word “mature.”

And that teaching is out there. At our Biblical Worldview Conference, Dr. J.B. Hixson really upset a lady… because he talked about sin… and she told him she no longer sinned… and Christians don’t sin.

Look… even if you’re saved… perfection doesn’t happen in this lifetime… you have to die and be glorified for sin to be truly eradicated from your life.

Even the apostle Paul wrote in Rom 7 “For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.”

That’s the Apostle Paul… even he was honest about his lack of perfection… and you and I are no Apostle Paul.

You will be perfect one day… it’s just going to take rapture or death, but it’s not happening in this life.

So, don’t be deceived by this mis-led “sinless perfectionism” teaching.

I also want to address… since V1 addresses the idea of “judging” a common misinterpretation of Jesus’ words “Judge not, that you be not judged.”

How many times is this verse thrown in the face of Christians in an attempt to silence them and condemn them for judging?

The problem is people misinterpret Jesus saying, “Do not judge”… to mean “You don’t have the right to tell me I’m wrong.”

When in fact we do. If you’re living contrary to the Bible… there is a time and place to address sin.

And you can judge righteously… and even tactfully where… even though you will likely cause offense… you’re not acting in a way that is blatantly harsh…

Here’s an example… in 2021, our local High School had a teachers meeting and expressed that, “Teachers are not to promote specific ideologies in their classrooms.”

Essentially that school was ‘a place for education, not for indoctrination.’ Imagine that.

Regardless… one teacher thumbed her nose at that policy… and when school started she began asking students for their preferred pronouns and had this LGBTQ sign posted on her door… let’s pull up that sign.

This is the actual sign that was posted… If you can’t read it… it says, “I’m a safe person to come out to.”

I know this sign was posted because my daughter was one of her students.... and my son was also being asked for his pronouns.

The sign essentially means… I will not judge you but affirm your choice that you have decided or are exploring homosexuality or changing your gender.

I will accept you the way you are…

And, that language sounds good… but it’s against Biblical truth… and it has deceived many Christians.

And, the Biblical truth is there to protect us from harm.

Even within secular Psychiatric research studies… there is a ton of data out there that Gay, lesbian, and bisexual young people are at an increased risks of major depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, nicotine dependence, substance abuse and/or dependence, multiple disorders, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts.

Do you… “SAFE PERSON” share that truth with the young lives you encounter?

Or is the agenda paramount… not the young person you’re lying to by not giving them all the facts.

And, so… when I became aware of the sign and the pronouns… I judged.

I judged this to be against school policy… to be against Biblical standards… and to be promotion of wickedness.

So, on Aug 20, 2021, I emailed the key leaders of our school and wrote, “I am writing as a concerned Father with what has been reported to me by my children regarding the asking of their "preferred pronoun" and the display of LGBTQ flags in certain classrooms. Can you please tell me what the school/district policy is regarding the promotion of this ideology?”

And, the school leaders responded… “Teachers are not to promote specific ideologies in their classrooms.”

They agreed with me… thanked me on several occasions for raising the question… welcomed me to the community… and the sign came down.

I gave them ammunition to say, “Hey teacher… we got an email from a concerned parent...”

That’s in our community… much more difficult in blue states… I hope you’re voting or we won’t remain conservative forever.

My wife and I already voted early… the lines were short… I was in and out.

You can go to our courthouse and vote early this week.

It’s important. Nov 5th is the voting deadline.

Judging the sign as being of an evil ideology… and seeing that sign come down… it was a small victory… just imagine the impact we could have if more Christians judged righteously.

Jesus wasn’t saying, “Never Judge” and certainly He wasn’t saying, “Anything goes.”

We should judge… in fact… it’s expected that we discern right and wrong and judge correctly or with right judgment.

Jesus said, in John 7:24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

This means, don’t simply judge superficially, but make a right or proper judgment, by digging deeper… and judge correctly… beyond appearances.

Other good pro-judging verses… 1 Thes 5:21; 1 Cor 14:29; Matt 7:15…

But, as already mentioned… in Matthew 7:1–5 Jesus spoke… not against judging period… but against judging hypocritically and harshly… “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

If you read the verse in context, it’s clear that Jesus is teaching His disciples to judge correctly and lovingly… not to judge hypocritically or harshly.

Perhaps if you can’t judge correctly and lovingly then it may be better for you to “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

But, if you have addressed the issues in your life… and if you can lovingly approach another regarding their sin… in love you should be able to point out the speck in your brother’s eye.

Most people appreciate your loving honesty.

The Bible says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend...” (Pro 27:6)

If someone cares about you enough, they will tell you of your sin.

We have a propensity to judge… God is a judge, and we are made in His image.

Telling us not to judge is against our nature.

The bible instructs judging… so long as we do it righteously and not hypocritically… or superficially… or harshly… or falsely… or self-righteously.

And, I can give you Bible verses to back each of those.

So, stop fighting it. Judge righteously.

And, don’t buy into the lie that we are not supposed to judge.

Don’t get shut down by the one liner… “Doesn’t the Bible say ‘Judge not?’”

And, don’t fall in line to be a ‘good little Christian’ and ‘sit in the corner silent’ reading your Bible, but never standing for truth.

The world is quite happy with the Christian who studies the principles of Jesus… so long as they don’t cry out like He did… “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites.”

So, with some of that context on judging… back in Romans… in V1… the moral person is without excuse because they judge hypocritically… and then from vv 2-16… Paul will now school the moralist about the righteous judgment of God… which they fall short of.

And, we can outline this lesson by three words… truth, impartiality, and Jesus.

God’s righteous judgment is based on truth, spelled out in vv 2-4…

God’s righteous judgment is based on impartiality, spelled out in vv 5-11…

And, God’s righteous judgment is based on Jesus Christ Himself, spelled out in vv 12-16.

And, these judgments are absolute… and ALL… without faith in Jesus… are condemned by them.

So, with that outline… let’s first re-read vv 2-4 which teaches the moral person that ‘God’s righteous judgment is based on truth.’

“But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 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? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

V2… God’s judgment is “according to truth”… it’s “according to the facts of the case”… (court room scene)…

God’s judgment is based upon ‘the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

In fact, God is called “the God of Truth” in Scripture (Ps 31:5, Isa 65:16)… Jesus said, “I am… the truth” (Jn 14:6)

In the Song of Moses, Moses ascribed greatness to God and said in Deut 32:4 “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”

And the moralist will be judged by the God of Truth… and based on the true facts of the case… in perfect justice… and they will be condemned by their works… because they fall short of perfection.

And, V3… “do you think this, O man...” you can feel how strong and emphatic the language is with this question. “do you think… you will escape the judgment of God?”

It’s almost as if Paul is saying, ‘You’re a fool if you think you can judge other people hypocritically… and not be judged fairly by God. The facts of the case are you condemned another for the same crimes you committed, and therefore are guilty.’

BUT… there is hope… because in V4… Paul gives a glimmer of God’s divine characteristics…

God often delays judgment because of His goodness… His kindness towards sinners, though He despises their sin.

His forbearance… meaning “delaying”… He hold back judgment for mankind’s wickedness and rebellion.

And, His longsuffering… He suffers long… He is patient and exercises restraint in His judgment.

And, this is all with purpose… to give mankind time to turn to Jesus Christ in faith.

Aren’t you glad God didn’t just zap you the first time you sinned?

Or when you lived as a rebellious teenager like me? Living life just to feed the flesh… with no concern for God.

I’m so glad He extended grace to me.

Even the most wicked king in the history of Judah… Manasseh… received God’s grace.

2 Chr 33 begins Manasseh’s tale with “he did evil in the sight of the LORD”…

He destroyed the reforms of his father, Hezekiah, and led the nation into mass idolatry (today we call it “materialism”)… he sacrificed his sons to idols (today we call it abortion)… and engaged in occult practices (Satanic and demonic worship).

And, so God brought Assyria against him… and Manasseh was bound with chains and led away by a hook through his nose…

And, this was the best thing that ever happened to him… because he eventually humbled himself, implored God and repented…

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack [or slow] concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

If a guy like Manasseh can be saved… anyone can.

God’s desire is all would come to Him, but don’t mistake His forbearance as though he doesn’t care about sin.

He neither accepts sin… and one day each of us will exit this world…

And, we will be judged.

In Matt 12:36-37, Jesus said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

That’s sobering.

When God plays the tape of each of our lives as evidence in court… will there be evidence of your faith in Jesus Christ?

If you don’t know… what are you going to do about it?

Don’t wait and find out… you can make a faith confessing in Jesus Christ today…

And for V4… the moralist should not despise or think lightly of God’s righteous judgment and God’s character.

God is patient with you… therefore allow the same grace to the Roman 1 person… and allow God to work in their lives as well.

God desires for all sinners to turn from wickedness and turn to God…

… both the moralist and the debased… all should humble themselves and accept that they need a Savior…

And at this point the moralist should recognize that their good works have been exposed as insufficient… as falling short to save them.

Unfortunately… so often in their pride, and in an attitude of superiority and hard heartedness… the moralist does not repent…

And, will be judged… and God’s judgement will be righteous… for He judges all without partiality… or personal favoritism.

All this is reflected in vv 5-11… “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, 6 who [quoting Ps 62:12 & Pro 24:12] “will render to each one according to his deeds”:

Fair and equitable judgment will be measured out for each individual… rewards at the Bema Seat judgment for believers… and even degrees of God’s wrath in hell.... fascinating…

… and “deeds” here does not support works based righteousness… even Jesus said the work of God is to “believe in Him whom He sent.” (Jn 6:29) It’s all through faith.]

V7 “… eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;”

Those who seek after the immortality that God offers through faith in Jesus Christ will find it.

V8 “… but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;

All unbelievers… whether Jew or Gentile… who obey evil… by rejecting Jesus Christ namely… and as evidenced by the continual lack of fruit in their lives… and by habitual wicked conduct…

… the righteous judgment of God will await....

which is described as God’s indignation… Gk. thumos- typically translated as “wrath”, but only here in V8 as “indignation.”

This is a passionate and hot anger.

And, wrath in V8 is orgē… which is calculated and well considered punishment.

Tribulation and anguish mean “affliction and distress.”

There’s no way to avoid saying it… it’s going to be beyond our comprehension of bad for unbelievers.

V10 [contrast] “… but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.”

God shows no personal favoritism in His righteous judgment.

And, you can see how in this letter, Paul is beginning to introduce the Jews in vv 9-10… who will come into complete focus in V17…

But, in light of God’s impartial judgment… whether you are Jew or Gentile…

Whether God trusted you as a Jew to carrying the messianic prophecies and steward the OT… thus giving them chronological preference to hear the gospel… thus the “Jew first”…

And just as the Jews were first in line to hear the Gospel and to receive the reward… these verses seem to imply that unfaithful Jews will also be first in line for judgment.

If you’re not Jewish… if you’re a Gentile and just learning of Messiah… as did many of the first century Greeks or Gentiles…

God will not show personal favoritism in light of eternity.

If you place your faith in Jesus Christ… eternal riches are your reward.

Glory…which is always good in the N.T.... meaning “praise or approval”…

Honor… a mark of respect… or of precious value…

and Peace… prosperity, rest.

Glory, honor and peace await all who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

Worship team come.

We will finish up this section next week… wrapping up how God’s Righteous Judgment is revealed through Jesus Christ (vv 12-16)… and how the conscience bears witness to the moralist… just as creation bears witness to the godless in Rom 1.

Read ahead… and finish reading Chapter 2… we may get that far. Lord willing.

Let’s Pray!

If you’ve been with us for the last several weeks, Paul is laying out the case that no one will stand before God without faith in Jesus Christ.

I implore you… if you don’t understand the Gospel or or if you want to acknowledge Jesus as your Savior.

Or if you just need prayer for anything.

Come forward during this last song… our prayer team will be at the sides to pray with you.

As you enter this week ahead… judge with righteous judgment… and being blessed knowing glory, honor and peace await you.