The Judgment Buffet

Illumination

Get In Line, Romans 2:1-5

Romans 2:1–5 NKJV

1 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,

Therefore...

Because God is consistently revealed in both nature and scripture

Because people consistently ignore and reject God

Because people consistently pursue and deify their own desires

Because people consistently approve of rejecting God

Judge Not

No excuses for your own behavior

No judgment of other’s behavior

You do the same things

You stand before the same Judge

No awareness that you’re making it worse

Because you can’t escape God’s judgment

Because you look down on God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering

Because you harden your own heart and mind

Because you add to the things you will be judged for

Choose What You Want, Romans 2:6-16

The Cook (aka the Judge) Doesn’t Care, Romans 2:11

Romans 2:11 NKJV

11 For there is no partiality with God.

Choose Good Deeds or Bad Deeds, Romans 2:6-10

Romans 2:6–10 NKJV

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.

Good Deeds seek for God and for Good

glory, a good reputation

honor, a good valuation

immortality, a good destination

Bad Deeds seek for Self and for Strife

do not obey the truth

a refusal to believe the truth

a refusal to comply with the truth

do obey unrighteousness (not right)

acceptance of what is actually wrong

persuasion of what is actually wrong

compliance with what is actually wrong

Choose Law or Conscience, Romans 2:12-15

Romans 2:12–15 NKJV

12 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 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 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, 15 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)

There is an artificial distinction between

Jews, those who received God’s Law

hearing the law doesn’t help

believing the law does help (sort of)

following the law does help (sort of)

Gentiles, those who missed God’s Law

they have an external witness: nature

they have an internal witness: conscience (internal witness of both God and good)

they have a mutual witness: societal norms

Proselytes, Those who appropriated God’s Law

They are not inferred, not mentioned

They seek out God’s law, voluntarily—but imperfectly—submitting themselves to it

Pay the Price, Romans 2:16

Romans 2:16 NKJV

16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

God is the Judge

Actions are the subject

Receiving the goodness of God leading to repentance (verse 4) avoids wrath

Choosing good deeds leading to immortality (verse 7) avoids wrath

Choosing bad deeds (verse 8) incurs wrath

Believing “right” doesn’t help (verse 9)

The law is a revelation of God and good

Conscience (and nature) is a revelation of God and good

Jesus is the Standard Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Paul is the bearer of good news

It’s good news because God is the judge, not people

It’s good news because there is an objective standard not subjective standards

It’s good news because we are expected to fail

It’s good news because God’s goodness and our badness should lead us to repentance and forgiveness.