So, you think you’re good?

Scripture Reading:

Well good morning. Welcome back. You know I think it goes against every church planting text book to preach a message on the wrath of God and then not meet for a week...and so I’m so glad that you have returned.

If you have a Bible...go ahead and turn to Romans chapter 2....we’re gonna look at the first 11 verses in just a second, and we’ll tie it back to the story in Acts that _____ just graciously read for us.

While you turn there, can we give a shout out to any first time guests!!! We’re glad you’re here....and we’re glad you made thisyour first week with us, and not last week...because last week we couldn’t meet here and so we had Kingdom Connection Sunday...let’s celebrate what God did last week...man, I was so encouraged by seeing all the posts in the app and of where you went to church...we were scattered in geographical proximity....but united in mission, amen? (pause) And now this week is a reunion of sorts as we’re able to gather again.

And what’s awesome about that...is thats what I hope we embody every week Monday – Saturday...that from Cleveland to Akron everywhere in between while you’re at work...at school...and at home...we’ve got Kingdom Ambassadors scattered, and then when we gather it’s like coming to our Kingdom outpost...before we’re sent back out, amen.

So seeing your reports from the field if you will was a huge blessing to me, and hopefully it blessed you all as well.

I wanna let you know about one other thing that happened last weekend that hopefully is an encouragement to you as well. Ssince we couldn’t gather together....our leadership.... specifically our elders, staff, and team leads spent the weekend in a random giant house with 30 beds in Fresno, Ohio...i didn’t even know that was a place...but we spent the weekend really hearing the Word taught, worshipping through the preaching of the Word and song...and in prayer. Prayer for our church, prayer for our serve teams...and prayer for you all...and so I just want to say...again as hopefully a word of encouragement to you, the leadership here cares about you...and even more cares about seeking after the Lord and trusting his wisdom not our own understanding...and so from Kingdom Connection Sunday to our leadership retreat, I am incredibly grateful and humbled to call this church home and I hope you are too.

Well Romans 2....we’re only gonna look at 11 verses, this morning, Lord willing, but there’s a lot packed in here...so let’s turn to the Lord in prayer and ask for his guidance this morning.

PRAY

Well I want to start this morning off by talking about TV show that I believe ran from 2016 to 2020....and it was called The Good Place. I’ve mentioned it before....Amanda and I were hooked on it, I’ll tell you why I liked it in a second...but the whole premise was that there was a place called The Good Place that people go after they die...and they’re only supposed to go their if they’re good. Clearly it was supposed to be representative of heaven. And...on the other side...there was a place called...any guesses? The Bad Place. And so that’s where you went if you were...bad.

And so, while the show I don’t think ever said the words “heaven” or “hell” or if they did it wasn’t often....you had this notion of an after life where there was a good place and a bad place.

And so the way that it was determined if you went to the good place or the bad place was there was a point system...and every single thing you did on earth was worth a certain number of points – positive and negative.

So, you know help an old lady across the street...300 points...lie on your taxes....negative 500 points. Join the set up and tear down team here at church....1000 points! Root for the chiefs tonight to win – 5000 points. Steelers fan....-20000

So you get it....and then at the end of your life...the net total was given and if you were ihe positive you go to The Good Place, and if you’re in the negative you go The Bad Place...and that’s where you spend eternity.

Now...here’s why I loved that show...and I don’t love most modern day comedies, but I actually really enjoyed this one because...while the show is obviously supposed to be funny and so therefore it’s not trying to take itself seriously, I think the show almost perfectly captures what most people believe – whether consciously or subconsciously about how if there’s a God and if there’s an afterlife...how it all probably works.

That somehow there’s a system where if you’re a “good person” you’ll go to the Good Place and if you’re not you’ll go to The Bad Place....well, brothers and sisters...what we have to know is this is not Biblical Christianity. This isn’t what the Bible calls Christianity at all.

It’s actually something called.... Moralistic Therapeutic Deism

Now, again we’ve talked about this before and so for some this is review, but its been a while...everybody say Moralistic...Therapeutic...Deism.

Okay Moralistic...can really describe anyone who has a set of rules that have to do with moraility. Anyone who has a moral code where there’s a right and wrong. Theraputic, of course, has to do with feeling good...and Deism is just a simple belief in a god or even multiple gods....that a deity exists.

Okay, now check this out....let me read one of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite books called “The Unsaved Christian.”

Look at what he says:

“The most common practiced religion in America today is a generic theism that mingles biblical concepts with a hope that one is a good person—all while maintaining autonomy over personal decisions and lifestyle.

Okay so let this sink in...what this is saying is that – well let me put it this way.- if you google “most common relgion in the US what do you think will come up? Christian, right? I think last I looked it was 67%...67% of those in the United States are professing believers. It was like 90% 30 years ago, so a significant drop off....but ...what Dean Inserra (the author of this book) is saying is that...even though most people claim to be Christians....really the most common religion is this....generic theism mixed with moralism.

And check this out...here’s the therapeutic part...he says:

In this religion, good people go to a “better place” when they die. Going to this better place doesn’t depend on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, yet somehow these beliefs still get classified as “Christian.” “

Okay so....you with me? What this is saying...again is that most people in the United States...even many who call themselves Christians would fall into this category where they believe that if there is a God 1) he’s there soley for the purpose of making us feel better...most of us are good...and those who are good go to a good place. Again, that’s the whole premise of the show....but I think that’s the real life majority view is it not? But friends, let me say it again...this is radically different than biblical Christianity! It’s a different religion.

And maybe you’re here this morning and thinking wait that’s what I believe...good people go to the good place and bad people to to the bad place, right? Isn’t that the message of Christianity? Well...if that’s you....I’m so glad you’re here...if that’s you then I want you to know that I truly believe this is a divine appointment this morning...because for the rest of our time...using just a handful few verses in Romans 2, I want to show you why...this...Thereaputic Moralistic Deism is radically different than the message of Christianity.

Today’s message is titled, “So, You Think You’re Good?” And here’s my hope...let me just lay it all out up front...my hope is that if our answer to that question is “yes” what we’ll see today that actually that’s not the case for any of us. None of us in this room fits the biblical defintion of “good”. You say you don’t know me...well maybe I don’t but I know you’re human...and there’s not one person alive on the earth today who the bible would call good.

But there’s hope for all us because there was one man who did fit that description. And his name is Jesus. And Moralism won’t won’t get us to the Good place...but faith in Him will.

Okay, that’s where I want to build towards, so, if you’re a note taker, here’s our outline this morning. 1) The problem with Moralism....I’ve clear said that it’s not what the bible is teaching, so what’s the problem with it 2) What are the results of moralism, and then three, what are the alternatives to moralism. So, three headings, and each one will have a few subpoints. Sound good?

Alright, so first what is the problem with Moralism.

REVIEW

Well, to set the stage here, let’s do just a little review so you see where we’re going.

Okay, I’ve said this every week in this series. In fact let’s read this together... The letter to the Romans is the clearest and most systematicpresentation of Christian beliefs in the whole Bible.

Okay, so the Apostle Paul...greatest church planter ever...he gets saved – becomes a Christian and starts going on all these missionary journey’s and he’s trying to go to Rome....he’s really ultimately trying to make it to Spain we’ll get there at the end of the book...but he also wants to go to Rome...but before he gets to go to Rome, he writes a letter to the new Christians in Rome and he’s writing to lay out the basic truths about Christianity. (because) They didn’t have a set leadership structure yet.

And so, here’s the layout and the guide we’re following for this year....in the first 11 chapters, he’s laying out the basic truths of Christian orthodoxy. That means he’s writing to explain what Christians believe. And then at the end he shows how Christians should live.

And so he starts with his intro, lays out the thesis statement in Romans 1:16 and 17 when he says I’m not ashamed of the Gospel because it’s the power of God to save. (pause) And so the question right away is what does the Gospel...right, the word Gospel means good news,....so if it’s good news that we can be saved, what are we saved from. And so to introduce that, beginning in chapter 1 verse 18 Paul introduces this concept of The Wrath of God.

And we said a couple weeks ago – last time we were together – that you can think of it like a courtroom, right? Paul is bringing all of humanity into the courtroom of God and showing everybody that God’s righteous wrath is directed at them. And....again, I said this in the last message, this is where people jump ship, right? You’re saying God is a God of wrath, I thought he’s a God of love!

Well He is a God of love....and knowing that his wrath is directed at humanity – YET – he provided a way to save us is what magnifies the reality of his love! That’s what salvation is...it’s being SAVED from the wrath of God that’s directed us because of SIN. (point)

And so, in order to build towards the section on Salvation...Paul spends from chapter 1 verse 18 through chapter 3 verse 20 talking about in this section called sin which shows us why salvation is necessary.

Let me give you a word you’ll never need to know...it’s a Germnan theological word...I’m gonna attempt it...this section in Romans is called the Dahm-nis-stech-kish-tah...Okay, that’s a big theological word that no one uses, but it means “the history of damnation.” You say, that sounds lovely. Well...stick with me...again, this is Paul laying out his argument...in the courtroom of God against all humanity. And here’s out he does it.

When I showed this a couple weeks ago, I only showed three, that was a mistake – so sorry about that...but Paul begins by building his case against the ungodly...okay, those are those who just straight up rejected God and those who knowingly or unknowingly subvert the law of God. And the whole end of Romans 1 is Paul calling out everything from sexual sin, to what he calls “inventors of evil”...that should cover it all right? To dissobediance and slander...Paul’s like hey deep down...even those who do all this stuff God has provided enough evidence in creation for his existance so they should know there’s a God and they’re without an excuse.

Then...it’s almost like he knows some people are gonna be like well yeah of course the ungodly should be on the receiving end of God’s wrath...they’re ungodly....it’s in the name! And so Paul’s like...yeah the moralist too...those who think they’re good...nope...wrath...then the religious – that’s next week, Paul’s like wrath....and then...and this is the one I left off the slide last time, he gets to the end, and he’s like...oh in case you think I left you out.. nope... everybody!

It's like wrath Oprah...you get wrath, you get wrath.... weird illustration?

But no for real, Paul’s saying to everyone – this is why you need salvation, because by nature whoever you are...what you’ve done... you are headed for destruction...and it’s not like the bad place in the TV show where it’s like rooms filled of whatever you’re scared of....no it’s an eternity of conscious torment separated from God forever! Like that’s really really bad news!!

So shouldn’t being a good person save me then? Well lets finally turn to chapter 2...and we’re gonna look at this section as he addresses the moralist.

So the ungodly have been put on trial...found guilty...let’s look at the moralist. Romans 2:1.

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.

Okay...you with me? This can seem complicated, but let me explain. THREE times in this verse Paul mentions judging. And by judging...what he means is people who know that there’s a difference between right and wrong.

Does that make sense? In order to judge, you have to have some standard by which you judge...and so Paul – again follow his systematic though process - having just in the last section exposed those who are openly living in rebellion towards God...the ungodly...now, he turns his attention to those who think they’re good! Because they have a moral standard, and they say hey those people are bad...but I’m good! That’s what he means by “those who judge!”

Anybody who has any standard of right and wrong and thinks that anybody – ever - is in the bad category...or no...let me say it like this...anyone who thinks there’s ever been a worse human than you ever...you’re in this category. (pause) Because you are judging them!

But...what about Hitler...or Vlad the Impaler...like there’s been some MVP bad guys in history, right? The WOATs... Surely I should think I’m better then them, right? Well, what Paul is trying to get us to ask is by who’s standard? By who’s standard are we better?

Because...and listen...we have to get this....the argument that Paul is making is that according to God’s standard, there are no differing levels of goodness....there’s only perfect...and wicked.

And so Paul is saying...look you think you’re better than the wicked....you think you’re good...but you’re on the same playing field as the worst! (pause) look at how the NLT puts it...same verse....different translation. It says:

You may think you can condemn such people, who’s he talking about? He’s talking about the people at the end of Romans 1...the sexually immoral...the haters of God, right? And look at what he says...you think you condemn them but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.

You say that’s where I’m not getting it...I don’t do the same things. I don’t...what’s the old phrase...i don’t drink, smoke or chew or hang out with those who do.” Well...let me give you what I like to call The Good Person Test. Okay....this is for everyone...if you’re competive...let’s see how you do...let’s see who is the best person in here today.

Alright, who knows what these are shout them out. (pause) okay, if you’re watching online...it’s got the 10 commandments on the screen...and now let me read them one by one...and I want you to self evaluate...don’t worry we won’t say it out loud...but just think how many of these have you broken in your life? These are the laws God gave, right? Surely if we obey these we’re good?

Well, lets see.

GO THROUGH 10.....

0/10. None of us even come close to God’s standard of perfection! And next week we’ll see that even if we did obey all of these outwardly we still have a problem within...the law wasn’t given as a checklist to save us, but as a mirror to show us our sinfulness..that’s next week....but even if we could say we’ve got one of these...or...even if we wanted to say we got 1...you think you can waltz into the presence of the almighty with a 10 percent?

Imagine averaging 10 percent in high school and trying to apply to Oxford. One you won’t graduate...two they won’t even open your application. Yet, we think God...the creator of the universe...the one who the bible tells us dwells in unapproachable light is just gonna say...10% 20%...come on in! You’re only human.

Here’s my point...this is point number one. The problem with moralism is that God’s standard of “good” is different from ours. It’s radically different! Because...any sin (that means a violation of God’s law) puts us in opposition to him! Any sin!

Now, here what I’m not saying...I’m not saying all sin is felt equally by us. Okay and nor am I saying that the earthly consquences of sin are equal...we know this, right? The consequences of sin differs. And the effect of sin is felt on different levels.

Yes, an evil ruler of a nation causes more pain and suffering than someone who tells what we call “white lies”...but...listen this is huge...what this is saying, and what the scripture clearly teaches is that on the scales of eternity....one does not outweigh the other.

Now, I’m gonna show you why this is unbelievably good news in just a second....but before I do, let me just address one of the most common responses I hear to this in the church. Here it is....people often hear what I’ve been trying to expound on, their reaction is well if this is true...that all sin is equal on the scales of eternity...than we shouldn’t call out other’s sins because they just sin differently than us.

Have you heard this? Don’t judge this person or that person, they just sin differently.

Well....let me give two responses. One, there’s a fundamental difference between self righteous judging as described in Romans 2...right, that’s talking about a hypocritical judgement that says I’m better than you....you’re a sinner and I’m not...there’s a major difference between THAT, and what’s often labeled as “judging” which is simply a recognition of sin. Does that make sense?

Judging from a place of moral superiority is wrong...although that’s what Paul said is exactly what we’re doing when we think we’re better than anyone ever....but recognizing sin, and holding – ecscpecially those who call themselves Christians accountable for our actions is actually something we’re supposed to do. Okay, so that’s one thing...don’t judge doesn’t mean ignore sin....but this is my other response. When I hear people say don’t judge people just sin differently...logically we know no one hold that standard.

Because if someone commits genocide...or you fill in the blank whatever the worst crime to humanity you can think of....no one’s gonna say “ah...they’re just sinning differently.” We have whether we articulate it or not a standard...a line...where we say this has moved into the bad category...and that line might be different for different people but it’s there, and as soon as we realize that...then we realize that we are the ones Paul is saying are the one’s who judge.

So what’s the result...heading number 2...the result of moralism. Well, Paul lays it out in th4 next 10 verses. Let me just read them and then I’ll give the point.

2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

What things? We’ve already seen he’s talking about the things from Romans 1....but look

3 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?

God help us feel the weight of this verse....he’s saying again what we’ve been saying that...we know that the worst of the worst deserve judgement....but so do we!! So then why do we think we don’t?! Why do we think we’re any better off? Verse 4

4 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?

In other words... – God help me preach this – what he’s saying is that don’t mistake the fact that you haven’t been obliterated for your sin be mistaken for God’s acceptance of your sin! Don’t let the fact that you have breath in your lungs...the fact that you woke up this morning...don’t mistake that for God’s permission for you to continue in your sin! No, the fact that you’re still here is God’s kindness leading you to repent!! Because...verse 5...

5 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.

Which leads to our second point...i know this isn’t possible...I know it might be received better if I stood up and here and said do what makes you happy....that God wants you to do you...but here’s the deal... The result of moralism is God’s wrath directed at you.

Listen...I said if you’re here this morning or your watching online...however you can hear the words of my voice...if you ascribe to a worldview that says you are inherently a good person... because you’re better than those who commit the worst sins...or you think good people deserve heaven....I said that I really think this morning is a divine appointment...here’s why...God has revealed himself to the world through creation...that means that like we saw that two weeks ago in Romans1 just by looking at the world around us we know God exists...and that God – the Creator of everything - has revealed himself to us through this Written Word that we call the Bible....and what he tells us in the Bible is that simply obeying our moral compass will not lead to salvation.

This is the message of the Bible...there’s no good people and bad people, there are only saved people and unsaved people....and those who are in the saved category are not there by their own efforts...by their own doing good...but by trusting in Jesus.

Okay....now I really want to unpack that...because that’s the good news...but I have to point out one more thing in this passage and then we’re gonna make a beeline to the cross as we land the plane. Okay, you with me?

Okay...this is where it gets rocky a bit. Look at verse 6...in fact let me just read verses 6 – 11.

6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

Okay, now...this is hard section...in fact one of the commentaries I’m using...the introduction to chapter 2 said, “It needs to be stated up front: this can be a complicated section of Scripture to work through”...And the reason it’s a hard section is because if you take the verses we just read on their own...especially if you just simply isolate verses 6 – 10 – which many people do – it sounds like he’s saving we are saved by our works, doesn’t it? I mean verse 6 latterly says “He will render to each one according to his works”

Now...listen...what we have to understand...And I’ve said in the past...Paul doesn’t always write linearly....he writes systematically...and directly...but sometimes he’s a little all over the place...and that’s because this letter wasn’t originally meant to be read simply by breaking it down verse by verse, right?

Like imagine if you wrote someone a letter...and they said okay we’re just gonna read a little bit once a week...for a year. Cuz that’s what we’re doing right? No, it was meant to be read as a whole...And so it’s inevitable that as we work through this we’re gonna encounter some verses and some sections...and here in Romans 2:6-10 where they don’t make total sense on their own, but when you look at the letter as a whole you see what he’s talking about.

Okay, so when we do encounter these verses or sections...I want to do my best to not just skip over it, but to tell you what I think he’s doing and when we’ll see him unpack the theme more.

What Paul is doing in Romans 2:6-11 is showing that there’s no difference in how people are saved whether they’re Jews or Gentiles...which means anyone who’s not a Jew. Right, that’s seen most clearly in verse 11 because he says God shows no partiality...or favoritism.

Now, we’ll come back to that – the concept of partiality - next week – when he addresses the religious crowd in the next section...because really he’s targeting the religious Jews of the day, but the principles apply to us as well...

But let me just say this...and I know this might sound like Im overqualifying, but...please listen closely...because it can be very easy to misunderstand what I’m saying. If you’re just kind of paying attention lock in...because this is admittedly a tough teaching and I’m toeing the line here between being misunderstood in a huge way.

It is my view, that what Paul is doing in Romans 2:6-11 ...when he’s talking about being judged by works...is that he’s talking about a judgment of God that is directly tied to our sanctification and which is consequently tied to our justification, but not the same judgement.

You say you lost me...those are some big theological concepts...well, Lord willing, we’ll come back to this in Romans 6 in greater detail...but what Paul seems to be saying here...and again you only get this if you take the whole New Testament as a whole...he seems to be saying that even though we are not judged in salvific sense by our works...in other words we’re not getting into heaven simply based on the works we do....we...even we as Christians...will still be judged for our works.

Do works save? No. Does moralism save? No. Are good works therefore completely unnecessary? No.

See this is so important...many people think that the opposite of moralism...remember moralism is the believe that you’re saved by our works...and so many would say well the opposite would be lawlessness. Most wouldn’t call it that, but they’d say well if works don’t save....then they don’t matter. Do whatever you want. Make sure you’re covered by the blood...say the prayer to accept Jesus into your heart and then you’re good! It doesn’t matter what you do after because you won’t be judged according to your works.

But brothers and sisters...you will. And I will.

And what Paul is doing in verses 6-11, particularly verses 6-10 of chapter 2 is setting a foundation for the doctrine that he will unpack later in the book and in other letters as well that shows us that our justification – our salvation – is inseparably tied to our sanctification!

Friends, if you’re still with me, which I hope you are...we should feel the weight of this!

Because this flies directly in the face of American easy believism Christianity...which says you prayed the prayer one time when you were six so you’re good...i know you’ve shown no fruit...no evidence of a changed life...but that doesn’t matter...you’re not saved by works do whatever you want!

But Paul writes to the Christians in Rome ancipating this response and says....you’re not saved by your works that’s verse 1-5 and if you think you are...you’re actually just as bad as those at the end of chapter 2....BUT.... GOD will render to each one according to his works:

Do you feek the weight of this? That’s why Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling! Because...the comforts coming in a second....but we can’t rush past this....there is no condemnation for us if we’re in Christ – that’s Romans 8. But we will still be judged! We wll give an account before God!

The late Tim Keller has a way of taking these complicated truths and making them simpler. So if you’re unsure of what I’m saying, hopefully this helps. He’s actually quoting Martin Luther..so this is me quoting Tim Keller, who’s quoting Luther as he tries to make sense of Paul.

“In the end, Martin Luther’s old formula still sums things up nicely: “We are saved by faith alone [not our works], but not by faith that remains alone.” Nothing we do can merit God’s grace and favor, we can only believe that he has given it to us in Jesus Christ and receive it by faith. But if we truly believe and trust in the one who sacrificially served us, it changes us .... If we say “I believe in Jesus” but it doesn’t affect the way we live, the answer is not that now we need to add hard work to our faith so much as that we haven’t truly understood or believed in Jesus at all.”

And so...this is what I think Paul is doing in these verses – let me show you one more time how it fits into the overall argument and then we’ll bring it out of the weeds and land the plane.

Because remember, The Book of Romans is the most clear and systematic presentation of what we believe, right? So how’s this all fit in to what he’s doing.

Well...again, after his intro he starts with sin, right? He starts by bringing all of humanity into the courtroom in the Dahm-nis-stech-kish-tah ... And he puts the ungodly on the stand he’s like...you’re getting wrath...then he brings the moralist, the religious and then everybody...but there’s one more way we can break this down as we zoom in even further and we see that in his charge to the moralist....he’s defeating moralism, but still saying that works matter and he’ll come back to that on the section on sanctification.

Okay...so...with all that said, here’s our third point. The opposite of moralism (easy believism), will equally result in the wrath of God.

And I choose to use easy belivism instead of lawlessness, because lawlessness or again antinomianism is technically the opposite of moralism....but when you use the word lawlessness...that sounds just like the end of Romans 1, right? The ungodly...that sounds like lawlessness...and it is...but there he’s addressing people who don’t care about God and purposely reject ad even invert his law....here I think this even covers those who would say they’re Christians....those who for them Christianity is more of a comfort....those who prayed a prayer because they knew it was the right or moral thing to do....and they belive in God...

Those who fit the description of Theraputic Moralistic Diesm.

And Paul says whether you’re on the side that says my works save...or the side that says I’ll judt do one work of asking Jesus into my heart and then live my life how I want to....whatever side you’re one....you are headed for destruction because God’s wrath is pointed at YOU.

So where’s the hope....where’s the good news? Well here it is: The problem with the moralistic I’m a good person approach is it doesn’t work. Because God’s standard of good is different. The result is wrath. The opposite is easy belivism, which results in the same wrath...but there’s hope in the alternative. Because and this is our final point...the alternative to moralism is Jesus!

That’s it!! This is why Carlos started in Acts 4! And we won’t turn there, but this was the foundation of the apostle’s ministry...they were healing...they were doing good works...but those works weren’t the point...the point was Acts 4:12 salvation is found in no other name under heaven! There is no other way to be saved!! In Christ ALONE my hope is found!!

See, we can come to church and we know that we’re not saved by Buddah...we’re not saved by Mohammad....we’re not saved by Joseph Smith or any of that stuff...but have you realized that you’re behavior contributes to your justification, just as much as those guys. Aka NOT AT ALL.

Friends I know this is deep stuff. I know...that many just want to come church to hear five helpful tips on how to be happy....here’s some lessons on how to save your marriage...here’s how to be a better parent or a better person...and there’s time for that there is....but listen...it doesn’t matter if you’re married for 60 years...if you end up spending eternity in hell.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a hard worker... it doesn’t matter if you’re a reliable person if you’re life is not hid in Christ...and so what does that mean...well I said when we come out of the weeds, we’re making a beeline to the cross...here it is Romans 3....We ended with this verse two weeks ago when we looked at the ungodly...we’re gonna look at this again today, and spoiler alert, we’ll be back here next week...because yes this is heavy stuff...I know we don’t like talking about the wrath of God...but it’s these verses that make even the Wrath and perfect Justice fo God shine on the backdrop of our broken world...here it is.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. This is it!! We don’t compare ourselves to the worst of the worst...we compare ourselves to God...and when we do that we realize none of us deserve heaven....Yet God, Brothers and sisters is this not the Gospel in two words....YET GOD!!!! God what? in his grace, freely that means we don’t deserve it...we didn’t earn it...we can’t pay for it with our money or our good works....makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

But it doesn’t stop there....does that mean Jesus just died for everyone so it doesn’t matter what we do from here on out? No. Verse 25.

For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they what? When they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

And what we already saw was that belief...genuine belief is not seperable from works. We’re not saved through works...but when we’re saved through christ alone by faith alone...it changes everything about us!

Friends, there’s three responses to a message like this.

Number one is anger.... maybe you’re upset...maybe you don’t like what I said about hitler and us not being any better on our own apart from Christ. Well...these aren’t my words. (pause) and if you’re angry now just wait till next week. If I haven’t upset you this week or last time....next week you’ll get your chance. Because the whole world is ushered into Paul’s courtroom next week and every one of us will fell the sting.

But the first response is anger. The second is apathy. Maybe you think...hey this is good for you. I’m glad this gives you peace....i’m glad you can sleep at night. Maybe....and I think this is even more of a scary place to be than if you’re angry...maybe you’re thinking I get what you’re saying, but I’ve got time...I’ll figure it out later...i’ll get right with God when I’m ready.

But do you remember the parable in Luke 12....the dude that’s doing his own thing...working hard..getting money...and what does God say to him...he says YOU fool do you not realize that this very night your soul is required of you!!

Tommorow’s not promised!! Teenagers this is huge! Those of you headed to college....those of you trying to figure out what’;s next after high school...you might be thinking that’s your biggest priority...graduating and what’s next..and I hope that’s going well I do....but there’s no guarantee you’ll wake up tomorrow! Tomorrow is not a promise for any of us....but TODAY...the fact that we’re here today is a kindness of God..the fact that you’re hearing these words today is a divine appointment from God and...Romans 2:4 reminds us God’s kindness is meant to lead us to what? To repentance!!

And so here’s our final slide...this should be our response to a message like this or any message about the wrath of God. We should be stuirred to repent....for some in here maybe for the first time...maybe we don’t even know what that word means...it means to recognize who we are before God...God’s promise to forgive us no matter who we are or what we’ve done if we turn to him...and to commit to turning from our old ways.

For others, maybe we are saved, but we all sin every day. None of us our perfect, and so when we think of God’s wrath it should drive us to repentance...the kind of repentance like David in the psals when he said God reveal to me the sins that I don’t even know I commit!!

But that repentance shouldn’t lead to shame and guilt...but to praise. A praise that’s not filled with showy gestures, but humble rawness before our creator.

And that praise should produce in us a life of total surrender. A surrender that says we bring nothing to the table. That – to qupte Johnathan Edwards you and I bring nothing to our salvation other than the sin that makes it necessary. But God! And so therefore we say I’m gonna live for you!!

And I know scripture tells me if I live for you I’ll be rewarded, but that’s not why I’m doing it...I’m doing it because how can I not!! There’s no other god and another name that can save.

And in fact it’s that surrender that leads to repentance in the first place is it not?

CLOSING

I brought this scale as an illustration to close out our time together...we started by talking about The Good Place...the notion that our works will be measured on the day of Judgement as a means for our salvation.

And I think this is a good picture of what many are expecting on judgement day. That we will stand in a line with our scale...and move forward and we just hope that when we die...we’ve got enough on the good side so when God looks at us he’ll send us one way or the other based on what we’ve done.

And I think about the burden that would be....and yet so many people even those who profess to be Christian...even many in this room...that’s how you’re living your life!

But the reality – Lord use this broken illustration...the reality is when we we remove the scales...when we stop trying to earn our way...not in way that says it doesn’t matter...but when we remove the scales in a way that says I can’t measure up...I can’t do it...what are we left with! A cross!!!

And this Is all that matters....when we stand in line if there’s a line I don’t know...but when we approach the throne of God...he’s not gonna look at a scale...we won’t present our scale as a way to determine where we spend eternity...either he’ll look at us and he’ll see a cross...or he won’t.

If he looks at us and says “So you think you’re good?? You ready to come in here? And we’ll be able to boldy, triumphantly and unashamedly say no...but he purchased my pardon on this tree!

But here’s the deal...we can only answer like this if we’ve surrendered wholly to Him! If we’ve laid down our wants, and our desires...and our goals even...and what mkes sense to us and sai Jesus you’re king of my life....change me...i know I don’t understand it all... I know I can’t answer every argument...I know my family might think I’m weird...but change me. I know that what you did on the cross is my only hope of acceptance so cover me, Jesus!!

Have you prayed like that? Not a let me cover the bases prayer, but a Jesus change me, prayer?

And I know this involves admitting that I’m not good in your standard fo Good kind of prayer...a this might involve letting people know that I don’t have it all together kind of prayer.

Because that’s what we need....that a total surrender empty of self kind of prayer...and Corners Chapel....if we want to be used to reach The Corners of the world, cuz that’s our mission right, it starts with acknowledging and even embracing the fact that we have nothing to offer other than Jesus!

I don’t want to be the pastor of a church where the world looks in on us from the outside and says wow they’re such good people.....they’re so amazing....they got it figured out. No. I want us to be a church where everything we do and everything we say is pointing people to Jesus! And our need for him! But it starts with us in this room surrendering wholly to him.

And church, listen.... here’s the sobering reality. It would be foolish of me to think that in a room of this size every single one of us has truly made this decision.

And the reality is...you want to know what truly keeps me up at night...I heard John Piper say this once...and it stuck with me....many people will curse their pastors on the day of judgement and say why didn’t you tell me.

I thought I had to be good! I thought I had to do this...do do do....But church it is done!!

It was finished on the cross...while we still live in a world plagued by the reality of sin and death, Jesus defeated it on the cross, and we know that regardless of what we go through...regardless of if you feel like your life is hell right now...we can say with confidence that you will inherent the riches of God, not because your merit, not because of my merit...but because of Jesus. The one who was fully God and fully man and lived the perfect life we couldn’t live, died the death we deserve, so now we can get the rewards he earned.

So I ask....do you think you’re good? Or have you surrendered your life wholly to the only truly good person to walk on this earth?

PRAY