How To Get INto Heaven

How to Get Into Heaven

Sermon Series: When in Romans Pt. 1

Text: Romans 2:12-3:29

Date: February 16, 2025

SCRIPTURE READING: Revelation 21:1-11

Hey well good morning! It’s great to be here with you again. If you have a Bible go ahead and turn to the book of Romans. Romans chapter 2 is where we’re gonna be today. And the goal is to make it through a large section of it, so we’ll get right to it in a second.

Before we turn to the Lord in prayer and then open up the Word together, lets start by giving a shout out to any of our first time guests this morning! We are glad you are here. Welcome to The Corners Chapel. If we haven’t met and you weren’t in the room for announcements, my name is Chase and I serve as the lead pastor here, and I’m so glad you are here.

Just a real quick announcement I didn’t give earlier and then we’ll get started...if you are someone who calls this church home, I just want to let you know – next Sunday after church, we’re gonna have a very brief Family Meeting in here after service. So just about 10 minutes or so...nothing at all abnormal or anything like that, but this is just something I said last time that we want to do every three to four months or so, so we can just stay updated on the health of or church and some specific prayer requests and things that aren’t necessarily for the larger Sunday gathering.

So, if you’re someone who calls this church home or your looking to do so, I want to invite you to just stuck around next Sunday for a brief family meeting.

That said if you’re Bible’s open to Romans, let me pray. We have quite a bit to cover this morning, so let’s ask the Lord for his guidance.

PRAY

Well, today is the third Sunday of Black History month, a month where we intentionally celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of African American men and women who left an impact on our nation and our world. And so I want to start by telling you all about one of my personal heroes, and favorite figures not just in black history, but American history.

I’ve shared his story before, but not enough. He’s a man that I hope that we’ll all know his name and his story, and his name was Lemuel Haynes.

Lemuel Haynes was born on July 18, 1753 in West Hartford, Connecticut, which at the time was one of the colonies. His parents abandoned him at birth, and he ended up being adopted and raised by a God fearing man who named him Lemuel after an obscure reference in Proverbs 31. And while an abandoned African American baby in the 18thcentury would usually end up being a slave or worse, thanks to this God fearing man named David Rose, who adopted him, Lemuel ultimately would go on to study the teaching of John Edwards and George Whitfield, and he would eventually became the first African-American ordained minister in the US and the first African American to pastor a predominantly white congregation…in the late 1700s.

This was a man who faced tremendous difficulty. His birth parents abandoned him. When he was 21 he joined the continental Army in the American Revolution and fought for two years until he got Typhus in 1776. He almost drowned on multiple occasions, He was gored by an ox twice, and his adopted parents died when he was young. He endured ridicule and constant threats on his life, as you can imagine, being a free man in the late 1700’s and early 1800s.

After a moving around countless times in his early life, he found a church that accepted him for several decades where he preached into his 70s. But, as the racial divide grew and the doctrine of the church begin to go in a different, less orthodox, he ended up being fired. And a barn that contained most of his life’s writings was burned to the ground, many believed that it was intentional.

Now, why am I mentioning Lemuel Haynes? Well because...this was a man who despite his life...despite his dedication to rhe Lord...despite his integrity in hardship...his external moral compass continuing to point north as far as the outside eye could tell....despite the fact that he grew up in a Christian home...despite all of that...he realized that none of that mattered at all when it came to where he would spend eternity.

In fact,,,here’s how he summarized it...this was one of the last recorded things that he said...after a life of steadfastness...a life of Christian living here’s what he said...

I have been examining myself and looking back upon my past life, but I can find nothing in myself and nothing in all my past service to recommend me at the bar of Jehovah. Christ is my all. His blood is my only hope of acceptance.

See, he realized that when he stood before God...thats what “bar of Jehovah” means. The "bar" signifies a place of judgment, similar to a courtroom bar where a defendant stands to face their verdict...and he realized that when he stands before God it’s not what’s he done that matters...it’s not his good works that will earn him acceptance...it’s nothing but the blood of Jesus!

And then he ends with these amazing sentences...

My pains are great; but blessed be God, they are not eternal. I long to be heaven.

Brothers and sisters, do you long to be heaven? Do you look forward to the day that was described when Adrian read for us just a few moments ago from the book of Revelation, about how every tear will be wiped away...Do you often think about the day when health will never deteriorate. When chains of addiction will be broken forever. When divorce and broken relationships will be no more....when financial concerns will be ancient history....when whatever hardship and trial you face today will see no tomorrow...brothers and sisters, do you long for that day?

Does the thought of that day...the beauty of that day...and even more the beauty of the one in who’s presence we will worship for all eternity...does that consume you.

Because country to popular belief and contrary to the the religious art we see, heaven’s not gonna be a bunch of baby’s playing harps on clouds right? It won’t be boring....at least not for servants of the King because that’s what heaven is, it’s dwelling in his presence forever.

So I ask again....do you long for heaven? And a follow up question is this...how do you plan on getting in? If heaven is real...if everything I just described is real...how are you gonna get in?

Today’s messuage is titled “How to Get Into heaven.” And I have two overarching objectives for our time today. Number one, I want you to.- like our brother Lemuel Haynes to see that when you and when I stand on that day before the throne...we have no means for entry...other than faith in Jesus. We have no other argument we have no other plea. That’s one. And number two....Friends I want you to long for heaven.

REVIEW

Alright, so that’s where we’re going, and before I give our outline this morning...let me just say, if you are guest with us...or tuning in online for the first time, I want you to know that this year, we are working our way through the book of Romans as a church. We didn’t just end up in Romans 2 at random today, but we’re working through this book... And the reason why we’re doing this...and I’ve showed this slide each week...in fact – lets read this out loud together:

The letter to the Romans is the clearest and most systematic presentation of Christian beliefs in the whole Bible.

Right, the whole bible is the inspired Word of God...this particular book – the book of Romans - doesn’t mattermore...or it’s not more important...but Paul...the one writing this book... he’s writing specifically for the purpose of laying out Christian doctrine it a complete and clear and systematic way because – again this is review if you’ve been here – he’s writing to new believers in Rome...most of whom would have been Jewish converts.

And he’s writing...to address two main questions. Number 1. What is that Christians even believe...that’s chapters 1-11, and then how are Christians supposed to live...that’s chapters 12-16.

And what we’ve seen over the last few weeks is that he starts with his introduction and lets us know that the main point of the book is to unpack the Power of the Gospel -- remember, what’s the word Gospel mean? Good News...So he’s unpacking what the power of the Good News is....but if there’s good news...that means that there has to be bad news, right?

And so he starts off...pretty much right away by saying hey there’s bad news and the bad news is that everyone on the earth is a sinner. (pause) okay...and remember....a sinner is anyone who’s violated the law of God...which even if we think we’re good....we saw last week that God doesn’t grade on a scale. We can’t compare ourself to other people.... we can’t just compae ourselves to people who we think may have done worse stuff then us...we can only compare ourself to God. And his standard is perfection. Which means if we’ve ever done anything wrong – no matter how bad we think it might be – it’s created an infinite chasam between us and God and as a result...last review slide...the wrath of God is directed at everybody.

We said you can think of it like a courtroom...Paul is ushering in first those who the bible calls ungodly...meaning they’re living in open rebellion towards God and Paul says look there’s really really bad news and that’s that the wrath of God is directed at those people. (pause). But he doesn’t stop there, he says look your own code of morality won’t save you..that was last week’s message. None of us our good people so even those who think they’re good...apart from Jesus the wrath of God is directed at them in the same way.

And then he moves to this group we can call the religious and finally he summarizes this whole section saying...just in case you don’t think you’re in any of these three categories...God’s wrath is still directed at you...because everyone has sinned and falled short of God’s perfect standard.

But...at the end of this section of the bad news...is the Good News. And so as we talk about these last two groups here today...the religious and the ungodly...know we’re building to the Good News...and friends it is really really really good news.

Okay, so here’s our outline for the rest of our time. We’re gonna be looking, primarily at this group called the Religious...and as we unpack these truths I want to use these four simple headings...THEN, NOW, ALWAYS, and FOREVER. What did this mean for the original reader then...how can we apply those same truths now....what’s always true regardless of what time where in...and what will one day be true forever?

Okay, that’s our outline...just a heads up, we’ll be in point number one the longest...alright, so lets dive right in...as we unpack what it means that Paul is addressing the religious.

THEN

Now, this is difficult because Paul doesn’t actually use the word Religious in this section, just like in the last he didn’t use the word “moralist”, right?

Well here he’s talking about those who are religious...and he’s highlighting they’re dependence on The Law...and so before we can even read these verses, we have to define our terms.

Okay, so let’s say these three terms together. Religion. Religious, and The Law.

Okay, so these are three terms...that we have to understand if we’re going to understand this section...especially the last one, and we’ll get to the modern application in a second, so if you’re like how does this apply to my life...hang in there....but before we can even turn to the text we’ve gotta define these terms....so first religion. What is religion?

Well...it’s hard to define because people use the term so differently,...like many words in our culture today if you ask 100 people, you might get 100 answers...but instead of defining the word with what I want it to mean...lets do what we’re supposed to do when we’re trying to see what a word means and used the dictionary definition. Here it is: This dictionary defines “religion” as the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.

Okay...so superhuman...that’s not talking about superheros, or I guess it could...but if anyone believes there’s something more than just what we see...something beyond the physical – whether it’s God, many gods like the ancient Greeks...or even a force like Karma...anyone who believers there’s something out there...something greater than just us...they’re ascribing to a religion.

Okay..so not much controversy here. Clearly with this definition...those of us who call ourselves Christians are ascribing to the religion of Christianity because we worship the one who we believe to be the one true God.

But...what does religious mean....right, this is where it gets tricky. Here’s the dictionary definition: It says religious...or I guess since it’s an adjective, being religious is relating to or manifesting (that means demonstrating) faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity.

But here’s why it’s tricky...people who claim to be a part of the religion that is Christianity....differ greatly on what this part means, right? Faithful devotion to God....what does that mean?

Because...and this is where many err into to the dangerous aspect of religiosity that Paul is going to address...what separates faithful devotion in the Christian faith – as it’s spelled out in scripture - is the fact that we externally demonstrate our devotion to God as a response to what he’s already done. Does that make sense? Our obedience...our faithful devotion is not the end itself, but it’s only because of the fact that we’ve been set free that we can have faithful devotion! Like...Christianity doesn’t say here’s what you can do now you can be part of the Christian relgion...it says if you are part of the Christian relgion....here’s what that looks like.

I think this qupte from GotQuestions.org is helpful. Here’s what it says.

Religion can be warped when it becomes its own focus. Biblical Christianity posits an ultimate purpose both behind and beyond the characteristics used to define a “religion.” Details matter, but they are not faith entire. Rituals, prayers, denominations, or other “lived” aspects of faith becoming gods unto themselves is the kind of “religion” against which Scripture speaks.

Do you see what it’s saying? The things we do...the call to obedience...coming to church even...it’s important...but that’s not what makes us Christians...we do that becausewe’re Christians...and all of that can become an idol...when it becomes the end or even the menas to an end instead of a response to the ultimate end which is the glory of God.

And so, it’s because of this...problem that many people fall into..where the rituals and all that befome the objects of our faith...because of that sometimes people use a phrase in an attempt to be helpful that I get, but I don’t find entirely helpful and that’s when they say, “Christianity is not a religion; it’s a relationship.” (pause) And I get the heart behind it, if you love that phrase I’m not saying you need to remove it from your vernacular....but – and we won’t go into this fully because this isn’t the main point of where I’m going – but when taken to an extreme that phraseology or expression can dangerously lead to an over fixation on the vertical relationship of our faith only...that it’s just about me and God....but we need to remember that our faithis both virtical AND horizontal, right? We’re saved vertically by God through God, we’ll talk about that next week....but we’re saved into the church.

So, I think it’s more helpful to say that Christianity isa religion, it’s just an intrinsically different type of religion than any other religion in the world. Right, It’s not Juist another option on the buffet table of world religions...it’s radically different because while all the other religions of there world say this is what you have to DO....Christianity says here’s what’s been done.

And so we’ll talk about how this plays out in our current day in a bit...but in this passage Paul, is addressing the religious Jews....those who claim to have faithful devotion to God...but he’s telling them that they’re errant in their religiosity because their dependence is on The Law. What is the Law.

Well here’s our final definition and then we’ll finally turn to the text....When Paul’s talking about The Law...he’s talking about the compilation of decrees found in the first five books of our Bible. This whole body of law was given the name Torah.

We talked last week about the 10 commandments, but beyond that, there were hundreds of other laws that are given in the Old Testament and the Religious Jews of the day were seeing obedience ot the law as the way they demonstrated they were right with God, and Paul says nope doesn’t work like that.

Rember he’s laying out the basics of Christianity...and he’s showing while it is a religion...it’s different from every other religion...and outward devotion won’t save you...and not even obedience to The Law will save you...that’s essentially his message in this section. Okay?

So let’s look at it. So...if your Bible’s still open to Romans 2, let’s start reading in verse 12 and with hopefully a better understanding of what it means to be religious in a negative sense...let’s read these verses. And, Today I’m gonna read in the New Living Translation because I think it does a great job of saying what this is all saying in the way we talk today while staying true to the text.

12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, Paul doesn’t pull his punches does he? even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

Man....this complicated, but when you realize what it says, this should send a shiver down all of our spines. Because What he’s saying is that whether people know the law as revealed by God....or they’ve never read the Old Testament or in our case the New Testament...they’re still guilty because God has written the law on their heart! Remember in Romans 1 he said everyone’s guilty because God has provided evidence for himself in creation...so if you’re just like nope I don’t believe in God...that’s not an excuse...now he says no one will be able to say on that day...i didn’t know I was doing wrong because the law has been written on our hearts!

Should that not increase our missional urgency 100 fold?

Then he switches back to the Religious Jews...look at what he says...this would have been absolutely shocking to the Jews who took pride in their Jewish identity .

17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth. 21 Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”

God help us see the parallels to today. He’s saying...look people are looking at what you claim to be....but it’s different than how you live...and because of that you’re dragging God’s name through the mud! He’s saying you’re claiming my name and living no different than the rest of the world!! And then look at this final section of chapter 2. Verse 25.

25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. 26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it. 28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. Let me read that verse again...we have to get this... 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. This is one where the ESV gets it better...he says your heart needs to be circumcised!! What does that mean it means you need a new heart! It’s not about the external...it’s about the internal!! And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

I know that’s a lot of words...that’s a lot of verses...but he’s showing them....look you’re trusting in the law....firs tof all you’re not keeping it...you’re a bunch of hypocrites...second of all even if you keep it on the outside it doesn’t matter if you keep it if you’re hearts not right and so you need a new heart!

CAR AND SPEED LIMIT

Let me show you this illustration and then I’ll bring it to today, I told you the first point is the longest.

BRIDGE ILLUSTRATION

And we won’t read the first eight verses of chapter 3, but Paul essentially returns to what he already said in verse 11 of chapter 2...whether you’re a Jew or a Gentile...God’s wrath is directed at you if your faith is simply rooted in external obedience.

And so here’s our first point...this was Paul’s message to the Jews of his day...then....Those who placed there hope and trust a way to know they were going to heaven.

Strict adherence to The Law was never intended to be a means of salvation. (repeat)

NOW

No here’s the deal. We can read that....and we can even understand that....but there’s a bit of a disconnect between us and the original readers, right? Most of us in this room are not ethnic Jew. Most of us know that we’re not bound to the Mosaic Law...and so we live lives without trying to obey every single law in the Old Testament an so we take comfort in the fact that we’re not saved just through The Law...but before we get to the Good News...let me show you how this mentality that the Religious Jews had 2000 years ago....is still alive and well in 21st century America today.

Okay...so this our second heading..the NOW....and here’s what I want to do, I want to list seven ways in which The religiosity Paul is criticizing is seen today. And preface this by saying, I think the list goes from things that we can all see clearly, to things that might poke us in some vulnerable places. And if that does then I want to just ask you to really think...is this rooted in what the Word says

The first way the religiosity Paul’s coitizing is seen today is when we believe our works, heritage, or cultural identity will save us.

That’s easy to say...and each of these could be a sermon on they’re own...but what this means is that if you’re answer to why you’re gonna get into heaven has anything to do with your works...that’s not enough...that was last week’s message...but also your family.

If the best you have before God is...well I’m a Christian because my parents were Christians. I’m a Christian because I was baptized as a baby. I’m a Christian because I was raised Christian, I went through Confirmation...or even I’m a member of a church. If that’s your best answer....that won’t work.

Number 2. And this is huge. We are displaying the same kind of religiously Paul is addressing when we have more hatred for the fruit of sin than the root of sin. What do I mean by that...well check out this qupte from Pastor John Piper. This radically changed me and the way I view sin...the way I view the Gospel...This is huge! He’s unpacking the nature of evil...and here’s what he says...actually before I read it let me ask you....If I was to ask you to define evil how would you define it. You’d probably say murder...people who abuse people....people who hurt children....Genocide....Like we can name a bunch of specific examples...but what Piper argues...is that it’s so much deeper than that! Here’s what he says....

Evil is feeling or thinking or acting in a way that treats God as less than infinitely valuable and infinitely satisfying. Let me read that again....

That’s the root! Everything else no matter how bad is just the fruit!! Is this how you think of evil...is evil the offense you can see or is the fact that there’s an offense being committed against a holy God! Are you more outraged by the fruit or the root! Because until we get that...we’re not gonna see just how bad we are apart from God! We’re like the religious people of Paul’s day who said...hey I’m pretty good! Not realizing that the root of every sin lies within our heart!

Finish quote

So the mentaility of religion that Paul is addressing is seen when we think our works or our backgrounds are enough to save...it’s seen when we’re more bothered by the fruit of evil then the root. Number three. ...It’s seen when we are characterized by Doctrinal snobbery.

We all know the love chapter in 1 Corithians, right? Love is patient love is kind, it doesn’t boast it keeps no record of wrongs....we love that verse at weddings, right? But what about the very first verse...if I speak with the tounges of men and angels...but I don’t have love, I’m just like a loud GONG! In other words...even if you say the right stuff, but you’re not saying it with love....you might as well just be quiet. No ones gonna hear it.

Friends, we can’t shy away from the hard truths of scripture....but if we communicate these truths from a position of moral superiority....like somehow we figured it out and we’re better than others....we’re just as bad as the people Paul is addressing.

Let me put it this way...if you think God choose you....because of you...to be on his team...you’re the religious type Paul’s addressing and saying the wrath of God is headed towards! No God didn’t choose any of us because of us, he choose us despite us!!

Number four. We’re exemplifying the religious mindset Paul is condemning when we have a compartmentalized worldview. What does that mean, it means when we have our Christian life on Sunday...we act different at home. When we don’t view all of life through the lens of the Gospel. When we get our Christian intake on Sunday, but then let the media determine what we believe on Monday through Saturday. When we have Jesus follower in our bio on Instagram and then there’s no difference from the rest of the world in how we portray ourselves online.

When we have a picture of a godly marriage on Sunday and online, but there’s abuse taking place online or hidden sins of pornography behind closed doors.

When we claim the name of Jesus on Sunday, but from the outside it looks like we’re pledging our our allegiance to the democratic party or the republican party on Monday. Because people have enough evidence based of our conversations and our posts online... people have evidence to know what we believe politically, but not what we believe about Jesus.

Which leads to number five.... We’re embodying the religiosity Paul is condemning...when we view the Gospel through a Americentric lens.

We know Jesus didn’t come to earth and die simply to save the United States of America, right? We know that America is not the Promised Land in the Old Testament...and it’s not the city on a Hill in Matthew 5.

I love our country. There’s no place on earth that I would have rather been born. I am thankful for the freedoms we have that allow me to say what I’m saying without our church having to exist underground...And...not but...in the very same breath I can say that every nation including this one is like dust on the scales and a drop in the bucket to the God who raises up kingdoms and tears them down....and if we fail to recognize ad embrace the global aspect of our faith, not only are we shrinking God and stealing his majesty, but we are falling into the very same ethnocentric trap of the religious people Paul was addressing!

Number 6. We are the group Paul is addressing, ...when we we prioritize legislating morality over advancing the mission of the Gospel.

Now...don’t hear what Im not saying. I’m not saying morality should not be legalized. I’m not saying Christians shouln’t be involved in politics. And I’m not trying to create a false dichotomy and say either we care about the laws of the land or we care about mission...no. What I’m tring to do with all of this is get us to check our hearts...and see how much of the religocty Paul is condeming is buried deep within!

One way to check our hearts with this one...is to ask...as Christianity declines in the west – which it is...are we more concerned with reclaiming our position as a Christian nation, or making disciples wherever God opens the doors? (pause) Again, it’s not an either or....but the question of where we find more urgency...the shouldn’t even be a question!

Because so what if the whole world acts like a Christian! If they’re not changed within! To qupte my mentor, Derwin Gray when we focus on just trying to change outward behavior and making people act like Christians on the outside...that’s like trying to clean a fish before we catch it!!

And then lastly....number seven...we’re just like this group Paul is addressing when we are ashamed (or even resentful of) the full Gospel.

What do I mean by the full Gospel...well if you haven’t noticed Paul’s making no friends in this section of scripture, right? He’s called out those who arent’ even trying to hide they’re rebellion to God externally in Romans 1...the I’m gonna live how I want and be proud of it people...to the ones who are fixated on trying to look good on the outside.

And here’s the deal... many of us are in agreement when he calls out sexual sin, and adulty, and homosexuality, and all that in Romans 1....but are uncomfortable when I start talking about how the attitude of hypocritical religion pops up today in our politics...and

But then others of you might love what I’m saying about that and get upset when I read the verses about sexuality....and here’s the deal...to embrace the full gospel means to embrace the fullness of the bad news on both sides!!

And when we fail to do that...whether we normalize...or seek to justify immorality....or if we palce our hope in our external morality...either way we’re falling short...and we creating a fakr or a psudo-Gospel and the Romans 2:24 warning is for us because the name of God is therefore blasphemed because of us.

Do you see what I’m saying? If we take away form the Gospel...try and water it down....try and make it easy and soften the burn...and we call that Christianity...we’re leading others astray!! And if we’re a bunch of hypocrites and carry ourselves with religious pride...but we don’t actually look or act any different from the world...we’re causing others to think less of God!

Friends...being in church doesn’t make you a Christian. Growing up in a Christian house doesn’t make you a Christian. Being American doesn’t make you a Christian. (pause) But what we see – even in the church – dare I say especially in the church the same heart issue the religious Jews had in the first century and here’s why.... We are all prone to gravitate towards a pseudo-Gospel.

Psuedo just means fake and we’re all prone...by nature to try and put something other than Jesus to bridge that gap! Get that picture in your mind again...we’re on one side...God’s on the other...what bridges the gap? That’s your answer to why you deserve to get into heaven.

Is it because of your parents? Because of your good works? None of that will work!

Well I told you we’d spend most of our time in points one and two...we’re almost to the good news...and we’re almost done...which might the good news for many of you. But Paul takes one more detour before the cross.

ALWAYS

He’s addressed the immoral...the ungodly in Romans 1....he’s addressed the moralist and the religious in Romans 2 and 3...and it’s as if he’s like – hey just in case you think I forgot about you....You’re all guilty. This is our third point.... Everyone stands guilty before a Holy God. Let me just read starting in verse 9.

9 Well then, - this ties all the way back to the start of chapter 1 verse 18....everythign he’s talked about the wrath of God...he says...alright...well if all that’s true.... should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one. 13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “They rush to commit murder.16 Destruction and misery always follow them. 17 They don’t know where to find peace.”18 “They have no fear of God at all.”

Are you feeling the weight of this? The last three weeks? We should...and if you’re a guest, I promise you the good news is coming in like 90 seconds, I promise...but this verse verse 18...this is the key....this ties back to what Piper says...we’re so focused on the external...but the problem is within that we don’t fear God!! That by nature...who I am apart from Christ...I don’t give God the glory he deserves!! Anyone want to say even today you gave God all the glory He deserves? We can’t!! Which is why he says....verse 19

19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.

And friends if we ended here this would be the worst news of all time. If we ended here we would have no reason to go on living. If we ended here there is no purpose or meaning to life....but look at verse 21....this is our final section...the forever...The jEws od Paul’s day trusted in the Law...whether we know it or not...we often place our trust and our priority elsewhere as well...and as a result we’re included in the everybody that is on the receiving end of the wrath of God....but look at verse 21.

21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.

This brings us back to our friend Lemuel. What did he say at the end of his life....it doesn’t matter what I’ve done...it doesn’t matter what I’ve gone through...it doesn’t matter if I’ve doen all the right things....or said all the right things...all the matters is that I’ve put my trust in the right one!! An His blood is my only hope of acceptance!! Nothing in my hand I bring simply to the cross I cling!

Friends this is the gospel! This is the good news! If you came in here today just wondering about this Chistian thing and all you’ve gotten so far is that you don’t measure up...I’m glad you got that...but I have good news...God himself came down from heaven....

Lemuel Haynes died on Septemeber 28, 1833, and he was blessed to write his own epitaph and here is what it said.

“Here lies the dust of a poor hell-deserving sinner who ventured into eternity trusting wholly on the merits of Christ for salvation. In the full belief of the great doctrines he preached while on earth, he invites his children, and all who read this, to trust their eternal interest in the same foundation.”

See he knew that the trials and uncertainty of this life, were not the end of the story, but he knew – even to the end – the only one who could punch his ticket into an eternity void of trial and tribulation....was Jesus. And he invited everyone who heard those words to trust in Jesus and find that same hope...and that includes all of us today. That’s the message I have for you....don’t trust in you, look up and trust Jesus.

You might be here today, thinking..I know I’m a wreck...I know my life is a mess...you’ve spent the last 40 minutes telling me I’m broken...well...welcome to the club. We’re all a mess...on our website under my picture it says lead pastor, but it really should say lead mes....but what separates us from every other religious group out there isn’t that we’re better...it’s that we have a hope comes when we life out eyes from from the mess of this world to our perfect Savior Jesus and just keep our eyes on him and focus on his glory, and ask Him to change us and guess what...he does!

We’ll never be perfect, but as we grow in him we’ll notice even small changes...small glimpeses that he’s working in us. It might take years, it might decades for some sin struggles to change, and that’s okay...but if we keep our eyes on us he’ll change us!

For others, maybe we find ourselves in a position of constantly looking down on others. We’d never say that but we just get so angered by the behavior of the world...by the fruits of evil we see in the world...what’s the solution to that...its the same, keep your eyes on Jesus!

See that’s to cure to it all isn’t it? When Satan tempts us to despair and tells us of the guilt within...what do we do? Look up and see him there who made and end to our sin!

When we think we’re better because we’re looking down on the world from a position of moral superiority....what’s the cure? Look up!! Because how can we be anything but humble when our gaze is on him?

And so, here’s our final point: Turn your gaze towards heaven and marvel at God’s majesty for all eternity.

What does that mean, well it means first of all to recognize who we are before God. That we are sinners deserving his wrath. But to realize that if we turn to him...if we repent and surrender our lives to him...he’ll forgive us!! Which should fill us with praise! That’s why we started in Revelation...with a picture of the end! The more we worship the less we worry...the less we judge...the less we

CONCLUSION

Well as our music team comes back up..let me end with this.

PILGRIMS PROGRESS

Then I saw him ascend the hill, but he was alone and no one met him at the gate. He read the sign above the gate and began to knock. Then I heard a voice from within, asking, "Who are you? Where are you from, and what do you want?" He answered, "Lord, I have eaten and drunk in Your presence and You have taught in our streets." When the gatekeeper within asked for his certificate, he was silent. The gatekeeper said, "Have you no certificate?" Ignorance had no answer. Then, being commanded by the King, the two shining ones came out and bound Ignorance hand a foot, and carried him away through the air, to the dark door I saw in the side of the hill in the Delectable Mountains, put him in, and shut the door. I asked the angels why he was not admitted to the Celestial City, and they said, "His name was not found written in the book of life, and he had no certificate in his bosom." Then I knew that there was a way to Hell from the gates of Heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction.

Then, I awake and I knew that all I had seen was a dream.

Brothers and sisters, I know we don’t like to talk about wrath..we don’t like to talk about sin...

But the Good News is only good because of the bad news. But the bad news is defeated by the Good News.

So how are you gonna get into heaven? Are you gonna cling to the righteousness of Christ? To like Haynes say his blood....thats my ticket. Or are you gonna show up to the Bar of Jahovah..which could happen at any moment for any of us...with just a hope...that you’ll be let in.

I know where my confidence lies. Do you?