What God Really Sees

Bible Passage: Romans 2:12–29

We live in a world that is obsessed with image.

You can look successful without having financial peace.

You can look fit with the right angles—even if you never step foot in a gym.

You can look happy on social media while your real life is falling apart.

And unfortunately, the same thing can happen spiritually.

You can:

Talk like a Christian

Dress like a Christian

Even serve at church like a Christian

…and still be spiritually dead inside.

Paul knew this struggle well.

In Romans 2, he’s not speaking to wild sinners on the street.

He’s speaking to the religious crowd—people who had God’s law, God’s name, and God’s traditions.

But their lives didn’t match their lips.

Their rituals didn’t match their reality.

And their religion didn’t change their hearts.

This chapter is Paul’s spiritual wake-up call to all of us—whether you grew up in church or just walked in this morning.

1. Live Out Your Faith

Romans 2:12–16 ESV

12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. KEY: “it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified.” —Romans 2:13 “13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.”

Explanation:

Romans 2:12 ESV

12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.

Paul tells this church that is made up of both Gentiles or Jews that no matter what your past is, apart for Jesus you will die.

Romans 2:13 ESV

13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

He then adds that just hearing and knowing truth does not make you righteous before God but it is only those that “do the law” who will be justified.

Romans 2:14–15 ESV

14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

At first this seems a bit strange but we can look around our society and see that there are norms that are acceptable. Most people would agree that stealing is not good, lying to your loved ones is not good, cheating on your spouse is not good, without needing the Bible to tell you. Yet, people do these things, try to justify their actions. Paul says that they have already condemned themselves in breaking their own laws even without the laws of God.

In other words, no one can escape from God’s judgement because he has given to the world the ability to see right from wrong and yet people choose to do wrong everyday. Look at verse 16…

Romans 2:16 ESV

16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Jesus is the example. On judgement day, it wont matter how much better you were than Hitler or your neighbor, what will matter is if you lived a perfect life like Jesus. If you did not live a perfect life then you are cursed to being eternally exiled from the presence of God and will spend an eternity in Hell.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. When you receive Jesus as savior on Judgement day God will see Jesus instead of you, because you have been washed in the blood of Jesus!

Application:

Here is the thing. Genuine Christians are called to live out their faith. It proves that they belong to Jesus. James helps us see this more fully in James 1:21-25

James 1:21–25 ESV

21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

A believer then is called to live out their faith.

Illustration:

The Mirror and the Smudge

Imagine a man getting ready for an important meeting.

He wakes up, walks to the bathroom, and looks in the mirror. He sees it immediately—he’s got a huge smudge of dirt across his cheek, maybe even some dried toothpaste on the corner of his mouth.

He studies it carefully. Nods. Yep—it’s bad.

Then he shrugs, walks away, and leaves the house.

He doesn’t wash it off. Doesn’t fix it. Just walks into that important meeting looking like a mess—even though he knew exactly what was wrong.

Now you’d say, “That doesn’t make any sense.”

But that’s exactly what Scripture says it’s like when we hear God’s Word but don’t live it out.

We don’t need more people studying the mirror. We need more people wiping off the smudge.

God isn’t impressed by how many sermons we’ve listened to, how many verses we’ve memorized, or how many podcasts we’ve downloaded. What matters is whether we live it.

Are you living out your faith? Transition: Not only are you called to live out your faith, but you are also called to

2. Embody God’s Word

Romans 2:17–24 ESV

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Explanation

In this next section, it is one long run on sentence but we are going to break it down just a bit. Just remember it is building on one continuous thought.

Romans 2:17–18 ESV

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law;

Paul now speaks directly to the Jewish community within the church. He identifies five traits that some in the church identify with:

Jewish heritage

reliance on the law

boasting in God

knowledge of God’s will

approval of what is excellent

The reason they do these things is because they have been instructed to do so from the law.

He then adds

Romans 2:19–20 ESV

19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—

That means that they view themselves as instructors there to lead the others who are less informed and show them the true way. In other words, there were some Jewish church members that thought they were greater than their Gentile brothers and sisters and was holding it over the others. Notice Paul’s critique of them in Romans 2:21-25

Romans 2:21–23 ESV

21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.

He uses the form of question to rebuke. In other words, Paul is telling them, you are a bunch of hypocrites holding your Gentile brothers and sisters to a standard you yourselves fail to follow. Look at how he finishes the flurry in Romans 2:24

Romans 2:24 ESV

24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Their hypocrisy, causes the Gentile world, mock God and blaspheme his name. It is a condemning accusation.

Application

Here’s what this looks like today: 1. You go to church regularly

2. You know the best worship songs

3. You own multiple Bibles

4. You regularly post Christian quotes on social media

5. Say amen in small groups

6. But still fail to study God’s word and apply it to your life. 7. You have unconfessed sin that you allow to have a hold of your heart.

or to put it another way: You condemn sin publicly but hide it in private compromise, such as

You quote verses about purity while watching explicit content.

You talk about the importance of forgiveness but refuse to reconcile with someone.

You shame others for sin while secretly struggling with the same sin.

Instead of being just a voice box of truth allow yourself to embody the Word of God in how you live!

Illustration

The Counterfeit Employee

Imagine a man who gets hired at a prestigious restaurant as a chef. He shows up in a crisp white chef’s coat, embroidered with his name. His resume says he studied at culinary school. He knows all the famous recipes by heart. He even corrects other chefs when they make mistakes and gives impressive kitchen advice to new staff.

But when it’s his turn to cook…

He burns the chicken. Over-salts the soup. Leaves raw meat on the plate. Eventually, the customers start complaining:

“If this is what fine dining is, I’m never coming back.”

He talked like a chef. He looked like a chef. He even corrected others like a chef. But he never actually cooked like one.

Transition: Not only doe we see that you are to Live out Your Faith and Embody God’s Word, third,

3. Seek a Changed Heart

Romans 2:25–29 ESV

25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

explanation

This is where the rubber meets the road, Paul has spent time essentially identifying the party in the church that was causing strife in the church and said, you need to wake up. You are a bunch of hypocrites. Now he is driving it home. He tells them in Romans 2:25

Romans 2:25 ESV

25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.

In other words, these people were telling the men in the church that you have to be circumcised to truly be a faithful Christian. Paul speaks directly against this and tells them that they are foolish for believing that circumcision is part of salvation.

Paul’s graciousness comes through here too. He says sure it is of value to be circumcised if you obey the law, but the moment you break one law, you are totally uncircumcised.

Then Paul adds, Romans 2:26

Romans 2:26 ESV

26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?

Basically, do you not realize that if someone who is uncircumcised kept the law then that they would be found righteous before God without being circumcised?

Notice the conculsion Paul lands with in verses 27-29: Romans 2:27-29

Romans 2:27–29 ESV

27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

He states:

That keeping the law is more important than circumcision.

Being a “Jew” is not a matter of the outwardly but what is inside the person.

and third, salvation ultimately comes from God by the Spirit’s work in the heart!

A few things to remember, as we see later in Romans, Paul is not diminishing the value of the Jewish people he is telling them that the Gentiles are now fully grafted into the vine. Also, that the only way to be saved is through the saving Work of Jesus. There is not two gospels. There is only one, the saving work of Jesus. It is offered freely to both Jew and Gentile!

Paul is telling the people stop relying on the law to save but seek a changed heart through the saving work of Jesus Christ!

Application

You can…

Be baptized and never be born again.

Wear a cross but never carry yours.

Serve on a church team but never surrender your heart.

Have perfect church attendance but no personal repentance.

Pray over your food but never truly hunger for God.

Religion without regeneration is spiritual self-deception.

Illustration

The Rusty Car With a Fresh Paint Job

A man owns a classic car—on the outside, it looks incredible. Cherry red paint. Gleaming rims. Tinted windows. Even a custom license plate that says “BLESSED.”

It gets compliments everywhere it goes.

But under the hood? The engine is rotting. The belts are cracked. The oil hasn’t been changed in years. It barely runs—but it looks amazing.

Eventually, the car breaks down completely in the middle of the road. And when the mechanic comes, he says,

“You spent all your time shining the outside, but you never touched the heart of the car

CONCLUSION: This morning it is time for a heart check up. Have you found yourself more concerned about the outside of your life and ignored your heart? Have you found yourself like the Jews Paul is addressing, more concerned about appearances rather than the life you live? Maybe this morning you need to let God work on a strong hold of your life. Invitation