God's Righteous Judgement

Judgment and Justification: God’s Righteous Standards

On a first read through of these passages today,

it sounds hard and unloving

it is a firm section of Scripture

BUT the TRUTH is that it points FULLY and COMPLETELY to THE GOSPEL

it points to TRUTH ——

an we must take time today to PAUSE< PONDER AND PRAY

This is TRUTH in these PASSAGES—————-

God’s Wrath is on the Sin in Man

not on Man Himself

God wants all Who Believe to come to Him

Our Scripture today points to THE GOSPEL

Following Jesus, not the Law

there is nothing we can do to save ourselves

This is the basis of

LOVE THE SINNER, HATE THE SIN

It is a MINDSET for US.

We count on God’s Grace and Love in our LIFE

Yet we think and do things to BE RIGHT

Rather than deeply UNDERSTANDING

that it is TRANSFORMATION in to BEING LIKE CHRIST

Let me give you a little deeper context

Acts 18

Paul is in Corinth —- Priscilla and Aquila —-

Aquila was a Jew and a native of Pontus in Asia Minor.

He had been expelled from Rome by the ad 49 edict of Claudius (Acts 18:2).

Suetonius records that the emperor “banished from Rome all the Jews, who were continually making disturbances

at the instigation of one Chrestus.”

From Rome, Aquila and Priscilla went to Corinth, where Paul (on his second missionary journey) met them.

There they lived together and worked at the same trade of making tents.

After such close association with Paul, they were able to instruct even the learned Apollos, a Jewish teacher who then became a Christian (Acts 18:24–28)

Remember Paul is known to have been in Corinth —- and is writing this letter to the Roman Church

The Jews are expelled from Rome

But the church is still there and active

It is a GENTILE church —— after about 5 years the Jews are able to return

and find a CHANGED CHURCH

—- Disunity occurs and PAUL Writes this LETTER

the beauty of all of Paul’s writing

is

He cuts through Man’s Manipulation of TRUTH

and POINTS to the TRUTH

One not based on the Law of the TORAH, but on the TEACHINGS of THOSE who are with CHRIST

It is NOT their HERITAGE that makes Righteous People

—- not Following the LAW

BUT HEART CHANGE

not GOOD WORKS for the sake of meeting requirements that cannot be met

but the

TRANSFORMATION OF OUR HEART through the HOLY SPIRIT

it is safe to say —— that the church in ROME is similar to the church today here in the world

a comparison i offer for understanding is the Christian and the Catholic Church today

BOTH —- a little off the BIBLICAL MARK

and off from different standards

Jewish —- LAW awaiting the CHRIST

Gentile —- collective Moralism of the World

Christian —- Believe in CHRIST

I would suggest that a JEWISH Christian wrestled with accepting the GOSPEL LIFE,

due to seeking to blend in the LAW of MOSES

it would not IMMEDIATELY MAKE SENSE TO THEM

and the GENTILE Believer —- wrestled with the GOSPEL and seeking the pleasures of the WORLD

We all suffer still with this

Our neighbors struggle with the TRADITIONS of a Church in our WORLD

—- YOU MUST DO THIS, —- Baptism to be saved, confession, Giving 10%

and many more

THIS IS REAL TODAY —- PEOPLE BELIEVE IT IS by their GOODNESS, or THEIR DENOMINATION

there are BETTER

It is CHRIST, not your DENOMINATION

it is BECAUSE OF THE CROSS, and NOT your CATECHISM

WORKS BASED MINDS

We seek to LIVE RIGHT —- and our minds want to see the LAWS to follow

We don’t want to drive on a road with no speed limits

—- we struggle at an intersection when the lights are not working

THINK on this..

You come to a four way intersection and the light is not working —— you see HUMAN NATURE at that moment

that same intersection in 15 minutes —- RECIEVES and officer of the LAW —- DIRECTING

the change happens again —— The Police are now directing —- but we grumble at the Timing or the way the Officer is managing the intersection

But wait a minute —— what if that interaction was full of the SPIRIT of GOD

Drivers being patient and KIND, gentle, loving

IT would not need the OFFICIER

This is the point of the Message today.

that Heart CHANGE is the GOAL

Judgement is for the LOST —- and seeks SELF-Justification

Christ is the JUSTIFICATION

CHRIST is the PAID IN FULL

Romans 2:1–16

Paul confronts the hypocrisy of judging others while being guilty of the same sins.

He emphasizes that God's judgment is impartial and that both Jews and Gentiles are accountable to God's law,

illustrating the principle that it is not merely hearing the law but doing it that leads to justification.

WE MUST REMEMBER that it is the HEART that must change,

Heart change Habit Change

This passage challenges Christians to look inward rather than outward when it comes to judgment.

It encourages a spirit of humility and self-examination in our own lives,

reminding us that we are all in need of God's mercy and grace.

Believers can find strength in understanding that God’s judgments are impartial and just, prompting personal reflection and growth in holiness.

God’s Wrath should scare you

God’s Wrath should scare the SIN out of YOU

For we are seeing the Verses that speak to

Love the Sinner, and Hate the SIN

We must change our THINKING

this is nothing new.

We need to be CHANGING DAILY ——

not on our works, but in OBEDIANCE TO CHRIST

This Passage is telling us not to COUNT on our DOING GOOD to EARN a PLACE

but RATHER being in CHRIST and living RIGHTEOUS

ONLY BECAUSE OF HIM

Our human minds seek PLEASURE, and PEACE

We need to understand this passage is addressing that.

We must learn to submit to HIM, Self evaluate.....

SELF EVALUATION vs. EVALUATING OTHERS

sadly we often Judge to make ourself feel better.

GOD Is the JUDGE

and HIS judgement is Fair and LOVING

JUDGEMENT

God’s standard of judgment is based on truth and fairness.

It also highlights that merely possessing knowledge of God’s law is not sufficient;

one must actively live according to it to be justified.

This message calls for authenticity in faith and a life that reflects God's righteousness,

rather than a superficial adherence to religious norms.

We know that God alone knows your heart

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

We are judges for sure. WE want to STRIKE the GAVEL of JUSTICE

We have a tendency to JUDGE others based on gossip, and one sided statements

GOD KNOWS

Practical MOMENT:

We should seek SELF EVALUATion FIRST —— ASK what did I DO, then WHAT SHOULD I HAVE DONE BETTER

This is a good starting place for PEACE with OTHERS

In Third person perspective —- we CANNOT buy into ONE side of a situation

We must be objective… we never actually know anything

We need to see both sides of a situation ——— 3 truths in TRUTH

One side’s Truth, the Others TRUTH, and THE TRUTH

we must practice this.

GOD KNOWS the HEART —- and we must LEARN to TRUST in HIS WAYS

LET HIM HANDLE IT —— You submit

Paul underscores that all have sinned and fall short, pointing to Christ as the ultimate solution who justifies the ungodly through faith, grace, and mercy.

Genuine faith is demonstrated through action,

not mere judgment of others,

as all stand equally in need of God's grace and justification.

1. Point Finger, Condemn Self

Romans 2:1–4

pointing fingers at others while committing the same sins leads to self-condemnation.

FOCUS inward with humility

seek God's grace before judging others, PRAYING FOR THEM, rather than Persecution

reinforcing the idea that God's kindness

is meant to lead us to repentance, not judgment.

God’s wrath is on the SIN in a PERSON, not the PERSON

We also must remember the DIFFERENCE in a SINNER and a SAVED person

We GUIDE the SINNER to OUR SAVIOUR

and we ACKNOWLEDGE that BELIEVERS are SAVED.

FOR THE SAVED —- we are HIS and a HE will work in YOU

Philippians 1:6 “6

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Loving Others is acknowledging

that we are a work in progress

It would be like seeing a child struggling to complete a task and you come over to help

This is our JESUS way —- to SEEK to HELP, not SEEK to JUDGE OR CONDEMN

We seek to Help to LEAD to LOVE

Romans 2:4 ESV

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?

2. Fair Judgment, Just Standards

Romans 2:5–11

God's impartiality and righteous judgment.

Everyone receives judgment based on their deeds, whether Jew or Gentile,

encouraging believers to live authentically faithful lives marked by perseverance in doing good,

reflecting the justice and grace found in Christ.

Because of CHRIST we are LOVED and REWARDED in HEAVEN

and BECAUSE of CHRIST those that don’t Accept Him will be in HELL

So we need to SPEAK the WORD to be HEARD

We need to SHOUT the GOSPEL through LIVING our LIVES

BE NOT ASHAMED

We need to make the HARD decision to LOOK INSIDE at OURSELF

and not at the ERRORS, SINS and ISSUES in OTHERs

THROUGH our MODELING OF CHRIST

We help to MODEL other to HIM

3. Hearers Only, Not Enough

Romans 2:12–16

Paul stresses that merely hearing the law does not justify; rather, it is obedience to it that matters.

Christ fulfills the law's requirements, and through faith in Him, we embody genuine righteousness

We develop a

focus on inner transformation and living by the Spirit.

Friends

Gods Wrath is on the SIN, not the Person

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Here is the Gospel

and the CONCLUSION for TODAY

Sin is what SEPARATES us FROM JESUS

GOD loves us ALL that He wanted to provide a BRIDGE to HIM

GOD wants us with ALL HIS HEART TO BE SAVED from WRATH

so God Provided HIS SON

So that ALL who BELIEVED are SAVED

It takes CONFESS with our MOUTH, and BELIEVE in our HEART

It is our HEART —— HEART CHANGE will LEAD TO HABIT CHANGE

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

it is all about our HEART

Lets Pray