The Impartiality of God

Second Argument (2:1-11)

Let’s read our text and we’ll jump right in.

Leveling argument: no one has a superior position.

Diatribe: an argument with an imaginary person (he does it with a gentile teacher (vs1-11) and then a jewish teacher (vs17-24) with an argument to the both of them in vs.12-16)… we should remember this is an honor/shame culture… so he doesn’t come right out and shame them, but leads them to the space where they can have internal reflection and make the necessary change.

Paul will eventually argue that to whom more is given, more is required (vs 11)

Just because you are nice doesn’t mean you’ll escape the judgement of God. It’s a universal judgement of sin. Paul is looking to level the “moral high-ground” that we all fall short (vs1). Some would say at the same time that there are good moral people and bad moral people… Paul is critiquing the moral teachers of Gentiles and Jews.

The moral high ground, A position of moral authority or superiority that one’s arguments, beliefs, ideas, etc. are claimed or purported to occupy, especially in comparison to a differing viewpoint. (Used especially in the phrase “take/claim/seize/etc. the moral high ground.”)

A position of moral authority or superiority that one’s arguments, beliefs, ideas, etc. are claimed or purported to occupy, especially in comparison to a differing viewpoint. (Used especially in the phrase “take/claim/seize/etc. the moral high ground.”)

When we look at the “moral high ground” it can implies and many times is used to abuse others to make ourselves look better. A pride in looking down on others because we know that we are better, our decisions are better, that we have truth. Therefore that translates (consciously or subconsciously) we are better. There is truth, there is right and wrong, and even this can be a sinful weapon to claim superiority over a person.

Take any culture. Most of Western Europe has this deep sense of “high ground” though maybe not moral… superiority complex. When I lived in Austria the movie babe had each animal speak in the distinct dialect of each region (9-regions) and it was highly degrading to some and not to others. Whole current of superiority that runs through that has been there for 100’s of years.

Americans… we’re the best. You travel and you can find them just about anywhere… they are loud, completely oblivious to the cultures and people around them. We had a game when we travelled… who could spot the Americans first. The other factors though is we like comfort (shoes/sneakers), we like to laugh, we smile a lot, we tend to ask “how are you?”… those are some positive things. I fully embraced this in Israel… selfie stick, baseball cap, taking pictures of me and everything around, laughing, having a great time.

Christians… we can easily take the moral high ground and look down on others. When we look down and not at others, we start to separate ourselves. When we walk with others with addictions, bad behaviors, those in bad situations, people not like us… the first moment we compare ourselves to them, we’ve begun to move from level to a false sense of superiority. I DO THIS ALL THE TIME. IT KILLS ME. I DON’T LIKE THAT I DO THIS.

I think part and parcel for not wanting to do this is because it hurts and it’s SO HARD. You have to learn empathy (Brene Brown). That place to be able to sit with someone and listen. (some of us have to fight to not jump in and fix and take their battle on us)… but to move in a position that can cry with them, allow them to hurt in our presence, laugh with them, and call out injustice with them… it’s WITH-NESS.

This is what Jesus did. He is WITH-US. The Holy Spirit is the paraklete… the one who comes alongside. When we realize and believe what God said about each person, each individual, that our battle is not against flesh-blood (but principalities, and spiritual forces)… we can allow ourselves to not be threatened by people or their choices.

I use to think, if I love someone, that means I condone their action. So I would take a superior position until they changed (which they never really did) and I would inevitably be separated from them because they couldn’t stand me.

How are we supposed to be… how do we walk in this life… HUMBLE… LOVING. Humility (in the Christian context) is acknowledging and believing what God says about you and believing it to be true.

I want to share a story with you… Srinivas Gowda, an Indian buffalo racer from #Karnataka is being compared to world record holder, @usainbolt. Srinivas covered 142 meters in 13.62 seconds. Bolt has completed the 100 meter sprint in 9.58 seconds. It’s phenomenal. He’s running in a slush/muddy track (yes with two bulls)… but here’s the thing… here is his response when it was brought to him… “People are comparing me to Usain Bolt. He is a world champion, I am only running in a slushy paddy field.”

He is humble.

“When you are good at something you tell the world. But when you are great at something, the world tells you.”

“Let another praise you, and not your won mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”

God never directed to the nation of Israel to be a people that evangelized the world. They didn’t have a program to spread Judaism. God didn’t say, go tell the world cause we need this to keep going. NO… they were to be a light to the world that the true and living God exists.

There is no place for us in the moral high ground. Jesus calls us to be on equal footing… not only equal footing but to SERVE. TO SERVE… so that means knowing, believing your worth and choosing to put someone else before you.

This is what Paul is setting up for the followers of Jesus in Rome (to the Jew first and also the Greek). THERE SHOULD BE NO DIVISION. But you both are taking this moral high ground and now there is division.

Paul’s view of the wrath of God is that God doesn’t want to judge those in sin. His intention is to show his patience, forbearance, kindness towards the sinner… he desires there to be repentance. But if people continue int their stubborn ways, we are storing up wrath when the wrath will be poured out.

Paul tells them riches of kindness, forbearance, and patience… it’s not condoning bad choices… but it’s that we might turn. We in our culture reward good behavior and punish bad. We sometimes put it on God and say well He must be ok with this because we’re still here… when in fact, we’re heaping up judgment on ourselves.

This again is helpful for us in walking with others. We can be kind, we can bear with one another, we can be patient and it’s not condoning action. But in love, grace, truth we can call out destructive choices/behavior. It’s his kindness that leads to repentance.

All wrath against sin is being revealed in the gospel in the saving and judging of people. There will be a judgment day and there will be a reckoning of deeds. The actions and deeds we do in this life matter and we will give account on the day of judgment. The good news is that our judge is our savior. But Paul will not announce this til chapter 3.

God is the equal opportunity judger of all sin but is the equal opportunity of giving of grace.

We live, move, and have our being within His grace (coupled with the long arc of justice and vengeance of God)

Contrasting impartiality of God’s judgement verses the partiality of Man’s judgement

We live, move, and have our being within His grace (coupled with the long arc of justice and vengeance of God)

Rendering of works (to the Jew first and also the Greek)

English Standard Version Chapter 2

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.

God shows no partiality!

SLIDE FOR THESE VERSES

These verses form a self-contained thought unit, as their chiastic arrangement demonstrates:

A. God will judge everyone equitably v. 6

v. 6

B. Those who do good will attain eternal life v. 7

B. Those who do good will attain eternal life v. 7

v. 7

C. Those who do evil will suffer wrath v. 8

v. 8

C′. Wrath for those who do evil v. 9

v. 9

B′. Glory for those who do good v. 10

v. 10

A′. God judges impartially v. 11

A′. God judges impartially

v. 11

Moo, D. J. (1996). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 135). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

I want to be careful… it’s not being morally right or good that saves us… Paul will address this later. It’s not works righteousness. And so we don’t walk away here going “I just need to be better.” It’s about knowing, believing, loving, and following Jesus. If you do that… this stuff comes. It’s that idea of a tree… if it’s healthy and good, it produces good fruit, good action, good character… but that’s not what saves you… that’s evidence of salvation, but what saves you is Jesus.

In Jesus there should be no division. Should be faith, hope, and love… and the greatest of these is love. (Communion)

God shows no partiality!