Divine Justice
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks
This morning, we are going to be heading in a bit of a different direction.
As we do so, let me give you just a little bit of insight into how I approach the fulfilling of my God-given calling to preach.
You may have noticed over the 5 years that we’ve been together, that I don’t typically preach what would be considered topical messages. I don’t choose a topic to preach on, and then address that topic from Scripture.
I have done it here and there, but the majority of the time I preach from a passage in Scripture, and we study that passage over the course of the sermon. That’s called expository preaching, and it’s the method that I prefer.
The way that you approach the Bible is incredible important to effective Bible study. There are many churches and Bible Studies today which continually set themselves up for errors and false-teaching, simply due to the way that they approach Bible Study.
There is a temptation to run to the Bible, not for transformation, but for affirmation.
Say you have an idea, a philosophy, or a worldview that you believe to be true, that you are convinced is right, but you’d like to make your case even stronger. So in order to do that, you open your Bible, and search for verses that confirm your position, that prove you right. And you “spiritualize” your position by sprinkling in those cherry-picked portions of Scripture.
For example, someone may believe that God does not prohibit them from enjoying a glass of wine at the end of the day. That alcohol in moderation is perfectly fine for the Christian to enjoy. And to defend that position they run to the book of 1st Timothy:
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.
And they point to that verse, and say, “See, I am correct! It’s says right there that a little wine can be healthy!” To which I would simply reply, “Well, have you stopped drinking water then?”
I can twist that verse to prohibit the drinking of water just as easily as they can use it to permit drinking alcohol.
It is not proper Bible study to approach Scripture with the intent to affirm your own truth. Proper Bible study is to learn from the Bible because IT IS TRUTH!
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Preaching and teaching messages that deal with a particular topic, that respond to a current event, that hash out cultural issues, can be treacherous, because it is far too easy to misinterpret the Bible in order to affirm your beliefs.
EXAMPLE — Preaching Lab
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
I ran into this problem myself two years ago when we were going verse by verse through the book of Matthew. We came to chapter 19, in which Jesus discusses divorce and remarriage. And I can remember being so hesitant to preach from that passage, that I took several months of study before I was ready to stand behind the pulpit and preach it.
I hesitated because, not only is divorce an issue that most everyone in this room has been affected by in some way, but it is also a deeply personal issue to me, and I have some very strong opinions and positions about it. I spent weeks praying and studying to try and ensure that what I said from the pulpit was actually what the Bible said, and not merely my spiritualize opinion.
Frankly, the last thing you need to know is my opinion. You may respect my opinion because of the position God has put me in, but what I think should not be near as important to you as what God thinks.
We do not gather together because I am some gifted speaker. There are far better orators than I. We do not gather to rehearse philosophy, to make political observations and commentary, to benefit ourselves socially, to affirm our pre-determined values and ideas.
We gather together because God has chosen the foolishness of preaching as the avenue of His power.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
We gather in this place not to hear enticing words of man’s wisdom, but to witness the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit of God through the faithful preaching of His Word.
The last thing you need in this world is man’s ideas and philosophies, and catchy phraseology and buzzwords that are sprinkled with a verse of Scripture here and there. That’s like giving an ice-cream sundae to a man dying of malnutrition!
What we need in this day, and this hour is men with the courage to open the Bible, read what it says, apply what it teaches, and declare “thus saith the Lord!”
Introduction
Introduction
I say all of these things because, in the time that we are in, when so many issues are at a fever pitch. When we are constantly bombarded with crisis after crisis. When opinions can no longer be nuanced and balanced, but must be extreme and rigid, and conflicts abound and tempers are raging and people are more divided than ever — there is a tendency for pastors to weigh in on the issues. To address the narrative of the week from the pulpit. I shy away from that as a general rule.
What has made an impression on me, however, is the constant mention of justice. Whether racial justice, or criminal justice, or social justice. That word keeps coming up over and over again. And the fact of the matter is, justice in the way it is being presented, always divides. Human justice can never be completely just.
And instead of addressing the cultural issues of justice as the world is wrestling with it, I would like us to be reminded from scripture, of the more vital understand of a justice that is applied to all men, equally, regardless of background or ethnicity, or any other differences. This justice is universal in its scope because it is Divine Justice.
So as you hear the world fight over the concepts of justice as they interpret them and apply them, keep in mind this principle of Divine Justice that all men are judged by.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Proposition
You may have opinions on social justice, or criminal justice, or racial justice — there is a time and a place for those discussions. But as we look together into the truth of Romans 3, please consider this question — have you come to terms with Divine Justice? Do you realize that all men, regardless of their differences, will be judged according to God’s justice? And when you are judged, what will the outcome of that Divine Justice be?
Universal Guilt (10-20)
Universal Guilt (10-20)
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The Charge — Sinner
The Charge — Sinner
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
The charge against all of humanity is that we are all of us, without exception, sinners.
The Evidence — Sinful
The Evidence — Sinful
Sinful Wants
Sinful Wants
None Righteous
None with Spiritual Understanding
None that seek God
Gone out of the way = turned aside from God
All Unprofitable = depraved, worthless (to become a liability to society because of moral depravity)
None that doeth good (none that are upright)
ILLUSTRATION
During the fourteenth century Raynald III, was a duke in what is now Belgium. As the result of a violent quarrel, Raynald’s younger brother Edward successfully revolted against him. When Edward captured Raynald he built a room around him featuring windows and a door and promised him that the day he left the room his title and property would be returned to him.
The problem with this arrangement was that Raynald was grossly overweight and could not fit through the openings in the room. Raynald needed to lose weight before he could leave the room. Edward knew that his older brother could not control his appetite and sent him delicious food every day. As you may imagine, Raynald grew fatter during this time.
Anytime someone accused Duke Edward of treating Raynald cruelly he said: “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.”
Raynald stayed in that room for ten years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined he died within a year. He was a prisoner of his own appetite.
Just as Raynald was enslaved by his appetite, sinful wants plague the sinner.
Sinful Words
Sinful Words
Open Grave
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: When God Gives up (Romans 1:18–3:20)
The sinner is spiritually dead by nature (Eph. 2:1–3), therefore only death can come out of his mouth.
Lying, deceptive tongue
Lips of poison
Full of curses and bitter words
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Sinful Ways
Sinful Ways
Running to violence
Destruction & Ruin
Misery and trouble and distress
Not knowing/understanding the way/path of peace
Sinful Worldview
Sinful Worldview
No fear of God
The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, That there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, Until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: He hath left off to be wise, and to do good. He deviseth mischief upon his bed; He setteth himself in a way that is not good; He abhorreth not evil.
Statement — You would think that Paul is describing rioters and looters. You would think that Paul is describing the worst that society has to offer. He’s actually describing you.
The Verdict — Guilty
The Verdict — Guilty
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
In the Court of God’s Justice, we have no defence. We have no answer. Our mouths are stopped. We are thoroughly and completely guilty sinners.
The Sentence — Wrath
The Sentence — Wrath
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God’s Justice demands that sin be punished. And in that day convicted sinners will be condemned to the indignation and wrath of God, suffering tribulation and anguish for all eternity.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
It would serve us well to be reminded of the fact, that faced with the justice of God, we stand convicted as sinners, guilty as charged, with no defense to offer. We are universally guilty, there is no one who can escape Divine Justice. There is no hope for a plea deal, no hope of being set free on some sort of technicality.
The world may cry out for justice as they define it, but remember this, when faced with the justice of God, all sin must be punished, and all who are guilty of sin must face that punishment — and that’s every single one of us, for all have sinned.
If we were to get what we deserve, we would all spend eternity in hell.
Universal Grace (21-28)
Universal Grace (21-28)
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Justice Calls for Satisfaction
Justice Calls for Satisfaction
Sin has a penalty, and that penalty must be paid.
There are no exceptions. God’s justice demands satisfaction.
ILLUSTRATION — Judge Horace Gray of Boston who would later go on to serve as a Justice on the Supreme Court once said to the man who escaped conviction on a technicality: “I know that you are guilty and you know it, and I wish you to remember that one day you will stand before a better and wiser Judge, and that there you will be dealt with according to justice and not according to law.”
Man’s justice is always subject to errors, but God’s justice is perfect. No sin escapes His gaze, and though punishment is sometimes delayed as God grants room to repent, it is certain. No one escapes God’s justice on a technicality.
Jesus Completed that Satisfaction.
Jesus Completed that Satisfaction.
Justified through the redemption that is in Christ (Christ purchased our redemption)
Who God set forth as a propitiation —DEFINED: In theology, the atonement or atoning sacrifice offered to God to assuage his wrath and render him propitious to sinners. Christ is the propitiation for the sins of men (Webster 1828)
Through faith in His blood — Jesus died our death.
Righteousness can now be declared — sin can be remitted (passed over) and God can justify the sinner through His Son, Jesus Christ, while still being justice. Jesus satisfied God’s justice one and for all.
Justification Comes through Salvation
Justification Comes through Salvation
Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
QUOTE — “Christ died for sin. Believers die to sin. Unbelievers die in sin.”—Unknown
What is it that you are resting in?
What is it that you are confident in?
What is your plan for eternity?
What is your answer to the unanswerable demands of a just and holy God?
Are you sure His justice is satisfied, or is your trial still pending?
Do you live like one who has been declared righteous, or are you pursuing the sin that made you guilty in the first place?
QUOTE — Christian, beware lest thou think lightly of sin. Take heed lest thou fall little by little. Sin a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? Doth not the tiny coral itself build a rock which wrecks a navy? Sin a little thing? It girded the Redeemer’s head with thorns, and pierced His heart! Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent. Look upon a sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be exceeding sinful.—Charles Spurgeon
Conclusion
Conclusion
Are you acquainted with the grace of God?
Are you a recipient of His grace, or will you face His justice?
Has the punishment for your sin been satisfied?
Are you living in light of the Sobering Truth of Divine Justice? Do you live with a healthy fear of the Almighty, Infinite, Creator God?
As the world cries out in the name of they own style of justice — remember that God’s Justice demands the punishment of the whole world, and God’s grace sent Jesus Christ.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
INVITATION — HEADS BOWED, EYES CLOSED —
Is God doing a work in your heart?
ALTAR CALL [STAND] — Piano plays — Randy Leads
If you are here this morning and you aren’t sure you know Jesus as you personal Saviour, then you are in danger of facing God’s Justice for all eternity. You don’t have to walk out of here with that uncertainty, with that destiny. It would be our joy to take a Bible and show you how you can know you have eternal life — when we start to sing, you step out from your seat and come forward, and I’ll introduce you to someone who can answer your questions from the Bible
If you are here this morning, and God’s convicted your heart and shown you that there needs to be a change in your heart and mind, or your behaviors in life — it’s time to surrender to Him — when we start to sing, you step out and come pray at this altar, give it over to God, and surrender to His perfect peace today.
As we sing, you step out of your seat, and come.