God Will Judge the Secrets of Men

Intro:

At the top of his editorial page … the editor of the Georgia Nugget prints this advice out: “ If you do not want it published in the Nugget … don’t let it happen.”

If you don’t want anybody saying anything to you about it … Don’t let it happen

If you don’t want your business in the street … don’t let it happen

If you don’t want people judging you … don’t let it happen …

Because whatever happens in the darkness … one day it will be brought to the light … either now … or later …

because God judges the secrets of man.

Luke 12:2-3 says it like this

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

That’s what our word is about today. There were some in the Church at Rome that were highly critical of others in the Church. The Jewish Christians of the day believed that they had more favor with God simply because they practiced the Mosaic Law (not knowing that Law keeping was only able to show them their sin … not rid them of their sin) and they were causing division in the church. They were looking their noses down at gentile Christians as though they were second class Christians. Before we get too far … let this be a warning for those of us who have been around the Church for a little while now and think:

- we got it going on …

- that .. because of our tenure and titles … that the LORD has placed us on “higher ground” than others …

Let us remember that there are no … Big I’s … and Little u’s here … because we are all one … “in Christ”. And The LORD will judge sin no matter who … or where … it comes from.

Judging Sin (vs:12-15)

No matter who/where it comes from.

Without the Law - speaking about the gentiles

Who did not have the law of Moses

Who did not have the written oracles (WORD) of God.

But they did have the natural conscience. They will not be held accountable for the Law that they did not have … but they will be judged by the Law of nature that was “working in them”.

In other words God placed “in them” the Law of Nature which is enough for man to know right from wrong (that’s why the thief looks before he steals something). You can see this “morality” in the many different forms of religion and their moral codes (which is .. some form of the natural law of man).

For instance take the Principles of Ma’at - set of moral rules and beliefs that guide the people of ancient Kemetic society. It is believed to be the original practice of those who have African origins. It is founded on 7 moral principles … and what is strikingly clear is that “most” ... if not “all” … Black Greek Letter Organizations … have similar principles. ON

Truth/Justice/Order/Harmony/ Balance/ Reciprocity/Propriety. And watch this … It is taught that keeping these principles was for the good and benefit for the individual, but even mores so for the society and world.

What this lets us know is that by nature man knows that right and wrong exist therefore those who do not have the mosaic law even thought they are ignorant of it … they will be judged by the Law of Nature. And because none in righteous … because none is perfect and all have sin … The Gentile … the bible says … will perish.

But not only will The LORD judge those without the law .. but He will also judge those “in the law”

In The Law - Those who had the oracles of God … Those who had the Torah … and did not keep all of it … but sinned in the least point of it would be guilty of ALL. Because” it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified”

God will judge both”

* the Jew and the gentile.

* the law breakers no matter what camp they belong to and then next the text says that The LORD will even judge the secrets.

2 Judging Secrets (vs:16a)

Ecc 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

In other words … one day … our secrets will be exposed. One day the LORD will determine if what we did in secret will be worthy of REWARD … or if what we did in secret will be worthy of REPRIMAND.

Your secret prayer life, your service to those in need without the cameras, your hidden life “in Christ” … your faithfulness to the Church is all reward worthy.

But … your night life … your secret life … your hidden life … the life you live in the shadows … those things are worthy of reprimand.

every deed with every secret thing … if you head the warning from the editor earlier in the sermon when he reminded us that if we don’t want it published … if we don’t want our business out in the streets … if we don’t want to answer for our actions … then don’t do it.

Mat 12:36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Mat 12:37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

How will the LORD judge sin … How will the LORD judge secrets? Paul says He will do it according the the Gospel … He will do it according to His word. Paul calls it “My Gospel”.

3 “My Gospel” (vs:16b)

There are many to be prayed for today … because their humanistic and secular thinking does not line up with “My Gospel”. Personal sin, the influence of the culture and deception from satan has penetrated the Spiritual Armor of many because of a weak hermeneutic (interpretation). The Gospel … My Gospel has been weakened and watered down and has been the center of attack for Post Modern Thinking and the medical fields. But

It doesn’t matter what:

The medical doctors say

The psychiatrist says

Sociologist says

The governing body or current administration says …

Your “life coach” says … sin and the secrets of men will be judged according to The Gospel of God

Spurgeon says this about the Apostle

It is here that we hear the voice (Apostle Paul) of faith, which seems to say, “Though others reject it,

Family and friends

Associates and coworkers … even though they may reject it … I am sure of it,

Is there anybody in the room … that is SURE of it … Is there anybody in the room that’s standing of the TRUTH of God’s Word?

He says “ I will allow no shade of mistrust to darken my mind … because … To me it is glad tidings of great joy: I hail it as ‘my gospel.’ If I be called a fool for holding it, I am content to be a fool, and to find all my wisdom in my Lord.”

I am content to be a fool and find ALL of my wisdom in the WORD of GOD.

“Should all the forms that men devise

Assault my faith with treacherous art,

I’d call them vanity and lies,

And bind the gospel to my heart.”

Science can’t hide sin

Psychology can’t hide sin

Physiology can’t hide sin … no ... because they are all exposed … because their deeds are evil and men loved darkness rather than the light … their sins … and their secret sins are all brought to the light by … MY GOSPEL … They are exposed … when they are held up against the life ... of … the Holy One of Israel … the one in whom no guile was found in His mouth … the Bright and Morning Star … The Branch out of the Root of Jessie … The Dayspring of Israel … The great emancipator … the Lily of the Valley … The one who was wounded for our transgressions … bruised for our iniquity … the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with His stripes we are healed …

He is the great burden bearer … sin removing … grave conquering one … The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world