God is Perfect
Romans • Sermon • Submitted
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Perfect Judgement
Perfect Judgement
It can be difficult to continue talking about sin. I want to talk about the love of God and about the grace of Jesus Christ. Without discussing sin, there would be no reason to talk about Jesus Christ and what He has done for you and me.
Walking through Romans again has been convicting to me. Sin against God is still a huge problem both inside and outside the church. This is also a reminder to the believer that we still deal with a broken world that shuns the truth. Sometimes we ourselves shun the hard truth of God’s word. The Apostle Paul was a master at delivering the truth about Jesus Christ. Lets join Paul in Corinth tonight as he continues his letter to the Romans.
1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.
This still happens today. I have been in groups of people discussing sin who will minimize the sin in their lives. “Its not really that bad of a sin.” Like it should not count. If it is a sin, it is a sin. We covered this last week. Paul is speaking to those who believe themselves to be moralists. People who believe they are above others, better than others, and more deserving of God’s love. Sadly, there is still a lot of that going around. Look what Paul goes on to say to the moralist.
2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.
I use the NIV here because the NLT leaves out something important. God’s judgement is based on God’s Truth. The Greek word for truth is alētheia (ah-lay-thea). God’s judgement is based on perfect truth, not how you or I perceive the truth. Not what someone wants to believe, but the truth.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Samuel saw Eliab, a large, handsome, and strong man. He was sure God wanted Eliab anointed as King. God said “No.” In God’s perfect judgement, God chose David.
Humans are biased. We see through our lenses, our experiences, and our motives. God’s truth sees what really happens, what the facts are, what actually takes place, and what is truly in a persons heart.
3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?
It appears that Paul is directing the conversation to the Jews. Many of the Jews believed that since they were the “Nation of Israel” that they had a get out of jail free card, an automatic pass to the Kingdom.
Funny how that same mindset exists in the Church of Christ today. There is a pervasive thought process that goes something like this: “I am saved by Jesus Christ. Now, I will sit in His seat of judgement while I continue to live like the world, while I struggle, and while I continue to sin.”
There are many believers who justify the lack of fruit in their lives using the blood of Christ. They will use Christ as a way of pointing out the shortcomings of other believers.
Again, we are called to judge within the body. The kind of judging both Jesus and Paul referred to was not an appraisal of character based on conduct but a hypocritical and self-righteous condemnation of the other person. When we address sin, we are to do so with the heart of building up, not tearing down.
Perfect Patience
Perfect Patience
4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
I use the NIV here because Paul points out the Fruit of the Spirit coming from God. The word “contempt” in this context means that the Jews perverted and abused God’s kindness. They believed that because they had not experienced God’s judgement or full wrath, that He was following them with blessings and therefore, they were not sinners.
God does not bless sin, God does not condone sin, God does not indulge sin, and God does not give license to sin. What Jesus did at the cross was not so we could have a blank check to continue sinning.
The truth is that God, in His mercy, remains kind by forbearing to manifest His displeasure against sin. God spares people day to day and year to year, showing His patience or long suffering in giving human beings the opportunity to repent and be saved.
5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Paul is addressing those who believe that it is their works that will get them into the Kingdom. “But I am a good person.” “Look at all the good things I do.” “I am spiritual.” This thought process says that “there is enough good in people that a Holy God must accept me.”
God is of course pleased with whatever good we do in the world, but God is the benchmark, and God is perfect. Aside from Jesus Christ, outside of the cross, none of us can claim God’s acceptance.
Imagine having to explain to God every imperfect work, foul thought, evil behavior, ugly feeling, or sinful act. Thank you Jesus!
We are all going to face the judgement seat one day. For those not covered by the blood, it is going to be a bad day. I pray that we can reach those people before it is too late.
6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done.
Now there are those who take offense to Paul saying that God will judge according to our works. Didn't Paul say that a person is saved by faith? Yes. Later on, he says that we are justified through faith.
In the immediate context Paul was not teaching how we are made right with God but how God judges the reality of our faith.
Faith is not an abstract quality that can be validated by some spiritual test unrelated to life. God judges faith by the difference it makes in how a person actually lives. Jesus Christ Himself said:
27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds.
Good works are a result of our faith. So yes:
26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
Those who believe otherwise need to work out their salvation. Nowhere in scripture are believers told to continue sinning or given license to sin. We are told that Jesus took away sins power over us.
So here is the question. Are we without sin? No. There is now a difference. We once ran toward sin, and now we do what we can to run the other way, seeking after Jesus.
7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.
Eternal life has a name. Glory has a name. immortality came through the eternal name of Jesus the Messiah. God offered Him in our place. He is the reason why we are driven to do good, His good.
8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.
9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.
Those who do evil and do not repent are in for a terrible awakening. God’s anger and wrath against sin. Notice Paul says to the Jew first and then the Gentile? He is not separating anybody. All are included, yet the Jews were to know better. Today’s believer knows the truth and must live by His truth. We know the truth hence we have no excuse, because we know better.
10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.
Paul is building up to something in this letter. Perfect goodness does not exist outside of God which means there is no good outside of Christ. For those who belong to Christ, God has made a promise, the message of hope beyond this world.
Glory. The believer will forever be in His presence. Hurt, death, sadness, despair, none of these exist in the Kingdom.
Honor. God honors you and me as He honors His promise. His promise has a name and walked among us. Jesus Christ.
Peace. Shalom, the Peace of God.
God gives us a taste of His glory, honor, and peace in this life. Everything changes as we fall under the obedience of Christ. The sin life gets further away as we are transformed into His likeness. We experience shalom, the peace of God.
11 For God does not show favoritism.
Paul is telling us race, gender, nation, position, all out the window when it comes to God’s perfect judgement. God is impartial and He is the perfect judge.
We are going to jump ahead as we wrap it up tonight.
Perfect Grace
Perfect Grace
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
This is the second stop on the Roman Road. Highlight this verse. Nobody on earth can claim to be without sin. None are perfect, none are righteous by God’s standard.
24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Paul’s message to today’s believer. To every disciple. It is God’s grace alone through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ at the cross that frees us from sin and makes us right in His eyes. Christ is the only one who could do this.
The Greek word for grace is charis. Charis is best defined as:
Grace (charis) = “Mercy, steadfast love, compassion, kindness. Freely given to a recipient regardless of the benefit accrued by the giver.”
That same grace that you and I have so freely been given came with a heavy price that we did not have to pay. Have you ever asked “What does God get out of this deal?”
God has no needs. He desires a relationship and the love of all of His children. As ministers of the Word, as disciples, are we showing God’s Grace, Charis, to all people.
As we go into the world, are we demonstrating mercy, steadfast love, compassion, and kindness regardless of any benefit to us?
Brothers and sisters, herein exists the proof of a heart, a mind, and a life transformed by Jesus the Messiah.
God bless you tonight. Lets pray.