Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Have you ever listened to a sermon and spent the whole time applying it to other people instead of yourself?

As a preacher I get to see things you probably don’t see sitting in the seats.

And one of the things I see is husbands/wives/siblings nudge, point, and wink at each other.

Or I’ll see a mom or dad tell their kid to pay attention because the “preacher is talking about them”.

Main Point: We should all take the warning and offer of the gospel very seriously.

As we continue in Romans starting in chapter 2 Paul says in verse 1

Romans 2:1 “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges.

For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.”

Paul has in mind here to make sure that as he was listing the devastating effects of sin in Romans 1:29-31—that the Jewish believer in Rome isn’t nudging and winking at the gentile believer in Rome while ignoring self-application and self-assesment.

Paul wants it to be very clear that there is one standard for being acceptable to God and that is Jesus.

For the Jew and Gentile the judgment of God is the same.

The Jewish believer would have no problem identifying the gentile as sinners while neglecting to identify this way themselves.

Thousands of years of cultural learning helped them in that.

The Jews after all are God’s chosen people.

—>MacArthur points out that there was even Jewish teaching stating that even the most “godless” Jew would not go to Hell but has a place in Heaven.

But Jesus is very clear in Mark 2:17 “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””

Without identifying oneself as a sinner in need of grace—there is no salvation in Jesus.

There are not two different judgments for Jews and Gentiles—God’s Judgment is righteous and impartial and our text helps us see that this morning.

We see 6 Aspects of God’s Judgment in our text.

Starting in v.2 we see that God’s Judgment is...

1.

Is Right (2)

Romans 2:2 “We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.”

Paul again is referencing Romans 1:29-31 “They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice.

They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness.

They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.”

And he says, look we know that there is judgment for those who practice these things.

And that judgment is right.

Now someone might disagree with that statement.

Conversation in Bryan Park with a man who “believed” in subjective morality.

Me punching a toddler isn’t “right or wrong”.

As a friend of mine says, “People today have become so open minded that their brains have fallen out.”

I don’t care where or when I am—if I walk up to a group of people and punch a toddler I am going to be judged as wrong.

And Paul’s point here is not that everybody accepts this—but that the judgment of God is without error.

It “rightly falls” on those who deserve judgment.

Human judges make errors.

Human judgment is prejudiced and influenced by so many outside factors, but God’s judgment is without error.

The London Baptist Confession quoting Acts 17 says, “God has appointed a day where He will judge the world in righteousness...”

God’s judgment is true and good and without error...

Transition: God’s Judgment is right.

Also, God’s judgment...

2. Is Without Exception (3)

Romans 2:3 “Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?”

“Do you suppose, O man--” is a rhetorical question.

It’s a statement.

O man, you think that God will judge you to a different standard than he judges others.

That’s what Paul is saying.

And here he really has the Jews in mind—because the Jews believed that they could forfeit some benefits in the coming eternal life—they did not believe that they could forfeit eternal life.

They are the children of Abraham.

They are the chosen ones of God.

To them belongs the promises of God.

But Paul makes it clear in vv. 9 and 10 that this judgment is both for the Jew and the Gentile.

In Matthew 3:9 John the Baptist warns the Jewish leaders—the best of the best of God’s people that they need to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance”.

He says don’t just assume that because you are Jews that you and God are good.

Application: You can’t rely on your parents faith, grand parents faith, what church you were raised in—rituals—your baptism the fact that you take communion.

God’s judgment makes no exceptions.

You must have a faith rooted in Christ or you will experience the judgment of God.

—>What, who are you trusting for your salvation?

We need to understand that as people we look different in the mirror than everyone else.

What do I mean by that?

Human nature is to judge others harshly while being lenient with ourselves and those we like—even if both parties are doing the exact same things.

Have you ever met someone who is never in the wrong?

Every story is about how someone else messed up, or misunderstood something?

They never say I really sinned here—this is my fault.

This person isn’t seeing themselves correctly.

Maybe you are that person.

You need to know that you mess up.

You do things you shouldn’t do.

You give yourself an excuse on sins that you judge others harshly on.

If someone is talking about you—that’s heinous gossip—but if you are talking about someone else—well that’s just good Christian concern?

Am I stepping on any toes?

Come on now—tell the truth and the let the Lord love you!

Friends, our God is not like us—everyone is judged without exception by the same standards.

Transition: God judgment is right, without exception.

And God’s judgment...

3. Is Sure (4)

Romans 2:4 “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?”

Remeber last week that Romans 1:18 said “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”

God’s wrath has been, is being, and will be revealed against mankind.

Paul wants to warn the person who thinks that the kindness of God and forbearance of God and the patience of God is God’s acceptance of their sin.

“Well nothing bad has happened to me so I guess that what I’m doing is okay.”

Friends, do not presume that the patience of God is the pardon of God.

This is childish thinking.

I tell my kids not to do something.

They start to do it.

I look at them and say nothing—because I’ve already said it.

They take my lack of immediate punishment to mean that what they are doing is okay.

We have this red ball in the house that is about to be destroyed.

God has spoke.

The Bible is God’s letter to us to tell us who he is and what he expects.

God does not cast a lightening bolt from the sky to fry sinners at the first, second, or thousandth sin they commit.

If he did, no one would ever be saved.

We wouldn’t last long enough to come to Christ.

Paul tells us here in v.4—God’s patience isn’t permission—it’s meant to lead you to repentance!

God’s patience with our sin is grace to us!

Do not make the mistake of thinking that because you haven’t been punished from on high that you are living a life that is pleasing to God.

Friends, there are those who live in great sin—outside of Christ—that have lives that we would call blessed but when they die they will experience the wrath of God because they never repented of their sin and trusted in Jesus.

Luke 16 gives us this exact example in the Rich man and Lazarus.

Luke 16:19 ““There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.”

And this was the pattern of his life right up until he died and found himself in Hell.