Sermon Tone Analysis

Romans 2:1-16.

wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.”

A father complained about the amount of time his family spent in front of the television.

His children watched cartoons and neglected schoolwork.

His wife preferred soap operas to housework, His solution!

“As soon as the baseball season’s over, I am going to pull the plug.”

How wicked sin looks on other people.

In chapter 1 of Romans Paul painted a picture of the deplorable condition of the heathen.

Yet at the same time that Paul was talking about the heathen world, and their descent into idolatry and immorality, he knew there was a class of men self-righteous – moralists) who would say “Amen” to his verdict of the guilty condemned heathen, and yet we’re doing the same things!

Paul now calls the moral man into the court room to show him that he too is lost, and guilty before God.

Theologian F.F. Bruce – We know that there was another side to the pagan world of the first century than that which Paul has portrayed in the preceding paragraphs.

What about a man like Paul’s illustrious contemporary Seneca, the Stoic moralist, the tutor of Nero?

Seneca might have listened to Paul’s indictment and said, ‘Yes, that is perfectly true of great masses of mankind, and I concur in the judgment which you pass on them – but there are others , of course, like myself, who deplore these tendencies as much as you do.’

We all know people that reject any idea that they are sinners.

I’m a good person

I’m not that bad

Remember that, whenever we point a finger at someone we have four fingers also pointing back at us.

The key word in this section is the word ‘judgest’, ‘judgment’, or ‘judge’.

Judgest - Krino - to separate, to pronounce judgment “I’m not like them!”

It’s used nine times in this text.

In verse one; man is on the throne judging.

In verse sixteen; God is on the throne judging man.

Paul points out that there are four reasons why the moral person is under condemnation:

Moral people are condemned...

I.

According to Their Own Judgment

(vs. 1)

Romans 2:1, inexcusable

- anapologia - without legal defense

Paul is not saying it’s wrong to judge something as wrong.

What was wrong with their judgment?

It was hypocritical.

Why? (vs. 1) “…for thou that judgest doest the same things.”

Notice the following things:

A. Connection of Two Judgments

Look at Romans 1:32 and Romans 2:1:

“Therefore” Connects these two verses - If they are judged for doing wrong, then so will you!

The second thing I want you to notice is an...

B. Old Testament Illustration

David & Nathan – “… ,Thou art the

man …”

For the man after God’s own heart, the response to “Thou art the man” was “I have sinned against the Lord.”

That is what Paul and ultimately God is trying to get here from the Moral man.

Thirdly I want you to notice the question that has to be asked...

C. The Moral Man?

How can they be moral and do the same things?

1. Sins of good standing

example: covetousness (1:29)

The only difference between us and those big sins listed in chapter 1, is our sins are more socially acceptable.

2. They don’t understand the nature and extent of sin.

God views sin differently than we do!

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

3. The self-righteous are blind to their own faults, and judgmental of others.

Illustrations: John 8 – Woman taken in adultery - double standard

4.They are not like the heathen in Romans 1:21

Knowing God, they glorified Him not as God.

Un-Godly – Romans 1:30, “Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,”

But there are sins of omission

So Moral people are condemned according to their own judgment.

II.

According to the Truth

(vs.

2-5)

We can be sure (vs.

2) – God’s judgment is according to the literal “TRUTH” – not man’s truth, but God’s eternal truth!

Why would men go on sinning (three words)

A. ‘Thinkest’

(vs. 3)

I will escape judgment!

No one really saw me.

We look to the left, we look tot he right we look behind us and in front of us, but we forget to look up!

B. ‘Despisest’

(vs.

4)

God is good, he won’t judge

Despisest - think lightly

goodness - agathosune - kindness,

Forbearance - anoche - holding back, delay

longsuffering -= makrothumia - suffering a condition for a long time before becoming angry and administering judgment.

The Bible says this moral man thinks lightly of these things.

He doesn’t recognize that all of this is God trying to lead him to repentance.

C. ‘Treasurest’

(vs.

5)

treasurest - thesaurizo - to lay up in store.

Picture putting money in the bank.

What should we be laying up?

The day of wrath?

When? – The Great White Throne Judgment (Rev.

20)

Most people think that God will accept them as good enough.

They never dream that God would ever actually reject them.

What they do not see is that God’s judgments are based upon truth.

truth of what a person’s thoughts and motives are,

of what is really within a person’s mind and heart.

God’s judgment is based upon the truth of a person’s imperfect nature and behavior.

So Moral people are condemned according to their own judgment, and according to the truth…then thirdly...

III.

According to Their Works

(vs.

6-10)

Is Paul teaching we can be saved by doing good?

(vs.

7)

(vs.10)

No!