Who Do You Think You Are Pt 2 7-3-2022

WALK WORTHY WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? Pt.2 Sunday July 3, 2022 Scripture Reference: Romans 2:1-4 (NLT) Intro. A. Let's begin today by looking at our scripture text. "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. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 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? 4 Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" Romans 2:1-4 (NLT) I want to add here what Jesus said to us in the Sermon on the Mount because I think it speaks clearly to the issue, we begin looking at last week. "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. 3 "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye. Matthew 7:1-5 (NLT) B. Last week we were looking at what I called "The Unrighteous Judge". We saw the description Paul gave us of this person in V.1. As I closed the message last week I gave you this challenge, "Am I this unrighteous judge?" Am I the one who is doing what Paul is so severely condemning? [] Part of the reason I wanted to share the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount is because God used them powerfully in my life when I was in Bible college to reveal to me that I was this unrighteous judge. I was judgmental, condemning, and critical of someone, and it was only because I didn't like the position, they were in. I didn't think they deserved to be in that position. As I said last week, I pretended to be on the moral high ground when in fact my attitude put me far below the person I was condemning. 1. Now I will probably say this again, but not being judgmental does not mean we keep our months shut when we see wrongs being done. It doesn't mean we just ignore sin because we might be guilty ourselves, but it does mean we better be careful to let God examine our hearts to make sure we are in the proper position to actually speak up. Trans. I have a few more thoughts I want to share with you about this unrighteous judge before we move on to the other verses here, so let's explore those points. I. THE UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGE. Again, last week we talked about who he is, now I want you to note that: B. He Will Be Judged. 1. Look at V.1 again. "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." V.1 2. What we see here is that this unrighteous judge actually condemns himself. Paul is direct and blunt in this condemnation of the sins he spoke of in chapter one. But now here in chapter two Paul says to these self-righteous Jews, "You have no excuse." Now this doesn't mean that the Gentiles he addresses in chapter one did have an excuse. In fact, look at what he said later in this same chapter. "Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right." V.14-15 What we learn here is that if we judge and criticize others without making sure our hearts are right, we are just as guilt as the one we condemn. Remember, sin is not merely an action it is also an inaction. That means there are sins of omission and sins of commission. James told us that to know the right thing to do and not do it is sin. That means if I know what I am supposed to do but do nothing it is sin, but it also means if I know what I am supposed to do and do the opposite, that too is sin. Write this down; "Sin is an issue of the heart as much as it is an issue of the hand." Listen to what Jesus said, "You have heard the commandment that says, 'You must not commit adultery.' 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye-even your good eye-causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." Matthew 5:27-29 (NLT) If you are watching The Chosen you know that in the last episode of season two Matthew is helping Jesus get the Sermon on the Mount written down. Jesus asks Matthew what he thinks about some of what he has given to him. Matthew speaks up about these words I just read. He wonders if this won't mean there will be an awful lot of people walking around with one eye. What Jesus meant by lust was the attitude of the heart. He wasn't saying if we look at man or women who we think is handsome of beautiful that we have lusted. What Jesus is addressing here is the attitude that says, "I would if I could." If the opportunity presented itself, I would commit adultery. So, we see again sin is not just in an action, but in an attitude of the heart as well. 3. Now I want to emphasis here again that Paul is not saying to us that we never have the right to speak out about things that the Bible teaches us are wrong. We are not to close our eyes to sin, whether that sin is in me or others. Once again, the emphasis here is on the attitude of our hearts. Our desire is not to be the moral police who run around trying to point out the faults and failings of others. Our desire, our attitude must be to rescue and redeem. I think Paul expressed this very well in the book of Galatians. "Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. 4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.: Galatians 6:1-5 (NLT) Trans. Now I am going to ask you to indulge me a little here. I could make this message three parts, but I am going to finish it up today, so I need to go just a little longer than usual. So, I hope you won't fall asleep on my or hurry off to a restaurant. I want to finish up today, as you can see in your outline but speaking to you of God's Just Judgement. II. GOD'S JUST JUDGEMENT. Let me read to you again V.2-4. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 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? 4 Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" The first thing we see here is this: A. Only God's Judgment Is Perfect. 1. I like how I heard a pastor many years ago express this. "We are not to judge but we are fruit inspectors." As I have repeatedly said, we are not to remain silent when we see sin and wrong being done. I can't see what is in a person heart, but I can see what they do. If you say you are a follower of Christ, but your values reflect the values of this world, more than they do the values of God's word I can safely say that things are not adding up. If you call yourself a Christ Follower, but you never darken the doors of the church accept Christmas and Easter, I can clearly see that the apple is actually an orange. 2. In the KJV in V.2 it says this, "But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth..." V.2 (KJV) The word "truth" that is used here is critical, because the word means, "The opposite of what is false." It means, this is what really is, not what we might "think" is real. Now here is why this word is so important. What Paul shows us here is that our judgment may not be true. Do you know what is in my heart right now? You might think you do, but you could very easily be wrong. Does God know what is in my heart? He knows perfectly. He knows what REALLY is, not what I think, or suspect might be real. Do you remember what God told Samuel when he was looking for the new leader of Israel and he was at the home of David? "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." 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) 3. God knows the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and by the way He can handle the truth. A few weeks ago, I saw that new Top Gun movie and it made me want to watch a few Tom Cruise movies, so I watched "A Few Good Men". That's the movie where Jack Nicolson uses the phrase, "You can't handle the truth." I have never through much about that mine except that it was powerful in the movie but studying this passage I think I got some insight. Here is why, in my opinion why we can't handle the truth. It is because all to often the truth is not what we want the truth to be. I want the truth to be what I have determined it to be, not necessarily what it really is. This is why Paul tells us to leave the final judgment in God's hand, because He does know what truth is, and He is the only one truly qualified to render a judgment. Trans. Then Paul shows us that this unrighteous judge we have been looking at has deceived himself and thinks he will escape God's judgment. B. The Unrighteous Judge Thinks He Will Escape. 1. Look at V.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? Now remember that in chapter one Paul told us that the people he was describing had minds that were dark and confused, but here what Paul is saying is that "You know better." I think what we are seeing here is a diversionary tactic. What I think is happening here is that these people feel that if they can keep the attention on the sins of others, their own sin won't be seen. I told you before of how I tried to do that the time I got caught smoking and kept saying that Howard (my older brother) was doing it too. I thought if my mom thought about Howard doing this, she would somehow forget I was doing it as well. Hey, it seemed a good plan at the time. LOL. The truth was that the hearts and mind of these Jews was just as dark and confused as the Gentiles. Look at these scriptures. "So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time-before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due." 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NLT) "The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all." Luke 12:2 (NLT) "God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NLT) Trans. Now let me share one more point with you and I will be finished. C. The Unrighteous Judge Thinks He is To Good For God's Judgement. 1. Look at V.4. "Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" V.4 Now Paul say, "Don't you see" but what he is really saying here is, "Have you forgotten?" You see to the credit of these people they did see that God is wonderfully kind. The Greek word used here means, "The riches of God's kindness." Is there any limit to the kindness of God? Paul is encouraging them to remember how extremely kind God has been to them. Then he reminds them of God's tolerance. The meaning behind this word is that God holds back. He restrains Himself. Anyone here glad that God is tolerant? I sure am. Then he speaks of God's patience. Aren't you thankful for the patience of God in your life? As I spoke of before, He knows everything in our hearts, but He is still patient with us. I am reminded of what Peter said in his letter. "The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) 2. Now here is what these people had forgotten. a) God's Kindness, Tolerance and Patience is not a blank check. We even saw this in the verse I just read. God does want anyone to be destroyed, but if we do not repent and turn to Him that is precisely what is going to happen. Just because we have not seen the judgment of God yet in some cases, that does not mean it is not coming. It may come in this life, but it will definitely come in the next. b) God's Kindness, Tolerance and Patience does not give us license to do whatever we want. Here is what the Bible tells us. "Don't be misled-you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit." Galatians 6:7 (NLT) c) God's Kindness, Tolerance and Patience does not condone sin. "Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him." Ephesians 5:6 (NLT) d) God's Kindness, Tolerance and Patience does not mean God indulges our sin. He is a good Father, and a good father will not tolerate sin. He knows the damage it does to His children. e) God's Kindness, Tolerance and Patience dose not overlook sin. "Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (NLT) 3. What we actually are seeing in this V.4 is a contrast. God is contrasting His compassion for these Gentiles, with His condemnation of Jews because of the attitude they have towards them. Look again at what He said at the end of V.4. "Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" The NIV translates this as God's Kindness, Tolerance, and Patience intended to lead them to repentance. Repentance is not only turning away from something it is also turning towards something. Repentance involves turning away from a life of sin and turning towards a life of righteousness. Jesus said in Luke 13, "And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God." Luke 13:3 (NLT) Conclusion A. As we close out our study of these first four verses, I want to re-emphasis some things I have talked about these past two Sundays. I want to remind you that Paul is not telling us to keep our mouths shut when we see sin being committed. Just as we read earlier, we want to prevent this person from experiencing God's judgment so we can't be silent. If being silent was what Paul was telling us to do, I would not be reading these words to you. After all what was Paul doing in chapter one? He was speaking out against those things that were contrary to the life God has called us to live. 1. For us we need to remember those words from V. 4. Let me read them again. "Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" V.4 Before we get up on our high horse and start being critical and judgmental of others, we better stop and remember the Kindness, Tolerance, and Patience God has shown us. Where would we be if God judged us the way we so often judge others? I do not have to walk a mile in someone else's shoes to know what their sin is like. I have my own to deal with. I think our prayer needs to be, "God help me to be as Kind, Tolerant, and Patience with these you have put in my life as you have been Kind, Tolerant, and Patient with me." 2