God s Righteous Judgment Romans 2:1 11

Transcription

1 God s Righteous Judgment Romans 2:1 11 Intro We have come to chapter 2 traveled far already miles to go before we sleep Apostle power of the gospel our need for the gospel suppress idolatry disoriented sex vice list murder, gossip, deceit, foolishness we all find ourselves somewhere wrath and judgement deserving of death Bleak picture perhaps you hear these descriptions and you feel you have dodged the weight of these descriptions of sin ha After all one need not be a Christian to be disciplined, self controlled, kind to others. I guess I m not in the category of people who need the gospel my innate goodness is sufficient to commend Dear Paul, I have just read the second half of Romans chapter 1. I congratulate you on a vigorous, refreshing expose of evil. I agree with you that it is disgusting when people not only behave badly but actually approve of bad behavior. It did me good to read your chapter. You will be glad to know that I for one do not for a moment approve of those who practice these terrible things (v. 32). On the contrary, I recognize them for the evils they are and agree that such people are without excuse (v. 20). I look forward to chapter 2. Yours sincerely (Christopher Ash, Teaching Romans, p. 91) Our text Paul has a word for those who think they have dodged the bullet Read Text Shut Yo Mouf We shall see that even the best of us stand before God in desperate need of his grace Sobering words on God s judgement temporal to eternal Let this text stir up humility before God and repentance towards God Two Points reflecting God s judgment is right God s judgment is fair I. God s Judgment is Right A. Second half of chapter one more generally directed to the pagan Gentile world B. Target likely Jew s in view but generally every moralizer who says I m not like those nasty people described in chapter 1 (Stott) 1. In connection with the vice list of a) Paul directs his attention to those who in smug self righteousness condemn sin in others lives without honestly assessing their own sin Paul uncovers in these verses a strange human foible, namely our tendency to be critical of everybody except ourselves. We are often as harsh in our judgment of others as we are lenient towards ourselves. We work ourselves up into a state of self righteous indignation over the disgraceful behavior of other people, while the very same behavior seems not nearly so serious when it is ours rather than theirs. (John Stott, BST: Romans, p. 82) b) Blue Ribbon panels on cable new sarcastic, bombastic radio talk show hosts be careful that we aren t being shaped to think of others with contempt and arrogant self righteousness 1

2 c) Jewish folks were not given to sins like homosexuality they are not like those but gossip, lying, disobeying parents, foolishness? (1) Paul identifies that strange human foible in that we are inclined to excuse our faults while expressing our condemnation of the faults of others [1] Judge not, that you be not judged. [2] For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. [3] Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? [4] Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when there is the log in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:1 5) d) Paul is not saying that one can t call out and condemn sin and evil PEARLS BEFORE SWINE he is addressing hypocrisy the Pharisee like tendency to condemn others with a haughty, holier than thou attitude C. We don t make very good judges you know who is a good judge? God. v. 2 in and of ourselves we all stand as sinners before God God s judgment is right God will rightly with integrity cause his judgment to fall on those who in their in live their lives apart from the grace of God no matter how cleaned up and polished our lives look like D. V. 3 in light of v.1 2 are you so deluded as to believe that a position of smug superiority somehow shields you from God s judgment? To do so v. 4 is to presume upon God the God who blesses his creation with the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience 1. All of us in varying degrees experience the bounty of the riches of God s kindness rain, sunshine, laughter, family food so many of us are able to eat like kings! SPELUNKER S FROZEN CUSTARD AND CAVERN BURGERS 2. Forbearance he puts up with us in our sin he bears with us he stays his judgment temporally as he bears with a rebellious creation HE DIDN T OBLITERATE US! 3. Patience he is slow to anger he s not touchy, thin skinned not like us Illustration: Most of us can t even be patient when we re driving, kids asking the same questions for the 500th time God s not like that he s kind, he s patient E. There is an intended to produce a specific effect turning from our hypocrisy and sin and towards God in repentance changing the direction of our lives to align ourselves with God s will 1. His gifts and blessings are intended to draw us out of our self serving lives and into allegiance to and obedience of the one who created us to turn to him in gratitude, thanksgiving, honor a) The typical way is kindness, patience The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) God's kindness is intended to give us space in which to repent, not to give us an excuse for sinning. (John Stott) F. v. 5 How great is our need to repent apart from a work of divine grace we presume upon him by continuing in our sin our hearts our hard and unrepentant towards God and because of our sin and hardness of heart 1. Apart from the grace of God every day we store up wrath for ourselves the wrath of God that will be revealed when God executes his righteous judgment against our sin day of wrath 2

3 [14] The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. [15] A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, (Zephaniah 1:14 15) [15] Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, [16] calling to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, [17] for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand? (Revelation 6:15 17) G. In our sin apart from grace we will not let the rich kindness of God produce its intended effect and we are culpable for our rebellion against God right in his judgment 1. This language of storing up is connected to blessing commentators note irony here stockpiling judgment dreadful bank account the withdrawal will come due one day soon poof no opportunity to repent face to face with the ultimate reality in the universe DAY OF HIS WRATH GOD HIMSELF who will discharge his righteous judgment upon us with more fury and might than 10,000 nuclear bombs a) He will be righteous, blameless, perfect in his judgment we will receive what at we have earned H. Application 1. A call to repentance cast ourselves on the mercy of God in Christ 2. Not just for unbelievers for any Christian here who presumes on kindness and patience and forbearance deceived into thinking because our lives are going ok God s cool with it When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, 'Repent,' he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance. (Marin Luther) (1) In kindness He gave you another breath today opportunity to repent b) There s more Paul has to say about God s righteous judgment his judgement is right II. God s Judgment is Fair A. v. 6 what is the basis for his judgment? What we do with our lives our works that reveal who we are I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds. (Jeremiah 17:10) For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. (Matthew 16:27) B. Two categories in v we all fall into one or the other 1. Patient pursuit of doing what is right, seeking glory, honor, and immortal life from God a) Receive eternal life v. 7 b) Glory, honor, and peace v. 10 Glory in God, honor from him, peace of God wholeness shalom 2. Self serving, do not obey the truth of God (chapter 1:18), obey unrighteousness a) v. 8 9 Wrath and fury tribulation and distress FROM GOD C. v this is true for Jew and Greek non Jew alike 3

4 1. The Jewish people where prone to thinking that they weren t accountable to God in the same way as others because of their privileged position as the covenant people of God we are all equal before God a) For us people who have grown up in the church doesn t matter who your parents are or what they believe, what church you go to, born in America (1) God judges us according to his standards no partiality no pass for coming to church this morning D. STOP Ben are you telling me that good people earn eternal life? Some have argued this light they know 1. Absolutely not to say this would be to blow up everything that Paul is teaching in Romans the power of the Gospel our need for grace our justification found only in Christ 2. Think about it like this Paul is describing the lives of Christians and unbelievers a) We come to God purely on the grounds of his grace 3:11 no one is righteous no not one b) In Christ by his grace he forgives all our sins because of his substitutionary death bearing wrath of God justified on the grounds of faith alone in Christ alone. c) Gospel not only grace to forgive grace to transform power of God new life that reveals itself in a growing godly character The presence or absence of saving faith in our hearts will be disclosed by the presence or absence of good works of love in our lives. (John Stott, BST: Romans, p. 84) 3. Justification is the end time declaration that we have right standing before God in the Day of Judgment but our lives matter and they will reveal our allegiance to Christ or lack thereof. Illustration: History Channel in the 1600s in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, a woman named Anne Hutchinson began having meetings in her home to discuss the sermons of the Puritan ministers in the colony and to criticize them. Miss Hutchinson had come to the conclusion that any talk of our necessity to obey God s law was opposed to the grace of God revealed in the gospel. Seeing herself as a prophetess she believed that God spoke to her directly and minimized the centrality of the Bible. Her and others who espoused similar beliefs where at the center of what is referred to as the antinomian controversy of against law. Eventually excommunicated and killed in an Indian raid. a) Antinomian strain In our day there are those who wish to say that the way we live our lives doesn t matter 4. Those in the first category are connected to repentance in v. 4 5 not perfect repentant walking by the grace of God hold in perfect tension E. Application 1. What is explained here is nothing less than heaven and hell 2. DAY OF WRATH Our lives revealed for what we truly are either redeemed and sanctified sinners or self seeking condemned wretches a) Tribulation and Distress and wrath and fury (1) OH TURN TO CHRIST NONE WOULD BE LOST I BEG YOU! I LOVE YOU! (a) Young person who must come to Christ in faith church attendance and generally good behavior won t cut it (b) HOW WE PERCEIVE THOSE AROUND US EVANGELISTIC URGENCY THE BRIDGE 3. For those who have glory, honor, immortality everything to look forward to we got a reason to sing and to dance and to rejoice! Orient yourself to that day live this day in light of THE DAY a) Sensitive conscience sneak in some legalism not perfection persistence saved by Grace alone b) You have been failing and falling get up in the strength that God provides by his grace and set yourself anew towards a life of allegiance to Christ 4

5 Close We have stared into weighty sobering realities of God s righteous judgment If there is conviction it is a supreme kindness opportunity to run into his mercy May we ever live our lives this day in light of that day pursuing a lifestyle of repentance and obedience all because of the grace of God all for his glory Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Living Hope Church. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Benjamin Kreps Website: 5