Don t Store It Up! (Romans 2:1-16)

1 Don t Store It Up! (Romans 2:1-16) by Rev. Dan McDowell August 26, 2018 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God s judgment? 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? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God will repay each person according to what they have done. 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does

2 good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. (Romans 2:1-16) Sometimes it is easy to miss the big picture because we are too narrowly focused. For example, it is easy for a couple to get caught up in the pleasure of a moment and miss the larger consequences of their passion. It is even easier to spend everything we have enjoying the present, with little thought to the future. We get so wrapped up running around trying to provide the best experiences for our children, that we miss the eternal importance of establishing spiritual priorities. In a similar way, when you do a study of a book of the Bible, it is easy to focus on the present chapter and forget how it fits into the bigger picture. The Bible must always be read in its context. So, as we move into the second chapter of the book of

3 Romans, it is important that we get the big picture. Paul began his letter by showing the need that men have for a Savior. Several weeks ago I shared three popular excuses that people give when they are confronted with their sin: I didn t know it was wrong I m a good person or I m not as bad as others. I go to church In the first chapter, Paul addressed the first objection. He argued that everyone knows enough about God simply by observing nature. When we do not worship Him and serve Him that is willful rebellion, not ignorance. This morning we are going to look at the second excuse: I m a good person or I m not as bad as other people. PART ONE: RECOGNIZING SIN IN OTHERS You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God s kindness leads you toward repentance? (2:1-4) Up until now Paul has underscored the most blatant sinners. They flaunt their sin. It s often very public. Most people recognize that these actions are sinful and warrant God s judgment. But Paul tells us that recognizing the sin in others

4 creates problems for ourselves. If we know that such kinds of behavior are sinful, then we are in essence condemning ourselves when we do those things. Our first reaction, of course, is to say that we don t do them. We aren t like those people. But Paul suggests we may be more like them than we admit. Our sin may not be as obvious but we are guilty of many of the same offenses. Perhaps you have seen reports on rampant cheating in schools. Students use cell phones and the internet to do it. I m sure you recognize that this is wrong. It turns education into a sham by aiming to get grades without learning. It is unfair to those who do their own work. And it is wrong because those who learn to cheat early repeat that behavior throughout their lives and fail to learn how to think for themselves. Paul s point is simple. If we recognize cheating as sinful in others, we cannot escape condemnation when we do it ourselves. There are many other examples. Jesus said when we hate another person we are guilty of murdering them in our hearts. When we lust after a person we are guilty of committing adultery in our heart. When other things are more important in our life than our relationship with the Lord, we are just as guilty of idolatry as the person who bows before a statue. Much of the time we spotlight the faults and sin of others so that we don t have to confront those things in our own lives. But the very fact that we recognize the wrong in others, is something that brings condemnation on our own actions. Our sin might be less blatant but it is still sinful. Suppose I was $10,000.00 in debt. If someone else is $1,000,000.00 in debt their debt is greater, but it doesn t that I am not in debt. Likewise, just because someone else murders a person, it doesn t mean that since my hatred of another is not as bad as the murderer s act, I am still guilty of sin. So what is the outcome of all this and what should we do about it? We will talk about that in part two!

5 PART TWO: THE SOBERING TRUTH But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. (v. 5) Paul says that stubbornness (refusing to admit that we are doing wrong) and refusing to repent (turning away from sin and toward God and His standards) results in storing up wrath against themselves for the Day of Judgment. We like to think that if we ignore something long enough, it will go away. We think time will erase the memories of our mistakes. We have learned to excuse each other for our little sins. For example, we assume that because people living together has become commonplace, it is now OK. Because everyone has bad days, it excuses our fits of temper. We have convinced ourselves that since everyone pads their expense account or under-reports their income it makes it acceptable. Paul reminds us that God s standards do not change. Society may accept certain sins as normative God won t. The fact that we refuse to call these things what they are, only increases the depth of our sin and adds more fuel to the fire of God s wrath. Many people believe there will no day of judgment. They conclude that because God is love He will never send anyone to hell. Upon closer examination, it is easy to see that isn t justice. How loving is a God who ignores wrong-doing? How loving would God be if He looked at the Holocaust and said, Oh, we ll just ignore that? How righteous and good would God be if He saw the outright rebellion of men and did nothing? How could we call God just if He never addresses wrong? Do we consider parents who refuse to discipline their children loving? Or do we

6 see them as weak and neglectful of their responsibility? Do we see employers who overlook the disrespectful and lazy work of some workers as loving? Or do we feel they are being unfair to other employees and the customers they serve? If our government responded to Terrorist activity by saying, Oh well, these things happen! would we say our government was showing love or weakness? The reality of Judgment is a necessity. Paul indicates the Day of Judgment is a reality because it is obvious that such a day must come. But what are the characteristics of God s judgment? It will be righteous. In other words, it will be a true and accurate judgment. When we judge others our judgment is skewed by our prejudices and assumptions. We assume that others meant to do evil and we never meant to hurt anyone. God knows the truth. In verse 16 we are told that God judges the secrets of our hearts. God has ALL the information. God is just. It will be objective: 6 God will give to each person according to what he has done. 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. (v. 6-8) God s judgment is going to be based on what we did or did not do in our lives. In Matthew 25 Jesus separates the sheep and goat on the basis of how they treated other people. If anyone stands before God on the Day of Judgment and say, That s not fair! God will show us exactly what we did to deserve His wrath. When I played football in college that is what film day was like the day after a game. The coach would go over the game film and show us by clear demonstration

7 who missed blocks, tackles and other assignments. It was all there in slow motion for everyone to see. I imagine that is what judgment day will be like. But doesn t the Bible say we are saved by grace and not by our works? That is exactly what Paul teaches. But we must remember the context. In Romans 3 he draws the conclusion that there is none that is righteous, not even one. Paul is not trying to prove that we can earn salvation by our good deeds. He knows that s impossible. Paul indicates that the good works required for salvation is tied directly to the pure motives of seeking the honor and glory of God. And that leads us to the next characteristic of God s judgement: It will be Impartial: 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. (2:9-11) The standard of judgment will be applied the same for the Jew and the Gentile. Today we have the feeling that people can get away with anything if they have enough money or influence. The system is not fair. The person who has an overworked public defender trying their case will not get the same kind of representation as the person who can afford a dream team. But God will judge everyone by the same standard. You won t get cheated and you won t be able to buy your way out of trouble. The final characteristic of God s judgement is this: It will be appropriate. All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who

8 do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God will judge men s secrets through Jesus Christ... (v. 12-16) There will be those who tell us that they did not grow up religious; they don t know the Bible; or they grew up in disadvantaged circumstances. Paul s tells us that we will be judged by what we know, not by what we don t know. If you grew up in the church hearing the message of salvation, you will be held accountable if you ignore it. If you knew the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule and the Sermon on the Mount but ignored them, you will be held accountable. However, if you did not know these things you will not be judged by them. However, Paul says the requirements of the law are written on our hearts. We have been given a conscience and will be held accountable for going against what we know to be right. We can deaden our conscience so that we no longer feel guilty but that doesn t change the fact that we know the difference between right and wrong. The very fact that we don t live up to our own expectations shows that God s judgment is just. APPLICATIONS So, what should are we to conclude? Sin is defined by God, not by us. We tend to think that we are ok by comparison to others. But God doesn t compare us to others; He compares us to His perfect standard - and we all fall short. There is also no such thing as a truly good person. There are people who are nicer than others but there is no one who is good in God s eyes. There is no

9 one who consistently does what is right with the intention of glorifying and bring honor to the Lord. Even our best deeds are tainted with selfish motives. Understand the implications of this. When a loved one dies we naturally want to spotlight all the good things they did. That s not a bad thing to do. We should treasure the good in the people around us. But never make the mistake that someone is going to Heaven because they were a good or even an outstanding person. If you are counting on the fact that you or a loved one is better than others to get you or them into Heaven, you are deluded. Apart from Christ, we are all sinners deserving Hell. When we notice the sin of others it should prompt us to look at ourselves. It would be a good practice for each of us to hold a mirror to ourselves every time we recognize sin in others: When we see someone who is arrogant we should ask: are there places in my life where I think I am better than others? When we see someone ignoring the Lord we should ask: are there areas of my life where I ignore God and His will? When we see someone ripping someone off we should ask: am I stealing from others in any way? When we see someone being abusive we should ask: am out of line with my gossip, criticism, unkind words or in any other way? When we know someone is struggling with substance abuse we should ask: does anything have control over me (food, debt, television, sports or any other preoccupation)? When we suspect someone is being unfaithful we should ask: Am I giving my relationships the attention they deserve; am I giving my best? There is a way out. When we only look at this one section of Romans it is

10 easy to conclude that things are hopeless. If all of us sin, and since sin leads inevitably to God s eternal judgment, then we seem doomed. But the remainder of the book of Romans gives us the good news. Even though our sin puts us in a hopeless condition, God sent His Son into the world to pay for the sin and rebellion of everyone who will entrust themselves to Him. The whole point of exposing our sin is to drive us to Jesus. So take a good look in the mirror. See the reality of your situation and then decide today that you will go to Jesus. Turn to Him to save you from your own rebellion and make Him the Lord and Ruler of your life. These truths inspire holy living. This passage reminds us of the nature of holy living. We need God s help to live God s way. And when we know we are doing wrong but don t do anything to change, we show contempt for His kindness, tolerance and patience. We demonstrate that we lack a true appreciation for His grace. We mock the sacrifice of the cross. People will have a right to question our faith. So be determined in your discipleship. That s what we mean in our mission statement when we say Follow Jesus. Be as dedicated to honoring the Lord as you are to the things that are most important to you; your health, your money, your car and your home. Be as diligent in growing in grace and truth as you are to working on your golf game, rooting for your favorite team, or cheering for your children. We may not like the sinful people around us. But if we pay attention, we will be reminded that apart from God s grace in Christ, we too are headed to Hell. That s a truth we must never take for granted.