Paul's argument continues as he moves on to talk about God's judgement being just and good and will be the final judgement. He challenges his readers not to be caught in the position of judge, because it is not our place to judge. When we do we place judgement on others we state a fact: we too can be judged! We need to give God his place and allow him to be the judge of our lives and the world. Those who know and love Christ have nothing to fear, but those who don't follow Christ have everything to fear. But yet, grace remains. God's kindness should point us to him and his love and as Paul concludes this section he tells us a wonderful truth in verse 11: For God shows no partiality.
Romans - The heart of the Gospel is a teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. Find our more at www.annalongpc.org/sermons.
I wonder, can you remember back to 2008 and, and
2
:the more I say these dates, I have
to remember there weren't even
3
:people born here tonight in 2008.
4
:But I wonder, can you remember back?
5
:It was a moment in our national
history when judges were
6
:facing the wrath of the public.
7
:A huge proportion of media interest
was devoted to the topic, and we were
8
:told that judges were out of touch
with the views of ordinary people,
9
:that they had no idea about real life.
10
:That was the cry that
went out from the public.
11
:It was said that they'd lost touch
with the views of ordinary folk.
12
:Now this may not instantly bring
the event to mind, but perhaps
13
:you will remember the context.
14
:A 64 year old political journalist
named John Sargent bore the wrath
15
:of the Strictly Come Dancing judges.
16
:You're outstanding at dancing
really badly, declared one.
17
:And yet, the public, they just
couldn't agree, as week after week,
18
:they defied the judges and allowed
Sargent to remain in the competition.
19
:And the debate raged across the nation.
20
:And the judges rushed to seek
to defend their position.
21
:And as we know, everyone's favourite
judge, Craig Revel Horwood,
22
:declared, I think John should go.
23
:I still maintain this
is a dance competition.
24
:You need people that can dance.
25
:Sergeant, well, he took issue with
this and he relied on his strong
26
:personal following rather than his deaf
footwork as the basis for his survival.
27
:The judges and their judgement
were very much under scrutiny.
28
:Of course Sargent eventually pulled
out in the November of that:
29
:season of Strictly Come Dancing.
30
:And the reason why I tell you
that is because tonight the theme
31
:of judgement will be very much
at the centre of our thoughts.
32
:It's not the judgement of man that we
can so quickly challenge and talk about.
33
:But it's about the forthcoming
judgment of Almighty God that
34
:we learn of in the Bible.
35
:And the sad thing is, as much as the
general public thought they could
36
:challenge the expert dancing judges
on Strictly Come Dancing, they think
37
:they can do the same with Almighty God.
38
:The creator of the universe, the
one who designed creation, the one
39
:who gives breath to our very being.
40
:Humanity thinks it can question
and challenge the judgments.
41
:I've told you before, um, and this
is only week three, so I've told you
42
:at least twice already, that we have
to understand Romans in its entirety.
43
:Paul is not giving us little
snip bits here and there.
44
:Paul has one whole argument throughout
this book, particularly from chapters 1
45
:right through to the end of chapter 11.
46
:It is one line of thought.
47
:And that one line of thought is
about the gospel of Jesus Christ.
48
:So I want to bridge between the passage
that we read earlier from Romans
49
:and what we've been looking at on
these Sunday evenings just briefly.
50
:Two weeks ago we began in this letter
that Paul wrote to the Christians
51
:that met in first century Rome.
52
:They were predominantly a Gentile group,
but with a number of Jews amongst them.
53
:And we've seen already how Paul's
letter was an attempt to set out for the
54
:Christians living there the plan that
God had put in place to allow all of
55
:humankind, whether Jew or Gentile, to
have a personal relationship with Him.
56
:And you need to remember
what the Bible calls that.
57
:Because the Bible calls this
plan that God has given us as
58
:the Gospel, or the Good News.
59
:Because that's exactly what it is.
60
:The gospel is good news.
61
:In fact, it is the greatest
news we can ever hear.
62
:Paul's excited in his letter to the
church at Rome about this very good news.
63
:And we saw that in chapter 1, because
Paul said that he wasn't ashamed of the
64
:good news, but rather he said it was God's
way of offering salvation from a life
65
:lived in separation from him, and instead
to a life in a personal relationship.
66
:It's outstanding, and you know what?
67
:It's audacious.
68
:What a claim, that we can approach
the throne of God and know Him as
69
:our Saviour and our Heavenly Father.
70
:The fact that each individual living
here on planet Earth, each one of us
71
:can have a personal relationship with
the God who made and controls not only
72
:the world, but the entire universe.
73
:That's quite something, and
yet it is absolutely true.
74
:And so for Paul, this really is good
news, and we're going to hear lots
75
:about the good news as we study the
entirety of this letter together.
76
:However, Paul sets out to show
us the good news by first helping
77
:us to understand the bad news.
78
:And maybe that's what you've
picked up towards the tail end
79
:of chapter one, and as we were
reading the start of chapter two.
80
:And he doesn't do that to tell us
about the bad news just to keep
81
:a sense of balance to his letter.
82
:It's not as if he's trying
to have an argument that...
83
:As in a debate that people can come
back and challenge him and say you
84
:were biased one way or the other.
85
:No, he tells us the bad news
for a purpose because it helps
86
:us to understand the good news.
87
:It puts the good news in its context.
88
:He's basically answering the
question, why do we need a saviour?
89
:And the simple answer is, we are sinners.
90
:And being a sinner means something.
91
:It means that we are against God.
92
:And so Paul wants to make it
clear that if you're not for
93
:God, well you're against Him.
94
:There's no middle ground, there's no
grey area, it is that black and white.
95
:You're either with God,
or you're against Him.
96
:And so Paul tells us the
problem that we're in.
97
:And then he tells us later in his
letter how we can escape from it.
98
:The bad news is that the entire human race
is viewed by Almighty God as having fallen
99
:short of the standards that He requires
for us to live in a relationship with Him.
100
:And His sense of justice and perfection
requires that He must deliver judgment.
101
:And And at this moment we see how the
nation were in uproar at the Strictly Come
102
:Dancing judges in 2008 because we think
that we know better than the experts.
103
:We think we know better than God.
104
:That's a very foolish position to be in.
105
:And that's the message of
Romans chapter 2 in a nutshell.
106
:One day, the day of judgment,
Almighty God will judge us and
107
:deliver His verdict on whether
we've lived in the way He intended.
108
:And as we've seen from the passage,
Paul's argument is dense and it's complex.
109
:But that's it in a nutshell.
110
:One day, on the Day of Judgment,
the Almighty will deliver His
111
:judgment on each and every one of us.
112
:So let's look at these two, or
these 11 verses in two parts.
113
:The first part is in verses 1 to
5, and the warning of judgment.
114
:If you recall back to what we were looking
at last week, there was a long list of
115
:things that Paul told us were sinful,
that the sinful world loves, and he
116
:expected his readers to agree with him.
117
:Indeed, these things were sinful,
and we should stay away from them.
118
:And I hope that as we read them, we would
be nodding our heads as well in agreement.
119
:So Paul expected his readers to
agree with his indictment of common
120
:pagan practices that were listed
there in Romans 1 verses 18 to 32.
121
:And his readers might agree that
people deserve God's wrath for
122
:their depravity, and rightly so.
123
:And pagan philosophers such as
Seneca and Epictetus shared Paul's
124
:hatred of corruption, and his fellow
Jews agreed that idolaters, liars,
125
:and murderers merit just judgment.
126
:So it seems anyone who was a
thinking person at the time of
127
:Paul all agreed that these things
were not good for a common society.
128
:And perhaps they even thanked
God for their goodness as the
129
:Pharisee did in Luke 18 verse 11.
130
:I thank you my God that I
am not like one of these.
131
:Perhaps they became so self righteous
in what they saw because they saw in
132
:themselves not the sin that they wanted.
133
:Yet Paul warns those who agree with
him too quickly, for in passing
134
:judgment on others they actually
in turn condemn themselves.
135
:Because this is what verse 1 tells us.
136
:We seem to have lost some
things just at the moment.
137
:But verse 1 there, if you have
your Bible open, tells us,
138
:Therefore you have no excuse, O
man, every one of you who judges.
139
:For in passing judgment on another
you condemn yourself, because you, the
140
:judge, Practice the very same things.
141
:When we pass judgment, we
accept the principle that
142
:judgment is just and necessary.
143
:Those who condemn others think
they are on God's side, but are we?
144
:Are we really?
145
:Because verse 2 tells us, and hopefully
there's something coming back up just now.
146
:Verse 2 says, We know that the
judgment of God rightly falls on
147
:those who practice such things.
148
:So when we judge others, we're
stating something that we believe
149
:that there is a right to be judged.
150
:The problem is, we don't
have the right to do that.
151
:The judgment of humanity is only for
God and Him alone, because it is His
152
:standard by which we are judged, not ours.
153
:If we believe that God is judge
and use His law to make judgments,
154
:we admit then that we are liable
to that very judgment as well.
155
:So, when we judge others for their
sins, we end up condemning ourselves.
156
:When we sin, and we do the same thing.
157
:Cause Paul continues in verse 3,
Do you suppose, O man, you who
158
:judge those who practice such
things, and yet do them yourself?
159
:that you will escape the judgment of God?
160
:Paul's saying, wake up.
161
:Do you think you can play God?
162
:Because you can't.
163
:Because if you're going to judge
people on the merits that you believe
164
:are from God, then you will be
judged by those very same merits.
165
:If we practice or habitually commit the
same sins that we condemn in others,
166
:we will not evade God's judgment.
167
:We hate gossip, but we tell tales.
168
:We become angry when others break
their promises, but then we make
169
:promises that we can't deliver.
170
:Or we condemn great evils, but we
practice lighter versions of them.
171
:So we condemn cursing, but
then use harsh language.
172
:We condemn murder, but we shout
at others and say we hate them.
173
:And we condemn theft,
but we succumb to envy.
174
:Isn't it easier to detect the faults
of others than to see our own?
175
:We all do it.
176
:It's easier to point the finger at
someone else who isn't doing what you
177
:think they should be doing by asking,
well, am I doing what I should be doing?
178
:And what it means to live for Christ.
179
:And when people read Paul's comments on
sin, they tend to agree, they may even
180
:feel pride that they share his morals, but
there is no merit in condemning others.
181
:What counts is keeping the
law, not using it as a weapon.
182
:Because Paul declares later in verse 13,
that we'll look at in a couple of weeks
183
:time, For it is not the hearers of the
law who are righteous before God, but the
184
:doers of the law who will be justified.
185
:Now, that's not to say that we
live on a works righteousness,
186
:that it is our works by keeping
the law that earned our salvation.
187
:But as we'll see in a few minutes, it's
the demonstration of our faith that
188
:means we want to keep God's standard.
189
:That yes, we will not want to sin and
that we will trust him as the judge of
190
:our neighbor and indeed of ourselves.
191
:And as we move into verses 4 and 5, we
see Paul challenging our presumptions.
192
:Paul says that we can easily presume
on God's kindness and goodness, thus
193
:ignoring his wrath on unrighteous people.
194
:And an unknown critic once quipped,
God has for, God has to forgive.
195
:That's his job.
196
:Are we in the risk of
saying the same thing?
197
:Because often this can be the thought
that we have that no matter what we do
198
:and how often we do it, God simply has
to forgive us and we use language that
199
:his love is greater than his wrath.
200
:But we can't do that.
201
:We can't play God's kindness.
202
:God's kindness is there to tell us how
much we need him because God's kindness
203
:is counter to what his wrath is.
204
:And so Paul goes on to warn us that
thinking like this will only come
205
:back, quite literally, to bite us.
206
:Check yourself.
207
:Check your attitude towards sin and God
and see what you're telling yourself.
208
:If you have little regard for sin,
and don't take it seriously, and that
209
:it doesn't really matter, you think
God will automatically forgive me,
210
:well then you are in serious trouble.
211
:Yes, God does forgive, and will forgive
when we seek Him, but He expects a change.
212
:Not a return to that same sin.
213
:And we have this confidence that
when we seek his forgiveness,
214
:we can keep close to him.
215
:And we can stay away from sinning, because
as Paul tells the church in Corinth, in 1
216
:Corinthians 10 verse 13, No temptation has
overtaken you that is not common to man.
217
:In other words, we all
face sin and temptation.
218
:But this is what Paul says, God is
faithful and He will not let you
219
:be tempted beyond your ability.
220
:But with the temptation He will
also provide the way of escape
221
:that you may be able to endure it.
222
:The goodness of God here is the invitation
to seek Him and in His faithfulness,
223
:and He will keep us from sinning.
224
:But when we do sin, He will also provide.
225
:the way of escape.
226
:If you struggle with a particular
sin, go to God and trust
227
:Him for your escape from it.
228
:The truth is, as 1 John chapter 1
and verse 8 confirms, we all sin
229
:and we all need God's forgiveness.
230
:He offers it freely tonight to each and
every one of it, one of us, but we can't
231
:simply depend on this unspoken agreement.
232
:We must go to Him to receive
it, to confess our sin.
233
:And know in fullness the covenant
of salvation that he gives us
234
:through his son, Jesus Christ.
235
:That once we are his, we
are his for all eternity.
236
:That doesn't mean we fall back
and sin and sin and sin again.
237
:Sin should be abhorrent to us.
238
:We should hate sin.
239
:And we should love God.
240
:And as we love Him more, then we
will fall away from those things that
241
:so easily entangle and ensnare us.
242
:The second part of this
passage is in verses 6 to 11.
243
:And it's God's judgment
will be just and impartial.
244
:Whenever you're a television judge,
well, I'm assuming whenever you're a
245
:television judge, I've never been one.
246
:I never want to be one.
247
:But you're there because you are an
expert in what you're called to judge.
248
:And so let's go back to
Strictly Come Dancing.
249
:These are all people who have
choreographed or danced themselves
250
:and that is their professional job.
251
:So they know what to be looking out for.
252
:They know how to make a judgment
whether someone is good or not so good.
253
:But they can become impartial.
254
:Because they are human, or
sorry, they can become partial.
255
:They can like a character or not.
256
:They can resent someone, or
they can really love them.
257
:They can have their favorites, and they
can have the ones that they don't like.
258
:And so that's how we begin to think
when we see that carried out in front
259
:of us on our television screens.
260
:We begin to see that.
261
:That's God.
262
:We begin to think that,
that God has favourites.
263
:When we do appear before God,
and that day will happen, He
264
:will judge with perfect equity.
265
:Verse 11 tells us that
God shows no partiality.
266
:In other words, God isn't swayed
by our appearance, and He's
267
:not swayed by external matters.
268
:Neither beauty, nor wealth, nor
achievement, nor family ties impress God.
269
:And we need to know that because
at times we rely on these things
270
:for our salvation before God.
271
:Aren't we good?
272
:None of us are good.
273
:Not one.
274
:So don't rely on these things, rather rely
on God and who He is, because His judgment
275
:will be just and it will be impartial.
276
:And verse 6 tells us that He will render
to each one according to His works.
277
:We can often ask why God will repay each
person according to what they've done.
278
:We see this in the stories that
Jesus told as well as here Paul
279
:now, saying that God will render
to each one according to His works.
280
:Does he really judge according to works?
281
:And if so, have grace and
the gospel then disappeared?
282
:Well, the answer is no.
283
:Paul will soon point out that believers
are justified by faith, not works.
284
:Yet the Bible consistently says
that God will judge our works, our
285
:deeds, our words, and our thoughts.
286
:Judgment according to deeds
is not salvation by works.
287
:Judgment according to works is correct
because our words and deeds, our
288
:works, follow our heart commitments.
289
:Judgment by works is not
threatening if we love God.
290
:If we seek God's glory and
honor, it will show in our deeds.
291
:He notices every loving
act that is born of faith.
292
:If a man or woman feeds the
hungry, shelters travelers,
293
:and befriends the lonely.
294
:Well, he remembers it.
295
:But judgment does loom, and it looms
for those who are self seeking and
296
:do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, as verse 8 says.
297
:The term self seeking refers to those
who labour, even at good things,
298
:but they do it for selfish gain,
they do it for acknowledgement.
299
:rather than from a genuine, pure heart.
300
:Aristotle used the term to
describe men who sought political
301
:office for selfish gain.
302
:Those who live for themselves and
reject the truth experience, those
303
:who do it and reject the truth
experience trouble now and wrath later.
304
:But, Paul says that if we persist in
righteousness, God will give eternal.
305
:Again, this is not salvation by works.
306
:Rather, each human travels a path
that leads to heaven or to hell.
307
:And that path bends and wobbles,
but it is paved with a through line
308
:of words, deeds, and affections.
309
:Jesus offered himself for the redeemed,
but his work is no mere transaction.
310
:It's not sign at the bottom of
the creed and gain eternal life.
311
:Rather, it is a call to a
life of costly devotion.
312
:After Peter professed to Jesus, You are
the Christ, the Son of the living God,
313
:Jesus blessed him for this confession,
but minutes later told his disciples that
314
:anyone who follows him must deny himself
and take up his cross and follow me.
315
:And that's recorded for us in
Matthew 16, verse 16 and verse 24.
316
:The redeemed are not perfect.
317
:No follower of Jesus,
believer, Christian is perfect.
318
:And so we always need Christ's
sacrifices and his mercy.
319
:But they also persist.
320
:And we also persist in
loving God and in doing good.
321
:And as we finish this passage tonight,
verses 9 and 10 direct Jew and
322
:Gentile, in other words believer and
unbeliever, to assess what they seek.
323
:If anyone seeks glory as God
defines it, well then God grants it.
324
:Otherwise, as verses 9 to 10 tells us,
there will be tribulation and distress
325
:for every human being who does evil.
326
:The Jew first and also the Greek,
but glory and honor and peace
327
:for everyone who does good.
328
:The Jew first and also the Greek.
329
:Do you see what's going on here?
330
:If you're not for Christ,
you're against him.
331
:And do you see what happens?
332
:There will be tribulation and distress
for every human being who does evil.
333
:And you could say, I don't do evil.
334
:I only do good.
335
:If you're not loving Jesus, Then
everything you do is evil, for
336
:it does not count in the judgment
of a life that is born to Christ.
337
:Rather, it says that it is a
life that has depended on itself.
338
:As good as your works may be.
339
:But what happens when we do come to
Christ, well, then, there will be glory
340
:and honor and peace for everyone who does.
341
:I've often said, why do bad
things happen to good people?
342
:And then it's often flipped, why do
good things happen to bad people?
343
:And I would argue that those who
are successful in life outside
344
:of Christ do not know the peace.
345
:That we know.
346
:Because no amount of money can buy peace.
347
:No amount of property portfolio or
qualifications can buy or give peace.
348
:They will only bring more
trouble for themselves.
349
:But what is offered in Christ is
peace that is everlasting along
350
:with glory and honor and that
comes from God because it is His.
351
:Well, let's finish for this evening
because these first 11 verses
352
:of Romans 2 have taught us that
God is indeed a righteous judge.
353
:He won't judge based on a
whim or on what mood he is in.
354
:God's judgment is true and fair.
355
:And if we are in Christ, then
we don't need to fear it.
356
:He will punish sin because
that is what sin deserves.
357
:And we simply can't depend on a cartoon
image of God who sits on a cloud and
358
:looks like a kindly old Grandfather who'll
simply say, well take care as you go.
359
:That's not how this works Sin is abhorrent
to God and he has provided a way for
360
:our sin to be dealt with and that is
Jesus Christ Knowing Jesus Christ.
361
:This is the joy of the gospel and it is
our only salvation So what will you do?
362
:Will you question the judgments
of Almighty God and say you're
363
:not fair and I know better?
364
:Will you depend on your
own self righteousness?
365
:Judging others and being satisfied
that you're not like them?
366
:Because if you do, then you
are as lost as they are.
367
:Or will you recognize that God
will judge us and so you will
368
:receive salvation in Jesus?
369
:Know that it is the fullness And that
you will live for Him so that the world
370
:will see through our works and our words
that we are His and we are His alone.
371
:The invitation for us all this
evening is to come to Jesus
372
:because through Him God shows no
partiality and you will be accepted.
373
:You will be received and
you will be made righteous.
374
:As Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians 5
verse 21, For our sake he made him to be
375
:sin who knew no sin, so that in him we
might become the righteousness of God.
376
:It was all done for you.
377
:So will you throw yourself fully
on Christ and know the goodness and
378
:blessing of the gospel in your life?
379
:I trust and I hope that you
will, no matter what age you
380
:are, what your background.
381
:Trust in the God who loves you fully.
382
:Let us pray.
383
:Our Father, for your word
tonight, we thank you.
384
:We thank you for the deep love that you
have for us so that we can be redeemed
385
:and bought back from the penalty of sin.
386
:And Father, you are the judge, and,
and that judgment day will come.
387
:And if we are in Christ,
then we have nothing to fear.
388
:But if we're not in Christ,
then we have everything to fear.
389
:So, Father, may we be attentive
to the call to come to find
390
:rest for our weary souls.
391
:And to know salvation in
Christ and in Him alone.
392
:So may we respond appropriately and
well to this, your word this evening.
393
:In Jesus name.
394
:Amen.