July 1, 2012
Morning Service

Surrender is to yield to the power of another; to give or deliver up possession.

 

Last week we looked at the Divine design our natural universe is created in.  We also discovered that there is a Divine design to our spiritual world as well.  In that design, God has given each of us the knowledge that He exists (Ro 1:19-20).  If we choose to ignore that fact and go our own way, God allows us to (free will).  By allowing sin to dwell in our bodies we separate ourselves from God bringing the wrath of God upon our lives.  We saw the results of that lifestyle (without God) in verse 29-32.

 

            Rom 1:29-32  being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; being full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, evil habits, becoming whisperers,  (30)  backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud, braggarts, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  (31)  undiscerning, perfidious, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful;  (32)  who, knowing the righteous order of God, that those practicing such things are worthy of death, not only do them, but have pleasure in those practicing them.

           

Rom 2:1 Therefore you are without excuse, O man, everyone who judges; for in that in which you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you who judge do the same things.

·         Paul gives us “the rest of the story.”  It sounded better when it was “them”, not me.  

·         There is no place in the life of a Christian to judge anyone else.

·         Luk 6:37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.

·         Luk 6:41 And why do you look at the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not see the beam that is in your own eye?

 

Rom 2:2-4 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.  (3)  And, O man, the one judging those who do such things, and practice them, do you think this, that you shall escape the judgment of God?  (4)  Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

·         Heb 9:27  And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment,

·         Judgment of God-

o   Based on truth (2).

o   Inescapable (3).

o   Sometimes delayed (4).

·         It is the goodness (kindness) of God that leads to repentance.

o    Repentance is an about face, a 180 degree turn; a change of mind that produces a change of attitude, and results in a change in actions.

 

Rom 2:5-11 But according to your hardness and your impenitent heart, do you treasure up wrath for yourself in a day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,  (6)  who will render to each according to his works;  (7)  eternal life to those who by patient continuance n  doing good seek for glory,  honor, and immortality.  (8)  But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness-indignation and wrath,  (9)  tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man who does evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Greek.  (10)  But He will give glory, honor and peace to every man who works good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  (11)  For there is no partiality with God.

 

·         We see here God will judge us (hold accountable) according to our works. (Ps 62:12 & Pr 24:12)

 

 

 

·         If taken alone these 6 verses could cause one to believe that through our works we can earn our salvation.   As we read on, we will see that the works a Christian produces are the result of a truly repentant heart accepting by faith the power of the Gospel message for him.  If we are practicing “patience in good works” it is because we have been saved not that we seek to attain salvation.   We are rewarded with eternal life. The unbeliever’s works will reveal his unbelieving heart and bring upon himself the wrath (righteous justice) of God.

o   Jam 2:17 Even so, if it does not have works, faith is dead, being by itself.

 

Rom 2:12-16 For as many as sinned without Law will also perish without Law. And as many as have sinned within Law shall be judged by Law.  (13)  For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.  (14)  For when the Gentiles, who do not have the Law, do by nature the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law unto themselves;  (15)  who show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and the thoughts between one another accusing or even excusing one another,  (16)  in a day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

·         The Roman Church was a mixture between Jews and Gentiles.  He further explains here that man will not be judged by whom he is or what he does, but what he believes and that it motivates him to action.  It is the true intent of his heart that counts (secrets revealed).

 

 

Rom 2:17-24 Behold, you are called a Jew, and rest in the Law, and boast in God;  (18)  and know His will and approve the things excelling, being instructed out of the Law;  (19)  and persuading yourselves to be a guide of the blind, a light to those in darkness;  (20)  an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, who have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Law.  (21)  You, therefore the one teaching another, do you not teach yourself? You who preaching not to steal, do you steal?  (22)  The one saying not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? The one detesting idols, do you rob temples?  (23)  You who boast in Law, do you dishonor God through breaking the Law?  (24)  For the name of God is blasphemed among the nations because of you, as it is written.

·         If of Jesus Christ their only view; May be what they see in you; (Greg) what do they see?

 

Rom 2:25-29 For circumcision truly profits if you keep the Law, but if you are a transgressor of the Law, circumcision becomes uncircumcision.  (26)  If then the uncircumcision keeps the ordinances of the Law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?  (27)  And the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfills the Law, shall it not judge you, who through letter and circumcision become transgressors of the Law?  (28)  For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that outwardly in flesh;  (29)  but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart; in spirit and not in letter; whose praise is not from men, but from God.

·         I love how he puts we are truly of God if we have our hearts circumcised.   That is what God does; He transforms our hearts.   It really isn’t what we do, but why we do it (character).  That only comes as we surrender to Him.

·          We can fool men with our actions, but not God with our motives.  True Christians seek the praise of God not of man.

 

Where do we fall this morning?  Have you experienced that “circumcision of the heart?”

 

Joh 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.