August 6, 2017
Evening Service

We finished chapter 1 this morning and saw the lifestyles that occur when we choose not to follow Jesus.  Life becomes a “me” centered universe instead of a God centered one.  In that world sin abounds as the person is allowed to choose whatever they want as being truth.  Paul ended the chapter with a list of those sinful acts.

Romans 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, untrustworthy, unloving, 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.

·         I ended the message making the point that each us need to examine that list for things that are evident in our lives and seek repentance for them.  That, as you will see, was the “politically correct” way of expressing that point.  Paul on the other hand does not use that style but speaks much more directly in his letter

 

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

·         Paul certainly does not beat around the bush does he? I guess it is the natural reaction to be justifiably angry about the sins of others, but we must be very careful.  Remember Jesus taught us to always look in the mirror before we are too quick to judge another one’s shortcomings.

 

Matthew 7:3-5  And why do you look on the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye?  (4)  Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull the splinter out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye?  (5)  Hypocrite! First cast the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to cast the splinter out of your brother's eye.

·         It is hypocritical for anyone to stand in judgment or to look down upon someone else’s sins because we are sinners as well.  Paul wrote this right after the he gave a similar list of sinful attributes to the church at Corinth.

 

1 Corinthians 6:11  And such were some of you. But you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

·         Paul continues his explanation.

Romans 2:2-4 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth on those who practice such things.  (3)  And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, 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? 

·         In acting with His goodness and kindness God holds back His judgment which gives people time to repent of their sins.  Some mistake God’s patience for approval of the wrong way they are living.  Self-evaluation is crucial for the Christ follower to look honestly at our own lives and even ask Him to reveal our sins to us.  It is then in that revelation that we seek repentance and restoration through His forgiveness (I John 1:9)

·         Paul now describes the scenario where we choose not to be honest with ourselves forcing God to act.

 

Romans 2:5-10  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)  indeed to those who with patience in good work are seeking for glory, and honor, and incorruptibility, everlasting life.  (8)  But to those who indeed disobeying the truth out of self-seeking, and obeying unrighteousness, will be anger and wrath,  (9)  tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man who has worked out evil; of the Jew first, and also of the Greek.  (10)  But He will give glory, honor and peace to every man who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

·         Our unrepentant heart, though maybe not judged immediately, will one day come under that judgment.  This verifies a statement I have made many times in that God will reward obedience and will punish disobedience.

·         Isn’t the choice simple?  This is the thought that rang in my mind at age 12 when I accepted Jesus as my Savior.  A simple choice between the gift of eternal life and facing the wrath of God.  It was a no brainer for me then, and really still is today.

·         Paul now continues with the idea that everyone will answer for themselves.

 

Romans 2:11-16  For there is no partiality with God.  (12)  For as many as sinned without Law will also perish without Law. And as many as have sinned within Law shall be judged by the 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.

·         People will be condemned not for what they don’t know, but for what they do know.  It is what we do with that knowledge that justifies us.  We can actually live in a good conscience while doing something that we are unaware of that displeases God (sin).  But when we come to the knowledge that it is sin, and then it is up to us to react and repent of it.

·         God’s desire is to own your heart where your motivation (want to) comes from.  It is not in the Bible study that we are justified, but the Bible doing (obedience).

·         Paul continues that thought as he really grills the religious Jewish believers and the hypocrisy that they display.  As we read this, instead of addressing this to the Jews, I would like you to insert the Christian church into their place (us).  Read this as if he were addressing us here tonight.

 

 

 

Romans 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)  Therefore the one teaching another, do you not teach yourself? The one 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.

·         Doesn’t the warning here apply very well to the church today?  One of the biggest issues that limit the effectiveness of the church is saying one thing and doing another (hypocrisy).  That is what Jesus is primarily dealing with in the passage we read earlier about the splinter in someone else’s eye.  In acting this way, we display ourselves as being self-righteous and judgmental rather than humble and loving.  It is much easier to tell others how to behave rather than to model that behavior ourselves.  Which one is more effective as a witnessing tool?

·         So in boasting of our faith and proclaiming to be Christians, but not being obedient to His word; we are actually bringing dishonor to our Lord.  We are that hypocrite.  The challenge for us is not to be perfect but to always strive for it.

 Romans 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.

·         What a beautiful way of expressing how God looks at those who choose to follow Him.  Remember in the story of David it was brought out that God does not look at the physical appearance of a man but He looks at the inside of a man and what motivates him that matters most to Him.

·         It is true as well that it was not the act of being circumcised that made the Jews right in God’s sight, just as it is not simply being baptized that makes us right either.  It is the act of surrendering of our heart and then acting in obedience that the salvation comes. 

 

We have certainly seen the importance of reading scripture and the applying it to our own lives.  It is the “doers of the law that are justified.”  Though we all are guilty of being hypocrites, we must humbly strive to line up with the Word of God and be honest and open about our shortcomings.

 

Father, open the eyes of our heart that we may see You and may see ourselves as we honestly are.  Please grant us the courage to make the changes in our lives that will please You.