June 14, 2026, Morning Service
A Matter Of The Heart
Pastor Greg Isom
As we continue in chapter 2, Paul is adding to his case that all of us stand guilty before God. Last week he revealed to us that we get to choose the manner which we live our lives. We can choose a life of seeking worldly pleasures without God and in the end receive the negative consequences of that choice. Or we can choose to yield our lives to God’s will and in the end receive the rewards He has promised to us. The choice is ours to make and, in the end, we will be judged for our actions. Paul continues today revealing more about this time of judgement. He focuses in on that our heritage has nothing to do with how we are judged.
Romans 2:11-16 For there is no partiality with God. (12) For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law (13) (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; (14) for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, (15) who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) (16) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
We see through this scripture that we are not going to be judged on what we don’t know, but on the things we do know. Those who know God’s Word and commands will be judged by that higher standard. Those who are not Bible literate, but, as Paul has told us previously, have been given an inward sense of what is right and wrong, will be judged on how they have lived up to that standard. Paul shows us here that we will be justified by “doing” the things that are right according to the standard in which we are judged. It is not only knowing the law that justifies, as the Jews did, but even the Gentiles who were without the law were justified by their right actions. It is clear here that God will hold us accountable by what we do with the truth we have been given. Notice verse 16 (Read). Nothing in our life is hidden from God. We may fool others and even ourselves, but we cannot fool God. He not only sees the “what” we do, but also the “why” which is a matter of the heart in which lies our motivation for the things we do. Paul next doubles down on the Jews here, but we can also place ourselves as Christians into this same reprimand often making ourselves “holier than thou.”
Romans 2:17-24 Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, (18) and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, (19) and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, (20) an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. (21) You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? (22) You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? (23) You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? (24) For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” as it is written.
Paul again gets up very close and personal here pushing the perspective of judgment to first looking at ourselves in the mirror. The Jews, and many Christians, can often create a very prideful view of ourselves living as if we are the perfect examples for others to follow. Paul here has us to again first look into our own mirror. Are we teaching others not to do things that we are doing ourselves? “Do as I say, not as I do” as we see with Pauls’ list here. Because we go to church and appear to be following God, we can falsely place ourselves on a pedestal thinking that we are above reproach; “holier than thou.” God is not pleased with this attitude of lifting up ourselves by comparing our perceived good works to the faults of others. Jesus gave a parable that paints this as a very clear picture for us.
Luke 18:9-14 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: (10) “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. (11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. (12) I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ (13) And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ (14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Each of us, not matter how righteous we think we are, must always remember that we are a sinner saved by grace and embrace the humble attitude of this tax collector We have no right to lift up ourselves and to look down on others as we should be aware that “if not for the grace of God, there I would be.” This self-righteous and haughty attitude does more harm than good as verse 24 tells us that “The Name of God is blasphemed because of us.” Throughout Jesus’ ministry it was the self-righteous religious leaders that got His stiffest rebukes. I have found that to reach others, it is much easier to be transparent that I am not perfect, but only forgiven. This attitude of having either pride or humility is a matter of the heart. Paul continues opening our understanding.
Romans 2:25-29 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. (26) Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? (27) And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? (28) For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; (29) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Many Jews stood on the fact that they were circumcised into God’s family as the proof of their goodness. Many Christians today stand on the fact that they have been baptized into the church that makes them better than others. Paul makes it clear here that neither circumcision, baptism, or any other outward action makes you right in the sight of God. It is not what happens on the outside than is important, but the internal change is what God is looking for. It is a matter of the heart. It is not so much “what we do” as “why we do it!” It is awesome that you came to church today in obedience to the Word (Heb. 10:25), but WHY did you come? Was it so people could see you and admire your faithfulness OR did you come this morning to meet with your Lord and Savior? Are you following Jesus from the outside in or from the inside out. If it is from the outside in, you are fooling yourselves and trying to please God by your works alone (like the self-righteous Pharisee in the parable). You will fail. If it is from the inside out, your heart is driving your actions and God is very pleased as your outward actions are reflecting your inward faith (as the tax collector). This is the difference between being religious and having a relationship with the Lord. Listen to how Jesus describes the judgment at the last days.
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ (23) And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Jesus does not dismiss these for the lack of what they have done; “we have prophesied, cast out demons, been baptized, read the Bible all the way through, went to church every Sunday, taught Sunday School, or even done wonders in Your name.” (I added a few to the list) They have checked all the “outward” boxes but forgot the most impactful “inward” requirement. “I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practices lawlessness.” Our salvation is indeed a matter of the heart. We must know God, believe His Word, have faith in Him first and then follow our heart to the works He has created us for (Eph. 2:10) allowing Him to change us from the inside out. It all begins with our heart. Where is your heart this morning? I pray that you take the time to honestly open your heart up and give it over to the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside out.