Sermon Notes for Romans 2

Jan. 6, 2013
M. Kelly
Romans 2:1-5

Review:
Three classes of people and all are condemned.
1. Those who believe we are all sinners with a fallen nature.
2. Judgmental moralist who judges others and finds his own righteousness in finding themselves better then other men
3. One who agrees that man has a problem but has a religious system in place to take care of that.

None of these groups will be justified outside of Jesus Christ.

Many agree with Paul in Romans 1 that the list of things is wrong and they compare themselves to this and try to justify themselves that they don't do those things. They are self righteous. They do not see that they do the same things in their attitudes of heart every day. They are judging moralists who are disgusted with the behavior of others.

Paul points out that all are under the wrath of God and all need the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our way of judging ourselves by comparing to others is not God's way of judging. Righteousness is not to be found in this method. There is no righteousness to be found before God by comparing yourself to others and how much better you are then they.

Many think the end of Christianity is to make man better. The Gospel of God is not about becoming better but is about how all men are in dire need to the Gospel message. Those who are in Christ will see where they have sin and the holy spirit will work in their lives to change them, but the Gospel message is not in itself a self-help guide to being better.

Ditches:
1. We are to use our judgment.
2. Yet, we are to judge not.

What is Paul saying here? What does Jesus mean when he says judge not?

The Word of God judges. Heb. 12:4 The Word of God divides and judges the thoughts and intents of the heart. It divides what is true from what is untrue. The Gospel divides the elect from the non-elect. Truth divides itself from everything that is untrue.

God draws the line between truth and untruth. Where God judges we have no right to over turn that judgment.

The issue with judging has to do with direction. Which direction are you holding the mirror of the word of God? Are you constantly pointing it toward others and not toward yourself? We are to judge others (bad company corrupts) but we also need to look at ourselves with the same judgement.

We are to judge social issues by the word of God the actions of our leaders and cry out against sin,but if that is all we do....never turning the spot light on ourselves, then that is a problem. Some think that Christianity is all tied to causes...shining the spotlight on all the ills of society but yet never turning the spot light on themselves.

We are to admonish one another. How do you admonish them with having judged where they need admonishment. We must judge ourselves with the same judgement we judge others. Our judgement must be made with All of the facts. How many of us hear and judge things before we know all the facts? We judge with a small fragment of the story. Reserve judgement.

It is okay to make judgements of others as long as we have first judged ourselves by the same judgement and that we are not trying to justify ourselves with self righteousness.

All of these require judgment!
Matt 7:19-20 You will know them by their fruit...this requires judgement
Eph 5:1-11 expose deeds....
Heb. 5:15
Luke 12:57
Phil 1:9-10
Matt. 7:1-6 it's okay to take the speck out of your brother's eye...just get the log out of your own first.
v. 6 how do you know who the swine are without judgment?
1 Cor. 5:9-13
2 Thess 3:6
Rom. 16:17-16
Matt. 7:15-16
Jude 3-4
2 Tim 2:15-18
Titus 3:10-11
Gal. 1:6-9
Phil 3:1-2
Gal. 5:11-12
Prov. 8:13 hate evil in your own life first!
John 7:24

The issue is to examine ourselves before we turn the spot light on others.

It's judging and doing the same things that is condemned. Take a look at the sins of your own heart...where would they lead if taken to their logical end? Then you do the same things as those you are judging.

Lessons:

1. We have a future to face.
We spend our life planning for our future. Good things. We must look far enough into the future for we have a future to face. God would have all men consider their future. Most theology is focused on the here and now and what God would have them do now....which dream would God have me fulfill? What is God's will for my life? Biblical Christianity is indeed conserned with the here and now as it relates to the future. v. 3-6 There is a future emphasis in the book of Romans. We are to live in the here and now according to the light of what will happen in the future.

Do you think that you will escape the judgment of God? v.3 Those who think they can gather up enough righteousness will be sorely mistaken. They will face the judgement of God. Many feel that because they are not immediatly punished for their sins that God is in approval and won't judge them for it.

We have a future to face and that is why Paul is anxious to preach the Gospel. The great tragedy in life is not in not fulfilling your dreams but facing the judgment of God unprepared with the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Keep in mind God's promises, the future and live today in light of those realities. God is concerned with the here and now and how it relates to the future.

The Bible always emphasizes the future judgement for the sins of man here and now. See, God is concerned about the here and now as well as the future.

We are to walk in this world according to the fact of judgment and the day of judgment to come.

V. 3 will you escape the judgment of God? We are to think about this in light of how we should live.

V. 4 notice the goodness of God

2. God is patient that men should repent.
If you judge someone for being wrong, then you necessarily approve the opposite action. The issue is "are we repentant"?

3. The time is precious.
v. 4 God forbears, holds back and delays His wrath until the day of wrath that men should repent. It is being revealed now but not in its full measure. God is the only source of goodness. Anything good is from the hand of God which no man deserves! Food, family, shelter etc. is all from the hand of God.

Why is God patient? That men might repent!

Men use the patients of God as an excuse to keep on sinning. They figure his judgment is a myth because it "never" comes! Any doctrine that twists Scripture to show security in sin is a false doctrine!!! It's a lie that God is so good He would never judge! Use our judgement and disern who these false teachers are!

Many use prosperity as a proof that God is pleased with them and they don't think about the coming judgement. Mercy is thought to be merit.

4. There is no leniency in the judgment of God. v.6
Wrath of God and sin is not swept under the carpet. All sins are punished. If you are in Christ, the punish of your sins has been taken out on Christ. If you are outside of Christ, you will pay for your own sins in Hell.

We will see the power of the Gospel on the day of God's wrath. We will see what the Gospel has saved us from!

Rom 12:9 We are not to take out our own revenge on men.
Matt. 12:36 Men will give account of every idle word in the day of judgment!

Ps. 50:19-21 God kept silence....He will reprove you!

God is mercifully calling men to repentance and warning them of His day of wrath. That is why the Gospel is Good News!!

Christ has taken the sins of His people upon Himself. We must be in Christ on that day.


⛄Marsha⛄

But none of these things move me, (not knowing what shall befall me v. 23) neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24 KJV)