Romans – God’s Glorious Gospel
Understanding the Judgment of God – PT 2
Romans 2:1-16
* Please turn to Romans 2 and in just a minute, we’ll read the first 16 verses. For years in the entertainment world we have endured the concept of “sequels.” Simply put a sequel picks up a storyline where the previous movie, series, or book left off. For instance, in the late 70’s “Star Trek –THE Movie” was released. In December of 2002 Star Trek Nemesis was released, this was the 10th sequel. Sometimes sequels do well, other times not so well.
* This morning we have a sequel. We are preaching and studying our way through Paul’s letter to the church in Rome. Last week, we began chapter 2 which gives us an “Understanding of the Judgment of God
* We call the Roman letter “God’s Glorious Gospel,” yet to get to the good news, we must comprehend the other news. Let’s read together and be reminded. (TEXT)
* The judgment of God is not a popular subject. In fact, many preachers, churches, and even denominations do not and will not broach the subject because our culture prefers to hear messages about the “love of God”, the “tolerance of God”, the “understanding of God”, and even the mercy of God. God is a God of love, tolerance (on occasion), understanding, and mercy, but make no mistake God is a God who will judge sin and sinners without question. That first Easter week displayed for the entire world to see God’s judgment & grace in one act.
* Let me remind us what the Bible says about God’s judgment. Hebrews teaches us that everyone dies and is then judged. Everyone. We are further taught that believers must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to answer for our actions. Then we are told that the non-believers (those who have never come to faith in Christ and who have left Jesus out of their lives) will appear before the Great White Throne to be judged. You see, every person who has ever drawn a breath will stand before the maker of Heaven and Earth for judgment.
* This being the case, by what standards are we judged? Last week we began to learn the 7 principles by which God judges mankind. Since some we not hear, let’s review the first 3;
1. Knowledge – Verse one repeats a warning to us by saying “we are without excuse.” Why? Because “if” we have the knowledge to judge “others”, we have the knowledge which we need to come to faith and establish a personal ongoing relationship with Christ. You have no excuse.
2. Truth – This is the most frightening part. Verse 2 tells us that we are judged based on “truth”. Watch this; God is “Omni.” He is Omnipotent – all strength, He is Omnipresent – all present, and He is Omniscient – all knowing. Do you have an idea of what that means? It means I have no secrets from God. His judgment of me is according to truth.
3. Guilt – Verse 3-5 asks a rhetorical question, “Do you think you’ll escape, if ‘what’?” If I am guilty (and I am), I will be judged according to my guilt. In my guilt, I become cold, hard-heart, unrepentant, and unfeeling. My religion becomes an intellectual assent to God instead of a personal relationship of walking with God every day.
* Now, let’s see the other principles of God’s judgment.
4. Deeds – Verse 11 tells us that “God will repay (will give, render, pay back, reward, punish) each person according to their works (deeds, what they have done).” It will serve us well to understand the massive amount of teaching given in God’s word about this principle.
o Jeremiah 17:10 “I, the LORD, examine the mind; I test the heart to give to each according to his way, according to what his actions deserve.
o Isaiah 3:10-11 conclude with, “the reward of his hands.”
o In Matthew 16 Jesus speaks of the “Son of Man coming in Glory” and that he will “give each man according to his own works.
o I Corinthians 3 reminds us that every man will be accountable for their own works.
o Revelation 20 reminds us that all men will be judged according to their deeds.
o Romans 14:12 – tells us that every man will give an account.
o We will be judged for the “product” of our lives, whether good or bad. Let’s be very clear, at this point in his writings Paul is not talking about being saved. This is not about a works salvation. We are saved “by grace through faith into Christ Jesus, it is not of works so that no one can brag about it”. It’s not that I am saved by goods works, it us that I am saved unto good works.
o God can look at our life and see if salvation has been accomplished. My deeds and your deeds will reveal whether the heart had truly been transformed. It is an infallible indicator.
o We can lengthen this message today by ‘dissecting’ this passage. But here’s the simplistic Biblical truth; we either get eternal life or wrath and (his brother) indignation.
o In a lawyer’s office you’ll find files. These are not thin files, but generally fairly substantial in nature. Because to properly represent their client, the lawyer know that documentation is mandatory. Additionally, they hold on to these files so if any other problem arises, they can view the history of their client and their work for their client. As I understand it, this file is called a “work product.” God assembles (a type of) work product on us and this work product reveals much about us. God judges us on this product. What does yours say?
5. Impartiality – The next principle of God’s judgment is found in verse 11. HCBS translates this word as “favoritism”, NAS as “no partiality, and KJV as “no respect of persons.” How is it that God judges without respecting His crown creation? What does this mean?
* This is an interesting Greek word. For “respect of persons” is one word which means carried the combination of “face” and “receive”. Now this is preceded by the word which mean no, not, never, neither, and/or without. So the literal meaning is the God will judge without face. Are you clear yet? I’ll illustrate.
* It’s 1am and you are asleep in your house when someone begins knocking on your door. What do you do? Do you simply run down and throw the door open? I think not. Probably you go to the door, turn the outside light on, look out the window or the peep hole in your door, and then respond based on what you see. If you see 5 hooded teenagers, you probably will not open the door but might call the police. However, if it’s your sister or brother or best friend, you will, without hesitation open the door. You see, you have now admitted them because you have seen their face. And seeing their face, you made a decision in their favor.
* Does this help you understand the judgment of God?
* In band, members compete for difference “chairs” or better said, “Levels” of playing. Most desire to be the best and sit first chair. In one band room, when the student compete to move up a chair, the band director might simple turn his back to the players and tell them to play a passage of music. He then records the score while not knowing which one it is who is playing. Then he renders a decision of who played the best by the order in which they played. He made the decision without seeing their face. It was impartial. Whether or not the student’s parents were band boosters or not did not play into the decision because it was “in the blind”.
* This is the way God judges our work. Your position, race, longevity, nor anything else gets in the way. God looks at the work product of life & judges impartially.
* By the way, for a long time I thought verses 12-15 were Biblical double talk, but let me simplify this for us. Whether you know the law or don’t know the law, you will be judged. If you know (as we do) then you know about sin from the law. If not, you know from life or creation.
* It’s hard-wired into every person make-up. Remember, there is NO excuse. What you do with this ingrained truth will either accuse you or excuse you.
6. Motives – Each of us will be judged according to our motives. It is true that God judges “without face”, that is, showing no partiality; it is also true that He judges our external deeds. Through the work product of our life He knows whether salvation has been completed or not. But He also judges us according to the “why” we do things. God is interested in what motivates you. Look at verse 16 and understand God knows, reveals and judges the inner secrets we have. We can hide them from men, but not from God.
* Jesus call the Pharisees “whitewashed tombs” and characterized them as being clean on the outside and full of death and decay on the inside.
* Here’s what we need to get our minds around: God judges every part of our life. He judges us by knowledge, truth, guilt, deeds, impartiality, and He even lays bare our inner-most thoughts and passes judgment on our motives. He judges “why” we do what we do.
TRANSITION: Today is Easter. Resurrection Day! This day, designed by the Father, allows Him to add on more principle to the mix. Candidly, Paul has not yet laid this principle forth, but just mentions now. (Read verse 16)
7. THE GOSPEL – While God judges our lives on the basis of knowledge, truth, guilt, deed, impartiality, and motives, His judgment of our eternity is based on the principles of the gospel. Jesus is the best news because Jesus is God’s Son and was raised from the dead by God Himself. This morning let’s end with 3 personal questions as we consider the Gospel of Christ and the Judgment of God;
* What will you do with sin? God will expose it and judge it. Don’t forget the payment of sin is death.
* What will you do with Jesus? The answer to this question has far reaching implications. This controls where you will spend eternity, what type of judgment you receive, and what type of life you have here.
* What will you do with your life? This is serious.
Understanding the Judgment – Pg 6
* There is no grading on the curve. “It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that; the judgment.”
* Are you ready to be judged? Jesus died on a cross of shame and pain for mine and your sin. Three days later God raised Jesus from the grave that we can be justified which means “made right before God”. Are you right? Are you ready?
* Now that we understand God’s judgment, “today is the day of salvation” and “It is high time for judgment to begin at the house of God.”
