What Do You See Wrong With Me?
by Juan Lane
Romans 2:1-2:3
Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Background on the book of Romans:
This book was written as a way to introduce Paul to the Romans.
Paul was a prolific traveler and church planter and God had called him to do a great work in this area.
Paul submitted this letter to the Romans as a mere sample of his entire message that he was planning to deliver when he got to Rome.
In the book of Romans Paul clearly sets forth the foundations of the Christian faith.
Major points in Romans:
All people are sinful;
Christ died to forgive sin;
we are made right with God through faith
Paul wrote the letter to the Romans during his ministry in Corinth.
As we look deeper at our scripture for today we see that Paul explains to us that when we judge others we should be sure to get it right within ourselves first.
Focal point: (Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?)
This sermon is for the saints who have it all together (or at least think that they do) and even can... go as far as to tell the next person where they are going wrong with their life.
These people normally feel so privileged from God that they go so far as to even thank God for not being a sinner like the person that may be going through the storms of life.
Obviously forgetting about the trials and tribulations that they went through to get where they are and the grace that God has to constantly bathe them with to contain their great sin.
When we judge others we should always be careful to use the mirror effect.
The most important thing that a mirror does is allow us to see ourselves.
The first mirrors used by people were most likely pools of dark, still water, or water collected in a primitive vessel of some sort. (Psalms 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the STILL WATERS.)
This could truly be the most important point about this famous scripture. It could be that really God wants us to see ourselves.
Truly God has done a marvelous work in blessing some of his saints of God. Some saints are blessed to the point that they feel that they have a special relationship with God. They feel that since God has shown special favor to them then they are somehow above everybody else.
Don’t get me wrong the bible says and I truly believe that God has blessed some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelist, and some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;).
These people of God are essential to the word of God and should by all means continue in the work that God has set them out to do. However even in their glorious work to the Lord they must be careful that they do not begin to replace what God has shown them with self righteousness.
Let’s look at some of the words Paul used:
Inexcusable: this means that you are unforgiven.
There should never be a Christian anywhere that feels that they do not need to be forgiven for something. (Matthew 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.)
Judge – Put on trial. When I put my brothers and sisters on trial I must be ready to take the same trial. (Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:)
Condemn – Express strong disapproval of. When I find what I can disapprove against others I must first be ready to take the same disapproval against my own actions. (Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;)
It is amazing how we can see the splinter in our brother’s eye and miss the plank that is in our own eyes. (Matthew 7: 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.)
CONCLUSION
I do not intend for this message to stop us from holding each other accountable for our neighbor’s actions.
We need to watch for one another as Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.).
However we must be ready to receive the same judgment as we administer for our actions.
This may seem impossible for wretched sinner but we can simply use the things that we see wrong with everyone else in the world as a tool to help us out of our situations.
This will seem difficult at first but as we continue to search ourselves and make God bigger in our own lives I believe that we will come to see who Jesus really is and what he can really do.
Let’s pray
Dear God as I continue my journey to your glory. I ask you Father to forgive me for all that I may have done against you. I ask you Father to help me to see myself in the mirror. I ask you Father to continue to give me the courage to help my brothers and sisters as they continue the journey toward your high calling. I am thankful for you being a part of my life and I ask that you continue to bless me and use me as vessel for your glory. Amen
Thank you. May God continue to bless you and keep you. Amen
Your Friend
Minister Juan D. Lane Sr.
