How can people know God??
There are many ways how God reveals Himself but the three main ways God reveals Himself is through Jesus Christ, His Creation (the entire Universe), and yes of course through His Word, the Bible.
Now, What do you think God looks for in people??
Basically, God looks for hearts that are right!
Now, can people see other people’s hearts? People may have a glimpse of what’s going on in other people’s hearts because of what they say or do, but only God can truly see a person’s heart! Remember King David? Through the Prophet Samuel, God said that David was a man after God’s own heart! And we read King David’s words in Psalm 139:23, Search me, O God, and know my heart! King David, a man after God’s own heart, calls on God to search his heart! Godly King David knew that people, including him, can deceive themselves and think their hearts are right, when only God can truly see a person’s heart.
And as we will note from our text this morning, not only is God the only one who truly knows people’s hearts but also the only One who is Righteous and Holy! Please open your Bibles to the Letter to the Romans. Let us together pray our commitment to God’s Word…. Let us read Rom. 2:1-16…
The beginning of Romans 2 tells us that Only God has the right to judge! There are two main reasons why this is true.
First, we noted that only God truly knows people’s hearts.
Secondly, we learned from Romans Chapter 1, how sinful people can be even though God has made Himself known to them. And the last part of Romans 2:1 affirms this…..
for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment, do the same things.
Every person is guilty of sin against God. This is reiterated in Romans 3:10; There is none righteous, no not one!
And so, the first part of Romans Chapter 2 is applicable to everyone. Because every person is a sinner, the beginning of verse 1 of Romans 2 can read:
Everyone has no excuse, anyone who passes judgment on someone else!
Only God is righteous and therefore the only one who has a right to judge! This is our main topic today. All of us can be so judgmental on someone, so quickly, can’t we?
Now, the church in Rome was made up of people from all over the world, both Jews and Non-Jews. And because they were God’s Chosen People and they tried their best to be religious, the Jewish Christians thought they were better than everyone else. God speaks to them in verses 17-29 of Romans 2, our text for next week. But before God spoke to the Jews who had the Law of God, Romans 2:2-16 spoke to Gentiles, non-Jews, who did not know God’s Word.
Let’s look a little deeper into God’s Word. What did God tell those Gentiles in Rome?
V2-3 tells us that any person, any mere man, who judges others will not escape God’s judgment. In other words, whenever we judge, God judges us!
And from what we just read from the New International Version of the Bible, God’s judgment is based on truth! What does this mean? What truth is God talking about? It really doesn’t tell in this text what this truth is.
Because what we have are English translations of the original Word of God in Greek, it is helpful to look at other English translations of passages when questions arise. Interestingly, for those of you who are fans of King James and the Revised Standard Versions, you will not find much help. But here’s what we read from 2 other translations: And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things (Romans 2:2 NASB and ESV).
And so, what is the basis of God judging people? Final judging of anything rightly falls on God! God would not be a God if He’s not always right and has a right to judge! Hence, what ever God says is the truth! Whatever God says is it! God is Truth! God is always the final judge!
And in Romans 2:4-16 God tells the truth how He will judge people, apart from what God said through the Prophets in the Old Testament!
What is v4 saying? Again, the NASB can be of help here which says; Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4 NASB)?
Isn’t v4 basically saying that people can easily take God’s love for granted? Have you ever heard people say, “How can a loving God do that?” When they ask that question, do they really want to know or have they already rejected God? The reason of course for them saying that is that they really don’t want to believe in an Almighty God! Can we, who profess to be Christians take God for granted?
God’s love should be clear to all. God is kind; He gave everyone a life to enjoy! God is tolerant; in spite of sins, God doesn’t end people’s lives quickly but allows them many opportunities to believe in Him! God is patient; He waits for the right time for all!
God’s love should drive us to Himself, for us to do what He desires! But because God is love, He will not force anything on anyone! Do you want to be more obedient to your Creator God? – Know more and more how deep and how great God’s love is for you!
v5-6 tells us that people who continues to have stubborn and unrepentant hearts, will receive the same from God.
If people are stubborn and unrepentant, God would do the same to them? How can this be?
God can do this simply because God already gave the ultimate gift for people, the Gospel of Jesus Christ! No one will have an excuse!
In v7, we can note a positive thing which God looks for from any person. To those who by persistence in doing good, seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.
This is a truth of course. But sadly, is there really anyone who can persistently do all of these things? You see, God makes this statement, so people can know who God is and understand who we are to be as those who belong to God.
As Christians we are to focus on good because we have God in us who is always good!
God is good! All the time! All the time! God is good!
Since God is in us, shouldn’t we also proclaim, “Christians are good! All the time!”?
And of course as indicated in v8-9, people who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger from God. God will and is already judging sin!
v10 tells people to do good, so that the glory, honor, and peace of God will result. But like v7, every person is guilty of not doing good! But goodness is God’s desire for people.
Christians are good?? – We should be!
And finally in v12-15, God judges not only with the “law” but what He has ordered through Creation.
God has placed right and wrong within a person’s heart.
God gave everyone a conscience.
God gave minds to think.
And so, even without God’s Word, every person will face judgment. And Romans 2:16 tells us when and how judgment will happen. A person is judged by God when that person dies and faces Jesus Christ! Every person will face Jesus Christ when they die! You and I will face Jesus Christ when we die! What will Jesus tell you? I pray that none of you will hear Jesus say “I never knew you!” I encourage all of you to study Matthew 7:21-23 sometime this week.
Let us never forget the Good News, the Gospel; Romans 1:16-17, the Gospel, the belief in Jesus Christ, is the only truth which will save one from God’s judgment!
Are you confident of your eternal salvation and be able to tell someone else how?
Let us conclude with some application points.
First of all, again, how quickly do we judge people?
1. Since God is the only one who has a right to judge, we all need to be careful in judging people.
There are 2 other passages which should help us in this matter. Please turn to 2 John 9-10………1 Cor.5:12-13……
We are not to judge those who are not Christians but we are not to accept their teachings. With other Christians, we are to judge as Jesus would judge. We are to share the truth in love!
I’ve found that the best way to confront another Christian is to ask them, “What do you think our Lord Jesus would say about what you are doing?”
Always think of agape love before accusing anyone of anything! You know what? If we Christians just constantly put on the Full Armor of God, agape love will result!
And the Full Armor of God is also the answer to our troubles associated with what God is looking for in people.
2. What do I need to work on based on Romans 2:4-15?
And finally, I think is the most important application to our lives today, 3. Memorize and pray daily Psalm 139:23-24:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
