Alliance Church
May 27, 2001
Pastor David Welch
“Miserably Missing the Mark”
Romans 2:1-3:20
Introduction to the series
My goal throughout our run through Romans is that we will more deeply understand the grand truths concerning our great salvation so powerfully presented by Paul in chapters 1-8 and having understood and internalized them, actually apply and live them more diligently as Paul encourages us to do in chapters 12-16.
Consider this series a spiritual journey intended by God to deepen your walk with Him.
Commit to applying truth as you encounter it and God enlightens it.
You will not be able to grasp and apply it all.
God has particular areas of your life He wants to address though this study.
Listen, trust and obey as we travel through this territory together.
This is more than an intellectual exercise.
This is a spiritual pilgrimage to greater spiritual maturity as individual and as a group.
Review
BASIC OUTLINE FOR ROMANS
Personal Matters
I. Receive the gift of God’s righteousness by faith 1-5
II. Apply the gift of God’s righteousness by understanding 6-8
III. Don’t miss the gift of God’s righteousness like Israel 9-11
IV. Live the gift of God’s righteousness by submission 12-15
Personal Matters
PERSONAL MATTERS 1:1-17
Paul’s Personal Portrait
Paul’s Fiery Passion
Passion to Pray
Passion to Promote spiritual maturity
Passion to Preach the Gospel
Paul’s Firm Persuasion
The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes
The power of the Gospel lies in its message concerning the way to become righteousness before God and no longer be bound to unrighteousness.
I. Receive the gift of God’s righteousness by faith 1-5
Righteousness is a word used to indicate conformity to a standard.
God’s righteousness is conformity to God’s standard of life and behavior.
Paul presents this most remarkable theme in the first five chapters of his letter to the Romans whom he had not yet even personally met.
The gospel exposes first the unrighteousness of man.
Slide verse 18
The gospel then reveals the righteousness of God and how to receive it as a free gift.
A. Every man needs God’s righteousness because all have sinned 1-3
1. The self-centered hedonist (pleasure focused) is without excuse 1:18-32
a) Man’s ungodliness and unrighteousness
The people described by Paul are those who were both ungodly (rejected God) and unrighteous (rejected God’s standard).
• They suppressed the truth by their godless lifestyle.
• They once knew God leaving them without excuse.
They knew God intuitively because God put a knowledge of Himself “in’ them.
They knew God intellectually because God signed every aspect of His creation.
• They failed to honor God, as his Divine nature deserves.
• They failed to give thanks.
• They engaged in futile and foolish reflection resulting in a darkened, foolish heart
• They became fools while professing to be wise.
• They exchanged the true glorious nature of God for a cheap image.
• They exchanged the truth of God for a lie of the devil
• They did not approve of God in their thinking.
• They practiced things worthy of death and approved others who did likewise.
slide
b) God’s response to Man’s ungodliness and unrighteousness
• God gave them over to unbridled passion resulting in dishonored bodies.
• God gave them over to degrading passions resulting in diseased bodies.
• God gave them over to depraved thinking resulting in deplorable living.
Although unbridled sensual and fleshly behavior becomes more and more accepted today, there are still those in society who still view such behavior as destructive.
Such practices invite God’s judgment through natural consequences like incurable disease and intolerable emotional trauma and relational disaster.
Failure to live according to God’s standard (unrighteous living as opposed to righteous living), results in a continuous demonstration of faulty thinking.
All through this first chapter, Paul exposes a clouding and darkening of the reasoning powers and a definite deviation in thinking from God’s ways.
Hebrews teaches us that it is the practice of the truth that trains the senses to discern between right and wrong.
It stands to reason that it is the suppression of the truth that deadens our sensitivity to right from wrong.
All behavior flows out of belief.
Right thinking generates right living.
Wrong thinking generates wrong living.
Paul will urge the Romans believers to experience spiritual transformation by renewing the mind with God’s thinking.
Failure to honor God as God…
Failure to live according to God’s standard (godly, righteous living)…
Opens the door to any number of actions that God calls “improper” and “worthy of death.”
Let us briefly review that list once again lest we fail to grasp the gravity of our sin against God.
Filled (at a point in time and still filled) with all unrighteousness (failure to live right).
Filled with wickedness – bad, sick, imperfect, ugly behavior.
Filled with greed – the drive to be more and have more than anyone else.
Filled with evil – Emphasis on bad character or thinking “bad to the bone”
Stuffed with envy – the passion to have what someone else has.
Stuffed with murder – to destroy someone else (thought and action)
Stuffed with strife – quarrelling, contention, wrangling
Stuffed with deceit – fraud, guile, deceit
Stuffed with malice – comes from the same root as “evil” but is directed at people.
Gossips – whisperer with an evil intent to harm someone else
Slanderers – Speak against someone openly
God haters – used of someone who turned against God when calamity hit.
Insolent – to cause injury or hurt to others, abusers, enjoys hurting others
Arrogant – made from two words “above” “shine” to think you are above others.
Boastful – not only to think but proclaim yourself better than others or better than one really is
Inventors of evil
Disobedient to parents
Without understanding – to be without insight used earlier in chapter 1 unable to discern
Untrustworthy – faithless, treacherous, deal breaker, refuse to abide by agreements
Unloving – without family love or natural affection. Characteristics of last days
Unmerciful – to be without mercy or compassion
The majority of this list has to do with relationships.
Not only do these people practice these things but heartily approve of others who do them.
Paul connects this list and previous argument to chapter two with a “therefore”.
Those who suppress the truth are without excuse.
Now Paul affirms that all who disobey the truth are without excuse.
c) The self-justifying moralist is without excuse 2:1-16
God will base His judgment on practice not intent.
God will not excuse sin
Paul deals with a phenomenon of every age.
We evaluate others by their actions.
We evaluate ourselves by our intentions.
Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Romans 2:1-3
Just because you don’t see immediate retribution or consequences for your failure to live according to God’s revealed standard of living doesn’t mean you are off the hook.
It doesn’t mean that God is unaware of your sin.
But to the wicked God says,
"What right have you to tell of My statutes and to take My covenant in your mouth?
"For you hate discipline, and you cast My words behind you.
"When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you associate with adulterers.
"You let your mouth loose in evil and your tongue frames deceit.
"You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son.
"These things you have done and I kept silence; you thought that I was just like you;
I will reprove you and state the case in order before your eyes.
"Now consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be none to deliver.
"He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me;
and to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God." Psalm 50:16-23
Just because you do not experience immediate outward consequences from your sin does not mean that you are not storing up judgment.
We judge others and make a case against them when in reality we do the same things.
In fact, we generally are more sensitive to behavior in others that we ourselves are struggling to change.
Sin in others always seems far worse that our own.
Gossip in others is much more evil than our own.
Pride in others seems much more deplorable than pride in ourselves.
Greed in others seems much cloudier than our own greed.
You get the point.
We think if we react to sin in other people’s lives and pass judgment on how horrible it is we somehow rise above them even though we do the same things.
The problem is, we miss the heart of the offense by focusing on the extent of the offense.
Do you think stealing a dollar is any less offensive to God as robbing $10k from a bank?
Do you think failing to give of the first of your produce to God is any less offensive than shoplifting a fur coat from Nordstrom’s?
Anytime we violate God’s standard the damage done to the soul is the same.
One passing whiff of toxic fumes wreaks the same damage as a whole room full.
Any violation is an offense to God.
James clearly indicates…
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 2:10
Paul pounded the point that God will judge according to practice not philosophy.
God will not give a pass based on intentions but will reward or judge according to actions.
God motivates repentance from sin by showing kindness
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
What a fabulous truth!
We think that preaching judgment and damnation always leads to repentance.
In this case, God demonstrates his kindness.
Presently, God demonstrates his kindness, which He demonstrates by “forbearance” and “long-anger”.
Paul urges people not to think lightly of this period of forbearance because it will not last forever.
Paul refers to this forbearance of God later in chapter three.
God will eventually judge sin
Next, Paul describes God’s response to those who fail to live righteously.
But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, Romans 2:5-6
Paul urges the Romans not to presume upon the kindness of God.
To presume upon or take God’s forbearance and kindness for granted is a sure indication of a stubborn, unrepentant heart.
I can do what I want.
God will forgive me.
I am not done living my way yet.
When I get older I will come back to God.
Be careful!
A day is coming when the wrath of God will come.
Just because judgment and consequences are postponed does not mean they are purged.
It is on account of the unrighteousness of men that that wrath will come.
God will judge by a set criterion
• God will judge by behavior.
who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. Romans 2:7-8
The criteria for judgment will be one’s deeds, one’s life and actions.
To those who sought righteousness and lived righteously – eternal life
To those who didn’t – anger and wrath
Here, Paul uses both words for anger in the New Testament.
The unrighteous will experience the full gamut of God’s anger.
Both those described in chapter one and two will fall under God’s wrath.
Every person will face judgment.
…it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, Hebrews 9:27
Paul summarizes and simplifies.
There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 2:9-10
Those who do evil – tribulation and distress.
Those who do good – glory and honor and peace.
So those doing good will receive eternal life glory, honor and peace.
Those doing evil will face anger, wrath, tribulation and distress.
Even believers will be evaluated by the deeds done in the body and the motives behind them.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 2 Cor. 5:10
• God will judge without partiality.
For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11
• God will judge both those with and without the Law
For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. Romans 2:12-16
• God will judge both deeds and motives.
on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. Romans 2:16
Jesus will be the righteous judge.
"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. Matthew 16:27
"God raised Him(Jesus) up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. "And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Acts 10:40-42
God will not excuse anyone because they knew right and wrong.
God will judge on the basis of doing right and wrong.
Those who do right – eternal life.
Those who do wrong – anger and wrath.
The dilemma that should be coming into clear focus here is that no one has or ever will live up to God’s standard.
Even God’s special chosen people whom Paul addresses next.
d) The self-righteous religious Jew is without excuse 2:17-3:8
Jews felt they deserved some advantage.
Paul assures them it won’t help.
Advantages claimed by Jews
• Heritage “bear the name Jew”
• Possessors of “THE LAW” not necessarily practicers
• Boast in God
• Know His will
• Approve the essential things
• Privilege of instruction in the Law
• Appointed teachers, confident guides to the blind.
• Correctors of the foolish
• Teachers of the immature
• Advantage of being care takers of a document which embodies God’s truth
Rebuke by Paul
You teach not to steal or commit adultery.
You teach to abhor idols.
You boast in the Law.
Yet you yourselves commit adultery, steal, rob temples, and break the Law.
God’s name is blasphemed because of your lifestyle.
You have not excuse before God either.
Reminder of principle 25-29
For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
Your ceremonial rites will not bring you any advantage.
Going to church or even reading your Bible will not make up for disobedience.
It is not ceremony.
It is CHARACTER.
It is not customs.
It is conduct.
God will judge according to obedience to the truth whether one is a Jew or Gentile.
Right living is what counts.
Actual advantage of being a Jew
Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. Romans 3:1-2
The only advantage of one’s physical connection to the Jewish race is the privilege of being appointed custodians of the oracles of God.
That is an honored thing.
But it is not enough to obtain right standing with a holy God.
It is obvious that such a privilege did not make any impact on some.
Objections answered
What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written,
"THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED."
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), "Let us do evil that good may come"? Their condemnation is just. Rom 3:3-8
What is going on here!
Obviously some failed to live righteously.
Born into the chose race did not serve as any advantage regarding right living.
Some asserted that they should not be judged because their unrighteousness only served to highlight the righteousness of God.
Shouldn’t that count for something?
Paul dismissed such thinking as ludicrous or ridiculous.
God’s judgment will focus on obedience not privilege.
Those who do good receive reward.
Those who do evil revive punishment.
Simple!
Paul ties up this section by summarizing the fate of all men whether Jew or Gentile.
e) Everyone is without excuse 3:9-20
• No one lives righteously 9-18
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written,
"THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."
"THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,"
"THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS"; WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";
"THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."
"THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES." Romans 3:9-18
Paul clearly asserted that Jew and Gentile are equal in sin, equal in salvation.
Until we understand our terrifying lack of righteousness apart from Christ, we will NEVER fully appreciate the gift of righteousness through faith in Christ.
Only as we understand the standard of right and wrong as revealed in God’s word, will we understand how far off we are from living up to that standard.
We are not only without righteousness; we are without excuse for our disobedience.
No excuse will stand at the judgment.
It is God’s law that is the final say.
• The Law exposes man’s unrighteousness 19-20
Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:19-20
People can argue and argue of who was right and who was wrong.
When someone brings out the “law” and reads the standard all argument stops.
We will not be judged according to our own standard of right and wrong or anyone else’s.
When we stand before God, every man will be impartially judged according to God’s standard.
If absolute righteousness is the criteria and there is none righteous no not one, then we are in trouble.
All have sinned and missed God’s mark of excellence and expected obedience.
What can we do?
What hope do we have of coming before God’s presence?
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach— Col. 1:21-22
It is though Jesus who opened the way into the holy of holies through a new and living way that we may stand before God complete and righteous.
That work is next described in verses 21-31 one of the most compact explanations of the work of Christ in Scripture.
Application
When you stand before God either at death or His coming, what will you say?
Knowing that judgment will be based on absolute conformity to His righteous standard, what will you say?
More important what will God say?
What will the verdict be?
For those who do not measure up there will be anger, wrath, tribulation and distress.
Consider where you stand with God.
Take inventory of your life.
For those who possess the righteousness of God there will be eternal life glory, honor and peace.
Where do we get the righteousness of God?
Next week we will find out how we can receive this life-changing gift.
Blessing & Benediction
May 27, 2001
To those feeling the weakness of aging…
May you not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet your inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 Cor. 4:16
May you bless the LORD, and forget none of His benefits;
He pardons all your iniquities;
He heals all your diseases;
He redeems your life from the pit;
He crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
He satisfies your years with good things, your youth is renewed like the eagle. Psalm 103:2-5
Because your roots are planted in the house of the LORD,
May you flourish in the courts of our God.
May you still yield fruit in old age;
May you be full of sap and very green,
To declare that the LORD is upright; and your rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Psalm 92:13-15
To all those feeling weary, frustrated, anxious, or weighed down with life…
"Run to Jesus and He will give you rest. "Take His yoke upon you and learn from His gentle and humble heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For His yoke is easy and His burden is light."
Matt 11:28-30
When you call, may the LORD answer;
When you cry may He say, ’Here I am.’
May you take time to focus on serving others…
So your light can rise in darkness,
And your gloom will become like midday.
"And the LORD will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
"And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up the age-old foundations;
And you will be called the repairer of the breach,
The restorer of the streets in which to dwell. Isaiah 58:9-12
May you deepen your trust in Him who gives strength to the weary and increases power to him who lacks might!
For those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength;
they will mount up with wings like eagles,
they will run and not get tired,
they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:29-31
