God’s Righteous Judgment
By Greg Johnson
http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org
At the conclusion of Romans chapter one, Paul writes about how God’s wrath is being revealed in our day. God’s wrath is being revealed through turning people over to their sin. The good news is that God’s wrath is not His final word to us. At the cross of Christ, God shows us His kindness toward us.
Paul begins Romans chapter two talking about God’s righteous judgment that will be revealed on God’s day of wrath that is to come. God’s word says “(Romans 2:1-5 NIV) "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. {2} Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. {3} So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? {4} Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? {5} But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed."
Please notice some things with me today from God’s Word.
GOD’S JUDGEMENT IS BASED ON TRUTH.
God’s judgment is not based on man’s system of judgment. In 1996 JonBenet Ramsey was brutally assaulted and murdered in the basement of her parents Boulder Colorado home. The thrust of the investigation quickly turned to the two grieving parents. In the investigation that pursued, we saw the two parents of JonBenet treated as guilty until proven innocent. People quickly formed their opinions. For 10 years these parents have lived under a dark shadow of suspicion. In August 2006, John Mark Karr confesses to being with JonBenet the night she dies and attributes her death to an accident. Yet, he is not charged with any crime due to the DNA at the crime scene not matching his DNA. The parents were guilty until proven innocent and now a person that confesses to being there is innocent until proven guilty. How does this happen? It happens because man’s judgment is developed and perceived through collected evidence, witnessed accounts and perceived guilt. People are often tried through the media instead of the courts of law. Let me tell you one thing that I know for sure about the JonBenet Ramsey case. God knows exactly what happened and who did it and one day, justice will be served because no one can escape God’s righteous judgment.
The Word of God says (Romans 2:2 NIV) "Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth." God’s judgment is based on absolute truth and nothing else. You see, God does not base His judgment on collected evidence, the witnesses of others, or perceived guilt. God bases His judgment on truth; on what actually takes place.
I’m a firm believer in our justice system and allowing the judicial process to take place, but I also know that there are mistakes made because people are imperfect. With God there are no mistakes made. All will be judged by God based on truth.
Our deeds will be judged. (Romans 2:6-8 NIV) "God "will give to each person according to what he has done." {7} To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. {8} But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger."
Secrets will be revealed. (Romans 2:16 NIV) "This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares."
AN UNREPENTANT HEART STORES UP GOD’S WRATH AGAINST IT.
(Romans 2:5 NIV) "But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed."
Being repentant of our sins is being sorry that we have sinned against God. Our sorrow leads us to turn from that sin and run from it. Not to continue in it, but to run from it. That is true repentance. Some people are only sorry when they get caught by man. What they fail to realize is that God has already saw what they have done and that his judgment is based on truth. Their secrets will one day be revealed. An unrepentant heart stores up God’s wrath against it.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT GOD’S KINDNESS LEADS ONE TO REPENTANCE.
(Romans 2:4 NIV) "do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?" God revealed His kindness to us at the cross of Christ.
Jesus came into this world to take care of our sin problem. While we were still yet sinners, He died for us. Jesus did not wait until we became clean. Jesus died for us when we were dirty in sin so that His blood can wash us clean.
(2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV) "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." That’s the Gospel of God. That is the Good News of God! That is how He showed His kindness to us and it is through this kindness that we are led to repentance.
Loving God Fellowship is full of people that have been drawn close to the cross of Christ. We cling to the cross. It’s at the cross that we realize God’s kindness toward us. It’s at the cross that we become sorrowful of our sins against God and we turn from each and every one of them. We have drug addicts at Loving God Fellowship that have been cleaned up by Jesus. We have prostitutes, homosexuals, alcoholics that have been cleaned and set free from their bondage of sin by Jesus. Jesus has set us free! Now we are not storing up God’s wrath in unrepentant hearts. Instead, we have received God’s kindness shown to us through Jesus. Jesus has set us free from sin and we can face God’s righteous judgment with hearts that have been cleansed through the blood of Jesus!
Beloved, live at the foot of the cross of Christ. Let God’s kindness continually drive you to repentance. Live under the cross and not under God’s wrath! Run from sin. Jesus will help you as you live under the cross! The Holy Spirit will strengthen you! As you walk in the Spirit, you will not gratify the desires of the flesh!
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