Title: Righteous Judgment

Text: Rom 2:1-16

Date: 8/26/07

Introduction:

Almost everyone whether they are Christian, agnostic or atheist even those who have never read the Bible are familiar with Christ’s words in

Mt 7:1 "Do not judge lest you be judged. NASB

Lk 6:37 records similar words "And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; NASB

When Christians talk about sin and moral issues that’s usually the first words that are brought up. Paul addresses that in Romans 2, but as Paul explains the Bible doesn’t teach that we are not to make moral judgements. As a matter of fact it provides the basis for making moral judgement. But sometimes we are guilty of seeing the speck in someone else’s eye while ignoring the log in our own and that’s what Paul addresses as he begins chapter 2.

Paul had been talking about pagan society in general, the sinfulness of their lifestyle and how God’s wrath was coming upon those who engage that kind of life style. Paul was making a general reference to pagan society because then as now not everyone who doesn’t believe lives an immoral lifestyle. But immorality characterized paganism. In chapter 2 he turns towards the Jewish believers. He anticipates they would be cheering him on - “That a boy Paul let them have it.” And today we can hear the church echoing that same kind of sentiment. “You tell em Paul.” It’s almost like he hearing that response and pauses to say wait a minute. You’re not getting off that easy. Paul wants to clear up some things about judgement in this passage. So he wrote in verse 1 of chapter 2, Therefore you are without excuse, every man of you who passes judgment, for in that you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. NASB Paul first off is condemning hypocritical self-centered judgement.

I. The condemnation of Hypocritical judgement v. 1

We see Jesus condemning this kind of judgment in Matt 23 in addressing the Scribes and Pharisees. But, Verse 1 does not teach that we are not to make judgements at all. As we saw in chapter one the Bible spells out that some things are wrong and are sins against God. The Bible is equally clear in it’s teaching that people without Christ are condemned, separated from God, and though it’s not a popular position going to Hell. The teachings of the Bible are our basis for sharing the gospel and for doing missions. If there are no moral rights and wrongs, if people are not lost and going to hell there is no urgency, no necessity for sharing the gospel. If all roads lead to heaven there is no reason for missions. But we also see Paul exercising moral judgment throughout the book of Acts and in all of his letters. Jesus Himself said go into all the world and make disciples. What are we to make of the commands about not judging?

1. The Bible instructs us to judge actions and attitudes as being right or wrong.

2. Scripture establish the basis for making moral decisions and moral judgement.

We know we can judge that men and women are sinners because the Bible tells us all men are sinners. We know we can judge that certain actions are sins because the Bible says they are sins and we can judge that without faith in Christ men and women are going to hell because the Bible tells us that is so.

Therein lies the sin of Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church. They protest with signs that say God hates Fags! A derogatory term for homosexuals. The truth is Jesus died for them just as he died for us, but he does hate their sin, just as He hates all sin.

Jesus and Paul’s prohibition is against self-righteous, hypocritical judgment. One of the clearest examples of this in Scripture is found in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax-collector in Luke 18. The Pharisee’s judgement is being used to elevate himself at the expense of someone else.

Verse 1 condemns the judgement of others while at the same time being guilty of intentional sin ourselves. If I stand here and preaching against homosexuality while at the same time I’m having an affair or I’m embezzling money from the church or my thought life is in the gutter or I’m intentionally committing whatever kind of sin it might be Paul says to me you are without excuse.

Two truths are evident and very important for us in understanding what Paul says particularly when we do make moral judgements especially in the area of evangelism and sharing our faith, when we are expressing and exercising a Christian world view or philosophy of life and when we are engaged in making disciples for Christ.

One is the truth of my own profession of faith in Jesus Christ as the means of my salvation. Have I really placed my faith in Jesus or have I trusted the church or the denomination or the preacher? All of which are important but only one can save.

The Church is important the Bible is clear on that. Jesus established the church. Much of Paul’s ministry was in starting local churches. Denominations are important as Southern Baptists we accomplish a lot of good things through our denomination, and the preacher is important because he is charged with preaching God’s word and shepherding the flock and what he preaches and teaches can have a big impact on people’s lives good and bad. If the preacher doesn’t preach the word of God it can have a negative impact and lead people away from God rather than towards God.

We can take a sense of pride in being Southern Baptist’s. We want people to come to our church and be a part of our church and the ministry here. But the most important thing we want to make sure of is that we are trusting Jesus for our salvation and not something else.

The second truth is I want to be sure my faith is evidenced through the actions of my life. That doesn’t mean any of us are perfect or will ever be perfect or that we don’t sin. But we want to be sure we are not deliberately intentionally willfully living a sinful lifestyle while at the same time condemning someone else. We want to be growing more like Jesus and less like the world and when we stumble, and we will, we want to be sure we are going to God in repentance seeking forgiveness.

While Paul condemns hypocritical judgement from us he also explains in verses 2-3 that judgement from God’s is certain and that He judges in absolute truth.

II. The Certainty of God’s judgement 2-3

The Jews were proud of their heritage, they had the Law they were God’s chosen people, but Paul told the Jews Christians they couldn’t hide behind their Jewishness. As believers we can’t hide behind a steeple, or a cross, or stained glass or a denomination or anything else.

Paul wrote in verse 2: And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. He’s already talked about God’s wrath on those who are openly rejecting and sinning against God. Here he’s talking about those who are exercising hypocritical judgement towards others.

And do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Ro 2:2-3 NASB He is asking a rhetorical question. Do you think just because their sin is open and yours is secret God doesn’t know or isn’t concerned?

God has not granted us grace so that we might sin and be immune from His judgment against sin. Eternal security doesn’t teach that at all. It is foolish to think that this is possible. This is what Paul was talking about at the conclusion of ch 5 and the beginning of ch 6. Where he wrote where sin abounded grace did much more abound but does that mean we sin more to receive more grace. You have to be kidding.

In verse 4 Paul explains that the kindness of God the mercy and grace of God is not intended to let us get by with sin, but is intended to lead us to repentance.

I think there are two questions that seem natural to ask here.

First What is repentance and what does it mean to repent? Biblical repentance means abandoning actions which defy God and are in opposition to His righteousness. The Hebrew term suggest a turning around, and the Greek word means a change of mind that leads to a change of actions.

J I Packer says that it is a truly spiritual revolution only possible to those who have been set free from sin’s dominion and made alive in Christ.

I see a 4 step process, involved in repentance:

1. Discerning the sinfulness of who you are and what you have done. That means first of all recognizing that you are a sinner. It’s always easy to recognize sin in others but we have a much harder time seeing it in ourselves. We hide it from our selves.

There was a man in the Old Testament like that. He committed adultery and compounded it with murder. He somehow managed to put it out of his mind until God’s prophet came to him. He told him a parable of two men, one rich and the other poor. The rich man received a traveler and was unwilling to take one of his own flock to prepare for the man and he stole the only lamb of the poor man. King David recognized immediately the sin in the rich man’s life and declared he was worthy of death. He also discerned it in his own life when Nathan said the words “you are the man.”
We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God Rom 3:23. The first step on the road to repentance is recognizing the overall sinfulness of our lives but also through God’s word and God’s Spirit recognizing individual sin in our lives as well.

2. When we recognize sin we have to be willing to deal with it. Desiring to find forgiveness, abandoning the habit of sin and desiring to live a God-pleasing life from now on. Isa 57:15 For this is what the high and lofty One says- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.(NIV)

This was the example of the prodigal son in Luke 15:17-20 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. [N1V)

3. Deciding to not only ask for forgiveness but also the power to change
Rom 10:13 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (NIV) We are saved and sealed and filled with the Spirit of God but John reminds us of the need to continually come before the Lord in confession

1 Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. NASB That’s present active if we continue to confess our sins he is continually faithful and righteous to forgive us and cleanse us.

4. Demonstrate, by testimony and confession, by changed behavior and life-style that you have left sin behind. This is the transformation brought about in the life of a believer through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

2 Cor 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (NIV)

In Gal 2:20 Paul wrote: "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. NASB

Repentance is not simply a one time deal it is a continuing or recurring event in the life of a believer.

A third thing Paul tells us about judgement is that God’s judgement is totally righteous.

III. The Righteousness of Gods judgment w. 5-11

While God’s judgement is certain and no one can escape it Paul also assures us that Gods judgment is completely righteous.

The Bible is abundantly clear salvation, justification, forgiveness, eternal life are by faith apart from works. Eternal life is not a reward for good living; that would contradict the teaching of Scripture which clearly states that salvation is not by works, but is all of God's grace to those who believe (e.g., Ro 6:23; 10:9-10; 11:6; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5).

To the Ephesian church Paul wrote: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast. Eph 2:8-10 NASB In Tit 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, NASB

We are sinners saved by the grace of God through faith. However, God's grace is not license to sin. A person's habitual conduct, whether good or evil, reveals the true condition of his heart. And that is the real key for understanding what Paul says here. This is an example where Paul agrees with James on the relationship of faith and works.

Paul says believers will give an account of their stewardship of God’s grace. Paul tells us that in 1 Cor 3:13-14 and he wrote in 2 Co 5:10

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. NASB

And God’s judgement is completely righteous because God is not fooled God knows he condition of men’s hearts.

Jer 17:10 10 "I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds. NASB

Salvation is not license to sin it is responsibility.

Paul wrote in Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. NASB

We are not saved by good works but we are saved for good works. Our good works and our good deeds are birthed in our hearts and God knows our hearts. He knows whether we have trusted Him for salvation and our deeds follow our faith or whether our deeds are a replacement for faith or whether our deeds in fact are purely evil and our hearts have rejected God. And His judgement is completely righteous. Paul shares one more thing about judgement with us in this passage. The agent for this judgement and the basis for this judgement is Jesus Christ.

IV. The Agent and basis of Gods Judgment v. 16

on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. NASB

“on the day” or “in the day” looks towards an end time final judgement where all things are brought to light

The Agent of this judgement is Jesus Christ ". . .God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus." NASB

The Bible says in Mt 16:27 "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds. NASB We find a picture of this in Matt 25:31-41

and John wrote in

Jn 5:22, 26-27

22 "For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,

26 "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; 27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. NASB

The basis of Judgement will be first of all what men did with the knowledge of Christ.

Jn 11:25-26

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. NASB

Jn 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. NASB

1 Jn 5:11-12 And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. NASB

And then how that knowledge impacted our lives and what we did with Christ.

What have you done with Christ? Have you trusted Him for your salvation? Does your life and actions testify to the truthfulness of you faith? Are you living for Him?