Romans 2:1-13

Coming Judgement

In all my years in Law Enforcement, both as a Park Ranger and as a Deputy Sheriff there have always been excuses and shifting blame. Let’s see if you’ve said or heard it.

“Why did you stop me? Everyone else was speeding too.”  

This is Shifting Blame. A Police officers can only pull over one vehicle at a time.

“’I’ve done this before and no one has ever stopped me.”

They have repeated this action multiple times and no one has correct their behavior before so how bad can it be?

“Your honor, other people do it all the time.”  

People believe an action is right or acceptable just because it is popular or other did it too. We are looking to the judge for some kindness.

Adam did this in the garden……Genesis 3:11-12 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Adam was trying to minimize his own fault by showing that the behavior was brought on by Eve doing it.

Instead of asking for forgiveness, Adam deflects responsibility in the same way as in the Law Enforcement situations we mentioned.

What these people are really doing is questioning authority, fairness in how they are treated and judging others even though we did the same thing.

From the beginning with Adam, until today, we all know we when we are doing wrong.

By blaming others for their wrongs (sins) we actually condemn ourselves proving we know right from wrong. But those who actually obey the law will be declared honorable.

That is a brief explanation of what our lesson is about. Now. Let’s get into the rest of the story.

Let’s read Romans 2:1-5

1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, 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 human being, 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, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to 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.

Whenever you see the word “therefore” you need to look back at what was written right before it.

Here is what was written…………….Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

What does that mean? ……God gives everyone the ability to know right from wrong. It’s called our conscience. But we silence our conscience and continue to sin, justifying it by the degree of sin that others do.

Read Matthew 7:3-5  “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

This means that we are criticizing others while ignoring your own worse behavior makes you a hypocrite.

We learned last week that everyone knows God exist because of the evidence we see.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

And because we know God exist, we are answerable to Him. When we judge the sins of others that proves that we know there is a right and wrong.

Therefore, we must measure what’s right or wrong by what God says His standards are.

When we sin we know it is a rebellion against God, condemning ourselves in the process.

The mentality of “’I’ve done this before and no one has ever stopped me.”

We are an “INSTANT GENERATION.” We have everything at the tip of our fingers.

If we want to know anything, I can google it. If I want to buy something and get it quick, I can Amazon it.

When we repeat our sins over and over again and God doesn’t “Zap Us” immediately it leads us to a false assumption of…. how bad can it be. That’s why we keep on doing it.

Rather than “Zap Us” I read Romans 2:4-5 means……… God's patience and kindness are meant to soften our hearts and turn us away from sin, rather than give us an excuse to keep doing wrong. Paul explains that God is patient and kind to give people time to change. Mistaking that kindness for approval or weakness only makes the final judgment worse

We all know that we are not saved by our works, but by faith alone. Our works are evidence in our faith and obedience to the Lord rather than rebellion against God .

Let’s read Romans 2:6-11

6 God “will repay each person according to what they have 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. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.

I read this; God repays each person according to what they have done. People who persist in doing good receive eternal life and peace. People who are selfish and reject the truth face God's anger and trouble.

Have you ever thought about what kind of “Treasures in Heaven” you are storing up?

Read Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Pursuing things of this world for self-satisfaction or gratification (lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and pride of life) brings us nothing but future judgement.

Storing up treasures in heaven means investing your time and love into things that glorify God. Helping and serving others shows our love for God and brings us the words from the Lord’s lips….. well done thy good and faithful servant.

God judges everyone fair and justly, God does not show favoritism.

Let’s read Romans 2:12-13

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

Paul says there are two types of people, the hearers of the law and the doers of the law.

I read this…….the Apostle Paul means that simply hearing or knowing God's law does not make a person right with God; only those who actually obey the law are declared righteous.

Those who do not believe will be judged by the law that proves their guilt. Those that put their faith in Jesus Christ will be declared righteous.

A Pharisees, the biggest hypocrites in Jesus day ask, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?

Jesus told him, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

There is a “Coming Judgement” prepare yourselves by choosing to Love.

1 Peter 4:8  Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

God’s Word says this is the most important rule in the life of a Christian.