Romans 2:1-16
The Moral Man is Guilty Too!
Scripture reading –
Lu 18:9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Pray
Intro
√ So far we’ve looked at Paul’s line of argument as he proves that the entire human race stands guilty before God because Mankind has…
Suppressed the Truth about God (1:18)
Ignored God’s revelation of Himself through His Creation (1:19-20)
Perverted God’s glory through the worship of idols made to look like His Creation (1:21-23)
Therefore, God gave sinful Man up to…
Their own wicked desires (1:24-25)
To perversion (1:26-27)
To wrong thinking & destructive behavior (1:28-32)
√ For some people, especially the religious person, or the moral person…
…it would be easy to look at Paul’s argument in chapter 1 against the immoral person and find oneself in hearty agreement!
“Amen – preach it brother!”
And entirely miss the Paul’s point that all people are guilty before God and in need of a savior!
What do you mean pastor?
I mean that there are many people who think of themselves as…
“a basically good person”
…and that God will let them into heaven because of their good behavior.
Ex. Haven’t you ever witnessed to someone about their need for a savior and they just can’t see your point because they see themselves as…
Moral
Good citizen
Doing good for others
Attend church!
Brought up in a Christian home
…surely that counts for something doesn’t it?
Not with Jesus is doesn’t.
Lu 18:9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
So, in chapter 2 Paul turns his attention to the person who trusts in themselves (the moralist or the religious person) – believing that they are righteous and despising those not like them.
Ap. Oh yeah! Our hometown – like it or not, is filled with this type of person. Basically good, moral, even religious…
…yet, GUILTY before God and just as needy for a savior as the immoral person described in chapter 1.
Worse – this person finds it easy to point out sin in others lives, but doesn’t see the sin in their own life!
How can that be? Let’s look at Paul’s argument here in chapter 2.
Truth (vs. 1-3)
Rom. 2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
Rom. 2:2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
Rom. 2:3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
√ Paul addresses the self righteous person
That person who acknowledges and condemns sinful behavior in others…
…but who is guilty of the very same things!
How?
Because God judges each person based upon Truth.
√ Truth?
Yes, truth. God’s judgement is perfect because He is able to judge a person not only by what they do…
…but also by what they think!
Ex. Jesus defined sin to the self righteous religious leaders in this same way.
Mat. 5:20 “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mat. 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
Mat. 5:22 “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
And…
Mat. 5:27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
Mat. 5:28 “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Wow! The point is that whereas a person might be able to maintain righteous behavior…perfect adherence to the Law…
…they still are not righteous before God because no person is without sin when it comes to the thoughts in our heart!
Ex. Jimmy Carter got in trouble when he admitted to Playboy magazine that he had lusted in his heart.
That’s not unique to Jimmy Carter, he was just honest enough to admit it!
We’re all guilty!
√ The second reason that the moral or religious person is also guilty before God is that when God judges us He does so with impartiality!
Verse 4
Rom. 2:4 Or do
you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not
knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Ap. It’s His Grace that brings us to Him; that is, not getting what we deserve!
Ex. We don’t get fried into carbon bits when we sin!
Ap. Do you take His goodness for granted?
Versus 5-10
Rom. 2:5 But in
accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up
for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment
of God,
Rom. 2:6 who
“will render to each one according to his deeds”:
Rom. 2:7 eternal
life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor,
and immortality;
Rom. 2:8 but to
those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness--indignation and wrath,
Rom. 2:9 tribulation
and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of
the Greek;
Rom. 2:10 but
glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first
and also to the Greek.
√ Not saved by works.
Rather, saving faith produces good works in our life.
Ap. We should see a Christ-likeness in our life.
What do you see?
Impartiality (vs. 11-15)
Rom. 2:11 For there is no partiality with God.
Rom. 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
Rom. 2:13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
Rom. 2:14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
Rom. 2:15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)
√ Paul’s point here is specifically directed toward the Jewish readers who were of the opinion that God would show them special favor because they were His “chosen people”.
That is, the Jews thought that because they had the Law, that they were somehow more righteous than those who didn’t have the Law.
But God doesn’t judge that way. Rather, His judgement is fair toward every person.
If they have the revelation of the Law – that is, the person knows what God’s will is – they will be judged according to that knowledge.
On the other hand, the person who has never heard of the Law, will be judged according to what knowledge they have.
√ There is a universal law written in the heart of every person – it’s called our conscience.
Predates the Mosaic Law
Ex. After the flood before the Law
Gen. 9:6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.
There is a universal understanding within the conscience of Man that it is wrong to kill people.
Therefore, the person who murders is guilty whether they have the Law or not.
More so, the person who doesn’t have the Law, but who lives by the law written in his conscience, is more righteous than the person who has the Law but doesn’t keep it.
√ The Jews used their religion to hide behind. That is, they were able to keep the Law (technically speaking) and still sin!
Ex. They found Jesus guilty of blasphame and condemened Him to death even though they knew He was Messiah!
How can a person be like that? By knowing the written Word, but not the Author Who spoke the Word!
Ap. How about me? Do I hide behind religion?
The greatest witness we have Jesus said is our love for one another (John 13:34-34). Our greatest calling is to love (I Cor. 13).
Yet, we find that people use the Bible to justify their hate for others!
Ex. White Supremeist groups
Jesus Christ (vs. 16)
Rom. 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
√ Paul’s final argument to prove that the moral person, the religious person is guilty before God is that they cannot meet His standard for perfect righteousness.
The standard for entry into heaven is the perfect and sinless Person of Jesus Christ!
The self-righteous person who trusts in themselves will have to stand before God and prove to the all-knowing God that they are equal in perfection to Jesus!
Not going to happen!
√ Paul’s argument is that all men need a Savior!
The immoral and ungodly person
The moral and religious person
Because everyone is guility and deserving of God’s judgement.
Close
√ The Good News
We can escape God’s judgement (John 5:24)! The Christian has had his/her sins judged at the Cross.
However, bear in mind that our works will be judged before Jesus Christ! (II Cor. 5:10)
Ap. Beware of pride knowing that we are all worthy of judgement…
“But for the Grace of God there go I”