Sunday, July 5, 2015

The Righteous Judgment of God (Part 3)


SERMON:             GM15-063

SERIES:              Renewal Through Romans: The Gospel Defined, Explained &           Applied

SETTING:          North Kelso Baptist Church

SERVICE:          Sunday AM (July 5, 2015)

SECTION:          The Perversion of Righteousness (Romans 1:18-3:20)

SUBTITLE:        The Righteous Judgment of God (Part 3)

SCRIPTURE:     Romans 2:12-16

SUBJECT:          The Jews have no advantage

SUMMARY:       Paul denies the Jews a refuge from God’s judgment by demonstrating                                       that the possession of the law is of no advantage.

SCHEME:           To motivate each member of NKBC to trust the right criteria in                                            anticipation of the coming judgment
_____________________________________________________________

Our theme is:  The Jews have no advantage

 Proposition:        Paul denies the Jews a refuge from God’s judgment by demonstrating that the possession of the law is of no advantage.

Interrogatory Sentence:  Why do the Jews have no advantage before God?

Transitional Sentence: This passage reveals three reasons why the Jews have no                                                      advantage before God

·        Justification is not based on hearing or possessing the law (13)
·        The Gentiles have a form of God’s moral law (14-15)
·         God will judge according to these criteria (16)


The Perversion of Righteousness
Section Two * Romans 1:18-3:20

Title:           The Righteous Judgment of God (Part 3)
Text:           Romans 2:12-16

Text:           When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they                         never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s                          law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For                            merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is                          obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles,                    who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law                        when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard                                  it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for                     their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them                    they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that                        the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge                            everyone’s secret life. (Romans 2:12-16, NLT)

Central Proposition of the Text

Theme:       The standard of God’s judgment is defended
Thrust:       as being completely impartial because the Jews have no advantage
Target:       The standard of God’s judgment is defended by the fact that the Jews have                              no advantage over the Gentiles by possessing the law

Outline:      3C     The Jews are doomed by the judgment of God (12-16)

                             1D     The Principle Provides the Reality of Judgment (12)

                                      1E     Those who sin w/o law will be doomed
                                      2E     Those who sin w/law will be doomed

                             2D     The Parenthesis Provides the Reason of Judgment (13-15)

                                      1E     The Hearers are not justified, it is the doers who are
                                      2E     The Gentiles have a form of the moral law


The Righteous Judgment of God
Romans 2:12-16 * (Part 3)
INTRODUCTION
A.      Introduction
          One of the golfers on the pro tour some years ago was a pompous egomaniac with the emotional maturity of a six-year-old. He could do nothing wrong and always had a quick excuse for any loss: it was a lousy course, the other golfers were cheating, the        weather was terrible, etc. As if these faults were not enough, he was also not above   hustling a few extra dollars playing amateurs in cities on the tour for $50 a hole.

          One day he was approached by a man wearing dark glasses and carrying a white                 cane  who offered to play him for $100 a hole. "Why, I can't play you," the                          professional protested. "You're blind, aren't you?" "Yes, I am," replied the man. 

           "But that's all right. I was a state champion before I went blind. I think I can beat                you." Now the  conceited one had not been doing well lately--he needed the                        money. Anyway, blind or not, if the guy was crazy enough to challenge him...well,            why not? "You did say $100  a hole?"

          The blind man nodded. "Well, all right. It's a deal. But don't say I didn't warn you-              -  you'll lose your money. When would you like to play?" "Any night at all,"                      replied the blind man. "Any night at all."

          The old pro thought he had an advantage – his sight. But playing at night he                    would have no advantage and would be equal to his blind opponent.

How will God judge people? What is the criteria that God will use?

Today, I want to share with you that merely possessing the law is not the criteria that God will use to judge people.

B.      Sub-Introduction

          Announce the Text: Our text for today is Romans 2:12-16. Please take your bibles           and turn there.

          “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 13 (for not the hearers of           the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 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, 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) 16 in the day when God           will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” (Romans           2:6-11, NKJV)

Review Last week we began looking at the statement of God’s judgment. In verse six, Paul wrote, “…who will render to each one according to his works…” God will give or pay to every person exactly what they have earned in this life. The basis for God giving or paying exactly what will be due is according to his works. Remember, we said that Paul was not referring to the basis of salvation but he was referring to the basis of God’s judgment.

Secondly, we saw the support of God’s judgment in vss. 7-10. Paul listed two possible results of God’s judgment – eternal life or the wrath of God. Every individual pursues one of two things in this life – glory, honor, and immortality or selfish ambitions, disobedience, and sin. So Paul makes it clear that God will judge everyone, even the Jews on this basis and that the Jews will not escape judgment simply because they are Jews.

Finally, we saw the summary of God’s judgment. Paul summed up the essence of God’s judgment as impartiality. God will not give any special consideration to a person because of that person may or may not be. God will be judging the person by their conduct. He will impartially judge the works since the works are the expression of the inner person.

Background to the Text:

Preview – Our text this morning divides itself into two parts; vss. 12 and 16 gives us the reality of judgment and vss. 13-15 gives us the results of God judgment according to our works.

Repeat CPS – Today I want to remind you that God will judge every individual regardless of whether they possess the law of God or not.

Theme:       The declaration of God’s judgment includes the fact that it is
Thrust:       completely impartial removing the Jews of having any advantage
Target:       The declaration of God’s judgment of the Jews as being impartial leaves the                              Jews with no advantage over the Gentiles

Interrogatory Sentence:  Why do the Jews have no advantage before God?
Transitional Sentence: This passage supplies two observations as to why the Jews have no advantage before God

·        The principle supplies the reality of judgment (12)
·        The parenthesis sustains the reasons for judgment (13-15)
·        God will judge according to these criteria (16)
         
[So, let’s take a look at the first observation supplied by our passage and find out why the Jews have no advantage over the gentiles, and that is…]

                   3C     The Jews are doomed by the judgment of God (12-16)      

                             Paul’s main goal is to show that all people, Gentiles and Jews are                              under the wrath and judgment of God. Paul’s purpose is simple, he                                  wants all people, particularly the Jews to take advantage of God’                                    patient and goodness in order to repent.

                             Paul is actually dealing with every objection that he can anticipate in                              order to demonstrate to both Gentiles and Jews that they do need to                                repent.       

 For example:  In vss. 9 & 10, he talks about rewards and punishment  – “…tribulation and anguish upon 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 works what is good, to the Jew first and also of the Greek.

                             Now Paul makes a more direct and specific charge against the Jews.                                       He becomes more direct in verse 17 until the end of the chapter.

                             Before we actually jump into this paragraph it is important that you                                       know how to actually read this paragraph. Paul’s thought begins in                                   verse 12 and is interrupted by vss. 13-15 which are properly placed in                                  parenthesis. Paul finishes his thought of verse 12 in verse 16.

                             To read this section correctly, it would read like this, “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 in the day when God                                will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”
                            
                             So Paul’s main point or his main statement is found in verses 12 and                                       16. In verses 13-15 Paul gives a little more detail to support his main                               statement.

                             And remember what Paul said in verse 11, “…for there is no                                        partiality with God.” God does know show favoritism especially                                 when it comes to wrath and judgment. Now Paul wants to show that                                       possessing the law will not evoke any favoritism with God either.

[So, let’s look at the principle. We see that…]

                             1D     The Principle supplies the Reality of Judgment (12)

                                      Paul classified mankind into two different groups; a group                                          under the law and a group not under the law. The world has                                       been divided into Jews and Gentiles. The written law had been                                                 given to the Jews and it was not given to the Gentiles.

[And so, we see that…]

                                      1E     Those who sin w/o having the law will be doomed

                                                “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish                                                 without law…”

                                                The Gentiles who have not been given the law will not be                                                 judged by the law. But they will still be judged and even                                                           doomed.

                                                The Gentiles are considered by Paul as law-less. Not                                                    outlaws or criminals as such, but still judged even though                                                 God never gave them the moral law of God.

                                                “…that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens                                                 from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the                                                           covenants of promise, having no hope and without God                                                   in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12, NKJV)
         
                                                They will be judged according to their limited knowledge                                                 of God. Just like the majority of the world or mankind.
[But, the Gentiles are not alone, Paul goes on to say that…]

                                      2E     Those who sin while having the law will be doomed

                                                Paul is specifically speaking of the Jews in this last                                                      portion of verse 12. The Jews will not exempt from                                                     God’s judgment merely or simply because they are Jews.

So, it seems to be simple or very cut and dry. Men will be judged according to the “light” that they have received. The Gentiles will be judged by the fact that they can look at creation and by observation know that there is a holy and powerful God.

The Jews will be judged by the very law that they were given and possess. God’s moral will has been revealed in the law. So the point Paul is making is that the Jews will not have any more advantage and nor will they escape God’s fierce anger and judgment merely because they are Jews.

[Vss. 13-15 tells us why that is so…]

                             2D     The Parenthesis Provides the Reason of Judgment (13-15)

                                      1E     The Hearers are not justified, it is the doers who are

                                                “…for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of                                                 God but the doers of the law will be justified.”

                                                The word hearers is used because the law was read in the                                                           presence of the Jews rather than by individually reading                                                        it.

                                                The law can only justify a sinner when it is obeyed.                                                     Reading the law, hearing the law read or taught, or even                                                           studying the law will not justify anybody before God.

                                                This is important, first of all this is the first time Paul                                                 uses the verb justify.  This verb speaks too God’s judicial                                                 decision to consider a sinner as just or right with or                                                     before God.

                                                We have a great example in Matthew 7:24-27 (Read)
                                                Matthew 12:50, reads, “For whoever does the will of my                                                           Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”                                                     (Matthew 12:50, NKJV)

                                                This is a crucial and important point by the way. There                                                           are a good deal of people who attend church regularly                                                     and listen to the bible read and even preached who are                                                       deceiving themselves.

                                                James makes this very clear for us in James 1:23-24, “for                                                 if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is                                                   like a man who looks at this natural face in a mirror, for                                                           once he as looked at himself and gone away, he has                                                           immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.”

                                                So the person who is satisfied with superficial knowing                                                           God’s word is living a spiritual lie. Consistent                                                              disobedience to the Word of God proves that no saving                                                         faith exists.

                                                The doers of the law, are concerned about God’s word                                                           and will. They come to God and repent, they realize that                                                   the law teaches them they can’t keep it perfectly. They                                                  come to God in repentance seeking glory, honor, and                                                           eternal life and are rewarded with it. They are justified.

[But what about the Gentiles? Well, Paul makes it clear that…]

                                      2E     The Gentiles have a form of the moral law
                            
                                                By the way, Paul is not speaking of salvation in verse 12.                                                          He is addressing the destruction of sinners who do not                                                     obey the moral law or will of God at the great white                                                           throne on the Day of Judgment.

                                                The reason Paul even mentions the Gentiles at this point,                                                           is to continue to reinforce the point that merely                                                             possessing the law by the Jews is not salvific. If the Jews                                                  sin like the Gentiles they too will face eternal judgment.

                                                Verse 13 is used by Paul to reinforce the truth of verse 6,                                                           that God will reward those who are obedient to His                                                           revealed will.
         
                                                Now don’t worry or get ahead of yourself. Paul isn’t                                                   saying that keeping the law perfectly is possible by either                                                 Jew or Gentile. He is simply stating that the basis of                                                    judgment will be on whether one has or not. Paul will                                                 deal with salvation issues in verses 25-29.

                                                The Gentiles have God’s general revelation of Himself in                                                 creation, remember verses 18-32? The Gentiles do                                                                  instinctively the things that are in the law, thereby sort of                                                         making a law for themselves.

As a matter of fact the Gentiles have what we call a conscience. God has placed knowledge of Himself within every person that has ever been formed in a womb.

Knowledge of God is also plainly evident in His creation. So God has made every person responsible for responding to the knowledge of Him within every person and within creation (CIT). If any person would respond to this knowledge God would lead him until Gospel salvation would be his also. But man has chosen to ignore and to blatantly suppress this knowledge of God. 

Thus every person is justly chargeable with rejecting God, for every person has an inner revelation and the opportunity for outer realization of God but have chosen to follow their own desires and thoughts. The righteous wrath of God abides on all who reject the knowledge of God. 
                                      3E     There are four (4) reasons why the Gentiles are                                                                    judged

·        We have talked about this, but the Gentiles rejected the knowledge that God made available in creation. So their rejection condemns them!

·        The Gentiles have God’s law if you would written on their hearts. Gentiles know right from wrong. They know that murder is wrong, that stealing is wrong.

Men know what is ethically good or bad because God has placed this knowledge inside each individual. So on judgment day the works of the Gentile will testify against him.

·        The Gentiles are condemned because they possess a conscience. Even though the Gentiles do not possess the law of God, their conscience actually bears witness to God’s law.

                                                          Conscience is a very interest word. It is a                                                                      compound word. It contains the Greek Word suni                                                                    which means with. Conscience literally means                                                                    knowledge with, or co-knowledge. The Gentiles                                                                have a knowledge with God’s moral law. The                                                             word testifies to the fact that men recognize that                                                             they have an instinctive built-in sense of right and                                                             wrong that activates guilt when poked.

                                                          Consciences vary in how sensitive they are by how                                                           you treat them. If you consistently resist or disobey                                                           or ignore your conscience it will grow weak and                                                           eventually become what Paul called “seared.”

Let me illustrate this truth by getting you to think about leprosy for a minute.

Leprosy does not deteriorate or eat a person’s flesh. Leprosy actually desensitizes the nerves. So, when skin, arms, hands, fingers, nose, toes, or ears are not protected, a leprous person does not feel pain. There are no nerves to warn the person that his hand is touching a hot stove. So the leper has no nerves to tell him that his hand is burning, or infected, or even punctured by something.

If you deny your conscience often enough you can desensitize your conscience and it stops warning you of sin and guilt from sin.





·        The Gentiles are lost because of they reject the working of the inner revelation of God.

                                                          The moral law of God will accuse the conscience                                                                    of sin or it can excuse or relieve the conscience of                                                                sin and guilt.

                                                          Gentiles and Jews for that matter know that certain                                                           things are basically right and what is wrong.                

So, no Gentile can stand before God guiltless. And because the Jews have the moral will of what is right and wrong, they cannot stand before God guiltless. Regardless of whether one has the written law or the moral will of God impressed internally on the heart, all will be judged fairly, justly, or impartially by God.

“…in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”

God will judge the secrets or the hidden things of the Gentiles and Jews. God knows every secret, no matter how deeply hidden, or repressed. God “searches all hearts and understands every intent of the thoughts…” David told Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:9.

[What do you say that we wrap this up?]

CONCLUSION

 Just before the death of actor W.C. Fields, a friend visited Fields' hospital room and was surprised to find him thumbing through a Bible. Asked what he was doing with a Bible, Fields replied, "I'm looking for loopholes."
Regardless of whether a person has been given the law of God as the Jews were, or a person has not been given the written law, they will be judged according to their works. There are no loopholes.
Today I want to continue to motivate you to pursue the things of God in this life rather than the things of this world since God is going to judge what we pursue in this life because what we pursue gives evidence of salvation.



[So, what should you do?]
I.       The Application
          P First, that merely possessing or hearing the law of God provides no advantage           for anyone on the Day of Judgment. The Jews have no advantage over the Gentiles           because of this reason. Only those who keep the law perfectly would have the           advantage. Only Christ did this.

          P Second, seek to maintain a clear conscience by the renewing of your mind with Scripture. God gave us our conscience with the imprint of his law in our hearts that we would have a basic knowledge of right and wrong. Failing to          maintain a clear conscience by both renewing and confession of sin results in a        seared conscience.

          P Finally, thank God often through Jesus Christ that the law was perfectly           fulfilled or kept by Christ on your behalf which resulted in your justification.

So, I exhort you as genuine believers to: trust that God will judge every individual based on their works, therefore rejoice in the fact that your sins were judged and dealt with in Jesus Christ and His fulfillment of the law was applied to you.

Remember, Paul wrote, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10, NKJV)

Let’s pray! J

Benediction Blessing:


“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Philippians 4:23, NKJV)

1 comment:

nashvillecats2 said...

Phew! just finished reading this wonderful post. I do look forward to reading them as I have mentioned before. Also I feel better for reading them. Thanks Gregg,

Yvonne.