Romans 2:1-3:10
It's not my fault. You know, whenever I do something wrong, it's not because I chose to but because you pushed me to it or they said it or I had a bad day and at least I didn’t do what she did...
Does that sound familiar? Is that you as well as me?
So when God says in 1:18 that God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness then our inner lawyer immediately starts preparing our defence.
No God, you can’t be angry with me because ...
How would you finish that sentence? No God, you can’t be angry with me because ... maybe
1. I’m good 1-16 or
2. I’m religious 17-29 or
3. It’s not fair 3:1-10
Because they are the three excuses we see in today's text. God can’t be angry with me, can’t judge me because ...
1. I’m good.
2:1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?
Every one of us is judgemental – we condemn others for what they do. On Wednesday, I drove over 'heia to Kongsberg there was a guy driving right up my backside. No 1001-1002-1003. I got angry because it's dangerous. And then it struck me that I did the same thing day before with someone who driving exactly 10 k’s below the speed limit. Because I was annoyed I drove too close for a good while until the Holy Spirit persuaded me to back off! But how could I be angry with the guy behind me when he just doing exactly what I did. I was judged, condemned, by my own judgment.
And we do it again and again. Ooh, we get so mad when people lie to us! But then we lie – but that was for a good reason! We’ve condemned ourselves. What about gossip? Or envy - "I want that"? Or greed - we all eat too much and buy too much! Or when our children are disobedient ... but we were disobedient ourselves. Oops!
We don’t even need God to judge us. We don’t need his law, his standard - we are all fall short of our own standard. We are all judged guilty by ... ourselves. Good grief!
3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?
Isn’t it weird that we people have a standard a "law" that we all break, but we all agree is correct and that we should obey?
We find that we measure our actions against some kind of Standard, some real sense of Right and Wrong. Humans have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way; they do not do so. It's almost like we know there's a standard, a law that's over us, beyond us, and not from us. Our morality reveals that we know God and his morality, his law.
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.
The law's requirements - the good law of God, His morality - is written on our hearts. Yes, it is affected by sin, and so our conscience is not a trustworthy guide, but ... but it is still a guide, which shows us what is right and wrong. And makes us feel guilty when we do what is wrong! We can’t use the excuse "I'm a good person" because we don’t even reach our own standards. And the fact that we don’t measure up, that we know what is wrong - but we choose to do it anyway - it's a sign of what we learned last week: that God’s anger is revealed by Him letting us do what we want. He allows us to do just what we want so that we will see and understand - oh, I'm not as good as I thought, because I do what I know is wrong.
Of course, sometimes we do listen to our conscience – and sometimes we don’t. That's why it says in 15 their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right..
And it continues: 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
For we see God’s anger both now and in the future. God’s anger is revealed now in what we do - but this is limited. He allows just enough for us to understand that we are filthy in what we do, say and think. Of course, most of us just pretend nothing’s wrong but like a toddler running around with a smelly nappy, even if we pretend nothing’s wrong, it's quite clear to everyone else that something is seriously wrong with us. We need to be changed and cleaned!
We live in a filthy world with filthy people. We need help. And this is just a limited picture of our sin. God only allows a fraction, one third according to Revelation 8. If he let go, this world would literally be hell. In his grace he limits our sin. Like a dam wall, he holds back the flood of our sin. That we here in Norway have such a good life is a miracle, a gift from God - and we don’t even thank Him, but pat ourselves on the back! How clever we are!
We see God's wrath in what we do - but we will see the wrath of God in the future on Judgment Day. That day when God will put an end to all evil, all that is wrong, all that is filthy. And that’s us, if we’re not washed clean by Jesus. For everyone not washed clean by Jesus is still dirty.
That’s what we celebrated this morning with Birthe. She believes in Jesus. She lives for him. She belongs to him. He has washed her clean and raised her to new life in him. Therefore, she was baptised as a symbol of what God has done in her. She was washed with water as a sign that she is now clean.
And that offer is for everyone. We are all guilty. We can all come to Jesus and be washed clean. If that’s you, today would be a good day to accept Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Talk to me afterwards if you’d like to do that.
Because v4 warns us: 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? 5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Judgment Day is coming as certain as the clock ticks and the sun rises. And it is our own deeds - what we have done and said and thought – that is what will judge us.
6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 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.
At first glance, v7 seems to give us hope that we can actually do it ourselves. If I keep doing good and seek glory, honour and immortality, I can earn eternal life. Yes. But who in the world does that? None of us. None of us except Jesus has lived consistently like that. Because it's not enough to try - but you must have succeed. Do or do not. There is no try! Every minute of every day from when you were a baby until you are old and grey you must have done only that which is good and sought glory and honour and immortality…. Good luck! Let me know how it goes.
If you’re still labouring under the delusion that you can somehow succeed - read one of the gospels and compare your performance to Jesus’. Because he is sought only God's glory, God’s honour and what is immortal. He is the standard.
Verse 7 is also an important lesson in reading things in context (from the verses around). Because the whole argument from 1:18 is building up to 3:10 “No one is righteous— not even one”. The Holy Spirit through Paul wants us to understand that everything except trusting in Jesus is in vain. Rubbish. Whether it's our goodness or our religion or anything else. Useless.
“I’m good” is no excuse. And neither is "I'm religious."
2. I'm religious
17 You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. 18 You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law. 19 You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness. 20 You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth. 21 Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal? 22 You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? 23 You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”
You can feel the force of the argument. Paul sees before him a Jew, proud of his religious upbringing, proud of his own accomplishments. And he knows that guy well, because that's what he was before he met Christ. He was a religious giant! He says elsewhere, in his letter to the Philippians 3:4b Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! 5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.
He was the most religious of all religious people! He lived for the glory of God, so he thought. But he continues in v7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Religion without Christ is worthless. In fact, it mocks God. 24 No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”
For religion leads to hypocrisy, a thin outer layer of “holiness”, while behind the mask is a heart filled with selfishness and sin. Just think of the crisis that’s hit the Catholic Church and the Jehovah’s Witnesses, where they covered up child abuse to maintain a “holy” appearance. The Bible says what they should have done was exposed their sins, and dealt with them. Taken the punishment of the law, apologise, and make it public. For the gospel is that we are sinner, and Jesus is righteous - not “we must pretend that we are righteous”!
That is a religious spirit, which says it is appearance that matters. But God says it is what is within that matters. And only the Holy Spirit can change us from the inside out. That’s the point of the gospel!
25 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision (the sign that were a Jew and belonged to God) has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. An external sign is not enough. Just like baptism. An external symbol can’t impart righteousness and holiness to Birthe or any of us. Only Jesus can do that. It must be something that comes from within, from the Holy Spirit’s work in us.
26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? 27 In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it. There is no value in circumcision if you don’t keep the law. And there is no value in being baptised in the State Church or even Rock International Church if you don’t keep the law. And you can only keep the law in Christ. He must give you his fulfilment of the law, his righteousness.
28 For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. 29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by the Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people
As it says in v6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. We all are judged by our works (what we have done). The question is who's works will we be judged by? We have a choice. Either we stand with our own works - and our own actions and words and judgements on others will condemn us to hell. Our “goodness” and our religious performance is not enough.
12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law.(because we judge ourselves with our own goodness) And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.
Being good doesn’t work. Being religious – even being a JEW, God’s very own people, does not work.
I am good, I am religious are worthless excuses. Our sin is exposed. So, we do what everyone does when we’re caught out, exposed – we say “It’s not fair”.
3. It’s not fair!
3:1-10 is a bunch of excuses as to why God can’t judge us. Andm yes, they’re a bit dumb - but you've probably used them yourself and you've probably heard others use them!
The first is what’s the point then of being religious? 3:1 Then what’s the advantage of being a Jew? Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision?
The question is me focused, my performance. Paul dismisses it with focusing on God. 2 Yes, there are great benefits! First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the whole revelation of God.
The only advatange to being religious is what we know about God. But knowledge does not save. You actually have to do something with that knowledge, and trust in Christ Jesus for salvation.
The next excuse is: Ok, so we have to trust God. Fine. But the Jews didn’t. So doesn’t that ruin God’s revelation?
3 True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful?
Salvation comes through the Jews. But you Paul now say that there is no salvation in the Jewish religion, only in Christ. If that were true, if the Jews are unfaithful, then it’s all ruined. The promises of God are nullified!
4 Of course not! Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.”
The Jews’ unfaithfulness does not blot out God's faithfulness – it just highlights it! Like when you paint a white wall - it looked white before, but when you apply the new paint – then you see how dirty it was before! The new paint emphasises how dirty it was before. And so with God. His faithfulness is not nullified by our unfaithfulness – no – it reveals our unfaithfulness!
Now our excuses start to get desperate!
5 “But,” some might say, “our sinfulness serves a good purpose, for it helps people see how righteous God is. Isn’t it unfair, then, for him to punish us?” (This is merely a human point of view.)
6 Of course not! If God were not entirely fair, how would he be qualified to judge the world?
God allows us to sin as proof of his right judgment. If he didn’t allow us to do what we wanted, how could he judge us? But because he let us do what we want, then we prove his judgment is correct.
7 “But,” someone might still argue, “how can God condemn me as a sinner if my dishonesty highlights his truthfulness and brings him more glory?” For a devilish sentence that is! "God needs my sin so that he can be glorified in his mercy, therefore he can’t judge me for my sin! 8 And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, “The more we sin, the better it is!” Paul doesn’t even bother to answer such a ridiculous twisted statement. But simply says: Those who say such things deserve to be condemned.
9 Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. 10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one.
All excuses are worthless. We all are guilty before God. Therefore this morning in the baptism we did not celebrate Birthe, but God - his grace in her life. We did not celebrate that she has been good enough or religious enough or has come up with a good enough excuse for God. No! We celebrated that Jesus has taken her place, taken the punishment she deserved and swapped her sin with his righteousness. Amen and hallelujah.
How would you finish the sentence God, you can’t be angry with me because... I'm good - but you're not. I'm religious – but you've broken the law. It is unfair - but God's judgment is fair. No. The only answer that works is this: God, you can’t be angry with me because I rely fully and wholly on Jesus Christ: that I have received his righteousness and my sins have been washed away by his blood on the cross. We live by faith, and nothing else. Amen.