Spoken at SGBC

3-2-97

Romans #8

Romans 2:1-5

Self Accusing Judgement

The scriptures we begin with today have to do with King David. As we read it is important to understand that David has fallen into grievous sin. He has followed the lust of his own heart into adultery with Bathsheba. Further, he has arranged for her husband, Uriah, to be killed in battle. Bathsheba grieved when she heard her husband had been killed and then . . . When the time of mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house and she became his wife; then she bore him a son. But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD. (2 Samuel 11:27 NASB)

(2 Samuel 12:1-9 NASB) Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said, "There were two men in one city, the one rich (David) and the other poor, (Uriah). {2} "The rich man had a great many flocks and herds. (Many wives) {3} "But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb (Bathsheba) Which he bought and nourished; And it grew up together with him and his children. It would eat of his bread and drink of his cup and lie in his bosom, And was like a daughter to him. {4} "Now a traveler came to the rich man, And he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; Rather he took the poor man's ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him." {5} Then David's anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die. {6} "And he must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion." {7} Nathan then said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. {8} 'I also gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! {9} 'Why have you despised the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon.. . . {13} Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD.". . . . "

What a fitting introduction this passage is to Romans chapter two which begins and ends with the subject of God’s Judgement and our judgement of other humans.

Too often we do what David did in II Samuel Twelve. We see or are told of the sins of other people and are outraged at their behavior. We look at folks like those described in Romans 1:18-32 and we shake our heads declaring they deserve both the earthly and heavenly consequences of their sin.

The Homosexuals, Lesbians, Murderers, Adulterers, Fornicators, Liars, Gossips, Covenant Breakers and so on and so forth all deserve just what they get. We say or think this while assuming that we are somehow on a higher level than they are. We simply must be more acceptable to God than the scum Paul has described in Romans one.

God sent Nathan to David to turn his attentions from the sins of others to himself. God sent the Apostle Paul to the Jews and to us for the same reason. Nathan said to David "You have despised the word of the Lord and done what is evil in his sight." Paul says the same thing to us in Romans Chapter two.

(Romans 2:1-5 NASB) 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. {2} And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. {3} 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? {4} Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? {5} But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart YOU ARE STORING UP WRATH FOR YOURSELF IN THE DAY OF WRATH and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

We must remember that in the first part of Romans Paul is intent on proving that among men there is not one that can truly say "My works are acceptable to God for salvation." In chapter one he concentrates on the Gentiles, often referred to as the Nations. These had in their possession the revelation of God in nature and in their conscience. Yet, they suppressed what knowledge they had and went after gods of their own making. In judgement God let them go. That is, He ceased keeping them from being all they could be as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. The results of His giving them their coveted freedom are recorded in the last three fourths of the chapter. It is obvious that these people are sinners deserving the wrath of God now and in the future as well. The Jew would quickly add his Amen to the words which describe those nasty Gentiles. They were certainly without excuse.

That same Jew is in for a surprise as he continues to read Paul’s letter. For in chapter two he declares that the Jew is in exactly the same boat. "You, says Paul, who judge the Gentiles, do the same things they do. Therefore you are guilty and will stand without excuse in the Judgement."

Paul will soon bring his readers to the conclusion that Jew and Gentile alike are in need of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. First however he must teach all men to sing the old spiritual, "It’s not my Brother, It’s not my Sister, but it’s ME O Lord, standing in the need of prayer." That is of course a prayer of repentance and faith toward Jesus for salvation and eternal life. For the Christian it is a prayer for daily cleansing. What ever the case, Christian or sinner, ones central focus should be on himself rather than others.

When Paul says the Jews practice the same things he is not saying that they have sinned to the same degree as the people described in chapter one. This is of course true in a limited sense for the Jews have, at one time or other, practiced every imaginable sin. But it is not true in a broader more general way. The Jews were, by in large, a more civilized, morally governed people than the Gentile Nations which surrounded them. Nevertheless it is no stretch for Paul to say "You practice the same things."

Let me offer some examples that will help us understand what Paul is saying. The Gentiles were guilty of Adultery and Fornication, there is not doubt about that. But what about the law governed Jew and what about us? Hear the word of the Lord.

(Matthew 5:27-28 NASB) "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; {28} but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already IN HIS HEART. Therefore, Ladies and Gentlemen, the practicing Adulterer and the

want-to-be Adulterer are both guilty of the same crime against God! One has no right to look down his nose at the other. They both do the same thing, they sin.

Perhaps you are one who judges the liar for his lying when you think nothing of shading the truth, or telling your children to say "I’m not home" when you don’t want to talk on the phone. A lie is a lie is a lie is lie no matter how innocent you would like to say it is! And what does the Bible declare will happen to all liars?

(Revelation 21:8 NASB) "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and ALL LIARS, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." The person who looks down on big liars while excusing his little "white lies" is engaged in self deception, hypocrisy and will be judged along with the BIG LIAR.

Surely you have stood in judgment of the murderer and called with me for his execution. You and I wouldn’t think of committing such a crime, or would we? As you condemn the practicing murderer you might want to recall the words of 1 John 3:15 NASB. EVERYONE WHO HATES HIS BROTHER IS A MURDERER; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

(Matthew 5:21-22 NASB) "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' {22} "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca,' (This word expresses hatred contained in the heart. Literally translated it could be, "You Blockhead, or Empty Head. Such hate and disregard for human worth is the Mother and Father of actual murder. This person . . .) shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, 'You fool,'(That is, "You Idiot, You Moron.") shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Why? Because these words reveal a heart filled with disgust and hatred. They reveal the sentiment that "I don’t care whether you live or die, after all, you are an empty headed fool." Did the Gentiles murder people? Yes they did and they deserve a fiery hell for such evil deeds. However, the law abiding Jew deserves the same fiery Hell for the murder committed in his heart! If this is true, and it is, what man is there who does not deserve a fiery Hell? The answer is, there is none. For we all do the same things. We rebel in one way or another against God and that is sin.

Shall we go on to speak of greed, malice, envy, slander, gossip? Just as David condemned himself by his judgement of another so does the self righteous person in every age condemn himself as he points to another’s sin. It is always "The pot calling the kettle black!" It is always one sinner exalting himself above another sinner.

Non righteous judgement always has as part of its agenda, self magnification.

Race prejudice is a good example of this. Race prejudice is one man judging that another man is of less worth and importance than he is because of his color or ancestral descent.

Hitler, I suppose, is the supreme example of this disgusting characteristic of fallen humanity. His whole doctrine was based on having judged one race to be superior to another. In his mind Jews had no value and their absence from this earth would be no loss. He would have probably taken the life of anyone who suggested that he was on level ground with the Jew. Yet, that is exactly where he stood, on level ground with those he despised. For all have sinned and are unacceptable to God. A sinner is a sinner is a sinner and nothing else this side of Grace can change that.

America has not escaped the idiocy of prejudice. The whites hate the blacks the blacks hate the whites. The Italians look down on the Indians the Indians on the Orientals. In our fair city you have only to listen for a moment and you will hear the white speaking negatively and categorically about the Mexican population and the Mexicans about the whites.. Its all so very foolish for there is no inherent difference between one man and another.

By the Holy Spirit the Apostle Paul reveals the absurdity of prejudice. Look with me at Acts 17:26.

(Acts 17:24-28 NASB) "The God who made the world and ALL THINGS in it, since HE IS LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, does not dwell in temples made with hands; {25} neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since HE HIMSELF GIVES TO ALL LIFE AND BREATH and all things; {26} and HE MADE FROM ONE, (That one person is Adam. We all have the same human father! We are all part of one human race. The same God made each of us with a purpose. We are to seek God and His Glory, not our own exaltation at the expense our fellow man. God made from Adam . . .) EVERY NATION OF MANKIND TO LIVE ON ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, {27} that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; {28} for in Him we, (The whole human race.), live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His offspring.' Racial prejudice seems pretty silly in light of Biblical truth. Wouldn’t you agree?

Sinful man is also prone to judge his neighbor by their degree of, so called, civilization. The head hunter, for instance, is a disgusting heathen foul in every way, he is a murderer. We Americans would be appalled to hear that one of them had killed and eaten an explorer. We are certain such people deserve and shall receive hell for a reward. But what of those who live in our civilized town and Nation? What of those who in the name of civilization and freedom murder millions of babies each year? You see, "we do the same things" we just wrap them up in pretty language. Our murderers wear white coats, masks and sanitize their hands before each killing. Their victims enter a clinic as opposed to a gas chamber or boiling pot. But does the sanitizing of sin separate us from the gross sinner? Of course it doesn’t! I tell you such people will share the same fiery hell that Jeffery Domer and Hitler are even now experiencing.

Men also judge others based on their degree of education. I speak of the person who looks down on people less educated than himself. What this man doesn’t know is that he has nothing to be proud of. No man has anything to be proud of only thankful for. Hear the word of the Lord.

(1 Corinthians 4:5-7 NASB) Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of MEN'S HEARTS; and then each man's praise will come to him from God. {6} Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn NOT TO EXCEED WHAT IS WRITTEN, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. {7} For who regards you as superior? AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE? BUT IF YOU DID RECEIVE IT, WHY DO YOU BOAST AS IF YOU HAD NOT RECEIVED IT?

No matter what it is, education, wealth, health, race, intelligence, it did not come from within you. Rather it was a gift FROM God. Therefore, men ought to be thankful and never proud.

Let’s cut to the chase. I want to tell you at last how men come to the conclusion that they are some how better than their fellow man. They do so by using the wrong measuring stick.

The story is told of the a little boy who stepped up to his Grandfather and declared, "I am six feet tall!" How did you come to that conclusion, the Grandfather asked? Well, I found a stick just my size put six marks on it and measured myself. "I am six feet tall," he exclaimed again. Of course he was really just three feet tall. What was the problem? He used the wrong standard of measure and therefore came up with a wrong result. He measured himself with a ruler of his own making.

This is exactly what the self righteous sinner has done. He has measured himself with a ruler of his own making marked off with the glaring faults of other humans. This is how he concludes that he is better than his fellow man. This is how he concludes that God will accept him and not the other guy. The problem is his standard of measure.

The real measuring stick of man’s goodness or sinfulness is the Bible. When a person steps up to the standard of the Word of God guess what happens. Immediately he falls off his high horse. Suddenly he finds himself standing on level ground with the Gentile, Jew, Black, White, Indian, Mexican, male and female. For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Every man, woman and child has sinned and will be cast into a fiery hell if he or she dies in unbelief. Beside this Holy measuring stick no man can stand. All that he once thought made him better than his fellow human is proven to be sin and that alone. From God he will receive no credit, only condemnation. For all have sinned and fallen short of the standard of God’s requirement which is perfect holiness from the cradle to the grave. Paul is correct when he says that neither the unbelieving Jew or the unbelieving Gentile will have a valid excuse on judgement day. For they both practice sin and unbelief while in possession of truth. Not one among them has a righteousness that is perfect and acceptable to God.

Where does one obtain a perfect righteousness? From Christ of course. From the Spotless Lamb of God. From Him who was our substitute and the Savior of all who come to him by faith.

Its not your Brother. Its not your Sister. Its not the Butcher or the Baker that you need to be concerned with. It is you my friend. You are in need of a righteousness acceptable to God. The only place it can be found is in Jesus. The only way it can be obtained is by faith.

(Romans 2:1-5 NASB) 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. {2} And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. {3} 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? {4} Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? {5} But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

Dear unbeliever every day you refuse to repent and believe in Christ you are adding to the wrath of God that even now rests upon you. Isn’t it time you laid down your weapons and cast yourself on the mercy of God? I pray that God will bless you this day with the gifts of repentance and faith in Jesus for the salvation of your souls.