Book of Romans - Ch. 2, Vs. 1-24 (08/08/1999) | NOTE: Morning Service

Judging Others and Seeing Our Own Sin

The last time I spoke we were still in the Book of Romans and I wonder if anyone made note of where we stopped. 23 of first chapter. We're going to start with chapter 2. Book of Romans chapter 2. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judges, for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself, for thou that judges doest the same things.

Did you realize that when you see a sin in someone else that you are or have been guilty of the very same thing? We recognize only that that we know. You remember some time ago I put you through a lengthy experiment of research for a Finnegan fin.

Do you remember that? And no one found one because you didn't know what it looked like. Couldn't find out what it looked like. Well, kind of beside the point there wasn't any such thing. But the point I was making was that you didn't know what you were looking for or what you were looking.

Therefore if you recognize sin in someone else then you're guilty of it yourself. No one likes to look at their own sins. Comes easy to see sins in others but we'll recognize it only because we have been guilty of it.

Verse 2. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. Greg, there are very few things in this world that are solid, that don't move around. I can think of nothing that's absolute except God.

One thing about our Heavenly Father, He does not change at all in any respect. He's the same as He has always been and the same that He will always be. We, another reason we should not judge someone is because we cannot make a judgmental decision without being biased.

I'm so glad that my wife has progressed to where that cast is not on her arm. If I'd have been deciding about it I would have taken it off a long time ago because it hurts. But I cannot make an unbiased decision, neither can you.

Verse 3. And thankest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things? And doest thou think the same that thou shalt escape the judgments of God? How many times have you heard a message or read a scripture and say, boy, that's really getting them told.

The Bible was not written to everybody else. It's a personal thing, written to us. Something else you must know, it is not written to the world. It's written to His people and His people only. Verse 4.

Or despises thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance, but after thy hardness and impotent heart, treasure up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

The wicked in this world are here for a reason. The scripture tells us that the wicked are reserved for the day of judgment. They would not be here if it were not in God's foreordained plan. And they are doing exactly what they're supposed to be doing, just as we are.

There's no way that you can do anything except that which is the will of God. Now, we can get out of the will of God, but it's only in our mind. We can have a rebellious spirit and we can sin, but sin is in the mind.

The wicked are the very same way. They're doing what they are ordained to do. They're busy filling their treasure houses with wicked deeds. I was rather amazed, Russell, when I first saw this years ago, that to connect treasure with wickedness, but that's exactly what he has done.

On the day of judgment, this warehouse of theirs will be opened and it will gush forth as a flood of filth, slime, muck, scum, smut, and complete wickedness. This is what they're saving up. The blood of the righteous people that they have murdered will cover them like a mudslide in California.

They will be washed straight into the lake of fire alive. The ultimate end of the wicked. Sixth verse, who will render to every man according to his deeds? This is God's judgment. To render is to make payment in full.

That's what the word means. Each and everyone who has ever lived will get exactly that which is due to them. No more, no less. To them who by patient continuance and well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality will be eternal life.

Eternal life. Debbie, how long is that? Can you really, anybody really comprehend eternal life? Life without end. Our entire being is relegated to there being an end. Did you ever think about it? This day will end.

This time will end. This hour will end. This hot weather will end. But there is an end to everything except eternal life. Fred, when did eternal life start? No beginning. Then did it start? No, it's just always been.

It's as old as God is. We are as old as God. He had us picked out before there was ever a creation. And since God is not one that sets down and chooses this plan over that plan or makes decisions, we've just always been with him.

Always. Verse nine, tribulation and anguish upon every soul a man that doeth evil of the Jew first and also the Gentile. Why the Jew first, Greg? What do you think? Why was they, why did they mention first?

Right. Our gospel came from a Jew, came through the Jew. Our Bible came through the Jew. It was written mostly by Jews. Eternal death as eternal life in my analysis, and I speak to you now as a man, will be total, total darkness.

How many of you have ever experienced total darkness? You ever been in a cave deep in Carlsbad or some place and they turned the lights off? What did you see? You couldn't even see your hand right up against your nose, could you?

You could smell it, but you couldn't see it. That's right. Well now, that was bright sunlight compared to the eternal death of darkness. I can think of nothing more devastating than to be in total darkness, total.

Eternal life is not a reward for effort. You hear me? What is eternal life? Gift, gift of God. Eternal life is not a reward for effort. In verse 11, for there is no respect of persons with God. No respect of persons.

This Greek word that they used here is made up of two words. One is face and the other is receiving. So the compound word then is receiving face. But, there's a negative in front of it which converts it to the statement there is not the receiving of face in the presence of God.

Now what do you suppose all that means? To not receive face. Put a period there somewhere. Okay. We have respect of men. That is, we prefer one over another. God does not. Now from man's viewpoint, he does not.

So the respect of face, and as Brian pointed out or mentioned, it makes no difference to God the weight or the condition of the man or the color, whether they're high rank or low or rich or poor, when it comes to God's acting to and on man, it makes no difference.

It's entirely God's prerogative, not man's. You cannot gain points with God. There's lots of religions that teach that. He made some good points there, as though God was keeping score. Twelve, for as many as have sinned without the law also perish without the law.

And as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. God does not hold man responsible for that which he has not received. The Gentile did not receive the law. The Jew did. Therefore, the Jew was responsible under the law.

The Gentile was not. So the Gentile will be judged, but not by the law. The Jew had the law, therefore they will be judged accordingly. We have the Bible, therefore we will be judged accordingly. The Bible that he has given us is the rule book.

It is by this book that we will be judged. The words out of this book is what he will use to judge us. Wouldn't it just make sense to study it before we get there? Thirteen, for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

We come each Sunday, and a lot of you come to various Bible studies, and we talk about the Word and we hear the Word. But if I thought that that was all that was being done, I'd have to stop. But I know it has made a difference in some people's lives, and right that it should.

You come with anticipation of learning. He gives us nothing to hoard, nothing to keep. It is to be used upon others, everything. The knowledge that you gain from this morning is to be used upon others, thereby you benefit.

Just the hearers of the law, or the hearers of the Word, is not sufficient. It is the doing of the Word. And how can you do it if you do not know what you're supposed to do? See it makes very little difference, and Brian pointed that out this morning in Sunday school, for parents to instruct their children is great, and it should be.

But I know when I was going to school, if a teacher said something, I was more likely to believe it than if Dad said it. Now, that's just human nature, I guess. But what the teacher said was the same thing Dad would say, or had said.

But when I heard him say it, then it become real. Russell, that's the way the Bible is. I can stand here and talk to you forever, but until you read it and believe it, then it becomes real. It's just not something somebody is saying.

Do not ever, ever take what I say to be true. You study for yourself. You find out for yourself. Do not believe everybody. Now, what I tell you is the truth as far as I'm able to discern the truth, but don't believe it just because Otis Fisher said it.

And never, never quote Otis Fisher, especially in this town. Never quote Brother David. If you can use what we say, that's fine, but don't say Otis Fisher said so and so, they'll turn you off. If you use it, it's yours.

It's not mine, it's yours. So, I say so and so. You understand what I'm saying? To quote somebody else is a cop out. That leaves you a way of escape if it's not exactly right. Sometimes I'm glad I'm hard of hearing.

The hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. The word used here, to hear, means to hear with understanding, not just to audibly hear everything that's being said or going on, but you hear with an understanding.

Now, how are you able to hear with an understanding? Great. That's right. The Holy Spirit is here today. He is here in this room, in the presence of us. Just because we can't seem doesn't mean He's not here.

And if you understand anything of the truth, it is the Holy Spirit that explained it to you. I didn't. I just pronounce words sometimes. The Jews had the law, Moses, so they were held responsible to that.

Fourteen, for when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law are a law unto themselves. They'll have to answer according to the light that has been revealed to them.

Fred will have to answer for the light that's been revealed to him. I will have to answer for the light revealed to me. I cannot answer for Fred, or Russell, or anybody. Fifteen, which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts, the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another.

So the Jews had the law, Moses. The Gentiles did not. Therefore, each was required to answer to that which God had given them. Conscience. What is conscience? Dennis explained to all of us, what is conscience?

All right, that's a pretty good place to start. Who wants to add something to that? Someone else. Conscience. I tried to say conscience, not conscious. Conscience. Anyone else? June? Wake up. What is your conscience?

You have one. What? Okay, now you have all somewhat explained conscience. Where did you read that? Is Trudy here? Everybody does. Yes. That's a good one. I'm going to say that's right. I'm surprised Trudy didn't pull out her dictionary.

She threatened me with one a couple weeks ago. She didn't threaten me. She showed me she had one. Let me give you the definition of conscience. Just simple. What is conscience? We've all talked about what it does, but what is it?

Conscience is not only that which I know. It is that which I know with somebody else knowing it. The other person being God. If no one else knew, your conscience wouldn't bother you much. Conscience is not only what I know.

It's what I know that somebody else knows along with somebody else. Sixteen. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Now Paul calls it my gospel. It's really God's gospel, but he's the one that's presenting it.

But the thing I want to hear some discussion on is when God shall judge the secrets of men. Arthur, can we go someplace in a dark cave perhaps where God does not know what we're doing? So the next time you're going to sin, get someplace where God doesn't know it.

Get someplace where he can't find you. Secrets of men. Each and every one of us have secrets. If you folks knew me as I know me, you'd run me off. Secrets. What? Yes. That's one of the first things we learn is to be dishonest with ourselves.

That's right. He sees us all the time. No one is ever lost from him as to knowing where they are. All right? There is coming a day and, Trudy, I don't know how to really, really emphasize this, but there will be a day or a time or a moment in our life, this one or the next one, when all of the secrets shall be judged.

So be sure you confess all your secrets. Confessing gets rid of them. The Bible is the study book which we are to use to pass the great test of judgment for rewards, not for salvation. It is by that that we will be judged.

So let's study it. Verse 17, Behold, thou art called a Jew. Now, we're called a Christian. Same thing. And restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God. The Judaizers that were tormenting Paul were voicing the fact that Paul did not tell you everything.

What he said was right, but he just didn't tell you it all, all of it. He said, Not only do you have to believe, but you have to be circumcised also, because the law says so. How many today have heard that not only do you have to believe, but you have to do something else also, whether it's baptism or crawl on your knees or what?

That's not true. The Jew rested in the fact that they were descendants of Isaac. Abraham was not a Jew. Isaac was the first promised child, and God raised up a nation unto himself. So we could say, Behold, you are a Christian, and you rest only in the fact of that only.

You have your so-called ticket to heaven, and you're satisfied. I wouldn't be too sure I have it. All teachers of his holy word must be and are required to be an example to others. How many of you would believe anything that I say if you saw me every day coming out of a liquor store or some other house of ill repute at least once a week?

You wouldn't have much to do with me, would you? Same way with you. I don't think you can do it and not be caught. Sooner or later, all your sins are revealed, and you reveal them. A teacher must practice what he teaches, or else his teaching is no weight.

If you're called a teacher, you have no choice but to teach. If you're a called teacher, Russell, if you're called to teach, then don't think you can ignore it, because you cannot. Verse 18,. And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law, and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind.

He's talking to the Jew. A light of them which are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which thou hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law. The little word form, very, very important.

To have the form of something is to have the shape of it with nothing inside. And that's what they had. They had a form of religion. But there was nothing to it. 21, Thou therefore which teachest another, do you not teach yourself also?

How many teachers do we have in the audience? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, whole bunch of teachers. Is it not true that the teacher learns more than the pupil? Every time. Every time. So if you're teaching someone else, then don't think you're not going to learn yourself.

So he was saying, you know what's right, because you're teaching to others. And that that you're teaching, you're not doing. Therefore thou teachest another. Thou that preachest a man should not steal, do you steal?

What is stealing, Russell? Good rule to follow is don't pick up that which you did not lay down, except your dirty socks. Absolutely. We have the wonderful art of rationalization. They're not paying me enough, so I'll just take this home with me.

22, Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that adhorst idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? A few men wear a wedding ring. Are there some here that wear wedding rings besides myself?

All right. The wedding ring is a disgrace if the one wearing it does not act married. Christianity is a disgrace, the one that calls himself a Christian, if he does not act like a Christian. There are Christian businessmen in this town who conduct their business and make money in ways that they would condemn if that were done by their church.

I said this town, not this church. 23, Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law, thou dishonest thou God. Breaking the law is dishonorable to God, for the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you talking to the Jew.

The Judgment of God, the Law, and the Doers of the Word

This name of God, we hear it so much. Folks, God is the most awesome being in creation and out side of creation. We can become so familiar with God that it loses all of its potential glory. Be very, very careful how you refer to God.

There should be no jokes. There should be no snide remarks. There should be no television programs that predict God in any worldly way. But it's full of them. All we can do is just not watch. Don't think you're going to change it because you're not.

The Word of God suffers most because of those who preach it, do not practice it. When you leave here and you go about your weekly work, you're not in a different body. You're not in a different world.

You're in the same place and you should practice exactly what you claim. I heard a preacher a few years ago make this statement. It makes no difference to me if people laugh at me when I use poor grammar.

It does make a difference, folks. Same goes for your dress. You should be neat, clean. Remember, everything you say and do either brings people closer or drives them further from the Word of God. The reason it makes a difference about the poor grammar was that this particular man, even though he knew he used very, very poor grammar, especially in the field of verbs, it didn't make him any difference.

That's a reflection on him and on God because he had opportunity to learn. Our time has passed. We're going to stop with 25. We'll start with 25 this afternoon and probably go through the rest of this chapter and get into the next.

I wish I had the command of the English language to enforce things that I say, but that has to be the Holy Spirit that does that to each one of you. What Paul is relating to us, what the Holy Spirit is telling us today, just this few minutes this morning, is enough to run our life.

If we would just act on what we know to do, it would change this church. It would change your life. I'll quit with this statement. I've had so many people come to me and say, well, I know I'm supposed to be doing something, but I don't know what it is.

You know, people go through their life trying to find out what it is they're supposed to be doing. I started a long time telling them this. It may be true you don't know what you're supposed to be doing, but you do know what you're not supposed to be doing.

So just stop doing what you know you're not supposed to do. And little by little, by the process of elimination, you'll grow more Christian-like just by stopping what you know you should not do. Stand with me, please.

Steve, would you dismiss us and ask a blessing on our meal?