Well, we continue in our studies
of Romans. If you'd like to turn to the
second chapter of Romans, Romans chapter 2. And I want to begin
this morning by expressing to you, I began looking at these
words in Romans chapter 2 a week ago. And in my spare time, which
was quite a bit over the last week, I've looked at them and
looked at them and looked at them, and I've got to be honest
with you folks, I just didn't know what to put together. I
looked at it. There's a lot of words here and
phrases that I didn't quite understand. I couldn't put two and two together
for some reason. So I'm going to lean very heavily
this morning on the commentary of our dear brother Henry Mayhem. Now, I titled it, No Respecter
of Persons with God. And the last time we met for
this study in this letter written to the saints of Rome, I finished
the first chapter of verses 18 through 32 in a message that
I have brought for the main service, and if you'd like to follow up
on that, if you missed out on it, it's titled, Be Ye a Reprobate. You can find it on Sermon Audio,
but this morning we're gonna begin chapter two, so if you
would, read with me verses one through 11 of Romans chapter
two. Therefore, thou art inexcusable,
O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. For wherein thou judgest
another, thou condemnest thyself, for thou that judgest dost the
same things. But we are sure that the judgment
of God is according to truth against them which commit such
things. And thinkest thou this, O man,
that judgest them, which do such things, and doest the same, that
thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest 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 treasurest up wrath against the
day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
who will render to every man according to his deeds. To them who by patient continuance
and well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality and
eternal life. But unto them that are contentious
and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation
and wrath. Tribulation and anguish upon
every soul that doeth evil, of the Jew first and also of the
Gentile, but glory, honor, and peace to every man that worketh
good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile, for there is
no respect of persons with God. Brother Mahan writes this, he
says, to understand the early verses of this chapter, one must
determine to whom the apostle speaks. In the preceding chapter,
in chapter 1, Paul had described the state of idolatrous pagans. You'll recall back in verses
18, for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
He now passes to the Jews who, while they rejected the righteousness
of God in Christ, to which the law of the prophets bore witness
of, looked for salvation in their relationship to Abraham, their
observance of ceremonial law, and their outward mortality.
In other words, their observance to filling the ceremonial law
that they thought was, you know, swinging of the incense, all
of those kinds of things that they were told to do as far as
the ceremonies of the temple. And then, of course, their outward
morality, too. See, I don't do this. I don't
do that. And that's what they were relying
on. In other words, writes Henry Mann, they relied not upon the
grace of God, but wholly upon their own works. and their own
stature of their bloodline. Paul shows that the just judgment
of God is the same against Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned. Look with me over again at Romans
2, verse 17. Behold, thou art called a Jew,
and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God. We're looking
here to see who Paul is addressing. He addresses the Jews there in
verse 17. Again, over in chapter 2, verse 23, we read, Thou that
makest thy boast of the law, thou breaking the law, dishonest
thou God. They're talking about the ones
that the law was given, Jerusalem, the Jews. Also, in verse 28 of
this very same chapter, we see this, For he is not a Jew which
is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward
in the flesh. So these verses, they give us
evidence that Paul here addresses the religious Jews and not the
heathen philosophers. So going back now to verse one,
the religious Jews pass judgment upon and they condemn the Gentiles. They're not like us. They don't
have the God that we have. They pass judgment upon the Gentiles
and Paul declares their offense. not for their judging and condemning
sin and idolatry, but for their being guilty in their hearts
and oftentimes in their deeds of the same things for which
they condemned others. Paul says that the law declares
all men to be guilty before God. If you look over at Chapter three
of Romans, we'll see this in two verses over there. Chapter
three, verse 19, we read these words. Now we know that what
things whoever the law saith, it saith to them who are under
the law, that every mouth may be stopped and all the world
may become guilty before God. And again, if you look down at
verse 23, you'll see these very words. For all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God. Paul has already declared the
Gentiles inexcusable, and in these verses, he does the same
in regards to the Jews. Now, when you condemn the sins
of others and are guilty of the same transgression, you condemn
yourself and are inexcusable. Turn over to Matthew chapter
21, if you would. Mark your place here in Romans.
We'll come back and look at the next verse in a moment. Turn
over to Matthew chapter 5. Matthew chapter 5. When you are
charging others, and you are guilty of the same thing, you
condemn yourself and are inexcusable for it. In Matthew chapter 5,
but over in Matthew chapter 5, beginning at verses 21, we read
these words. Ye have heard that it was said
of them of old time, thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall
kill shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say unto you
that whosoever is angry with his brother, they would condemn
you for killing somebody, but then they would get angry at
somebody, and our Lord is expressing to them, that's the same thing.
Just to think, just to think is being sinful. That brings
us to this point, folks. We are sin. We're not sinners
because of what we do. We do because we're sinners.
But I say unto you, verse 22, that whosoever is angry with
his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.
And whosoever shall say to his brother, Rucca, or in other words,
worthless, shall be in danger of the counsel. But whosoever
shall say thou fool shall be in danger of hell fire. Now,
look down one more, if you would, in Matthew 22. Chapter five, look at verses
27 and 28. Here's the same thing, only it's
about, instead of death, it's about committing adultery. Ye
have heard that it was said to them of old, thou shalt not commit
adultery. But I say unto you that whosoever
looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with
her already in his heart. So back in our text now, if you'd
like to go back there, we'll look next at verse, Chapter 2,
verse 3. Chapter 2, verse 2. But we are sure that the judgment
of God is according to truth against them which commit such
things. Commit the things that we just
talked about. Those who condemn others but do the same thing
themselves. I couldn't help but reading these very words and
thinking to myself, what about that log that's in my own eye? Folks, I'm just as guilty as
everyone. I'm just as guilty of my sin as everyone else is
about judgment. We say, those people over in
San Francisco, speaking of the homosexuals. I'm not a homosexual,
but I'm just as guilty as they are. I've told a lie, and it
doesn't matter what sin you do, any sin is the same price as
death, isn't it? This is what makes the grace
of God so wonderful for you and I, for those who belong to the
Lord. We know that God has loved us
from before the world was, and He gave Himself out of grace
and out of mercy for us. This could be me, and it was
me until the Lord came to us in grace and mercy and gave us
life to see His Son for who He is and to see Him for what He's
done for us. What about that log in my eye,
John? And I'm talking to myself. Worry about the log in my own
eye and quit worrying about the folks outside, the folks around
me. We are sure that the judgment
of God is according to truth. Oh, how we know that our Lord
is true in all things against them which commit such things.
Henry writes, God's judgment is according to truth, not appearance.
Aren't you thankful for that? Aren't you thankful for that?
There was a thing on Facebook that showed these three very
nicely dressed religious looking people sitting on a bench and
a biker guy sitting in the middle. Ha, I thought about Bill. And
he's reading the Bible and he says, Lord I give my heart unto
you. And then below it talks, you
know, I wish I remembered, I wish I had printed it out so I remember
which scripture, but in the scripture where the Lord says, to this
point, I look upon the heart, not upon the flesh. And I said,
I posted, I said, oh, how thankful I am that God does not look upon
this flesh. Oh, how thankful I am that he
looks upon his son and sees me. God's judgment is according to
truth, not according to appearance, not according to works, not according
to nation, not according to profession. God will punish sin without respect
of persons in whosoever it is found. The soul that sinneth
shall surely die. God will by no means clear the
guilty. Those are his words. And as true
believers, we are free from the condemnation because of his righteousness. He has fulfilled the law and
suffered its just penalty in the obedience of death of Jesus
Christ with whom He is one. Look over at Romans again, mark
your spot there. Turn over to the 5th chapter
of Romans. Romans chapter 5. And look at verse 19 with me.
Romans chapter 5, verse 19, we read these words. For as by one
man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience
of one..." That's our Lord and Savior. He judges in truth. "...so by the obedience of one
shall many be made righteous." One more, if you would, turn
over to chapter 3 and look with me at verses 24 and 26, Romans
chapter 3. "...being justified freely by
His grace..." Oh, 23. For all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God, verse 24, being justified freely by
His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom
God has set forth to be a propitiation, a payment, a passing over through
faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission
of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. To declare,
I say at this time, His righteousness, that He might be just and justifier
of him which believeth in Jesus. Back in our text again in Romans
chapter 2, let's look at verse 3. And thinkest thou this, O
man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the
same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Pastor Mahan
writes, since God's judgments are true and righteous, as we
saw in verse 2, Since God looks on the heart and not on the outward
appearance, since all men are sinners and guilty before God,
how can anyone who is not a perfect righteousness and sufficient
atonement hope to escape? If you don't have the perfect
righteousness of God, folks, if we lean on our own righteousness,
which here is none, at all, then we will miss the mark. There's
only one righteousness God will accept, and that's the perfect
righteousness Lord Jesus. He who has made sin. Our sin. Let me say that again. Our sin. There was no sin. He had no sin
of his own. God made him sin for us that
we would be made righteous in him. I never get tired of telling
people about that. That's my only righteousness.
Is it yours? Over in Job. If you'd like to
turn over there with me, in Job chapter 25, we read these words
in verses four through six. How then can any man be justified
with God? Or how can he be clean that is
born of a woman? Behold, even the moon and it
shineth not, yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. how much
less man, that is a worm, and the son of man, which is a worm. All must be judged according
to their works, and all who are not in Christ shall perish. But look over Romans chapter
one, or chapter eight. We know these verses very well,
don't we? Oh, another phrase that I just
love to repeat. There is therefore now no condemnation
to whom. to them which are in Christ Jesus."
That's the only way to stand righteous before God, is in Him. Back in our text, verse 4, "...or
despises thou the riches of God's goodness and forbearance and
longsuffering." Did I already read that one? I did, didn't
I? Did I skip one? Let me just start
that over again. Or despises thou the riches of
his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing
the goodness of God, leadeth thee to repentance? Do you despise
the riches of God's goodness? Folks, the Jews had everything. They had all of God's oracles. They had everything that we find
now in this Bible. given to them by God Almighty
through prophets and the oracles of God. Henry writes, are you
Jews so blind as to trifle with and presume upon and despise
the wealth of God's goodness? Are you so blind to trifle with
his forbearance, his patience towards you? Do you not know
that the goodness of God to you is intended to lead you to repentance
and faith in Him? Goodness denotes God's benefits
and blessings on them. Forbearance denotes God's bearing
with them and not immediately executing with visions upon them.
Long-suffering signifies the extent of His forbearance. They
conclude They concluded from their position as Abraham's seed
that their prosperity under God's goodness and the delay of his
judgment, that they would escape condemnation because of that,
because they were Abraham's seed. These mercies and benefits, which
should have turned them to God in true repentance and faith,
served only to harden them in their presumption of a false
profession. Look back in our text, verse
five. But after thy hardness and impotent heart treasures
up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation
of the righteous judgment of God. Henry goes on to write this
about that. He says, but by your stubbornness,
by your impotent heart, of heart, trusting in your works, trusting
in your traditions and the claims to righteousness that you are
storing up wrath and indignation for yourselves, for yourselves
on the day of judgment. You are authors of your own destruction,
is what he says. The benefits of special favor
of God, which these Jews had enjoyed increased their condemnation
for an account of them all shall be required. Look over at chapter
three, verses one and two. An account of everything they
did shall be required. It says, what advantage then,
in chapter three, verse one and two, what advantage then hath
the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? Verse two, much every way, chiefly
because unto them were committed, what? The oracles of God. Turn over to Luke chapter 12.
Luke chapter 12. And look with me if you would,
beginning at verse 47. Luke chapter 12, verse 47. And
that servant, which knew his Lord's will, this is about those
that the Lord had given money to three different servants,
two of them had gone out and invested, That servant which
knew his Lord's will and prepared not himself, neither did according
to his will, his master's will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
But he that knew not and did commit these things, worthy of
stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And the servant
which knew the Lord's will and prepared not himself, neither
did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
But he that knew not and did commit these, unworthy of stripes
shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given,
of him shall be much required, and to whom men have committed
much of him they will ask them more. I am come to send fire
on the earth, So we see that these who God gave the oracles
of his word, the oracles of his prophets, we see that because
they were given much, they're gonna receive more stripes. Now
that doesn't mean that the children of God are going to hell. It
doesn't mean that they're gonna be beaten. God is never, never
angry with his chosen people. His anger was laid on our Savior. But not all of Israel is Israel.
We've got to remember that. Not all of those who claim to
be Christians are Christians. God has his remnant in all ages,
in all nations, in all people, his remnant that he has loved
from before the world was. But we're mixed in with the wheat
and with the tares. We've been raised up. in this
world with terrors all around us. And the terrors will receive
the wrath of God for what they've done. Those who claim to be Christians
yet rely on their own works, just like the Jews were relying
on their own self-righteousness, their own acts, their own bloodline,
rather than relying on the grace and love of God. That's what
that's talking about. Are there those in the world
who've never heard of God? That's talking about the Gentiles. Let's go on, shall we? Back in
our text in verse six, Romans chapter two, verse six. Who will
render to every man according to his deeds. In that day of
judgment, God, who is righteous, holy, just, and true, will deal
justly with every person according to his deeds. Every man will
answer for himself in all that he thought, said, and did. Punishment
shall be universal, but not equal, for it is a just judgment. Look over at Matthew 11, verses
22 through 23. Matthew 11. But I say unto you, it shall
be more tolerable for tyrants and on of the day of judgment
than it is for you. Our Lord says in verse 21, he
says, woe unto thee, Chorazin, woe unto thee, Bethsaida, for
if the mighty works which were done in you, and this is an example. This is exactly what we were
talking about as far as the Jews were concerned. Think about the
mighty works that God did for the Jews. He separated the sea. You don't think all these Jewish
folks at the time the Lord Jesus walked this earth didn't know
about that? We looked at the Pharisees on
Friday night. I'm sorry, the Sadducees on Friday
night's Bible study, for those of you who couldn't be with us.
The Sadducees were the elite of the Jews. They thought they
knew everything. They were the philosophers. They
had figured it all out. They were very much aware of
the wonders of God throughout the time of Israel. Yet they turned their backs on
the Lord. If they were woe unto thee, For if the mighty works
which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they
would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I
say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
at the day of judgment than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which
art exalted unto the heavens, shalt be brought down to hell.
For if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been
done in Sodom, and had remained until this, it would have, Sodom
would have remained until this day. So it's telling us here
that there will be more judgment for others than there is written.
I'll tell you right now, those who stand before God's people,
those who stand before the people, and declaring a different Jesus,
who declare a different God than the God of scriptures. And that's
the Jesus that they say is waiting for you to do something. And
they know by God's word, that's not true. I'm thankful I haven't
met any, but I know pastors who have. Who've met those who can't
talk about Romans chapter nine because it would offend somebody. Oh, I couldn't preach that. People
would get up and walk out of my church and never come back.
The only reason that person preaches is to build more people into
the pulpits. We have few, but every one of
the few that are here is because God has brought them, not me.
And I'm thankful for that. Back in our text. Verse 7. And we'll bring this to a close
real quick here. Let's go ahead and read 7-11. To them who by patience, continuance,
and well-doing seek for the glory and honor of immortality and
eternal life. Henry Mahan writes about that.
These words are descriptive of one sort of person. Those who
have faith and perseverance sought the glory of God in Christ, the
honor which abides in Christ, immortality in Christ, and the
resurrection of Christ. God will render to them eternal
life. Now, verse 8. but unto them that
are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,
indignation, and wrath, and this according to Henry Mahan is but
those who are self-seeking, self-willed, self-righteous, and disobedient
to the gospel of truth, there will be indignation and wrath
for them. And then closing out with verses
9 through 11, tribulation and anguish upon every soul that
doeth evil, of the Jew first and also of the Gentile, but
glory and honor, peace to every man that worketh good to the
Jew first and also to the Gentile, for there is no respect of persons
with God." Henry closes with these words, he says, the wrath
of God will be poured out upon all men who are guilty of sin,
whether they Jew or Gentile. And the mercy of God will be
upon all men in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, for there is
no respect of persons. And we look over at Romans chapter
three once again. Romans chapter three, verses
22 and 23. Even the righteousness of God,
which is by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that
believe, for there is no difference. All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God. Folks, let me close with this
statement of my own. The wrath I deserve was poured
out on my Savior. He took my place in the first
death, and I live in Him. He is my all in all, and all
to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow. I'll start reading the rest of
this chapter this afternoon, and maybe, Lord willing, I can
figure it out. There's some tough words there
for us, isn't there? Not all of God's Word is easy to understand,
is it? And I'm probably the least of
anyone who can understand anything. I'm just thankful the Lord gives
me an inkling. He's opened the veil up to where
we can look in and see our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, our mercy
seat. And what more do we really need
to know than that? Everything we have, everything
we need is in our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.