Romans chapter 2, we want to
try to look at verse 12 down through verse 16 of Romans 2. Now if we go back for just a
moment into verse 11, for there is no respect of persons with
God. And that is true in God's election
of grace. There's no respect to persons.
And also in regard to the holy judgment of God against sinners. Being a Jew or a Gentile will
get you nowhere before the holy judgment of God. God has no regard
or no respect to any man's person. Doesn't matter if he's a preacher
or president. No respect of persons. No respect
of persons in regard to race, place, or face, Jew or Gentile,
young or old. God is not a respecter of any
man's person, who he is, what he has done. Having said that,
verse 12, for as many, as many as, as many as have sinned without the law, without law,
shall also perish without law." Now this is referring to the
written law given to Moses. As many as have sinned in the
law, right here, he's talking about, shall be judged, judged
by that law. Now the standard of holy judgment,
the holy judgment of God, is his written law. which is reflective
of His holy character. That's what the law reveals. The law reveals God is holy,
but the law also reveals that God is merciful. Because in that
law, in that tabernacle, we see what? The mercy seat, the blood
atonement on the mercy seat. Divine justice will punish, we
know this is true because God is holy. Divine justice will
punish all sin because all sin is against God. Back in Romans
1.18, for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
all ungodliness, all unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in
unrighteousness." The wrath of God. The wrath of God against
sin. And what makes sin so terrible
is that it is against God. And David said, Against thee
and thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight. John, remember in our study in
1 John 3 verse 4. gives us a definition of what
sin is. Sin is transgression against
the law of God. The Jews indeed had the written
law of Moses. If you look at Romans 3 verse
1, what advantage then hath the Jew or what profit is there in
circumcision? Much in every way. chiefly because
unto them were committed the oracles of God." They had the
very Word of God. And the Jews were certainly all
guilty of breaking every commandment of God. Now when we think of
the law of God and the commandments of God, people usually think
of what we call the Ten Commandments. But the law is much more extensive
than that. There are over seven or eight
hundred precepts of that law that God demands absolute perfection
of. The Jews had the written law
of Moses, that is true. And they were certainly guilty
of breaking every commandment of God. Because the Lord said
to offend in one point, one jot, one tittle, is to be guilty of
all the law of God. The law of God says, stop your
mouth, In Romans chapter 3 verse 19, we know what things ever
the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law, that every
mouth may be stopped, and all the world guilty. And that includes
you, that includes me, that includes every man, Jew or Gentile. The Jews had the written law
of God. They violated the law of God.
We've certainly seen many examples of that through our studies in
1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st and 2nd Kings and Chronicles, idolatry,
idolatry, idolatry, rebellion and unbelief. It's just quite
amazing. The Gentiles, even though they
did not have the written law, were still guilty of sin against
God. They sinned against the light
that God gave them, the light of nature and the light of creation. But more than that, look at Romans
5 verse 12. Here's the nail that nails down
every person that's ever been born from Adam's loins. Romans 5 verse 12, Wherefore,
by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin. So death passed upon all men,
four, or the marginal reference, in whom all have sinned. Adam's transgression and iniquity
was charged to all of his race. So we are all guilty. We are
all guilty before God. As it says in Romans 3 verse
23, all have sinned and come short. We've come short of the
glory of God. The glory of God. All men have
an inherent evil, sinful nature that is not capable of honoring
God, certainly not honoring His law or doing the law perfectly
in any way. Guilty. We're not capable of
honoring the law of God. God set the standard so high
on purpose that the law might expose the exceeding sinfulness
of our sin. Now, notice verse 13, Romans
2, for it's not the hearers of the law that are just before
God. Now they heard the law, the Jews
had the law. It's not the hearers of the law
that are just before God, but the doers of the law. The doers
of the law shall be justified. Now what does the holy law of
God require? Absolute perfection. It must
be perfect to be accepted of God. Absolute, complete, perfect,
continual obedience to the Lord in word, thought, deed, and motive. inward and outward obedience,
perfectly, always, and only. Sadly, many people in religious
circles think they are doers of the law. Impossible. If you could do the law perfectly,
no need for Christ to come. For over there in Galatians 2.24,
2.21, where it says, if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ
is dead in vain. No need for him to come. If I'm
capable and able to do the law of God, no need for Christ to
die. But the law declares that we're
guilty, and the law of God, when it's made alive to us, drives
us to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Jews had the law, and they
made their boast of the law, and they tried to justify themselves
before God by saying that we are Abraham's children. You remember John chapter 8?
You remember what the Lord said to them? You are of your father
the devil. We have the law. No, the Lord
said, you're of your father the devil. You see, there must not
only be a hearing of the law, but the doing of it to perfection. When Paul wrote that letter to
the Galatians, who were trying to listen to the Judaizers that
were saying that, well, Christ is okay, but he's not enough. You must have circumcision and
you must have your obedience to the law. And Paul comes along
and writes, he said, tell me you that hear the law, Galatians
4, 21. Tell me you that hear the law, tell me you that look to the
law, do you hear what the law says? The law says guilty. And then in Galatians chapter
3, we read this. Cursed is everyone that continues
not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do
them, to do them. You remember the Lord said to
those Pharisees, you are they which justify yourselves before
men. But God knows your heart. That
which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight
of God. They were always going about
to justify themselves before God. No man has ever kept the
law the one man, the God-man, the mediator, the Lord Jesus
Christ did. There is only one mediator between
God and sinners, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is
a real man, who did actually honor the law of God, and exalted
the law of God in absolute perfection, in precept, every precept, and
even in the penalty. The penalty phase of that law
says what? The guilty must die. The Lord
Jesus Christ honored every precept of that law and even the penalty
of that law. We read in Isaiah 42, 21 where
it says the Lord is well pleased for His righteousness sake, He
will magnify the law and make it honorable. Then our Lord said
in Matthew 5, 17, I didn't come to destroy the law, I came to
honor the law of God. Remember from our study in Hebrews
7, 26, for such a high priest became us who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, and separate from sin. He had no sin, knew no sin,
and he did no sin. He is the only one who honored
the law of God for us. Now, how is that a blessing to
us? How is that a blessing to us?
Well, let's see if we can find out. Romans 5 verse 19. Romans 5 verse 19. How is His obedience, His faithfulness,
His obedience unto the law, how is that beneficial to us? Well,
the Lord Jesus Christ was a representative man. Much like Adam was a representative
man. Look what it says in Romans 5.19.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners. Okay,
that's what we read a moment ago in Romans 5.12. So by the
obedience Of one shall many be made righteous. Now, who is this
talking about? Talking about the Lord Jesus
Christ. The obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Now, how righteous are we? In the Lord Jesus Christ, we're
absolutely righteous and justified in Him. When we read and look
at Romans chapter four, verse six, Even as David also
described it, the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth
righteousness without works. Now I would dare say if you would
ask your neighbor or your friend or someone in your family if
they ever read or have studied or have been taught how God justifies
the ungodly. and how God imputeth a perfect
righteousness unto his people. And they will not have any clue
as to what you're saying or what you're talking about. This thing
of representation has not been taught today. Now, it was years
ago. And God's preachers of God's
gospel, they teach that representation. What happened in the garden?
What happened at the cross? Ruin, redemption in those two
men. God's gonna deal with all men
in those two men. And Adam all died, even so in
Christ, shall all be made alive. You see, the Lord's obedience
in precept and in death is our righteousness before God. He
has called the Lord our righteousness. Now aren't you glad he honored
the law of God? You know what that means to me?
That means that we are justified in Christ and we are dead to
the law through the body of Christ. We're going to see that in Romans
chapter 6. We're dead to the law through
the body of Christ. Now look at verse 14, for when
the Gentiles which have not the law They had not the written
word of God. They had not the written law
of God. But when they do by nature the
things contained in that law, talking about the moral law of
God, these, having not the law, are law unto themselves, which
show the work of the law written in their conscience, their hearts,
also bearing witness against them. Even the Gentiles, even
though they were not given the written law of God through Moses,
they were still guilty of sinning against the light of nature and
the law of God written on their conscience, that is their natural
reason or the sum and substance of the law. Look back at Romans
chapter 1 verse 20 and 21, For the invisible things of him from
the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood
by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead,
so that they are without excuse. Because that when they knew God,
they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became
vain in their imagination, and their foolish heart was darkened,
professing themselves to be wise, they just revealed that they
were fools. The fool has said in his heart,
there is no God. Even the heathen Gentiles, they
know that it's wrong to steal, to murder, to commit adultery,
and to lie. They had a sense of justice written
in their heart. I think of the American Indians
out west and in this country before the Europeans came along
and messed them up. But even they had a sense of
justice. They knew it was wrong for someone
to kill, or for someone to steal, or for someone to lie. And they
didn't have the book of Moses, the book of God, but they had
the law of God, the moral part of that law of God, written upon
their heart and in their conscience. Now, it's interesting that even
the laws of the ungodly men are based upon the law of God, aren't
they? because God has written that
law in their heart and in their conscience, in their thoughts. Now, look at verse 15, which
show the work of the law, the work of the law, the business
of the law, or the office of the law written in their heart,
written in their heart. their conscience also bearing
witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing
one another. Now the work of the law, notice
that statement, the work of the law, or the business of the law,
the office of the law are written upon the heart and the conscience
of the sinner, teaches what is right and what is wrong. It's
a standard of judgment. It either accuses, blames, condemns,
excuses, or defends, either declares guilty or not guilty. The law of God written on the
conscience, whether it be Jew or Gentile, both declare all
guilty before God and shuts us up to faith alone in Christ. the Lord Jesus Christ now believers
being taught of God believers now being taught of God never
seek to justify themselves before God in any other way than what
is revealed in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that is
found in Romans chapter 3 verse 24 Believers are not going about,
that's why when we get over to Romans 10, Paul said to those
Jews, you are they that go around and try to establish a righteousness
before God by the deeds of the law. And then he says in verse
4 of Romans 10, Christ is the end of the law for righteousness
to everyone that believe it. But believers know that the law
of God is so high, and we are so low, and so sinful, the law
of God is so holy, and we're so wicked, that we cannot honor
the law of God in any aspect. And when that's revealed to our
heart, do you know what it does? It drives us to the Lord Jesus
Christ. Now look at Romans 3, 24, being
justified, justified freely by His grace. Now, we know, look
what it says in verse 19 of Romans 3, "...now we know that what
things whoever the law saith, it saith to them that are under
the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world
become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the
law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by the law
is the knowledge of sin." It doesn't say by the law is the
removal of sin. Read on verse 21, but now the
righteousness of God. Here we get back to the obedience
of Christ. The righteousness of God without
the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the
prophets. Abraham's hope, what was his hope? Christ. Moses,
what was Moses' hope? The Lord Jesus Christ. Even the
righteousness of God, which is by the faith of Jesus Christ,
verse 22, unto all, and upon all them that believe there is
no difference. All have sinned that come short of the glory
of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption
that is in the Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 3.25, whom God set forth
to be the propitiation to faith in His blood. That word propitiation
is Christ our atoning Our Christ, our atonement through faith in
His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that
are passed through the forbearance of God. Verse 26, to declare,
I say at this time, His righteousness that He might be just and the
justifier of them which believe. Now, God is not going to simply
shove His law aside. God is going to honor His law. in Christ and Him crucified,
honor His law, not lower His standard, magnify His law, and
yet justify the ungodly, magnify His mercy, and magnify His justice. That's the beauty and mystery
of the gospel. That He might be just and the
justifier of them which believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now
look at verse 16, Romans 2, 16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets
of men by the gospel, by the Lord Jesus Christ, according
to my gospel." Now here Paul comes back to the subject that
this second chapter is talking about. It mentions the righteous
judgment of God several times. We read in the book of Romans,
it's appointed unto men once to die, and after that, judgment. Judgment. There will be a final
judgment of all men. The Lord will declare in that
day who is justified in Christ, and who is justly condemned for
their sin against God. There's going to be a day of
separation. He's going to do the separating. Turn to Matthew. Book of Matthew 25. Matthew 25. Thank God we have been judged
in Christ. But the Lord is going to, when
the Son of Man will come, Matthew 25 31. Matthew 25 31. When the
Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all his holy angels with
him." Notice, it's interesting here, and I'm going to be looking
at this statement here in the message next week. the Son of
Man. You ever notice how many times
the Lord Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man? I don't think
any of the other apostles referred to the Lord Jesus, they called
Him Master or Lord, but they didn't call Him Son of Man, they
called Him Son of God, God our Savior, but the Lord Jesus often
refers to Himself as the Son of Man. The Son of Man shall
come in His glory and all his holy angels with him. Then shall
he sit upon the throne of his glory. Before him shall be gathered
all nations. He shall separate them one from
another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And
he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on the
left. Then shall the king say unto
them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit
the kingdom prepared for you." These folks have been made heirs
of God, adjoined heirs to the Lord Jesus Christ, prepared for
you from the foundation of the world when He chose His people. Those on the left hand, look
down at verse 41. Then shall He say also unto them
on the left hand, Depart from Me ye cursed into everlasting
fire prepared for the devil and his people, his angels. Verse
46, "...these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the
righteous into eternal life." Now there's going to be a separation
of the sheep from the goats, the lost from the saved, the
tares from the wheat, and the Lord will do it. The Lord will
look into every... look what it says there in verse
16. Romans 2 verse 16, in the day
when God shall judge. and it's referring to the God-man
mediator. The Father judges no man, but
hath committed all judgment unto the Son, John 5.22. In the day
when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according
to my gospel. Now, don't turn because we're
about out of time, but let me just read this to you. In Romans,
or excuse me, Hebrews chapter 4, The Word of God, verse 12,
is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
even to dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints
and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents
of the heart. Now, when we talk about the Word
of God, we're talking about, I think, twofold, the written
Word and the living Word. God's committed all judgment
unto the Son, neither is there any creature that is not manifest
in His sight. The Lord knows all things. But all things are naked and
open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. We have to do. Now, in that day
of judgment, the Lord our God will only be looking for one
thing relative to the elective God and that is Christ. All judgment
is relative to Christ. Christ in you is a hope of glory. Now, and then he says in closing,
And we'll have to come back and look at this again next week.
According to my gospel. The gospel of Paul is the gospel
of God concerning Christ, His glorious person and His work. What one word would you use in
reference to His work? I love the word effectual. His
work is effectual. His redeeming work knows nothing
of failure. And what one word describes his
person? Glorious. He's glorious in holiness. He is the Lord our God. And we can say with the Apostle
Paul, this is my gospel. This is my gospel. I believe
this gospel. It's the gospel of God concerning
our Lord Jesus Christ. And I trust that you can say,
this is my gospel. Upon it I stand. I have no other
hope but this gospel, the gospel of God concerning the Lord Jesus
Christ.