Judgement

Tyler Porter

Romans: Righteousness for the Unrighteous • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

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Intro

So far we have talked about how we can live only by God’s power through God’s salvation because of God’s righteousness and only with Faith.

Last week we look at the unrighteous and the consequences of their unrighteousness so tonight we are looking at God’s judgement.

God the Jury

In the court of Law the Jury is elected to determine whether a person is guilty or innocent of a crime based upon evidence presented. The are guided by the laws and must determine whether a person broke a law or not.

With that in mind lets read

We saw last week that all people are unrighteous, and the only way to become righteous or to be in right standing before God is to believe and trust in Jesus Christ.

In these verses Paul is specifically talking to the Jewish people in Rome. These Jewish people were the kind of people that would keep the Ten Commandments. So they wouldn’t murder people, they wouldn’t steal from people, they probably wouldn’t make metal or wooden idols. So would seem to be pretty good moral people. They would speak out against murder and stealing. They would judge those as guilty and deserving of death.

So this section of five verses is talking about what would seem or what the world say are good people. What about them? Are they righteous because they don’t do certain things and judge those who do them? Paul says they too are guilty because they actually practice the same sins and the people they are judging. But how can that be?

Look at If you have ever been angry with somebody then you have committed murder in your heart.

Look at You are to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Jesus goes on to say that you must be perfect just as God is perfect.

Even though you may be what the world considers a good person if you have ever had anger you have sinned. If you have ever been anything besides perfect, if you have done or thought anything that God does not approve of then you have sinned and you are facing God’s judgement.

Now that may seem pretty harsh for just one little lie or just being angry and frustrated with somebody, but any sin against God is deserving of death. for the wages of sin is death. But because God is kind and patient he does not wipe you off the planet the moment you sin.

In God’s loving kindness he provided a way for people to be forgiven of sin. He provided Jesus Christ as our sacrifice for sin. Jesus took God’s punishment for sin so that those who have faith and trust in Jesus Christ will not suffer God’s punishment and his judgement.

Also, in God’s loving kindness and patience he allows people time to place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. What people deserve is immediate judgement of sin, but God shows us forbearance. Forbearance means restraint. So God is restraining his judgement on people. God is not taking people out the moment they sin. The reason for this is that God desires all people to be saved. talks about this. God is showing pertinence, is restraining himself, and showing kindness to us so that we may understand the truth and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. That faith and trust is what God uses to save and restore people.

So God as the jury. As the jury God determines whether people are guilty or innocent. All people are guilty of sin because all people have sinned. Jesus took the punishment of sin that God could declare those who have faith and trust in Jesus as innocent.

But God is also a judge, and he will judge all people according to the works they do.

God the Judge

Read

In the court of law a jury either declares a person innocent or guilty, and then the judge determines a person’s punishment. The judge gives them or tells them where they are going and what they are doing

In a similar way God gives people certain things based upon the works or things they did while they were living. Think about this, if you do something good you get a reward. If you do something bad or don’t do something you were supposed to you get punished. Punishment can be losing a privilege, having to do more chores, a spanking, or writing sentences, or whatever. Christians and non-Christians will be given certain things based upon what they have done.

Let’s be clear. Salvation, God saving people from the consequences of their sin, only occurs through faith in Jesus Christ. To be saved doesn’t require good works. To be saved requires faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. But verse six says that God will give to each person according to their works. So let’s look at those and see what good works and bad works will get you.

1st if you seek for glory and honor and immortality God the judge will give you eternal life. Also for everyone who does good they will receive glory and honor and peace. The glory and honor Paul is talking about is glory and honor before God. Paul is referring to people who desire to be honored and respected by God rather that by men. These people are the ones who do what God says, who obey God’s commandments, and who desire to serve God and obey him above all else. These people will receive God’s honor in Heaven. These people will receive eternal life.

But for those who are self seeking, who do not obey God, and do evil there will be wrath, fury, tribulation, and distress. Here is a quick definition for those four.

Wrath = God’s extreme anger

Fury = God’s violent anger

Tribulation = Great suffering

Distress = Extreme pain

This is what awaits the people who do not obey the truth. This is what awaits those who do not place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Because without faith and trust in Jesus Christ a person does not obey God. Only a person who has believed and trusted in Jesus Christ can do good, can seek to please and obey God.

Paul ends this section by affirming that what determines is correct because God is perfect and his judgement is always right because he knows the heart of a person because God is most concerned about the heart of a person.

Remember that your actions as a Christian matter. If you determine that you want to please God and obey him then God will reward you Heaven. Your actions as a Christian cannot gain you salvation or lose you salvation but they can determine what rewards and what honor you will have before God.

Response

To you Christian: Remember that just because your actions may not be as bad as others, you are still guilty because you have sinned in your heart. You were in need of Jesus just like those around you are in need of Jesus. So tell them about him. Share Jesus with those who do not know him. Share Jesus with those who are mean to you, with those who are disobedient. Your actions matter. God has forgiven you because of your faith, but if you want honor and respect before God then work at knowing and obey what he says in the Bible.

If you have never placed your faith and trust in Jesus then tonight you should. Right now God is showing you patience and kindness. Right now God is restraining himself and allowing you an opportunity to be saved and restored. God desires a relationship with you, and God wants to forgive you of your sin, but that only occurs through faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

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