If You're Guilty and You Know it...

The Road Less Travelled • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

0 ratings

· 2 views

As we continue looking at why we need salvation, Paul teaches that our judgment not only shows that we're guilty, but it also shows that we know it!

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

Announcements

Men's Breakfast: August 20th 8:30a

With Peoria Rescue Ministries

At 1212 Adams

NEED an RSVP by 15th

Outdoor Movie Night

7:30p Ice Cream and Popcorn

8:00p Movie Starts at Sundown

Thursday August 11th

Spiderman into the Spider-verse?

Introduction

Flying back from California to Greensboro

Nothing around airport, wide open highway

I’d been driving 80 everyday for a week

For some crazy reason it’s a 55mph zone

Police officer pulls me over

She was very nice, do you know why

I’m sorry, I didn’t know

Dark, didn’t really notice a sign

I see you’re using Google Maps

Yes.

You’re using that to get home?

Yes.

Sir, the speed limit is right there

On the phone you’re looking at to get you home

The very fact my phone was on right there

Proved that I had access to the speed limit

You’re 100% right, I am fully wrong, I’m sorry

YouVersion: If You’re Guilty and You Know it...

We’re in Romans 2:1-11

Looking at the Romans Road

Answering 4 questions:

Why do we need salvation?

How did God provide salvation?

How can we receive salvation?

What are the results of salvation?

Today we’re still looking primarily at that first question

Why do we need salvation?

Easiest answer

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are all sinners

All sinners face eternal death

Let’s go a little deeper:

Romans 2:1 ESV

1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.

NOT SAYING don’t judge others

It’s ANALYZING judgers

Scripture makes it clear:

We often quote Matthew 7:1

Matthew 7:1 ESV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.

You can’t understand this without 5 verses!

Matthew 7:4–5 ESV

4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Notice Jesus doesn’t say, “Take the log out of your eye, and accept the speck in theirs.”

Rules of judgement:

Rule #1 - Don’t be a hypocrite

Illustration: Woman I know says she won’t speak against abortion because she had one

Would that make her a hypocrite? No!

When I was 4, I wanted to be like my dad - stuck a screwdriver in the socket

Today, my electrician skills aren’t better...

If I saw Ronnie/Gracie at 4 sticking a screwdriver in the socket...

“Well, I did it too. Don’t want to be a hypocrite!”

Would that make me holy because I’m not judging - NO! Makes me a bad parent!

For the woman with an abortion...

If she said, “Yes, I did that BUT it was a mistake, I have repented, I wouldn’t do it again”

She’s no longer a hypocrite - she has learned from her mistake

That is VERY different

Rule #2 - It is wrong to not judge

But Paul said it’s inexcusable, and judgers condemn themselves!

Think about this: What did Paul say last week?

He criticized homosexuals, gossips, coveters, kids who disobey their parents...

Paul was judging!

Honestly, you can’t really not judge

If I said, “You know you should stop stealing from your best friend...”

And you say, “Don’t judge!”

You’re making a judgement about me judging!

Here’s the other thing:

If someone came in an said, “You know, I’ve been stealing from my best friend...”

And I say, “I’m not going to judge.”

You’ll say, “Cool! I’m gonna keep doing that then!”

I’m affirming the behavior, or at least permitting it

Here’s what Scripture says about judging:

John 7:24 ESV

24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

That tells to TO JUDGE

There’s a right and wrong way

We strive to not do it wrongly, but we still need to do it

Let’s go back to what I said before, Paul isn’t saying to not judge here

But Paul said it’s inexcusable, and judgers condemn themselves!

And Paul was just judging in what we read last week

Doesn’t that mean Paul is inexcusable and condemns himself then?

Paul would say, “Yes! Exactly! That is the point!

Wait, the point is that we are inexcusable and condemned? Yes!

Paul is saying this:

“When you judge, you prove that you know there is right and there is wrong!”

AND

“Because you have also done things that are wrong, that means you are guilty and you know it!”

This passage isn’t about judging

This passage is about guilt!

Rule #3 - We all deserve judgement

The only reason you even know how to judge is because you know there is right and wrong

How many of us know we are guilty? Raise hands

How about this: If you’re guilty and you know it clap your hands

If you’re guilty and you know it clap your hands

If you’re guilty and you know it

And since you judge, you’ve really shown it

If you’re guilty and you know it clap your hands

Who knew church could be as fun as kindergarten?

Here’s what C.S. said in Mere Christianity:

C.S. Lewis: “Every one has heard people quarreling… I believe we can learn something very important from listening to the kinds of things they say. The say things like: ‘How’d you like it if anyone did the same to you? - That’s my seat, I was there first. - Leave him alone, he isn’t doing you any harm. - Why would you shove in first? - Give me a bit of your orange, I gave you a bit of mine. - Come on, you promised...” Now what interests me about all these remarks is that the man who makes them is not merely saying that the other’s behavior does not happen to please him. He is appealing to some kind of standard of behavior which he expects the other man to know about. And the other man very seldom replies: “To hell with your standard.” Nearly always he tries to make out that what he has been doing doesn’t not really go against the standard, or that if it does there is some special excuse. He pretends there is some special reason in this particular case why the person who took the seat first should not keep it, or that things were quite different when he was given the it of orange, or that something has turned up which lets him off keeping his promise. It looks, in fact, very much as if both parties had in mind some kind of Law or Rule of fair play, decent behavior or morality; or whatever you like to call it, about which they really agreed… Quarreling means trying to show that the other man is in the wrong. And there would be no sense in trying to do that unless you and he had some sort of agreement as to what Right and Wrong are.

We know there is a right and wrong

Romans 2:15 ESV

15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

We know there is a right and wrong - but we often try to twist it

That because we know there is right and wrong, but we don’t always know or like what is right and wrong

Illustration: Bree - It’s been too long I won’t connect the punishment to the crime.

The very fact that you understand enough to say that, proves that you will connect the punishment to the crime!

We know right and wrong, and we prove it by judging

But because we also do wrong, we understand that we are guilty

We may try to argue our way out of it, or fit what we want into the scope of right and wrong...

But right is still right, and wrong is still wrong

And so -

Romans 2:2 ESV

2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

We are supposed to judge - but!

God is the only one who always judges rightly

Rule #4 - Our judgment is flawed, but God’s isn’t

Paul says this:

1 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

Just because I don’t know about it - AKA I’m wrong - doesn’t mean I’m innocent

Sometimes we believe sin is only sin when it’s willful - we do it on purpose

But actually, not knowing doesn’t make you innocent

Fortunately, God does know!

We should judge, but sometimes we CAN’T because we simply don’t know

This should be comforting for you! You’re not always expected to know

We do know there is right and wrong

We should judge for the benefit of holiness and charity

We have a responsibility to seek what is right

BUT ultimately God has this under control

There may be times when you don’t know what is right!

Romans 2:3–5 ESV

3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Jacob uses a car tracking app for insurance

Monitors your speed, braking, g-forces whatever...

Anyone else use that?

Illustration: Imagine, Illinois pays to get all that info

Compares it to the traffic lights, stop sign locations, speed limits...

Every heard of a California roll? Rolling stop...

Imagine every one of those, every red light just missed, ever mile over speed limit

They send you a ticket for every violation - how long would your list be?

Anyone see “Truman Show?”

Guys life is on TV 24 hours a day

Every single private moment is watched by millions - how embarrassing!

Do you realize God knows every detail of your life

Every swear word, every sexually impure thought, every lie...

Rule #5 - We will all face judgment

Paul asks, “Do you just assume you’ll get away with it?’

There are many ways to get this wrong

1. I’m a good person

No you’re not...

But I’ve done more good than bad!

First of all - that’s probably not true

More importantly, even one sin is too much for a holy God

Ever paint a wall and miss a spot?

Or have a pixel go out on a TV or laptop?

Ever renovate your house and mess up and stuck with it?

Get a little dent on a new car?

That one mistake will always stand out

But I guarantee your sin is more than a little dent or one pixel

You look like a demolition derby!

You are not a good person...

2. I can just keep on sinning and be forgiven!

Ray J:

Late night whippin' on the highway From the strip club off the Rosé Baby, I know the river worry, feel like he bathin' the blood Let me wash it away Bible school on every Friday And bible study every Wednesday I been, I been hustlin' today Lord, let me find my way,

I've got a hangover So bad Threw up in my Range Rover In a McDonald's bag Now it's Sunday morning Gotta try to get up Church on Sunday morning

It’s okay - do what I want on Saturday, Jesus will handle it on Sunday

3. God loves too much to cast judgment

People don’t want to hear about the wrath of God, or His anger, or His judgment

But it’s all over Scripture

Because God is loving - but love and judgment are not exclusive

He is a just God, a righteous God

We don’t like this!

Story of a woman in court ordered counseling with pastor

She was on PCP and hallucinating

Put toddler in car seat and sped down fwy at 90mph

The cops chased her, she hallucinated and thought they were assassinating her

In the middle of the story she stops

“But I’m a good mother.”

Pastor said, “No you’re not.”

Why would she say that?

There’s a part that doesn’t want to admit what she is

Doesn’t want to be bad

Doesn’t want to be the thing that put her kids life in danger

And so she lies to herself

I think we all struggle with that

That’s why Paul hits this so hard

Do you really think you can see other peoples faults

But somehow it doesn’t apply to you?

AND if you have recieved grace from Christ...

Don’t you see that shouldn’t make you go, “Hey, I can get away with this now?”

And that you should say, “Wow, He forgave all of that! I have to do better...”

But if you keep on just, “Oh yeah, I’m gonna keep sinning...”

Paul says all you’re doing is storing up up wrath!

Ever Built and priced a vehicle online?

I sat down for fun - I’d love to get an F-150 Lightning someday

Ooh, starts at $39,000

But I need an extended range battery, tow package, bed liner...

Before you know it - $79,000!

Many people who think they are good, have made a sinful F-150 Lightning FACTORY...

You think, eh one little thing - two little things...

Before you know it the cost is racked up impossibly!!

And what you have to pay for it with is your investments in Enron...

Romans 2:6–11 ESV

6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

You might read this and go - Oh man, is that works-based!

I always thought Jesus handled it! He gives grace!

Now this is saying I have to earn it!

Sort of...

If you are a person who has been covered by the blood of Jesus...

This verse isn’t about you!

This is for those who do not choose Jesus

Rule #6a - Some will face judgment alone

If you are not a Jesus follower, you have to earn your way to heaven so to speak

If you are completely righteous, you qualify for heaven

The mistake you might make, is believing that anyone besides Jesus is capable of doing that

People who run 90mph are faster than cheetahs

The problem is, no one can do that!

It’s the same thing with righteousness

Jesus does this all the time

You want to earn your way? Sell your stuff...

You want to earn your way? Follow every detail of the Law...

You want to earn your way? Be perfect...

If someone did that, they wouldn’t even be saved!

They’d just be earners - a self-made man/woman

So in v. 6-11, which parts sounds like you?

Are you 100% patient and without fail seeking to only do good?

Or have you ever been selfish, obeying the world and not God’s truth?

Which one?

Not which one is there more of...

Have you been 100% perfect, or is there even a little sin

If you’re honest, it’s been mostly sin

And if that’s your story, God won’t be partial

There is no, “close enough”

No participation trophy salvation

No, “Jewish special”

God will judge and punish righteously - perfectly

The message should have been called:

If You’re guilty and you know it crap your pants!

But I was afraid of the audience participation...

There’s one more point here:

Remember we’re still only looking at the problem

“Why do we need salvation.”

I don’t want us to forget there are other parts of the puzzle

Remember the story I opened with? Speed limit?

I was fully in the wrong

The fact that my phone had the speed limit showed I knew I was wrong

I openly admitted it!

But you know what? She let me go

Even though I was guilty and I knew it

Grace saved me from punishment

Rule #6b - But Jesus is willing to face it for you

Remember the simple answer to the question - why do we need salvation

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It’s very important we understand that we are sinners

The fact that we judge shows that we believe in right and wrong

And as a result, we should recognize that we are guilty

We need to know God’s standard is perfection, and we’ll never earn it

BUT God has delivered an opportunity to fix that problem

His Son Jesus not only lived that perfect life that we couldn’t...

He shows us grace, even though we know we’re wrong

And that wrath we deserve? He has opted to take that wrath for us

Isaiah 53:5–6 ESV

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.