These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- The doctrine of Grace – Chapters 1-8
- All have sinned – Chapters 1-3
- Saved by faith alone – Chapters 4-5
- Victory over sin – Chapters 6-8
- Wrath of God…
- The defining statement of Romans – the righteousness of God is REVEALED from faith to faith…
- But to understand WHY we need FAITH – we need see the PROBLEM…
- The WRATH of God is also REVEALED against those who are UNRIGHTEOUS…
- People KNOW there is a God – they have NO excuse – Psalm 19:1
- Yet even though men KNOW [γινώσκω] God exists – they do NOT give Him glory or thank Him…
- Instead they hide and deny what they KNOW – because of their SIN!
- The Consequence:
- Perverted Spirit…
- Because they reject God – their hearts are BLACK [sin] – Jeremiah 17:9
- And while they think they are WISE – the become FOOLS – Psalm 14:1
- They believe the LIE – and worship the creation rather than the creator [Evolution]
- Perverted body…
- Left to be led by their BLACK hearts – they are consumed by LUST…
- Women and Men reject the design of God – and instead burn for the same gender – Genesis 1:27
- As result receive in themselves the PENALTY due [emotional and physical]
- Perverted mind…
- Since they do NOT want to think about God – their minds are filled with ALL unrighteousness…
- We were given a list of 22 things that fill their minds [14 nouns – 8 adjectives]
- They know those who do these things deserve DEATH – yet they encourage others to do them!
- 1st – Judging others… vs. 1-4
- 1st – No Excuse… vs. 1
- Condemned…
- Therefore you are inexcusable O man – whoever you are who judge.
- For in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself.
- For you who judge practice the same thing!
- Hearing Paul describe the PERVERSION of those who reject God…
- Those who are RELIGIOUS – might think their RELIGION makes them OK with God…
- So they are comfortable JUDGING [participle] those whom they see as UNRIGHTEOUS…
- Yet their RELIGION gives them NO [ἀ] DEFENSE [ἀπολογέομαι]
- FOR when they JUDGE others – they are in fact CONDEMNING [κατακρίνω] themselves…
- BECAUSE they are doing the SAME things they are JUDGING [κρίνω]!
- The Spec…
- Matthew 7:3– “Why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye – but do not consider the plank in your own eye!”
- If someone has a spec [little sin] in their eye – it is good to want to help…
- The problem is we have a beam [big sin] in our own eye!
- We CANNOT take people to a place we have NOT been…
- In order to lead them to VICTORY over sin – we first need to be VICTORIOUS…
- Not that we are PREFECT – but we are seeking the ANSWER – looking to Jesus…
- Then we can help others – NOT to judge them – but to set them FREE – Galatians 6:1
- 2nd – The Justification… vs. 2-4
- Helping others… vs. 2
- We know the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things!
- What JUSTIFICATION do people give for JUDGING others [three reasons]
- FIRST – we SEE [εἴδω] the JUDGEMENT of God is according [κατά] to the TRUTH…
- Upon [ἐπί] those who PRACTICE [present] such things [22 sins] – Romans 1:28-32
- People JUDGE – because they think they are HELPING…
- They know God will punish SIN – so they point out it out – hoping people will repent…
- Because if they REPENT – they will be spared the judgment of God!
- We are called to confront SIN in others – encourage them to REPENT – Hebrews 3:13
- NOT because we want to see people CONDEMNED – but so they can be BROKEN…
- So they can see how SINFUL they are – and run to Jesus!
- Escape… vs. 3
- Do you think this O man – you who judge those practicing such things and doing the same.
- That you will escape the judgment of God!
- SECOND – people judge others – because they themselves are GUILTY…
- The man who JUDGES others – but is doing the SAME thing…
- THINKS [indicative] this will allow him to ESCAPE [future] the JUDGEMENT of God!
- If we want to look TALL – stand next to the SHORT guy…
- If you want to look WHITE – next to the DARK guy…
- If you want to look GOOD – point out all the SINS of others!
- There are many today who enjoy tearing others down – so they do NOT look as bad…
- But whenever we try to JUSTIFY – we are deceiving ourselves…
- Assuming because we are more GODLY than others – we are a GOOD person…
- But God does NOT grade on a curve – His standard is PERFECTION – Matthew 5:48
- And when we stand before Jesus – we are ONLY accountable for OUR lives…
- So rather than FOCUSING on what others are doing right or wrong…
- We need to make sure we are walking pure and holy before the Lord!
- II Corinthians 13:5 – “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith!”
- Impatient… vs. 4
- Do you despise the riches of His goodness – forbearance – and longsuffering!
- THIRD People judge others – because God does NOT appear to be JUDGE them…
- They see people living IMMORAL lives – rejecting the knowledge of God…
- And they are NOT suffering – they may even be BLESSED – and it seems UNFAIR…
- So they DESPISE how God is GOOD [χρηστότης] to SINNERS…
- They do NOT understand why He DELAYS [ἀνοχή] His judgement…
- They do NOT like how it seems to take Him a LONG time [μακρός] to get ANGRY [θυμός]
- So they lash out with the WRATH of God – and try to do His job for Him!
- Many assume they are OK because God does NOT immediately punish them…
- They make mistake of interpreting His PATIENCE for His ACCEPTANCE…
- Just because God has NOT judged yet – does NOT mean God will NOT judge!
- Psalm 73:16-17 – “I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is. Then one day I went into your sanctuary… and I thought about the destiny of the wicked.”
- Repentance… vs. 4
- Not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance!
- But people do NOT understand [ἀγνοέω]
- God is patient – and longsuffering – to give them time to REPENT!
- God waits to punish sin only because He loves the sinner – II Peter 3:9
- God is patient – longsuffering – to give time to repent and turn back to Him…
- But if we harden our hearts – choose not to repent – our sin will not remain hidden!
- Numbers 32:22 – “Be sure your sin will find you out!”
- 1st – No Excuse… vs. 1
- 2nd – Cannot save … vs. 5-10
- 1st – No fooling God… vs. 5-6
- Not safe… vs. 5
- In accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart.
- You are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath.
- And revelation of the righteous judgment of God!
- Paul wants to make a point – those who have REJECTED God will be JUDGED – Romans 1:18
- But those who are RELIGIOUS will also be JUDGED…
- Whatever their JUSTIFICATION for being JUDGMENTAL of others [three options]
- Their RELIGION was NOT the answer – it could NOT save them…
- Because it had NO power to change a HARD and UNREPENTANT heart…
- They were still STORING up wrath for themselves – for the DAY of WRATH…
- At the REVELATION [ἀποκάλυψις] of the RIGHTEOUS [δίκαιος] judgement [κρίσις] of God!
- RELIGION is a great way to justify SIN – it gives us an excuse to DISOBEY God…
- We can do what we want all week long – so long as we go to church on Sunday…
- We are all right with God so long as we give our TEN percent to the church…
- As long as we were BAPTIZED – and a MEMBER of the church – God approves!
- People believe their RELIGION makes them STRONG in the Lord…
- When in reality their RELIGION makes them WEAK – takes their eyes off of Jesus…
- Because they trust in their RELIGION – rather than looking to and depending on the Lord!
- God knows… vs. 6
- Who will render to each one according to his deeds!
- God knows the hearts of all men – He knows their actions and their MOTIVES…
- And He will repay them for EVERY things they have done!
- Proverbs 24:12 – “Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds.”
- What will people say in the DAY of WRATH – Revelation 20:11
- They might think they will argue RELIGION – that they are BETTER than others…
- But the truth is – when God inspects them – they will be SILENT – Matthew 22:12
- God knows the HEART – He is the one who sees the SOUL…
- And He will JUDGE every man according to their WORKS!
- 2nd – The reward… vs. 7/10
- Eternal… vs. 7
- Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for:
- Glory – honor – and immortality!
- To those who by means of PATIENTLY [genitive] doing GOOD [genitive]
- PATIENTLY because the reward is NOT something that comes right away…
- What does it mean to do GOOD – to be SEEKING [present]
- The GLORY [of God] – HONOR [from their life] – and IMMORTALITY [heaven]
- Those who PATIENTLY live their lives for the Lord – God gives them ETERNAL life!
- Temporal… vs. 10
- [He will give] glory – honor – and peace to everyone who works what is good.
- To the Jew first and also to the Greek!
- Those who are SEEKING the Lord – choose to live for Jesus…
- God does NOT just give them ETERNAL life – He gives them a BLESSED life…
- In this life will receive – GLORY from God – HONOR from men – and PEACE with God…
- To the Jew FIRST [religious] – and also to the GREEK [heathen]
- Only those who are patiently SEEKING [present] God are SAVED…
- But that FOCUS will NOT just give us ETERNAL life – it gives us a BLESSED life…
- Regardless of what RELIGION we might have [Jew or Greek]
- 3rd – The punishment… vs. 8-9
- But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth – but obey unrighteousness.
- Indignation and wrath – tribulation and anguish – on every soul of man who does evil.
- Of the Jew first and also of the Greek!
- But to those who are SELF-SEEKING [ἐριθεία]
- The word was used by Aristotle to describe running for POLITICAL office…
- Those who do NOT obey [present] the TRUTH [τῇ ἀληθείᾳ]
- God will pour: His ANGER – WRATH – TRIBULATION – and HARDSHIPS…
- Upon [ἐπί] ANYONE [πᾶς] who does [present] EVIL [κακός]
- To the Jew FIRST [religious] – and also to the GREEK [heathen]
- Membership in a RELIGION [Jew or Greek] cannot protect us from judgment…
- Because if we have a hard and unrepentant heart – and are unwilling to turn to the Lord…
- If we live for ourselves [politician] – only seeking our own pleasure…
- If we do NOT obey the truth – Jesus Christ is the TRUTH – John 14:6
- If we continue to live in SIN – we will have TRIBULATION and ANGUISH…
- And in we will experience the WRATH of God – we will be JUDGED!
- 1st – No fooling God… vs. 5-6
- 3rd – No favorites … vs. 11-16
- 1st – Impartial… vs. 11
- For there is no partiality with God!
- PARTIALITY [προσωπολημψία] – from two root words – receive and face [face value]
- God does NOT judge the worthiness of someone by the outside appearance…
- We have heard the phrase – never judge a book by its cover!
- God is not impressed by the outside – the Lord looks at the heart – I Samuel 16:7
- No matter how good a person looks – if the HEART is not right it is NOT GOOD…
- In contrast – if our HEART is right – no matter how the outside looks we are OK…
- When we get saved Jesus does NOT clean the outside first – He takes care of the HEART…
- Then in time the OUTSIDE comes to reflect the new life we have on the INSIDE!
- 2nd – No difference… vs. 12-16
- Be doers… vs. 11-13
- For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law.
- And as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law.
- Not the hearers of the law are just in His sight – but the doers of the law will be justified!
- To emphasize the point that God has NO partiality Paul states:
- Whoever has SINNED [aorist] without the LAW [ἀνόμως] – will DIE [ἀπόλλυμι]
- Whoever has SINNED [aorist] in the LAW [νόμος] – will be JUDGED [passive] by the LAW…
- So there is NO benefit to RELIGION – the END result is the SAME…
- Because it is NOT enough to HEAR the WORD [νόμος]…
- It is those who HEAR and DO that will be JUSTIFIED [just as if they never sinned]
- What WORK does the WORD tell us that we must do to be JUSTIFIED…
- Go back to the key verse – the JUST shall live by FAITH – Romans 1:17
- We might know the Bible – but the question is do we LIVE it…
- Unfortunately knowledge does us NO good – it CANNOT save us…
- We will stand before God one day and be able to say: I knew I needed Jesus…
- If we do NOT have FAITH – and turn to God – we are NOT saved!
- James 1:22 – “Be doers of the word and not hearers only – deceiving yourselves.”
- Writing on the heart… vs. 14-15
- When Gentiles who do not have the law – by nature do the things in the law.
- These although not having the law are a law to themselves.
- Who show the work of the law written in their hearts their conscience also bearing witness.
- Between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them!
- The GENTILES [ἔθνος] who do NOT have the RULES [νόμος]
- Unbelievers who do NOT go to church – do NOT have a RELIGION…
- When they NATURALLY [φύσις] do the things found in the LAW of God [τοῦ νόμου]
- These becomes the RULES [νόμος] that the live their lives by…
- And these RULES show the LAW of God [τοῦ νόμου] is written on their hearts…
- Their CONSCIENCE bearing witness – either ACCUSING or EXCUSING their actions!
- When people help those in need – Leviticus 19:18
- When they respect their parents – Exodus 20:12
- When they do NOT steal – lie – or kill – Exodus 20:13-16
- Whether they KNOW it or NOT – they have been following the commands of God…
- It shows the Word of God is written on their HEARTS by God…
- Their conscience as their witness – telling them they are doing right of wrong…
- Therefore – even if they do NOT know the WORD – they still KNOW when they sin!
- We know the feeling – when we have done something wrong…
- Even if NO one is around – we look to see who is watching…
- When we make that choice to SIN – there is a twist in the pit of our stomach…
- Because we KNOW it is wrong – our conscience convicts us – we have NO excuse!
- Secrets… vs. 16
- In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel!
- One day God will JUDGE [future] the SECRETS of all men…
- Bottom line – those who are RELIGIOUS are no better off than those who are NOT…
- The RELIGIOUS man [Jew] will be judged by the Bible if he does EVIL…
- EVERY one else [gentile] will also be judged by God…
- Because even though they never knew the Bible – God wrote His rules on their conscience…
- So it is NOT about our religion – it is about knowing Jesus!
- RELIGIONS – all of them – cannot save us…
- Because there is NO cutting in line with God – there are NO special perks…
- God does NOT ignore anyone – and He has NO favorites – we are all sinners…
- And He freely gives to us all the same hope of salvation through Jesus Christ!
- 1st – Impartial… vs. 11