ROMANS 2
3 Outlines
Romans 2:1-16
GOD KNOWS!
In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus
told a parable ".unto certain which trusted in
themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:"
The Lord told about two
men who went into the temple to pray. One was a
Pharisee, part of a
religious sect in
legalistic and self-righteous group. The other was a tax collector or
publican. The tax collectors were hated because they often cheated
their
fellow Jews, and because they were considered traitors who worked
for the
Roman government that
ruled
Vss. 11-12 show the
pride and self-righteousness of the Pharisee.
Vs. 13 shows the sorrow
for sin in the tax collector.
In Vs. 14 Jesus gives
the morrow of the story, "I tell you, this man went
down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one
that
exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall
be
exalted."
One of the easiest
things to do is to be self-righteous. We can always find
someone we consider not as well behaved as we are. We then compare
ourselves
to that person, and feel that compared to that person, we are
doing just
fine!
There are many people
who feel that they are going to Heaven because they
are not immoral like others. They are not adulterers,
murderers, bank
robbers, or even blasphemers. In fact they find fault with that
sort of
person, and consider themselves way above those sinners.
There are also many
born-again Christians who feel pretty good about
themselves because they compare themselves with other Christians.
Their
church attendance is better than others. Their devotional life is
better
than others. The places they go or don't go are better. The
Bible they use
is better.
Paul confronts the
self-righteous in Romans 2:1-16. These would be people
who read Romans 1:25-32, which concerns the heathen. They would
have
considered themselves well above that kind of behavior. They would not
consider themselves to be this bad.
In our text Paul
confronts the person who felt that he would get to Heaven
because he was not like those sinners mentioned in Romans 1! He
shows in
this passage that the self-righteous person is just as guilty as
the blatant
sinner. If Paul was writing today, he might point out that just
being in
church and living an outwardly moral life is not going to get you
into
Heaven. Because we are all sinners, we need a Savior, one to die
for our
sins. That's the Lord Jesus!
There is a reminder in
this passage for those of us who know we are saved.
The reminder is that we
have no right to stand as critics of others. So
often we have critical statements to make concerning sinner and
saint alike.
To be honest, very often
our criticisms are not valid.
Why should we be so
careful about our criticisms of others? Very simply,
this passage shows us that God knows about us. He is the one
that has the
right to judge, and ultimately, He will! GOD KNOWS!
GOD KNOWS THE TRUTH -
Vss. 1-3
Vs. 1 - The person who
judges and condemns another person is actually
condemning himself! To judge someone else is to show that you have a
conscience. You show that you have some sense of what is right and
what is
wrong. In showing that you know right and wrong, you condemn
yourself,
because you and I who judge others are guilty of the same things.
Matthew
Vs. 2 - When God judges
it will be according to the truth. There will be no
fooling God.
Vs. 3 - Criticizing
others for their sins does not excuse someone from their
own sins.
GOD KNOWS YOUR NEED - Vss.
4-5
He knows that you need
to repent and turn to Christ for forgiveness. 2
Corinthians 5:21,
Ephesians 2:8-9, Psalm 32:5
GOD KNOWS YOUR DEEDS -
Vss. 6-10
God knows what your
deeds are and they will be judged.
GOD KNOWS YOUR SITUATION
- Vss. 11-15
God is totally
impartial. The person who had the law of God will be judged
by the law of God.
The one who did not have
the law of God will judged by his conscience.
GOD KNOWS YOUR MOTIVES -
Vs. 16
All the secrets will
come out.
The unsaved will be
judged at the Great White Throne - Revelation 20:11-15
The saved will stand
before the Judgment Seat of Christ - 2 Corinthians
If you are
self-righteous about salvation, turn to Christ for forgiveness
and eternal life.
If you are self-righteous
as a Christian, confess and forsake that sin!
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Romans 2:1-11
ANSWERING TO GOD
FOLLY OF MAN’S JUDGMENT – Vs. 1
FAITHFULNESS OF GOD’S JUDGMENT – Vss. 2,11
FAILURE TO REPENT – Vss. 3-5
FUTURE ACCOUNTABILITY – Vss. 6-10
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Romans 2:1-16
GOD’S JUDGMENT:
DESERVED – Vss. 1-3
DELAYED – Vs. 4
DANGEROUS – Vs. 5
DETAILED – Vss. 7-16
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