Paul's Epistles Part 7 – Romans - You Are Without Excuse

Paul's Epistles

Part 7 – Romans - You Are Without Excuse

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

We are going to look at the Epistles of Paul in this series of sermons. We have already looked at who Paul was, our faith being reported around the world, not being ashamed of the Gospel, being Guilty of sin, Apostasy.

Last week we discussed The Results of Apostasy.

Today we will take a look at Romans 2:1-16. You are Without Excuse.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Romans 2:1-16

 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ² Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

⁵ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”^[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸ But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ⁹ There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; ¹⁰ but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹ For God does not show favoritism.

¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) ¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

I.                   THEREFORE, YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE

a.      You who pass judgment on someone else.

                                                             i.      Whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself

                                                          ii.      because you do the same things your judging

                                                       iii.      In other words, God judges one who judges another in the same manner in which he himself has judged, hence, "condemning himself".

1.      Matthew 7:1-2

                                                         iv.      Have you judged someone because they have lied? stolen? sinned?

1.      Have you never lied?

2.      Have you never taken something that was not yours?

3.      Are you sinless?

b.     God's judgment is against those things is based on TRUTH

                                                             i.      When you, a mere human, pass judgment on them, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?

1.      God's judgment, unlike ours, is perfect because it comes from Truth...the entire and whole Truth. What is known; can be known and also what is hidden within the heart, revealed only to God.

2.      Making Him the only perfect Judge!

3.      Do not think, because you follow Christ, you are now exempt from judgment. Do not think you are above His instructions. Do not show contempt for His kindness.

c.      Or do you show contempt?

                                                             i.      For God's richness of kindness

                                                          ii.      restraint and patience

                                                       iii.      Not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

1.      Trying to lead you.

II.               BECAUSE OF YOUR STUBBORNNESS & UNREPENTANT HEART

a.      You are storing up wrath against yourself

                                                             i.      For the day of God's wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed.

                                                          ii.      Because of a hardness toward God and refusal to repent.

b.     God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”

                                                             i.      We reap what we sew!

1.      Do you sow chaos?

2.      Do you sow discord?

3.      Do you sow hatred?

4.      Do you sow bitterness?

5.      Do you sow anger?

6.      Do you sow violence?

7.      Or do you sow peace, love, kindness...fruits of the Spirit!

                                                          ii.      To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

                                                       iii.      But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

c.      There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil

                                                             i.      first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;

                                                          ii.      but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good:

1.      First for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹ For God does not show favoritism.

III.            SIN APART FROM THE LAW & WITHIN THE LAW

a.       All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law

                                                             i.      And all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

                                                          ii.       For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 

b.     Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law.

                                                             i.      They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.

c.      This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

CONCLUSION

Why are we without excuse?

Because the Truth has been made plain to us through all creation, that God is the Creator, and we, His Creation. Therefore, He has the authority to judge His creation.

Showing us He is the Righteous Judge!

Those who knew of God, yet do not glorify Him, neither are they thankful for the blessings, they do not praise Him, their land is wounded by sin, yet they refuse to cry out and repent.

Their vain imaginations create for themselves a new god, and a new way to salvation apart from God, which leads to Apostasy.

Professing themselves to be wise, they become fools, and exchange the glory of an immortal God, for images made to look like mortal things.

God's wrath is stored up for judgment day, for those who refuse to repent, and make Jesus their Lord and Savior.

Isaiah 13:9

See, the day of the Lord is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!