Our Great Commission
ROMANS II
Judgment : The Goodness of God for Granted
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith – www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS
6:00PM Evening Service at the church –
“Seminary Students will be preaching”
Monday 5:00PM Bible Study
Tuesday Women’s at Lori’s
Men’s on Saturday at the Pastor’s House 11:00AM – 9:00PM
(Guy’s night when girls go to camp: pizza/games)
WHERE WE
† Maturing in Christ
† Understanding in Christ
† Love of God
† God’s Spiritual Fruit
This Series: The Book of Romans
Previously: Apostasy
TODAY’S SERMON: Our Great Commission
Romans II
Part 4: Judgment : The Goodness of God
"The Goodness of God for Granted"
SCRIPTURE READING
Romans 2:4-11
“..do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
5But 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. 6God "will give to each person according to what he has done." 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.”
INTRODUCTION
1. Many people live their lives with little regard to the goodness of God...
a. Unaware of how gracious God has been and is willing to be toward them
b. Unaware of how their neglect will one day come back to haunt them
2. Have you given much thought to the goodness of God?
a. The many blessings He bestows
b. The consequences if you fail to respond properly
[Our scripture reading today should give us pause for consideration, we see how Paul expounds upon "The Goodness Of God."]
I. THE NATURE OF HIS GOODNESS
A. HIS RICHES...
1. He is rich in grace – Ephesians 1:7 – “7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace”
2. He is rich in mercy - Ephesians 2:4 – “4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,”
3. He is rich in supplying need - Philippians 4:19 – “19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
4. He is rich in giving things to enjoy – 1 Timothy 6:17 – “ 17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”
5. He is rich in the strength He provides the Christian - Ephesians 3:16,21 – “16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” “21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
B. HIS FORBEARANCE (Patience)...
1. "Forbearance" (anoche) means "a holding back" - ISBE
2. We see God's forbearance...
a. In the days of Israel - cf. Psalms 78:38 – “38 Yet he was merciful;
he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.”
b. In our present day (since the fullness of God's wrath has yet to come)
C. HIS LONGSUFFERING...
1. "Longsuffering" (makrothumia) describes "a slowness in avenging
wrath" - Strong's
2. We see God suffering long...
a. In the days of Noah, prior to the flood - cf. 1Peter 3:20 – “20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,”
b. In our present day, prior to the day of judgment - cf. 2 Peter 3:9-15 – “9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.”
[The Psalmist summarizes well the nature of God's goodness: "But You, O
Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and
abundant in mercy and truth." (Psalms 86:15).
As we return to our text in Romans, we are told of...]
II. THE PURPOSE OF HIS GOODNESS
A. SHOULD LEAD ONE TO REPENTANCE...
1. God's goodness is intended to cause man to repent - Romans 2:4 – “4Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?”
2. Based on Paul's description of repentance elsewhere, God's
goodness should produce...
a. Godly sorrow which leads to repentance - cf. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 – “9yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
b. A change of mind (the actual meaning of metanoia repentance) - Strong's
c. A turn from sin to God (as evidence of repentance) - cf.
2 Corinthians 7:10-11 – “2Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. 4I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
5For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.”
B. SHOULD LEAD ONE TO DO WHAT IS GOOD...
1. As just described, an indication of true repentance - cf. 2 Corinthians 7:11- “11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.”
2. As later described in our text, it should lead to doing good...
a. With patient continuance - Romans 2:7a
1) Where God was longsuffering (makrothumia) before
2) We are to do good patiently now - cf. Luke 8:15 – “15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
b. Seeking glory, honor, immortality – Romans 2:7b
1) Glory and honor that will come at the revelation of Jesus
Christ - cf. 1Peter 1:7; 2Corinthians 4:16-18
2) Immortality (incorruption) that will be given at the same
time - 1Corinthians 15:51-54
[Thus "eternal life" will be given to those who are properly motivated
by God's goodness to repent and do good (Romans 2:7). But what of those who
spurn the riches of God's goodness...?]
III. THE REJECTION OF HIS GOODNESS
A. INDICATIVE OF A HARD HEART...
1. For they despise God's goodness – Romans 2:4
2. For they evidently are insensitive and unappreciative of God's
goodness - Romans 2:5
3. For they remain impenitent in their heart - Romans 2:5
B. STORES UP WRATH FOR THE DAY OF JUDGMENT...
1. The wrath of God's righteous judgment - cf. Romans 2:5
2. A day of wrath involving indignation, tribulation, and anguish
- Romans 2:8-9a
3. A vivid description of which is found in 2Thessalonians 1:6-9 – “6God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power”
CONCLUSION
1. Such is the end of one who does not properly respond to God's
goodness...
a. Especially as that manifested through the gospel of Jesus
b. Which Paul will expound upon later in this epistle to the Romans
2. As we close, be careful to note: there is no partiality with God!
- Romans 2:9-11
a. Those who do evil will be punished
b. Those who do good will be blessed
Have you allowed "The Goodness Of God" to lead you to repentance,
especially that repentance called for in the proclamation of the gospel?
- cf. Acts 2:36-39; 3:19; 17:30-31
