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Rom. 2:1-11
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. Paul begins his letter to the Romans by explaining that all of mankind is guilty before God because Man chose to live in sin and ungodliness because Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He now turns his attention to the Jews and clearly shows that even though they are God’s chosen people and were commissioned by Him to take the Gospel to the world, they allowed their own unrighteousness to so hide the gospel message that God put them, in today’s lingo, “in time out.” Watch how ungodliness and unrighteousness have condemned even the Jews before God. As Paul continues his discourse on the need for justification, he widens his perspective by addressing:
- MAN’S DECEPTIVE CONDUCT 2:1-6. You will notice that chapter 2 begins with the word “therefore.” More often than not the word “therefore” is used to connect the information that was just given to the information that follows immediately. He starts by telling all people they have: A. No Excuse v. 1, 2. Paul told the Gentiles they had no excuse (1:20); now he tells the Jews they have no excuse in condemning others for breaking God’s laws, when they themselves are just as guilty of breaking those same laws. So Israel may be God’s people, but their national heritage and birthright is neither license nor excuse for their sin. One of the most revealing truths of the selfishness and self-centeredness of sin is that sin always sees more evil in others than in self. Not only do we have no excuse before God: we also have B. No Escape v. 3. Jesus teaches that on the Day of Judgment people will give account for every careless word. Paul tells us that each of us will give account! So does Peter. The truth that all will one day give account for what we have said and done in this life, is an absolute guarantee. The other part of that same guarantee is that judgment will also happen. Since God will be the Judge, the judgment will be as perfect, pure, right, just, unbiased and impartial as God! Our deceptive conduct and all our excuses will come back to bite us! Now watch how Paul continues by teaching that our deceptive conduct often results in:
- DESERVED COMPENSATION in v. 6-11. It is important that you keep judgment and reward separate. Judgment as it is used in the NT always refers to “penal justice or punishment.” In the section we are now studying, Paul is explaining that all people everywhere have broken God’s law and are therefore, subject to the punishment God established for breaking His law. As we know the punishment is eternity in hell. The word “reward” means “to repay according to an established standard.” In this case the “established standard” is God’s law. Paul is telling us here that both judgment and reward are grounded in God’s laws. Notice that Paul reveals 3 truths about the compensation or reward all people will receive: 1st it will be
- Individual compensation. V. 6= God will render to each one; v. 9 = …for every human being… No one is exempt from the consequences of their life, whether those consequences are good or bad. 2nd it will be an
- Itemized Compensation. V. 7-10. The reward for those who have chosen salvation is glory, honor, immortality, and peace. On the other hand, for all who disregard God’s gracious invitation to become one of His adopted children, God’s judgment will send them to hell for all eternity. Finally, the compensation will be:
- Impartial Compensation. V. 10, 11. Compensation will come first to the Jew, then to the Greeks/Gentiles. When all people stand before God in judgment whether the BEMA or White Throne, they will have neither excuse nor escape! God has no favorites, no prejudices, no influences, no allegiances, and no anything to anyone except Himself.
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