06/17/2018
Today’s lesson, “Principles of God’s Judgment,” came from Romans 2:1-5
“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 things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And 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? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But 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.”
This passage refers to the “moralist;” the man or woman who can easily see the sins of others, and has no problem pointing them out, yet he/she fails to see the sin that lies within his/her own heart. John MacArthur says many of these professing Christians “trust in their baptism, in their church membership, in their being born into a Christian family, in the sacraments, in high ethical standards, in orthodox doctrine, or in any number of other outward ideas, relationships, or ceremonies for spiritual and even eternal safety. But no one can understand or appropriate salvation apart from recognizing that he stands guilty and condemned before God, totally unable to bring himself up to God’s standard of righteousness. And no person is exempt.”
Imagine a woman, who was baptized at a young age, attends a prominent, historical church in her community, serves on several committees in the church and is well-known and respected in her neighborhood and on her job. Her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all pastors. In fact, her great-grandfather founded the church that she attends; the church she grew up in. She has never indulged in drugs, alcohol, or “loose living,” and has little tolerance for those who do. In fact, she is appalled by all of the sin that she sees in others. She makes it known that she stays away from “those kind” of people because they are full of sin. She sits on her front porch and watches her neighbors’ activities, shaking her head and noting all of their sinful actions, sometimes calling her friend to discuss what is going on around her. She is particularly disgusted by her next door neighbor, a young woman who dresses provocatively and always seems to have a different man over her house every night. “She must be some kind of prostitute,” she tells her friend, “with her nasty self. No telling what they’re doing up in there. She needs Jesus, that’s what she needs.” But she never ventures next door to share Christ with her neighbor; she says that’s not her “calling.” She is so glad that she is a Christian and that she isn’t anything like those dreadful sinners. As she sits in judgment of her neighbors, co-workers, and church members, she completely misses the darkness in her own heart. She overlooks her flirtatious behavior with her boss, the store clerk, and the deacon; she dismisses her gossip as “concern” and her anger as “righteous indignation.” She has no problem going to the casino every weekend and expects the Lord to bless her with a big win one day so she can quit working with all of those “heathens.” The sad thing is, while this lady is very religious, she is still lost.
A true Christian is not unmoved by their sin; they are devastated by it. There is a deep, soul wrenching sorrow over the fact that they hurt, disobeyed, and dishonored the Father. There is a hatred for sin, an indignation at oneself for daring to despise the grace of God and a vehement desire to forsake all sin (2 Cor. 7:10-11). Too many so-called Christians are comfortable in their sin, completely despising the grace of God.
Paul says the moralists are without excuse because they know the truth. They prove that they know the truth of God’s standard of righteousness because they can easily point out when others fail to meet that standard. They stand guilty because although they know the truth, they fail to exercise it in their own lives. They sin willfully and then cavalierly think, “God will forgive me; it’s what He does.” MacArthur further states, “There is in every willful sin a contempt for the goodness of God. Every intentional sin takes lightly and presumes upon God’s kindness and forbearance and patience.”
Every day we should thank God for His mercy, for being so patient with us and for not giving us the punishment we so justly deserve. We must recognize that we are all guilty and deserving of death and unless we repent…truly repent…and turn to God, we will suffer the ultimate punishment.
