A Universal and Insurmountable Problem...

This week, we have been looking at a section of a letter in the Bible where we see a man named Paul arguing that the Bible proves that all humanity has a huge problem with God. Tuesday, we saw that the universal problem that all humanity with God that is evidenced by our words and actions is driven by a selfish rebellion that refuses to respect God, but instead rejects God.

We leave God out and live life as though he does not exist; we leave God out and live life based on our own moral principles; we leave God out and live life by creating our own religious systems. But at the end of the day, our selfish and sinful rebellion against God is undeniable. Today, we will look as Paul concludes this section of this letter with a fourth and final evidence of the huge problem that humanity has with God in Romans 3:19-20. Let’s look at it together:

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Now to fully understand what Paul is communicating here, we first need to understand some words and phrases. By using the word know here, Paul is introducing a well known and generally accepted fact that those who were reading his letter would be aware of. The well known and generally accepted fact is that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law. But what does that mean? The Law here refers to the first five books in our Bibles, which were referred to as the Law or the Torah.

Paul’s point here is that the Bible, including the Law, was God’s revelation of Himself to all of humanity. This morning the Bible is the story of God. It is the story of God’s creation of the universe and His passionate pursuit of humanity. Therefore every human being is under the Law, as the Bible was written for all of humanity in order that all humanity could know God and have a relationship with God. And this was a well known and generally accepted fact that all those at the church in Rome would agree with.

Paul then explains that whatever the Bible says, it says so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God. Paul’s point here is that the message and teachings of the Bible serve to silence all of humanity when it comes to having any excuse of defense as to why they are not guilty of having a problem with God. In addition, the Bible serves to reveal that all of humanity is responsible and answerable to be under judgment and punishment that comes as a result of being judged guilty of having a problem with God.

And here we see the Apostle Paul provide a fourth piece of evidence from the Bible that proves that all humanity has a huge problem with God. And that fourth piece of evidence is that the Bible proves that the problem is insurmountable. You see, the message and teachings of the Bible removes any possible excuse or defense that any human being may have when it comes to selfish rebellion and sin. The Bible reveals that we are guilty of having a huge problem with God that is insurmountable. And the Bible also provides the evidence that proves that all humanity is responsible and answerable to God when it comes to receiving God’s right and just response to selfish rebellion and sin.

Now you might be thinking to yourself “How does the Bible prove that I have an insurmountable problem with God? How does the Bible show that there is nothing that I can do to escape from being guilty of having a problem with God?” We find the answer to these questions in verse 20: Because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight. The works of the Law here refers to the deeds that the Bible commands you to do. To be justified is a legal term that means to be found or declared not guilty of something, in this case guilty of having a problem with God. Paul’s point here is that there is nothing that any human being can do that can cause us to be not guilty when it comes to having a problem with God. Notice that Paul does not say some flesh; he says no flesh; no human being is able to earn their way into Heaven by what they do for God.

Now you might be wondering “why not? Why can’t I work my way into Heaven by what I do for God?” There are two reasons why we cannot work our way into being right with God. First, as we discovered earlier in this series, our moral or religious works do not make us right with God because we do not even keep the rules that we make that we think should make us right with God either through our morality or our religion. The second reason why we cannot work our way into Heaven, especially when it comes to keeping the message and the teachings of the Bible is because that is not the point of the Bible. The Bible was not written so that we could work our way into Heaven. In verse 20, Paul reveals that the Bible was written so that through the Law comes knowledge of sin. In other words the Bible was written to reveal the reality that all of humanity is guilty of having a huge problem with God. A problem that is universal; a problem that is insurmountable.

You see, we discover our sin; we discover that we are selfish and rebellious and do things that hurt God and others by reading the Bible. The Bible exposes the harsh reality that we are selfish, self-absorbed people who are guilty. And the Bible exposes that there is nothing that we can do to resolve our guilt and be restored to the relationship with God we were created for. People who are theologians who spend their lives studying the Bible refer to this reality as total depravity. Maybe you have heard this term used before.

Now total depravity does not mean that every person is as bad as they can be. What total depravity does mean is that no person is perfect in God’s sight. And intuitively we know this to be the case; we even have a phrase for this reality, don’t we; “well nobody’s perfect”. That is 100% accurate and Biblical. Total depravity also means that not only none has the perfection that one requires, no one is able to achieve that perfection; our selfish rebellion and sin is universal and insurmountable in nature and scope. Unlike some streams of psychology and liberal streams of Christianity, the Bible does not teach that mankind is good. Unlike other streams of psychology and Catholicism, the Bible does not teach that we are kind of good and can be saved by what we do for God in terms of jumping through spiritual hoops called sacraments.

What the Bible clearly teaches is that, in the words of one famous commercial, man is fallen and cannot get up; all humanity is fallen and is completely helpless. We are absorbed in selfishness and rebellion that has no desire to follow Jesus and His teachings. The timeless reality is that the Bible was not given to provide justification; the Bible was given to reveal our condemnation. The Bible was given to prove that all humanity has a huge problem with God. A problem that is universal. A problem that is revealed by our word and by our actions. A problem that is insurmountable. And it is this reality that separates Christianity from every other religious and moral or ethical system. While other religious and moral or ethical systems provide a list of behaviors that we need to do in order to be right with God; and while other religious and moral systems all reveal that we violate those lists that causes us to have a problem, none of them provide a solution to the problem of selfishness, rebellion, and sin. For while religion is about what you do for God, Christianity is all about what God has done for us.

You see, humanities problem is not just humanities problem. Our problem is not simply our problem. Our problem is also God’s problem. Our problem is God’s problem because our problem calls into question God’s justice and love. God’s love desires that all humanity experience the relationship with Him that they were created for in Heaven. However, God cannot ignore His perfect Law and justice. God’s perfect justice demands that the selfish rebellion and sin of all humanity be punished. So our problem is God’s problem.

All humanity has a huge problem that requires rescue; a rescue that we are unable and unwilling to attempt on our own. Instead all humanity needs to be rescued. All humanity is in dire need of a rescuer. And starting next week, we will begin to look at how God responded to a universal and insurmountable problem that impacted all creation. We will discover that God is both absolutely just and unconditionally loving. God’s justice is administered in love and His love is distributed justly. We will see God’s love and justice that provides the opportunity for rescue in the cross.

In His love, God sent His Son Jesus into humanity in order to allow Himself to be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful lives so that God the Father could treat us as though we lived Jesus perfect life. Jesus death on the cross satisfied God’s justice, which satisfied God’s right and just response to our selfish rebellion and sin.

So do you believe that you have a huge problem with God? A problem that is universal. A problem that is revealed by our word and by our actions. A problem that is insurmountable. Because the reality is that we all have a huge problem with God that requires rescue; a rescue that we are unable and unwilling to attempt on our own. A problem that is not only our problem; a problem that is God’s problem. A problem that God deals with in a way that none of us can, through the perfect life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus.

Busted by our Words and our Actions...

This week, we are finishing looking at a section of a letter in our Bibles called the book of Romans that gives us a glimpse into a trial that involved a case that was brought against humanity by a man named Paul on behalf of God. And yesterday we saw Paul, in his closing arguments provide a timeless and true charge that humanity has a huge problem with God. Yesterday, we saw the Paul reveal for us the timeless reality that the bible proves that humanity has a universal problem with God.

However, one could easily push back a reject Paul's claim. So as Paul continues to make his closing arguments and address whether or not all humanity has a problem with God, we see him respond to those objections, beginning in Romans 3:13-14:

"THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS"; "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";

In these two verses, we see the Apostle Paul provide a second piece of evidence from the Bible that proves that all humanity has a huge problem with God. And that second piece of evidence is that the Bible proves that the problem is revealed by our words. Paul quotes three different sections of letters that are recorded for us in the Bible in the book of Psalms. First the apostle quotes Psalm 5:9 from the Greek Septuagint, which was the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, which is what the members of the church at Rome would have read. Therefore the members of the church could investigate his claims by looking at their own Bibles.

And it is this Psalm which paints an amazing word picture; their throat is an open grave. This is a word picture of a grave breathing out the smell of death. Have you been around people like that? Have you been around people whose words smell like death? Have you ever used words that smell like death? I know I have. If so, you are guilty of having a problem with God. Psalm 5:9 also states that all humanity uses deceptive speech. Have you been around people who were deceptive? Have you ever been deceptive? I know I have. If so, you are guilty of having a problem with God.

Paul then quotes Psalm 140:3 which paints for us another word picture, this time of the poison of asps. Now an asp is one of the most poisonous snakes on the planet; in Paul’s day, if you were bitten by an asp, chances are great that you would die. Have you been around people like that? Have you been around people whose words cause death? Death to a relationship; death to unity in community. Have you ever used words that cause death? I know I have. If so, you are guilty of having a problem with God.

In verse 14, Paul quotes from Psalm 10:7 to reveal the reality that our words are full of cursing and bitterness. If you do not think that this is the case, just walk through any store, listen to any reality T.V. show, or listen to almost any radio station. You see, our words that smell like death and cause death; our words that deceive others and curse others, they serve as evidence to prove that all humanity has a problem with God.

Paul then provides a third piece of evidence that proves that all humanity has a huge problem with God in Romans 3:15-18:

"THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN." "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."

In these verses, we see the Apostle Paul provide a third piece of evidence from the Bible that proves that all humanity has a huge problem with God. And that third piece of evidence is that the Bible proves that the problem is revealed by our actions. Paul quotes two different sections of letters that are recorded for us in the Bible. First, we are directed to a section of a letter in our Bibles called the book of Isaiah.

Beginning in Isaiah 59:7, the prophet Isaiah is condemning the Jewish people for their selfish rebellion and sin against God. Paul then applies the prophet’s words to all of humanity. First, humanity throughout history is swift to shed blood. To shed blood here refers to murder. In other words, humanity does not seem to have to give much thought to killing one another. In addition, destruction and misery are in their paths. Isaiah’s point, which is being echoed by Paul, is that humanities way of life and conduct bends toward the destruction and ruin of others. And the pages of history are filled with human actions that bring distress, trouble, misery and ruin upon one another.

And to reinforce his point, Isaiah states that the path of peace they have not known. The life and conduct of humans throughout history is not known as being one of harmony and peace is it? Whether it is in our relationships and individuals or our relationships as nations, history is marked by confusion and conflict instead of peace and harmony. Now here is the question before all of us: Have you been around people like that? Have you been around people whose actions produce conflict, distress and destruction instead of peace and harmony? Have your actions produce conflict, distress and destruction instead of peace and harmony? I know I have. If so, you are guilty of having a problem with God.

And to hammer his point home, Paul directs the church at Rome, and us here this morning, to a section of a letter called the book of Psalms. In Psalm 36:1, we see revealed for us the root cause that produces all of humanity throughout history’s selfish and rebellious words and actions; there is no fear of God before their eyes. The word fear here refers to a reverent respect for someone that results in submission and obedience. In Psalm 36:1, King David states that the selfish rebellion and sin of the ungodly, in other words those who leave God out, reveal the reality that they have no respect or reverence for God.

Paul’s point here is that the universal problem that all humanity with God that is evidenced by our words and actions is driven by a selfish rebellion that refuses to respect God, but instead rejects God. We leave God out and live life as though he does not exist; we leave God out and live life based on our own moral principles; we leave God out and live life by creating our own religious systems. But at the end of the day, our selfish and sinful rebellion against God is undeniable.

But not only is the fact that all humanity is guilty of having a huge problem with God undeniable. Paul concludes this section of this letter with a fourth and final evidence of the huge problem that humanity has with God. We will look at this evidence tomorrow.

In the meantime, what do your words and actions reveal when it comes to whether or not you are guilty of having a huge problem with God?

Busted by the Bible...

For the past five weeks, we have been looking at a section of a letter in the Bible that gives us a glimpse into a trial that occurred 2,000 years ago. This trial involved a case that was brought against humanity by the Apostle Paul on behalf of God. This week, as we conclude looking at this trial, where we see Paul, acting as the prosecuting attorney for God, make his closing arguments and address whether or not all humanity has a problem with God. We see Paul begin his closing arguments in Romans 3:9. Let’s look at it together:

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

Paul begins his closing argument as to whether or not all humanity has a problem with God by addressing a possible objection that those reading this letter may have, which is “well Paul, are you saying that you are better than us? Because that is what it seems like? You have spent your entire time accusing us of having a problem with God, but do you have a problem with God? You have said that we are without excuse when it comes to our behavior before God. But are you without excuse? Do you think that you have excuses for your behavior and that you will be protected for God’s right and just response to your behavior? Do you think you are better than us?”

Paul responds to this objection very simply and clearly- not at all. In other words, Paul is explaining that he does not view himself as being any better than the members of the church at Rome, or any other human being in this world. Paul then provides the proof for his response by pointing to his earlier arguments in this letter. Paul reminds the members of the church at Rome, and us here this morning, that he had already accused and proved that both Jews and Greeks were all under sin. As a former religious person who was a Jewish Pharisee he was guilty. However, Paul states that both Jews and Greeks were guilty. By this phrase, Paul is arguing that all of humanity, whether religious, agnostic, or irreligious, whether moral or immoral, every human being throughout history is guilty of having a problem with God.

And to back his claim, the Apostle states “as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;”. What is interesting is that the phrase “as it is written” conveys the sense of a pronouncement and announcement. Paul then begins to quote from a section of a letter that is recorded for us in our Bibles called the book of Psalms. In Psalm 14:1, King David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit stated that there is no one who does good. However, Paul here seems to change what King David wrote by saying that there is none righteous, so is Paul misquoting Scripture here?

I do not believe that Paul is misquoting Scripture; I believe that Paul is making an editorial change in order to unpack what King David was communicating by the phrase there is none who does good. As we have seen throughout this series, the word righteous simply means to be right with God. You see, the words good and righteous are two complimentary words that explain the same state of reality. Paul here is not changing or contradicting Scripture; instead he is revealing the cohesion of the Bible and the timeless reality that no one is or does anything that results in them being good, or right with God.

And it is in Paul’s response to this potential objection and accusation that we see revealed for us the timeless reality that the Bible proves that all humanity has a huge problem with God. In Romans 3:9-20, we see the Apostle Paul, in this closing argument, provide four pieces of evidence from the Bible that prove that all humanity through history is guilty of having a huge problem with God. We see first piece of evidence revealed for us in Romans 3:10-12. Let’s look at those verses together as a cohesive unit:

as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."

Here we see the Apostle Paul quote extensive sections of Psalm 14:1-3 to reveal the first piece of evidence from the Bible that proves that all humanity has a huge problem with God. And that first piece of evidence is that the Bible proves that the problem is universal. In both Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3, we see the universal problem that all of humanity throughout history has with God. There is none who understands; in other words there is not a single person what has been able to have an intelligent grasp on the nature and character of God that impacts their head, heart and hands in a way that makes them right with God.

Now a natural objection here could be, well how can God hold our inability to intelligently grasp Him against us? And if the Psalm stopped there, you may have a good point. But the Psalm does not stop there. Instead, the Psalm states that there is none who seeks for God. In other words, there is no one who exerts the effort to even attempt to truly understand or learn about the nature and character of God. Instead, all of turned aside. This phrase literally means to keep away from or steer clear from. So instead of exerting the effort to seek after God, all of humanity has spent their energy in an attempt to avoid God. And because of humanities efforts to steer clear and avoid God, together they have become useless. By useless, the Psalmist means that all humanity has become morally depraved and worthless.

Therefore, there is none who does good, there is not even one. No one lives their life in a way that meets with God’s approval and makes them right with God. No one. Just look at the words used in this Psalm: there is none; there is none; all; together; there is none, not even one. Paul’s point is that the Bible clearly proves that all humanity has a problem with God. The problem is universal.

Now you find yourself pushing back and objecting to everything you just read. “I mean Dave, how can these two Psalms prove that all humanity has a problem with God? And besides it isn’t as though people do not try to understand God, just go look in a bookstore; look at all the religious systems and literature. How can you say that all humanity steers clear of God and is morally worthless in God’s sight?” If you are asking those questions, I believe that they are fair questions to be asking. And as Paul continues in his closing arguments, we see him answer those questions for us. We will look at those answers tomorrow.

Religious Guilt Based on the Evidence of Our Justifications...

This week, we are looking at a section of a letter in our Bible where Paul addresses whether or not those who consider themselves religious are guilty of having a problem when it comes to a relationship with God. So far, we have seen that religious people are guilty of having a problem with God based on the evidence of our actions and the evidence of a lack of inner change.

Now, if you have been reading this week and consider yourself a religious person you may be finding that you are pushing back pretty hard right about now. You may find yourself having some serious objections right about now. If you find yourself in that place, or you find your mind racing with questions, I have some good news for you. And that good news is that you are not the first to have such push back and questions. As a matter of fact, as Paul concludes this section of this letter, we see several timeless questions and push backs addressed. So let’s look at them together, beginning in Romans 3:1:

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.

In these verses, we see the Apostle Paul respond to the first question and objection raised by those who were attempting to defend that they could live life as though we can achieve religious excellence. For the Jewish person, the question was “what advantage is there for being a Jewish person that identified with the Jewish religious system?” In our culture today, this question might look something like this: “Well if going to church and reading my Bible or going to youth group does not make me right with God, then what is the point of going? What advantage or benefit do I get by going to church or youth group or reading my Bible?”

Paul responds to this objection formed in a question by stating that the benefit and advantage of identifying and involving one in church is great in every respect. He then explains that first off, that the Jewish people were entrusted with the revelation and the promises of God that are recorded for us in the Bible. They were entrusted with God’s kingdom promises and with a kingdom mission to reveal and reflect God to the world. And in the same way today, we have been entrusted with God’s promises that are contained in the Bible and with a kingdom mission to be the vehicle that He uses to reveal Jesus to the world. And when we spend time involved in times or corporate worship, community groups, and Bible reading and prayer, we are creating space for God to enter into our lives and do what only He can do to transform our lives.

Now a natural objection that may arise here is “well you are talking about God’s promise and God’s mission, but not everyone buys into God’s promise and God’s mission. So what does that say about God?” You are not the first person to have that objection, as we see in Romans 3:3-4:

What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, "THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED."

If this objection was to be raise today in the language that we use in our culture, this objection would sound something like this: “doesn’t the unfaithfulness and selfish rebellion and sin of the Jewish people diminish the confident trust that we can have in God to remain faithful to His promises?” Paul responds to this objection with the strongest negative response that is possible in the language that this letter was originally written in. At Wal-Mart this objection might sound like this: No bleeping Way!!

Instead of accusing God of not being faithful to keeping His promises, Paul states that the Jewish people’s unfaithfulness proves that God is totally truthful and honest when it comes to His promises. The Apostle then backs his response by quoting from a section of a letter in our Bibles, called the book of Psalms. In Psalm 51:4, King David exclaims that “Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge”. Paul’s point here is that the selfish and sinful rebellion of the religious Jewish person and of religious people throughout history serves as evidence that proves that God is right and will be proven to be right against those who would accuse God of being unfaithful to His promises.

But that leads us to another possible objection doesn’t it? We see this objection revealed for us in Romans 3:5-8. Let’s look at it together:

But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), "Let us do evil that good may come "? Their condemnation is just.

If this objection was to be raise today in the language that we use in our culture, this objection would sound something like this: “If the fact that I have a problem with God that makes me not right and odds with God reveals that God is right, then why does God punish me? I mean I make God look good when I am rebelling against Him. For God to punish me for making Him look good just does not seem to be right”. Once again, Paul responds to this objection with the strongest negative response that is possible; No bleeping Way!! Paul then turns this question on its head by explaining that the fact that God is right and just and true enables Him to engage in judging all of humanity at the end of God’s story here on earth.

And as often can occur in a trial, in the midst of an air tight argument by an attorney on one side, the attorney on the other side asks a question that shoots themselves and their client in the foot. In verse 7, we see that question. In our culture today this question would be phrased this way: “If my selfish rebellion and sin serves to reveal God’s truth and faithfulness in a way that enhances God’s reputation, then why does He insist on saying I have a problem with Him? As a matter of fact, what God should do is allow me to be more selfish, sinful, and rebellious so that His reputation of truth and faithfulness would be enhanced even more?”

Well that makes sense, doesn’t it? Really? In our culture today we call that kind of thinking nonsense. We would call that kind of thinking stinking thinking. And we would smack a person upside the head who though that way and call them an idiot, wouldn’t we? That makes no sense. Paul responded by simply saying that there condemnation is just. In other words, God’s right and just response to their selfish rebellion and sin is just and deserved, because they have a problem with God. And in the same way today, we are guilty when we live life as though we can achieve religious excellence based on the evidence of our attempts to justify our failure. Our attempts to justify our failure to achieve religious excellence by questioning God’s truthfulness, faithfulness, or justice only serve to provide further evidence of our guilt when it comes to having a problem with God.

So this morning, do you consider yourself a religious person? Do you believe that you can live life as though you can achieve religious excellence?

Religious Guilt Based on a Lack of Inner Change...

This week, we are looking at a section of a letter in our Bibles where Paul addresses whether or not those who consider themselves religious are guilty of having a problem when it comes to a relationship with God. Yesterday, we saw Paul reveal for us the timeless evidence that we are guilty of living as though we an achieve religious excellence based on the evidence of our actions. We discovered that the religious person who finds themselves riding the roller coaster of pride and despair as a result of their efforts to keep the list of all the things they need to do to be right with God and their failure to keep that list by their selfish and sinful actions that reveals the reality that they are guilty when they try to live life as though they can achieve religious excellence. Paul then continues by revealing a second piece of evidence that proves our guilt when we try to live life as though we can achieve religious excellence in Romans 2:25-29:

For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Now to understand what the Apostle Paul is trying to communicate here, we first need to understand what circumcision is and its significance to the Jewish people. Circumcision is a surgical procedure that involves removing the foreskin from the male genitals with a surgical knife, or in this case, a knife made of stone. The reason that circumcision was so significant was that circumcision was a covenant sign that identified the Jewish people as being God’s people. Circumcision was an outward sign was done in order to demonstrate an inward commitment and relationship to God.

Paul then takes this outward action that served as identification and explains that this identification was only beneficial if the person who was circumcised also observed and kept the Law. However, if the person who was circumcised violated the Law through selfish rebellion and sin, it was as though that person had never been circumcised. In other words, this outward action by a person that identified someone as being right with God was of no benefit if the person failed to keep the Law that they were identifying with.

In verse 26, Paul contrasts the religious Jewish person with a person who did not keep the Jewish rules when it came to circumcision. Paul explains that “if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision”? But what does that mean? When Paul uses the word regarded here, this word is an accounting term that means to be calculated or looked upon. Paul’s point here is that the person who does not outwardly identify themselves as being religious and therefore right with God, and yet continually keeps the requirements of the Law, will be looked upon or calculated by God as being right with God.

In verse 27, Paul then reveals the reality that we will not be judged by our identification, but our actions. So often religious people are focused on identification. And we judge others by what church or denomination they attend, what music they listen to, what translation of the Bible they read, or how they participate in worship. And while religious people tend to judge by identification, Paul explains that God judges us by a different standard. And it is this standard that provides the second piece of evidence that proves our guilty when we try to live life as though we can achieve religious excellence. And that piece of evidence is that we are guilty based on the evidence of a lack of inner change.

The timeless reality is that all of our attempts to identify with God through religious affiliation and activity does absolutely nothing to address the selfishness and rebellion that plagues our inner condition. If Paul was here today, he might paint this word picture to describe what religious people attempt to do when it comes to identification and activity: You can put lipstick on a pig, but at the end of the day it is still a pig.

And that is the word picture that Paul paints for us in verses 28-29. For the Jewish person who through the outward act of circumcision attempted to identified themselves as being a part of the Jewish religious system that was right with God, their external act of identification did not result in a right relationship or standing with God. What did result in being identified as having a right standing and relationship with God was something internally, which Paul refers to as a circumcision of the heart. In other words, it is when one’s heart is bent towards God and following God that results in the reality that we are identified as being in right relationship with God.

Paul then explains that this inward, or hidden from sight bending of our heart toward God and following God cannot be achieved by keeping any list or by anything that we do. It is God’s activity, through the power of the Holy Spirit that serves to circumcise our hearts and brings us to the place where we are identified as being in the relationship with God that we were created for.

Paul then explains that while the religious person’s activity results in recognition and approval from men, it does not result in recognition and approval from the One who really matters, which is God. Paul’s point here is that the recognition and approval that comes from God as a result of being in relationship with God only comes as a result of God’s activity in our lives that transforms our hearts.

Maybe you are reading this and you have always looked at your relationship with God through the lens of a “do good be good” mentality.” If I just do good then I will be good with God. If I just attend church and do the right religious activities and keep the list then I will be good with God”. Paul’s point here is that it is not what we do for God that makes us good with God; it is what God does for us that makes us good with God.

Now at about this point, if you consider yourself a religious person, you may be finding that you are pushing back pretty hard right about now. You may find yourself having some serious objections right about now. If you find yourself in that place, or you find your mind racing with questions, I have some good news for you. And that good news is that you are not the first to have such push back and questions. As a matter of fact, as Paul concludes this section of this letter, we see several timeless questions and push backs addressed. We will look at those questions and objections tomorrow.

In the meantime, do you find yourself judging others by their religious identification? And do you think that religious identification results in change or transformation?

Religious Guilt Based on the Evidence of our Actions...

This week, we are looking at a section of a letter in our Bibles where Paul addresses whether or not those who consider themselves religious are guilty of having a problem when it comes to a relationship with God. Yesterday, we saw Paul reveal for us the timeless reality that we are guilty when live life as though we can achieve religious excellence. In Romans 2:21-3:8, we see the Apostle Paul, like an excellent prosecuting attorney, reveal three pieces of evidence to prove that we are guilty when we live life as though we can achieve religious excellence. We see first piece of evidence revealed for us in Romans 2:21-24. Let’s look at those verses together:

you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? For "THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written.

In these verses, we see the Apostle Paul ask those who would consider themselves religious a string of questions designed to reveal the first piece of evidence that proves our guilt when we try to live life as though we can achieve religious excellence. And that first piece of evidence is that we are guilty based on the evidence of our actions. Paul turns to the Jewish religious person and asks “as a religious person who finds security and well being in the list of rules and behaviors you keep and who teaches others that they must follow your list of behaviors to be right with God; as a religious person who critically examines and judges others based on the list that you keep; I have a question. Do you keep your own list?"

Paul then focuses on four of the Ten Commandments that are contained in the Law or Torah: the 8th commandment which is Do not steal; the 7th commandment which is do not commit adultery; and the first two commandments which involve idolatry, which is worshipping something other than God as God. Paul is asking “have you ever broken one of these rules on your list of what it means to be religiously right with God?” And for the Jewish religious person, to violate one of these commandments would be to break the very list that they boasted or took pride in. To violate one of these commandments would undercut the very well being or security that this list was supposed to provide them when it came to their relationship with God.

And for the Jewish religious person, to violate one of these commandments would deprive God of the honor or respect that He deserved. Paul exposes that reality for the Jewish religious person in verse 24 by quoting a section of a letter found in Ezekiel 36:16-20. In this section of the Bible, the prophet Ezekiel condemns the Jewish people for living lives that failed to follow the Law and resulted in the non-Jewish nations that surrounded them viewing God as no different than the false gods that they worshipped. Instead, these non-Jewish nations spoke of God in a very demeaning and denigrating way. And in the same way today, when we try to live a life as though we can achieve religious excellence based on what we do for God, we end up depriving God of the honor or respect He deserves.

You see a religious person who bases their security and well being with God on what they do for God inevitably ends up in one of two places, pride or despair. When the religious is keeping his list and judging others based on his list, he becomes spiritually proud and arrogant. And this spiritual pride and arrogance deprives God of the honor or respect He deserves. When the religious person fails to keep his list that he takes such pride in, the result is despair. Despair because they are unable to keep the list, they are unable to do what it takes to be right with God. And their failure to keep their list results in God being deprived of the honor and respect He deserves.

Maybe you consider yourself a religious person and you can totally relate to what you just read. You find yourself riding the roller coaster of pride and despair as a result of your efforts to keep the list of all the things you need to do to be right with God. And it is the failure to keep that list by our selfish and sinful actions that reveals the reality that we are guilty when we try to live life as though we can achieve religious excellence.

Paul then continues by revealing a second piece of evidence that proves our guilt when we try to live life as though we can achieve religious excellence in Romans 2:25-29. We will look at that piece of evidence tomorrow.

In the meantime, does your religious actions match your religious list?

Are You Religious?

As a church, we are in the middle of a sermon series entitled “Trial”. During this series, we have been looking at a section of a letter that is recorded for us in our Bibles that gives us a glimpse into a trial that occurred 2,000 years ago. This trial involved a case that was brought against humanity by the Apostle Paul on behalf of God.

So far, we have seen Paul provide timeless and true charges against those who leave God out and live as though He does not exist and those who try to live as though they can achieve moral excellence. This week, we will enter back into this section of this letter in our Bibles, called the Book of Romans, where we see Paul address another group of people as to whether or not they are guilty of having a problem when it comes to a relationship with God, beginning in Romans 2:17:

But if you bear the name "Jew " and rely upon the Law and boast in God, and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,

Paul begins this section of his letter to a first century church located in Rome by describing what we would call in our culture today a religious person. And it is in this description that we see Paul reveal several timeless characteristics that make up what we would call a religious person. First, we see that religious people tend to readily identify themselves as being religious. We see this today, don’t we? “I am a Buddhist or I am a Muslim, or I am a Baptist or I am a Methodist or I am catholic”. What religious people tend to do is identify themselves with their particular religious system and methodology of what they believe that they need to do to get right with God instead of identifying themselves as being in a relationship with God.

Second, we see that religious people often tend to base their well being or security when it comes to their relationship with God in their religious system or works. Paul reveals the reality that for the religious Jewish person, their security and well being was found in the Law. The Law is the first five books that we have in our Bibles today, which the Jewish people called the Law or Torah. And for the Jewish religious person, they boasted, they took pride in the belief that their well being and security was founded in following and keeping the Law. And in the same way today, religious people will often take pride and find security and well being from doing something for God. For the religious person, it is what we do for God that makes us right with God.

Third, we see that religious people often claim to have the ability and right to critically examine and judge the religious behavior of others. Have you ever met such a person? You know the religious person who comes alongside you and has a list of all that they believe one needs to do to be right with God. They will tell you that you need to be doing this and not doing that and will point out all the things that you should have on your list that you don’t have on your list. And then a group of religious people will get together and criticize one another about who has the better or right list. For the Jewish religious person, the list was the Law.

Fourth, we see Paul reveal for us the reality that religious people often are convinced that their religious system or list is the road map to God. By jumping through these hoops and by doing these works you can arrive at a destination or place where you are enlightened and right with God. And because of this confident self assuredness in this list, the religious person views themselves as having the right and responsibility to expose the foolishness and immaturity of those who do not follow their list or religious system. For the Jewish religious person, it was their right and responsibility to convince others, as they were convinced and so sure of themselves that keeping and doing what the Law required would make a person right with God. And in the same way today, religious people are convinced and compelled to keep and have others keep their list of activities and actions that result in us being right with God.

Have I just described you? Do you find yourself identifying more with religious system and methodology of how to get right with God than being in relationship with God? Do you base your well being or security when it comes to your relationship with God by what you do for God? Do you claim to have the ability and right to critically examine and judge the religious behavior of others based on the list that you keep? Are you convinced that your list of what you do for God is the road map that can help people become right with God? If, so you are a religious person.

Now you might be offended by that statement and you may be thinking to yourself, "Well are you saying that I have a problem with God because I am religious? I do all the things that I am supposed to; I go to church; I give; I serve; I do all these things so I can be right with God. So are you saying that I guilty of having a problem with God?"

As Paul continues in this section of this letter, we see him answer this question and reveal for us the timeless reality that we are guilty when live life as though we can achieve religious excellence. In Romans 2:21-3:8, we see the Apostle Paul, like an excellent prosecuting attorney, reveal three pieces of evidence to prove that we are guilty when we live life as though we can achieve religious excellence.

Tomorrow, we will look at the first piece of evidence that serves to prove we are guilty when we live as though we can achieve religious excellence.

In the meantime, do you consider yourself a religious person?

The Evidence of Our Conscience...

Yesterday, we looked at a section in our Bibles that provided a second piece of evidence that proved we are guilty of having a problem with God when we live as though we can achieve moral excellence. We discovered that it is our inferior standards that serve as evidence of our guilt when it comes to the problem we have with God. The harsh truth is that, at the end of the day, there is only one standard that matters when it comes to good. And that standard of good is God’s standard. And God’s standard of good is perfection.

Paul then provides a third piece of evidence that proves that we are guilty when we try to live life as though we can achieve moral excellence. We see this evidence revealed for us in Romans 2:12-16. Let’s look at it together:

For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

To understand what the Apostle Paul is communicating in these verses, we first need to define some terms. Sin here refers to acts of commission and omission that are committed against God and others that flow from our selfish rebellion against God and the word of God. The Law here refers to the first five books in our Bibles today, which was called the Law or the Torah. Paul’s point is that everyone who is guilty of selfish rebellion and sin will experience a life that is eternally separated from God in Hell. Regardless of whether or not a person was raised in the church or not; regardless of whether or not a person participated in an organized religious system that had rules or not; a person who out of their selfishness and rebellion hurts God and others will be found guilty upon Jesus return and will experience God’s just and right response as a result of their guilt.

Now a natural and almost immediate objection to this statement by Paul is “well that does not seem fair or just. How can God judge someone when they did not know the standard? How can someone who never read the Bible be judged and experience the same punishment as the person who has read the Bible? Paul provides the answer this objection by stating “for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.” The word just here means to meet the standards that make us right with God. The word justified here, in the language that this letter was originally written in, literally means to be declared not guilty.

Paul’s point here is that it is not reading or hearing the Bible that enables us to meet the standards that make us right with God. Instead, it is obedience to the message and the commands of the Bible that enable us to be declared not guilty and right with God. You see obedience matters. This morning, it is not church attendance or Bible memorization that makes you right with God; it is faithfully following the message and teachings of the Bible that cause us to be right with God.

Now you might be thinking “You just dodged my objection. What about those who never have seen or heard about the Bible? How can God judge them and find them guilty? What about the pygmy in Africa who never heard about the Bible or Jesus?” Notice what Paul states next in verses 14-16:

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

Here we see the Apostle Paul explain that when those who have never read the Bible or attend church naturally live their lives by a code of conduct or standard that reflects the message and the teachings of the Bible, they are a Law to themselves. In other words, the natural impulse of humanity to live according to a similar code of conduct or a standard serves to reveal the internal presence of God’s Law or standard within their lives.

Did you know that humanity throughout history, across all cultures and continents has been guided by similar set of laws and standards? Without communicating with one another cultures and societies throughout the world share a common belief that certain activities and behaviors are just plain wrong. For example, it is universally viewed wrong to sleep with someone else’s wife. Something within every culture and every human says “that’s just not right”. Similarly, universally it is viewed as being wrong to steal from someone. It is just not right. By contrast, there are universal actions that are viewed as being positive and good. For example, the person who risks his life to save another is viewed in a positive light as doing something that is good across all cultures.

And it is this intuitive and natural sense of good and evil that is universally present in humanity that reveals the reality of God’s existence and revelation. When Paul uses the phrase “they show the work of the Law written in their hearts” in verse 15, he is revealing for us the reality that God has revealed and made known the existence of His standards of moral excellence in every human being. God has written His moral Law on the hearts of all humanity. Paul then explains that it is the conscience that provides the practical proof that God has written His moral law on the hearts of all humanity. The conscience is ones inward faculty of distinguishing right and wrong.

And it is here we see Paul provide the third piece of evidence to prove that we are guilty when we live life as though we can achieve moral excellence. And that third piece is that we are guilty based on the evidence of our consciences. Every human being has a conscience that serves to either accuse or defend our actions. And while we can ignore our conscience; while we can suppress our conscience; and while we can even harden our conscience to the point that people would think that we have no conscience, at some point in all of our lives we have sensed our consciences activity in our lives.

At some point in our lives, we have responded to a situation or engaged in an activity that was good and honorable and felt our consciences affirmation of our actions. And at some point in our lives, we have responded to a situation or engaged in an activity that violated God’s moral law that was written on our hearts, which resulted in us having what- “a guilty conscience”. This is what Paul is referring to when he uses the phrase our consciences bearing witness.

Paul’s point here is that regardless of the level of our exposure to the claims of Christ or the message and teachings of the Bible, our consciences testify and provide evidence of our guilt when we live life as though we can achieve moral excellence. You see, when Jesus Christ returns, all of humanity will stand before Him. Whether the American who listens to Christian radio and podcasts and has five Bibles scattered around their home, or the Pygmy who lives in the jungles of Africa, all will stand before Jesus to give an account of their lives. And as all humanity stands before Jesus, Paul reveals the reality that God will judge the secrets of men through Christ. And it will be our consciences that will testify as to our guilt or innocence when it comes to whether or not we achieved moral excellence.

For the Pygmy who lived in the jungle of Africa, they will be judged based on the amount of revelation they received when it came to God’s existence and standards. They will be judged based on how they responded to the law of God that was written on their hearts. If they lived a life that perfectly followed that internal standard as testified by their conscience, they will be declared not guilty. However, if they selfishly rebelled against God’s law that was written in their hearts, their conscience will testify against them the moment it happened and again when they stand before Jesus. And it is the testimony of the conscience that will provide the evidence of their guilt.

You see, God is perfectly just and right. He treats everybody the same way. Everyone will be held accountable based on the amount of revelation about God they received. For those who never read a Bible or heard the message of the gospel, they will be held accountable for how they respond to God’s general revelation of Himself through the creation and through their conscience. For those who have received God’s special revelation in the form of the Bible and exposure to the claims of Christ and the message of the gospel throughout history, they will be responsible for their response to the message and the teachings of the Bible. And the standard is the same for all perfection.

So do you consider yourself a good moral person who strives to live life according to a code of conduct? Do you try to live life as though you can achieve moral excellence? How are you doing? Have you violated that code of conduct yourself? How strong is your code of conduct? Does it require perfection? Have you ever suffered from a guilty conscience?

Because, the timeless reality is that we are guilty when we live life as though we can achieve moral excellence. We are guilty based on the evidence of our own violations of the standards we set for others. We are guilty based on the evidence of our inferior standards. And we are guilty based on the evidence of our own consciences. And if we are guilty, then we have a problem when it comes to our relationship with God. A problem that needs a solution. A problem that requires rescue. A problem that requires responding to the gospel.

Lowering the Bar When it Comes to Our Standards...

Yesterday, we looked at whether or not a person who describes themselves as a good moral person has a problem with God. We saw the Apostle Paul reveal for us that the person who is a moralist, the person who believes that they are a good moral person, has no excuse that they can use to avoid being found guilty of having a problem when it comes to having a relationship with God. And that problem is that we are guilty when we live life as though we can achieve moral excellence. We are guilty of having a problem when it comes to our relationship with God when we believe that our lives achieve a moral excellence that God will approve of. And in Romans 2:1-16, like any good prosecuting attorney, Paul provides three pieces of evidence to prove that we are guilty when we live life as though we can achieve moral excellence.

First, Paul provided the evidence that we are guilty based on the evidence of our own violations. The moralist provides evidence that they are guilty because they violate the very code of conduct that they attempt to live by and use to pass unfavorable judgments upon others. At the end of the day, however, humanity will be judged by God's absolute standards, not the moralists standards. And it is God’s just and right verdict to selfishness, sin, and rebellion that Paul turns to in order to provide a second piece of evidence that proves that we are guilty when we try to live life as though we can achieve moral excellence. We see this evidence revealed for us in Romans 2:6-11. Let’s look at it together:

who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.

Here we see Paul explain that at the end of God’s story here on earth, when Jesus returns to earth to defeat selfishness, sin, and death, all of humanity will be judged according to their deeds. Paul then reveals for us the standard that God will apply when it comes to judging what He sees from our lives. For those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, they will receive the reward of experiencing life in the relationship with God that we were created for in heaven for all eternity.

In other words, to experience the relationship with God that you were created for in Heaven for all eternity, a person must be devoted and driven by the desire to live a life of good that achieves a status and standard that is worthy of recognition and is not subject to corruption and decay. And not only must they achieve that status, they must persevere in maintaining that status. They must possess the capacity to hold out and bear up in the face of all the difficulties that come with trying to achieve and maintain that status and standard. For the person who achieves and maintains a status and standard of good, Paul explains that they will receive glory and honor and peace. The good person will receive the honor and a state of well being that comes from being at peace with God as a result of achieving such a high status and standard. And the honor and peace that will be experienced as a result of God’s just and right response to meeting His standard will be experienced rightly and justly by everyone who meets that standard. Regardless of social, cultural, ethnic, or economic status, all who meet God’s standards will receive God’s just and fair response to our good moral life. You see, there is no partiality with God. God does not play favorites, but judges everyone with perfect justice.

However, for those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, they will receive wrath and indignation. In other words, the person who lives a life that is driven by selfishness and that chooses to rebel and reject God and the truth about God in order to embrace a life and lifestyle that is at odds with God and opposes God will experience God’s rightful indignation and just and right response to such rebellion and sin. And the trouble and distress that will be experienced as a result of God’s just and right response to our rebellion will be experienced rightly and justly by everyone who is guilty. Regardless of social, cultural, ethnic, or economic status, all who are found guilty of failing to meet God’s standards will receive God’s just and fair response of punishment for our guilt. You see, there is no partiality with God. God does not play favorites, but judges everyone with perfect justice.

Now maybe you would describe yourself as a good moral person and you just need the goal to strive for. And you are wondering “well what is the standard that Paul is talking about here? What does good look like?” Great question and the answer is simple; perfection. In other words, from God’s perspective, a good moral person must live a perfect life. And it is here where we see Paul provide the second piece of evidence to prove that we are guilty when we live life as though we can achieve moral excellence. And that second piece is that we are guilty based on the evidence of our inferior standards.

You see, while we may consider ourselves good moral people, no one usually sets perfection as the standard to strive for when it comes to moral excellence. We do not set that standard because we intuitively recognize that it is unreachable. And whether or not you buy into the Jesus, Bible, church thing, our culture readily recognizes this reality. We even have a phrase that we use to acknowledge this reality, don’t we: “Well nobody’s perfect”. And because of this reality, we instead choose to set an inferior standard to strive for in an effort to achieve what we would consider moral excellence. However, the harsh truth is that, at the end of the day, there is only one standard that matters when it comes to good. And that standard of good is God’s standard. And God’s standard of good is perfection.

The reality is that you do not need forgiveness or rescue if you live a perfect life. So if you live a perfect life then you do not need Jesus. It is as simple as that. Now before you scream heresy, let me ask you a question: How do you think Jesus got into Heaven? You see, the reason that Jesus was able to enter into Heaven was because He lived a perfect life, isn’t it? Jesus was fully human and lived a perfect sinless life, which enabled Him to allow Himself to be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful lives so that God the Father could treat us as though we lived Jesus perfect life. Jesus Himself proved that you just need to be perfect to get into Heaven.

Now here is the question: Are you perfect? Or have you lowered the bar when it comes to how you measure moral excellence? Because it is our inferior standards that serve as evidence of our guilt when it comes to the problem we have with God. Paul concludes this section of his letter by proving a third piece of evidence that proves that we are guilty when we try to live life as though we can achieve moral excellence. We will look at that third piece of evidence tomorrow.

In the meantime, how strong is the standard that you set for yourself when it comes to morality? Does your standard match God's standard?

Trying To Live As Though We Can Achieve Moral Excellence...

We have been looking at a section of a letter in the Bible that gives us a glimpse into a trial that occurred 2,000 years ago. This trial involved a case that was brought against humanity by the Apostle Paul on behalf of God. Last week we saw the Apostle Paul provide for us a timeless and true charge that we are guilty when we leave God out and live as though He does not exist.

We ended our time together by recognizing that some would respond to Paul’s charge by thinking “Well Dave I am not like those people. I don’t ignore God, I just believe that I am a good moral person and because I am a good moral person I don’t have a problem with God. So, am I guilty?” So this week, as we continue in this series, let’s enter back into this section of this letter in our Bibles, called the Book of Romans, where we see Paul address and answer this question, beginning in Romans 2:1. Let’s look at it together:

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

Paul begins this section of his letter to the members of the church at Rome by addressing what we would call in our culture today a moralist. A moralist is a person that believes that they do not have a problem when it comes to having a relationship with God because they are good, moral people who live according to specific code of conduct or standards. And it is this code of conduct and standards that a moralist lives by that they use to judge others. When Paul uses the phrase passes judgment, this phrase literally means to pass an unfavorable judgment upon the lives and actions of other people. In other words, a person who views themselves as a good moral person will base their opinion on the fact that they have a code of conduct and standards that they follow and use to justify why they are a better person than others. The moral person’s life is often marked by comparison. “I am a better and more moral person than other people, because I have a code of conduct that I believe in that other people do not follow”.

However, notice Paul’s response to the moralist: you have no excuse. In other words, the person who is a moralist, the person who believes that they are a good moral person, has no excuse that they can use to avoid being found guilty of having a problem when it comes to having a relationship with God. And here we see the Apostle Paul provide for us a timeless and true charge as to whether or not we are guilty of having a problem when it comes to our relationship with God. And that timeless and true charge is that we are guilty when we live life as though we can achieve moral excellence. We are guilty of having a problem when it comes to our relationship with God when we believe that our lives achieve a moral excellence that God will approve of. And in Romans 2:1-16, like any good prosecuting attorney, Paul provides three pieces of evidence to prove that we are guilty when we live life as though we can achieve moral excellence.

First, Paul charges that we are guilty based on the evidence of our own violations. Paul explains that we have no excuse that we can use to deny that we are guilty because in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you who judge practice the same things. If Paul was writing this letter in the language that we use in our culture today, this phrase would sound something like this: “You have no defense when it comes to your behavior. As a matter a fact, your own code of conduct that you use to unfavorably judge other people’s behavior is the very evidence that proves your guilt. You are guilty because you do not even live according to the code of conduct that you use to judge others. You do not even practice what you preach”.

In verse 2, Paul then contrasts the hypocritical and judgmental attitude of the moralist with the judgment of God. When Paul uses the phrase the judgment of God rightly falls, this phrase literally means truthfully of rightly. In other words, unlike the subjective and debatable standards of the moralist, God’s standard of truth does not waver. All of humanity will be judged by God’s absolute truth. And because of this reality, Paul exposes the moralist to two timeless implications that flow from their attempt to achieve moral excellence through a code of conduct.

First, Paul exposes the moralist to the timeless implications of their failure to live according to their own code of conduct. Because, if you believe that you are a good moral person based on the code of conduct that you use to pass unfavorable judgment upon the lives and actions of others, then where does that leave you when you violate your code of conduct? Do you view yourself as a good moral person who strives to live life by a code of conduct? Do you violate that code of conduct yourself? Because if you sit in judgment and pronounce guilt upon those who fail to live according to your list of what makes a good moral person, then what happens to you when you fail to live up to your own list?

Second, in verse 4, Paul exposes the moralist to the timeless implications of misunderstanding God’s gracious kindness. When Paul uses the phrase “think lightly”, this phrase literally means to look down on someone or something with contempt as being of little value. What the moralist has a tendency to look at with contempt is God’s gracious and beneficial act of bearing up and putting up with humanity as we continually selfishly rebel against and reject God. The moralist does not deal well with immoral behavior; they are provoked to pass negative judgment swiftly on those who do not follow their code of conduct. And in their mind, it is contemptible and of little benefit to extend grace to anyone who fails to meet their standards.

Paul then exposes the moralist to the reality that they are ignorant and uniformed as to why God extends such gracious tolerance. The reason that God so graciously bears up and puts up with selfish rebellion and sin is because is so that people would respond with repentance. Paul’s point here is that while the moralist views God’s gracious patience with contempt, God’s gracious patience is divinely designed to provide the opportunity for people to recognize their selfishness and sin and respond by turning a life that was running away from God back toward God.

In verse 5, Paul explains that the very fact that the moralist views God’s gracious patience and tolerance with contempt reveals the reality of their own hard and rebellious heart that refuses to turn away from their code of conduct and turn towards God. And it is this hard heart and rebellious attitude of the moralist that results in the moralist experiencing God’s just and right response to selfish rebellion and sin. The day of wrath refers to the end of God’s story here on earth, when Jesus will return to earth to defeat selfishness, sin, and death and will judge all of humanity based on His absolute standards, not the moralist standards.

And it is God’s just and right verdict to selfishness, sin, and rebellion that Paul turns to in order to provide a second piece of evidence that proves that we are guilty when we try to live life as though we can achieve moral excellence. We will look at that piece of evidence tomorrow.

In the meantime, are you trying to live as though you can achieve moral excellence? Do you find yourself violating a code of conduct that you attempt to live by and use to pass unfavorable judgments upon others?