ROMANS 2: RELIGION ON TRIAL

Religion on Trial
The verdict:  Guilty as Charged 

Romans 1:24-25:   Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.  

 1. God Judges Religious People too

Romans 2 (NKJV)

2:1 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. 

We are really good at casting our judgements on just about anyone who isn’t like us.  

Matthew 7:2 For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use.

God is going to hold us accountable to the same standard that we use when we interact with others.  

Condemnation has a way of boomeranging on us.  When we judge harshly, others will judge us harshly.  

And religious people can be the most condescending, backbiting, condemning, and  criticizing place on earth!  

Paul is underlining the words of Christ with this statement in Romans 2.

Romans 2:2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 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? 

4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

5 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, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

We can’t claim ignorance.   

In a court of law – Ignorance is not a defense! 

I broke the law and didn’t even know.  But it still makes me guilty.  I’m a snake murderer.  Guilty as charged.  My ignorance is no excuse.  

Ignorance of the Law does not make us free from judgement by the law. 

2. God reveals himself not just through Creation – but also in our conscience

12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.

3. It is not just who you are – it is what you do

17 Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, 18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.

21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.

Then Paul flips the coin and looks at the same point from the other side. 

4. It’s not just what you do – it is who you are

25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written codeand circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is oneoutwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Romans 3:10
There is no one righteous. Not one. 

And even though the bad news of His wrath is a reality, the good news of His love is just as real. 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.   – John 3:16

And when you surrender your heart to Jesus – by believing in Him, by trusting Him to save you, by confessing your sin and asking Him to save you, He will come into your life, forgive you of your sins, and rescue your soul.   

And when He does that, you become a child of God.   God no longer see you as guilty.  You have now been saved from His wrath through the blood of His son.  

Romans 5:8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2,000 years ago, on a hill called Mt Calvary – Jesus stepped between our guilt and the wrath of God.  He endured that wrath for us on a cruel rugged cross.  

And so the verdict comes down……….Innocent!!!   Innocent!   Innocent!!  

if there was ever a reason to praise the Lord Jesus – there it is!!   Praise Him for taking the wrath of God for you ,for stepping between you and that wrath, enduring the shame of the cross!   You are not guilty – because of what He’s done!!   

Praise Him today for what He’s done!!