Studies in Romans

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Summary of ContentsOPENING REMARKS: 1:1-17BAD NEWS : Universality of sin and its condemnation 1:18 - 3:20GOOD NEWS : A gospel that changes our relationship to God 3:21- 5:21HOW TO GROW AS A CHRISTIAN : 6:1- 8-39

Sanctification 6:1-23The Place of the Law 7:1-25Life in the Spirit 8:1-39

A SHORT DETOUR : Questions concerning Israel 9:1-11:36HOW A CHRISTIAN OUGHT TO LIVE : 12:1-15:13 In our various relationships 12:1-13:14 Dealing with the ‘weak’ and the ‘strong’ 14:1-15:13PAUL’S GENTILE MINISTRY, POLICY AND PLANS : 15:14-33GREETINGS AND CLOSING DOXOLOGY : 16:1-27

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Studies in RomansUniversality of Sin and its

Condemnation Chap.1v18 – 3v20

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Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20

IntroductionThis section of Romans [1.18-3.20] can be thought of as a courtroom scene and Paul, the prosecuting counsel, is making his case against the defendants. Thus far he has reviewed the response of the Gentile world to God’s general revelation of himself within the created order. A knowledge that the Gentiles suppressed resulting in a whole variety of consequences.We may imagine many Jewish hearers cheering Paul on. This is the kind of thing they liked to hear. ‘Yes! heathen idolaters deserve God’s judgement.’ But then another group of defendants are called to the bar – the Jews themselves!

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Studies in RomansBad News for the Jews

2.1-16

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Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20

Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16The Jews Believed in Judgement for Others.When men and women say they believe in judgement what they often mean is that they believe in judgement for others. They felt safe on one side of the fence looking out at the failure of the Gentiles. Indeed many Jews believed that judgement Applied exclusively to the pagan world.

Paul explodes this myth. In 2.1-16 he presents his case against the 'good moral Jew'. Again he does so because he knows that the gospel will only appeal to the man who recognises his need of it.

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Many assume that recognising the value of God’s moral law separates them from the worst of men. They become self-appointed, finger pointing judges. But, ‘people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.’ By judging others they recognise that certain types of behaviour are wrong. But are they able to live according to their own standards? No!Clearly such people cannot then claim they ‘had no idea that what you were doing was wrong.’ Paul says , ‘At whatever point you are judging another, you are condemning yourself.' The sins that men most loudly condemn in others are often the very sins that they themselves commit.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20

Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement 1. Knowing what is right is no substitute for obedience v1-3.

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The patience of God is one of his most misunderstood attributes. When men act wickedly and are not immediately punished, they become complacent thinking either, that God's judgement is an exaggerated claim, or that his standards are not very high. Illustration: a child is told by his parent that a certain type of behaviour will be punished? He begins to behave badly, always with one eye on the parent. If he is not immediately punished he is more bold in his naughty behaviour. He no longer takes the threat seriously. But when the parent decides he has been patient long enough and administers punishment the child is bewildered. He has misread the signals and foolishly misunderstood patience for complacency.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20

Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement 1. Knowing what is right is no substitute for obedience v1-3.

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Now that is precisely how men react towards God. God is not a God of immediate justice. Instead of thanking him for that and blessing him that he gives us time to repent of our sin we plunge deeper and deeper into disobedience. Such a man, says Paul, is storing up wrath for the day of God's judgement. God’s wrath, that man has begun to persuade himself does not exist, will one day be revealed. Queen Anne of Austria said on one occasion, to Cardinal Richlieu, 'My Lord Cardinal, God does not pay at the end of the week but at last he pays'.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20

Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement 2. God’s patience is designed to produce repentance. v4

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This statement is often misunderstood. Paul is not suggesting that salvation can be earned. It is a principle of judgement and not a basis for salvation that is in view here. And God’s judgement is not arbitrary. We are all accountable to God for our behaviour. The day of judgement must not be confused with a trial. In a trial the judge hears the evidence before Deciding on a verdict. But God will announce the Verdicts and sentence he has already determined. This is the significance of the phrase in v5, ‘God's righteous judgement will be revealed’.

This judge has a perfect knowledge of the character and history of all who stand before him.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement. 3. God judges every man according to his works. v5-6

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While God will judge all men, the outcome of that judgement is not similar. Indeed, it separates men into two clearly defined groups. [cf. Matt 25:32].

While Paul's principal aim is to paint a black backcloth with all men standing guilty before the bar of God's justice, there are occasions when gleams of gospel light break through. Paul cannot speak of the great day of God's judgement without indicating that men will be separated into two categories; the ‘just’ are mentioned in v7, and 10, the ‘wicked’ in v8-9.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement 3. God judges every man according to his works. v5-6

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Paul anticipates two groups of people who will stand before God

Those who seek ‘glory, honour and immortality’ v7

Those who are self-seeking and who ‘reject the truth and follow evil’ v8

Those made God-centred by the gospel

Those who remain self-centred by turning their back on God.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement 3. God judges every man according to his works. v5-6

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The just are those who seek ‘glory, honour and immortality’. These are the aspirations of godly men. The believer's great expectation is that of ‘glory’; to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus. The word ‘honour’ focuses upon the desire of the believer for God's approval, despite the reproach of men. God's words, 'Well done good and faithful servant' [Matt 25.21] means more to him that all the plaudits and honours that men can bestow. The word ‘immortality’ refers to nothing less than the resurrection hope of the people of God.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement 3. God judges every man according to his works. v5-6

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In v 10 two of these terms are picked up again, ‘glory, honour and peace for everyone who does good’. As we shall see later on, it is the gospel, and only the gospel, that makes a man good. In contrast the unbeliever is depicted as essentially self-centred. Having turned his back on God and rejected the truth about God and about his own condition, he is turned in upon himself. Such a person opens up their lives to a succession of evil. They too have their reward. They are exposed to God's wrath. As a result they experience distress of both mind and heart.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement 3. God judges every man according to his works. v5-6

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See also Lk.12: 47-48. God will not condemn anyone for failing to respond to light that they have not received. But what of those who have rejected the light they have received. They will be judged accordingly. The time is coming when they will discover that the One they have rejected will reject them. Cf. Jn. 3:17-18 'For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son’.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement 4. The greater the light, the greater the condemnation. v9.

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God has no favourites. The gods of the ancient Greek and Roman world did overlooking their wickedness and accepting their bribes. But the true God operates on strict principles of righteousness. No creature is beyond the reach of his justice, not even the highest angels. If fallen angels will be judged [2 Pet. 2:4] then no human will escape. Jews in Paul's day believed God used two different standards of judgement. A Jewish rabbi wrote: ‘God will judge the Gentiles with one measure and the Jews with another... All Israelites will have a part in the world to come... Abraham sits beside the gates of hell and does not permit any wicked Israelite to go through’.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement5. God shows no partiality in judgement.. v11.

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The scales of God’s justice are not loaded in favour of any people group. Because there is no favouritism with God, [2 Cor. 5:10, Rom. 14:12] the believing Jew will not experience greater bliss than the believing Gentile and the unbelieving Jew will not experience less severe condemnation than will the unbelieving Gentile.

Many retain the secret hope that God will not judge them too severely for they have somehow earned his favour. Paul blows this idea away. There is no plea bargaining or guaranteed immunity.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement 5. God shows no partiality in judgement.. v11.

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‘It is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.’

Paul is not suggesting that man can keep the law perfectly. Only Jesus has done that! His point is that possessing the law does not ensure that a man will keep it. The man who possesses the law, but does not obey it, will discover that mere possession has served no useful purpose. The Jews revelled in the fact that God had given the law to their nation as though possessing it was a kind of lucky charm that would keep them safe.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement. 6. Possession of the law doesn’t guarantee immunity from its sanctions. v13

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The pagan who has never heard of God's law has it written on his heart – he knows the difference between right and wrong. He has a conscience that passes judgement on his behaviour. Thus, 'all who sin apart from the law [the written law] will also perish apart from the law'.

They cannot argue, 'We were not possessors of God's written law, and therefore should be free from condemnation.' Their own consciences have already accused them of their failure.

Sin and its Condemnation 1.18 -3.20Bad News for the Jews 2.1-16Important Principles of Judgement. 6. Possession of the law doesn’t guarantee immunity from its sanctions. v13

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