Oopsie . . .
I forgot to do this yesterday. This week, our lesson covered Romans 2.
God's Judgment Upon:
1. The Self-righteous Romans 2:2-262. The Religious Romans 2:17-29
God is the righetous judge for all people. We will be judged according to the way that we have lived our lives, facing either eternal life or eternal wrath.
In this chapter, Paul is addressing a diverse group. Believing Gentiles, unbelieving & skeptical Jews, believing Jews, and unbelieving Gentiles. He pointed out why the Gospel was so needed in Ch. 1:18-3:20. It does'nt matter who we are, we are all under judgment.
*On the side, Nancy even commented that someone said "we can't even seem to get 'bad' right".
Though, never seem to give up with our sin stockpiling - we even have contempt for the graciousness, kindness and forebearance that the Lord has for us. We show this through our rebellion, our disobedience, and our love of sin.
God's judgement is righteous because:
1. It is based upon Truth/fact
Our own judgment is scarred with transgression. We cannot look inside the heart of another. We are only able to see externally. We are not to judge hearts, but we are to discern right from wrong & humbly approach our brethren when we see there are sins that need to be addressed.
2. It is based on guilt
Repentance is described as agreeing with God's assessment of sin, turning away from sin, and turning to righteousness.
3. It is based upon our deeds
God will give to each one according to what he/she has done. Wrath & indignation for those who rebel Him, and peace comfort and eternal life for those who seek the Truth.
Saving faith is never alone, it is always accompanied by good deeds. We are saved so we work - we are not saved through our works. Our deeds will exhibit salvation. The life of a Christian is a progressive one. I am not saying by any means that we eventually will become perfect, but we are in a journey forward, and it is an 'upward calling'.
5. It is based on impartiality
ch. 2:11 we see that God does not play favorites, but He judges according to His Truth.
6. Based on the light which we have
All people have the law. We are created with evidences of Him all around, there is no excuse. We have been given a conscience, with which we know, to some degree, what is right and what is wrong (and yet, I will fully agree that we should not rely on our consciences, they are stained with sin).
His punishment:
Punitive - based on whether or not we rejected Him
Evaluative - for those who have received Him- have we 'stored up our treasure in heaven'?
Outward observance without inward reality is empty religion.
~Be true children of God, True to Him, possessing a heart that is cirumcised from sin & separated unto God. ~
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