Romans 2:1-4
January 21, 2024
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church of Ballincollig
www.biblebc.com
I. Introduction
A. Our memory verse this month… (Romans 2:4)
1. Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2. A powerful question!
3. Are people despising the goodness and forbearance and longsuffering of God?
4. Are we so ignorant that God is leading us to repent?
5. Is that even possible? Unfortunately yes!
B. In chapters 1 and 2, Paul Declares the wrath of God against all ungodliness
1. It is a FACT that God is angry at sin – a righteous wrath! (Romans 1:18-31)
2. Paul Lists so many evil things in that Scripture… 26 sins!
a. Un-thankfulness towards God – didn’t your mother teach you it is WRONG to not thank someone when they give you a gift? Un-thankfulness is a sin!
b. Pride
c. Idolatry
d. Lust towards sex of any kind (homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, living together when not married – Fornication, Adultery)
e. Wickedness – a lifestyle of wicked actions, and attitudes
f. Covetousness
g. Maliciousness
h. Full of envy
i. Murder
j. Debate
k. Deceit
l. Malignity – bad character
m. Whisperers
n. Backbiters
o. Haters of God
p. Despiteful
q. Proud
r. Boasters
s. Inventors of evil things
t. Disobedient to parents
u. Without understanding towards God
v. Covenantbreakers
w. Without natural affection
x. Implacable - hard
y. Unmerciful
3. No one would want to worship a God who WASN’T against these things
4. And no one is safe in a community that honours and promotes these things!
5. So, what is the problem?
C. Everyone knows about God’s future judgment of sin
D. But they don’t fear judgment – if people did, this world would be such a better place!
1. Romans 1:32 Who [PEOPLE WHO DO THE ABOVE SINFUL THINGS] knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
2. People not only do evil things, but actually enjoy people who sin out in the public eye – on TV, youtubes, TikTok’s
E. And instead, only excuse themselves, and judge OTHER people for wrong doings
1. Funny isn’t it?
2. That people who hate all those things when done against them, will do those same sins towards other people, and towards God Almighty!
a. No one hates stealing, more than a thief!
b. No one is angrier about being cheated on than someone who has cheated on their mate
3. We usually have a telescope to help us see other people’s wrongs – see the gnats
4. But are blind when we have our own sins rebuked and exposed! Choke on camels!
F. Judgment IS Coming
1. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment
2. Every man, woman and child will stand before God
3. But because God isn’t constantly judging and condemning and punishing sinful people from their sins, people don’t really care about how God feels about things
a. Example of a smoker – “I haven’t died yet!”
b. Example of a drinker – “I am as strong as an ox”, “I drink Guiness!”
c. Example of an angry man – “my wife would never leave me”
4. Oh, that is a dangerous way to live
5. Because during this time in their brief life, they are missing the only way to change – not just be saved from the wrath to come, but be changed here and now for good!
G. How Are We To React?
1. Some may say, “I am saved from the wrath of God. I got born again. I am fine, right?”
2. Romans 6:23 still applies… “the wages of sin is death”
3. Listen to Romans 2:1-4 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
4. You do those sins, and God will judge you! You will not escape… unless you repent!
II. Message
A. All Are Without Excuse (Romans 2:1)
1. Romans 2:1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2. Wow! Written directly to everyone reading this letter
3. “Without excuse” means no one can excuse their own sinfulness and sit in judgment of other people
a. The Jews were masters at this
1) They looked at Gentiles as sinners – and they were!
2) But they looked at themselves as so good, and so law-keeping
3) They were BLIND to the fact they were self-righteous, and neglecting over half of the laws of God, and in the end, were rejecting their own Messiah
4) Matthew 15:12-14 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
5) Leave them alone – they are blind to their own sins!
b. And our generation is no better!
1) We usually convince ourselves that we are not like other people
2) We want a God who will be fierce against someone’s wrong-doings – against THEIR sins, but who will understand and forgive OURS
3) We want a God who exposes corruption in government, but leaves those of us who voted for them, alone! Oh yeah!
4) We believe we really are better than others – especially modern Christians
c. We are guilty of such hypocrisy!
1) We ALL are doing what we say is wrong when done by other people
a) Lying – I hate liars
b) Laziness
c) Lusting
d) Loving this world - to different degrees
2) God is sick of Christians thinking they are not sinful themselves
d. Truth: All men and women sin against God, not just against each other
1) God's judgment against all sins is true – He is the definition, the pattern for goodness, and holiness, and purity
2) God's judgment is complete, because He is fully aware of all sides and He makes no mistakes
3) And God's judgment is absolute - No one will escape God's judgment
a) That is, unless the judgment has already been handled and paid for by someone else! By Jesus Christ dying in your and my place on the cross!
b) Now you know why so many of us have chosen to follow Jesus! Because we know how much trouble we were in with God, and found one way out – Jesus!
4. It is right to judge “righteous judgment” (John 7:24) Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
5. But don't be foolish about the judgment of God – it is against you FIRST
a. We cannot look at other people and see their sins, and not see ours also!
b. A Judge that has just committed adultery against his own wife should NOT sit in judgment against another man or woman who is accused of adultery – recluse himself
B. God Will Judge Sinners (Romans 2:2,3)
1. Romans 2:2,3 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
2. God is the righteous Judge
3. He will judge with all the facts – the truth
4. And He will especially judge the hypocrites!
5. No one will escape the judgment of God
C. So, What is the Goodness of God? (Romans 2:4)
1. Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2. There is a basic and fundamental misunderstanding of the goodness of God
a. People imagine God cannot be good if there is so much pain and trouble in this world
b. As if God is up in heaven scheming to make our lives worse, and ignoring us when our lives break!
c. But God is nothing like that!
3. God is good toward us all
a. God has given every one of us the miracle of life, and breath, and self-awareness
1) He has given us every heartbeat!
2) He gives us health, and a job, and a family
3) He gives us space – respects us – doesn’t force and smash His will into our faces
b. And people misunderstand that
c. People want God to just swoop in like a superhero and just “fix things” and make everything right!
d. Not realizing that it would wipe us all out!
e. God is constantly being good to the entire human race – raining on the just and the unjust, being kind and patient towards the worst of us all!
f. Just kn ow that His goodness does not mean He is approving of your lifestyle
4. But most of all, God has been good enough to NOT JUDGE US YET!
a. And gives us chance after chance to REPENT and escape the wrath to come
b. We are treated by God better than we deserve – by God NOT judging us, and NOT striking us dead on the spot
c. That kindness, that inaction by God is no reason for us to continue to sin
d. And it is not proof that God approves of your sins and lifestyle
e. All it proves is that you have a brief space of time to repent, and get right with God
5. And Yet God’s Goodness is Despised!
a. Strangely, all the kindnesses of God are despised, and mocked, and actually rejected by most people! And people become only harder and more wicked!
b. Example:
1) A young man shows off his car and fancy driving skills and is caught for speeding.
2) The Garda who stops him gives him a warning since he knows his family, and nothing was damaged and no one was hurt
3) The next Friday evening, the young man is out with his friends again and does not remember the kindness of that Garda, and begins to do some stupid things while driving and jumps a curb and knocks over a mailbox
4) The Garda are called and this time he is given a ticket and he must appear in court
5) His parents give out to him and are upset with him, but they continue to allow him to drive since he has to go to work
6) In court the judge sees that this is his first time before the court and suspends the sentence and gives him a €500 fine and allows him to continue to drive and sends him away
7) The next week, on Friday evening, what do you think this young man will do?
8) Unfortunately, he will probably grab his keys and go pick up his friends and then grab a few beers and show off his fancy driving skills.
9) And this time he crashes into a car with a woman and a child in it, and the woman experiences whiplash and is in pain and will be in pain for the rest of her life.
10) What has this young man done?
a) Don’t think for a second this young man’s wrongdoing was only his driving
b) It was his attitude toward his driving that it doesn't matter what happens
c) And worst of all, it was his attitude towards all the goodness and kindness and forbearance and long-suffering that his parents and the Garda and the judge showed him
c. In this illustration, all of us are this young man because all of us experience God's goodness toward us, and we despise it, we reject it, we mock it, we ignore it, to our own destruction!
D. Paul Asks Four Questions:
1. Do you really think that you will escape God's judgment yourself?
2. Do you not realize that God is being kind to you all this time? Not judging you yet!
3. Are you really despising God’s kindnesses?
a. God's goodness towards you?
b. God's forbearance? – to put up with our sinfulness
c. And God's long-suffering towards YOU? Patiently enduring, waiting on us to repent
d. By the way, that is what GRACE is
4. And, are you so blind to the fact that God is actually trying to bring you to an attitude of repentance? To a place in your life where you can repent before you yourself are judged!
E. The Meaning of Repentance
1. Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
2. It is an abused word in religion
a. Setting up layers of people based on successes and failures in life
b. Making the majority of people feel bad about themselves, while a “few” are made rich and powerful
c. Making people think they have to do good deeds to make up for sins
3. It is a confused word by most everybody. So many different ideas on what this one word means
4. And it is an ignored word by most everybody
a. Because of all the confusion and abuses
b. And because it is a hard attitude to actually have!
5. Meaning:
a. It means a turning of the mind – not head, but my thinking
b. A change of my mind about something. THIS is where the battle is!
c. More specifically, A change of attitude
1) Attitudes are a settled way of thinking and feeling about something
a) An attitude about smoking, about drinking, about sex on TV
b) An attitude about your husband, or your parents
c) An attitude about prayer and soul-winning, and preaching
2) Repentance means you know your attitude must change!
d. Example:
1) Say, I wanted to go to the pub, and drink a few pints (not really, but it is a valid example) – it is what I normally do. What I love doing (not true!)
2) But as I was driving, a fear came upon me, that the last time I went drinking, I crashed my car on my way home for the second time, and my wife threatened to leave me, and my kids cried seeing their dad so drunk
3) So in that moment, I repented – my mind was changed, and I went home
4) My attitude towards drink changed
5) My heart and body may have wanted to still go, but my mind was changed about it, and so I didn’t go
e. It sounds so simple, to just change my mind, and change my attitude, but it isn’t – as most of you well know!
f. Repentance is a supernatural change of my thinking
1) It is not IN ME to just change my mind, I need God to help me turn away from anger, from lust, from lying, from rebellion, from laziness, from pornography, from drink, from drugs, from depression…
2) That is where FAITH comes in! Believing God is able, not me!
3) Yes, I need to fear the consequences of my sins and my rebellion against Him…
4) But I need to fear God most of all – facing HIM as that sinful person in the mirror, who may be still hiding my sins, and “looking so good” on the outside
5) You and I need to constantly ask God to help us – to change our mind, and then our heart, so that our lives and words and actions change for good!
6) THAT is this big package called, REPENTANCE
F. Repentance Has Five Steps To It
1. Fearing God (Hebrews 10:30,31) For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
2. Turning TO God, being real towards Him and depending upon His mercy
3. Turning FROM whatever God has shown you to be wrong in your life, whatever it is
a. It is supposed to happen at the same time! Can’t do one without the other
b. Acts 14:8-15 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
c. This is why MOST Christians STOP growing!
1) Most people hate the Bible because they don’t want to have to hear that THEIR favourite sin is wrong and have to repent of it
2) They want everyone else’s sins rebuked, but not theirs!
3) It is the reason why modern Christians are still so full of pride, and evil habits and say such filthy things and are so worldly…
4) They refuse to turn away from their favourite sins!
5) They won’t Confess to God (agree with Him) that you have done so wrong, not arguing
4. With attitude! Turn to God with attitude, emotion, not just words
a. Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
b. 2Corinthians 7:9-11 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye [BELIEVERS] sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
c. Wrong sorrow brings guilt upon guilt, and no forgiveness – world’s sorrow “the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
d. Godly sorrow is a proper attitude towards God about our sins
1) Godly sorrow – towards God for sins in our thinking, attitudes and actions
2) Guilty sorrow - agreeing with God's view of us, as guilty
3) Regret
4) Contrition - broken humility – you offer no excuses
5) Does anyone still have that attitude? Oh how we need to see our sins like God does!
5. And with desire (determination) to change
a. Ask God for forgivenss AND for the ability to live free of that sin!
b. A sorrow for something that we now know is sinful and rebellious against God with a decision to forsake it
c. Proverbs 28:13,14 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
1) Covering up?
2) Or allowing them to be exposed and hated and forsaken!
d. A godly Christian is glad to have been brought low and humbled
6. By the way, Repentance is NOT a work you must do (like STOPPING smoking, or GETTING INTO WATER and being baptized, or GIVING money, etc) – but an attitude you must have – and keep having about your sin!
7. Let me show you what I mean…
G. We All Need to Repent, Constantly – that is the key truth!
1. Even though you are not experiencing the judgment of God or the chastening of God
2. Every human being is called to repent as a way of life
a. One time for salvation
b. And ALL the time for sanctification
3. Repentance is throughout the Bible
a. John the Baptist THUNDERED in the wilderness, “REPENT!”
b. Jesus repeated that same demand… “REPENT!”
c. Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
d. The Apostle Paul preached everywhere that men and women need to repent! (Act 20:21) Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
4. The Gospel includes commanding people to repent
a. You have got to believe that Jesus will save you from God’s righteous wrath
b. But you need to believe that you DESERVE God’s righteous wrath, and are willing to live free of whatever God shows you is wrong
c. Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
5. When people got saved they repented – actually turned from idols to God
a. They didn’t just change their mind ABOUT God, but about SIN in their lives!
b. 1Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye [THESSALONIANS] turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
6. Only the modern Christian wants people to only “believe” like the devils do, and to never humble themselves and seek a supernatural change in their life!
a. “Just believe and everything will be fine” – NOPE!
b. Matthew 9:12,13 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
c. NIV and most modern versions… But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
d. There is a man in Cork who has been a drunkard for all the 15 years I have known him. He believes in God. And believes in Jesus, but he does NOT want to change. He wont break and repent! And so he stays lost and enslaved to drink.
H. All your life God has been bringing you to a place where you should repent as a lifestyle
1. It is the most important attitude to have and keep!
2. It led you to your salvation (2Peter 3:9) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
3. Repentance is supposed to continue AFTER you have been saved.
a. Compare with Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
b. Written to believers!
4. So, In every situation in our life, every day, God is leading people to a life of repentance
a. Not “penance”, but repentance
b. Not beat yourself up, but humble yourself and become soft towards God
c. To learn that God is being very good to you and me – better than we deserve
d. Biblical principle: everything we experience is causing us to do one of two things:
1) To repent and draw closer to God
2) Or to harden our hearts and become bitter towards God
5. I want to ask you, how will you react to the following rebukes: (if the shoe fits, you had better wear it)
a. Being told/exposed that you are addicted to smoking, or to drinking or to pornography – not just “struggling with it, but addicted” – that it is not a disease, but SIN?
b. That you are lazy?
1) That you only care about things and possessions
2) That you are prayerless, and empty of the Holy Spirit of God
3) That you are lukewarm towards God, and the Bible, and prayer
4) That you are helping the devil by just staying home, or just sitting there, not serving God, and not soul-winning, and not surrendering your life to His will
c. That some of you are wicked and lost and will end up in hell in a heartbeat
d. That some of you are so self-conceited, you haven’t said “I am so sorry” in YEARS!
6. How do you like hearing those things?
a. Do they strike you deep in your heart and make you angry? Harder towards God and the Bible and preaching?
b. Or do they strike you deep into your heart, and cause you to break down, and humble yourself, and YEARN to be different?
c. When I preach this Bible, and God strikes at YOUR sin…
1) Quickly repent, and confess and agree with God and get right with God
2) You will know you have been in a good church service when YOU have been convicted, humbled, and helped to repent and get right with God and each other
3) All other kinds of Church services are secondary, and not as good!
4) If you go away not being convicted either I have not done my job, or you are despising the goodnesses of God!
I. Consequences of No Repentance (Romans 2:5,6)
1. HARDNESS OF HEART!
2. Listen to Paul’s warning!
a. Romans 2:5,6 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
b. And Solomon’s… Proverbs 29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
c. Remember Pharaoh? Destroyed because of stubborn pride, would not agree with God
3. My job is to reprove, rebuke and exhort everyone who will hear my voice
a. That is the job description as a Bible preacher!
b. When you are upset, Don’t get upset with me,… repent!
c. When you are numb and don’t care, you need to repent!
4. God brings you to a place of repentance
a. Where you must choose to repent, or you will go away harder than ever, and it will only get harder to get right the next time you are here!
5. Or you will grow harder and farther
a. If you DON'T choose to repent about what you know is wrong now, then you will only grow harder and more bitter toward the goodness of God, even though other people may think that you are good
III. Conclusion - Let me tell you what you need to do...
A. You need to repent… a lot!
1. Be quick to humble ourselves to those we have hurt, and humble ourselves before God when we pray and worship! And to say, “I am so sorry!”
a. There are so many people who “believe in God” but who are not changed – they find themselves constantly back in sin, and ashamed and guilty and defeated as Christians
b. Why? Because their attitude is… “God will fix me, right?”
c. Not until your attitude changes, and you fear Him, and turn to Him, and confess to him you have done so wrong, and then ask for forgivenss and for the ability to live free of that sin!
2. People may wonder, what if I get another bad attitude? What if I give into some temptation again?
a. Repent again! Be sorry to God again. Be sorry to the one you wronged AGAIN
b. It is not a once-off-thing
c. Salvation is… when a sinful person humbles themselves (repentance) and accepts forgiveness by the death of Christ, by faith, not by any efforts
d. But STAYING HUMBLE, and purging our guilty conscience daily, can save our marriages, our sanity, our churches, our relationships…
e. That’s why a Christian spends time in prayer! To humble ourselves, and repent of anything and everything the Holy Spirit brings to our mind, so that we can gladly worship Him, in spirit and in truth!
B. God has been bringing you to a place where you should constantly repent as a lifestyle
C. Because the longer you take to humble yourself and repent, the harder it becomes
D. Until it will be impossible – remember Pharaoh!
E. Don’t Abuse the Grace and Goodness of God
1. Let God lead you to the floor, to your knees, to humility, to the people you have hurt
2. Ask God to change your mind – and your attitudes – and change your life
3. It is a supernatural change
4. But only if you want it!