[0:00] Do turn with me to Romans chapter 2, Romans chapter 2, and if you've not got a Bible, I think! there's Bibles as you came in, do feel free to go and get one. It'd be great if you can be bringing your Bible each week. I think it's sometimes a good question to ask, how do you feel when you hear a passage read? How do you feel when Paul read Romans 1 to 11? I don't know about you, but as I read and study these words, I tremble. We're looking at 6 to 11 this morning. Last week we looked at verse 1 to 5, and in verse 1 to 5 God has been exposing hypocrisy when we ourselves do the very same things that we expose in others and we judge in others. And as we begin to understand the nature of hypocrisy, we tremble, I think. We recognize within us a pretending and an evading when we refuse to deal with our own sin. But
[1:18] God tells us if we continue in that hypocrisy, if we continue to refuse to deal with our own sin before God, well he tells us what's at stake. And he very clearly tells us that we are storing up wrath, anger for ourselves on the day of judgment. That on that day if we've not dealt with our sin there will be nothing but wrath and fury and tribulation and distress for every human being that does evil. And so God forces us again to look to ourselves. And so if you find that your heart is prone to be hard towards God, well then you must listen to these words. If you find that you're often unrepentant of your sin towards God, then you must listen to these words. If you find that you're self-seeking and contentious, then we need to know that the end result of that is we're storing up for ourselves something that is horrible. And there is misery at the end of that road. There is wrath and the fury of the Lord God who is the God of heaven and earth. He's put these words in the Bible for two reasons.
[2:35] One to warn you, but one to encourage you. To encourage those who have had their sin dealt with to keep going in doing good. And as you keep going, those of you who've trusted in the Lord Jesus, in doing good, those who are seeking glory and honour and immortality, then this passage tells you that is the very thing you will be blessed with. You will find by the grace of God that as you pursue those things, if that is your character in life, well you will find more life, more grace, more joy.
[3:12] And so we must come away from these words of warning. We must not come away from these words without understanding the importance in the Christian life of keeping going in good works.
[3:30] I think it's rather strange that those of us, particularly in this century, who have come to understand the gospel most clearly, are also those who come to twitch at any mention of good works.
[3:47] Any mention of judgment, according to good works, causes us to twitch. The Christian life is not merely what you say, but what you do.
[4:00] Because what you do is a clue to what you are. Have you got that? What you do is a clue to what you are.
[4:13] And the judgment of God will be based on that evidence. The fruit shows where the root of your life is. And so I think, again, we need to tremble, whether we find ourselves in those who are unrepentant and hard-hearted, or we find ourselves as those who are striving to follow Christ and seeking for glory and honour and immortality.
[4:37] Because each one of us in this room and online this morning will stand before God and we will be examined. So there's three things that I want to say from this text. The first thing I want to say is the day of judgment will be a day of revelation.
[4:53] The day of judgment will be a day of revelation. That is, it will reveal. It will reveal not simply ourselves. It's not simply an unfolding of your life and my life.
[5:05] But what we're being told is that the day of judgment will be a revelation of who God is, of God. It will be a revelation of God and who God is. It will be a revelation of God's righteousness and God's ability to judge and that God is right to judge.
[5:19] And God's judgment is perfect. It will be a revelation of what God thinks. Of what God knows. Of what God perceives in every single one of us.
[5:31] And for that reason, it's a momentous event. And every one of us on that day will know what God knows of us. And will know what God sees in us. And what God thinks of us.
[5:44] And it will be a day that will reveal his righteous judgment. Not what you think of yourself. Not what everyone else thinks of you.
[5:55] But what God perceives and what God knows. And it will be a righteous judgment. That reveals God. And what God knows.
[6:06] And that is solemn. It's a solemn thing. It's a revelation of who God is. But it also says, isn't it, quite clearly. He will judge every person.
[6:18] According to what we have done. Just notice that with me. Look at verse 6. He says he will render. That is he will give to each one according to his works. And then there are two types of different people.
[6:31] Two different types of people. One who are unrepentant. They're not sorry for their sins. And then there are those who are seeking glory and honor and immortality. And they keep going in good works. So two ways to live.
[6:44] Two groups of people. And he makes it very clearly. He will judge each person. And he will judge each person. According to each person's work. And each person's actions. And the Apostle Paul is not stating something new.
[6:57] Here. But something that runs right the way through the word of God. So let me read to you. A load of references. You don't have to turn to them.
[7:07] You can write them down if you're taking notes. I should have read them on the screen. If I was a bit more tacky. But Job 34 verse 11. For according to the work of a man. He will repay him. And according to his ways.
[7:18] He will make it befall him. Psalm 62 verse 12. To you O Lord belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man. According to his work. Proverbs 24 verse 12. If you say behold we did not know this.
[7:30] Does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does he not he who keeps watch over your soul know it? And will he not repay man according to his work? Jeremiah 17 10.
[7:40] I the Lord search the heart. And test the mind. I give to every man according to his ways. According to the fruit of his deeds. Jeremiah 32 verse 19. Great in counsel and mighty indeed.
[7:52] Is God whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man. Rewarding each one according to his ways. And according to the fruit of his deeds. What about the New Testament? Matthew 16 27.
[8:05] The son of man Jesus says. He's going to come with his angels. In the glory of his father. And then he will repay each person. According to what he's done. 1 Corinthians 3 8. He who plants and he whose waters are one.
[8:17] And each will receive his wages. According to his labor. Revelation 2 23. And all the churches will know. That I am he who searches mind and heart. And I will give to each one of you.
[8:28] According to your works. We go on and on and on. And there are many verses. That state this really clearly and plainly.
[8:38] It's stated over and over again. In scripture that we will be judged according to our works. And so therefore we need to look at ourselves. Whoever we are.
[8:50] It'll be a revelation of God. Who God is. And it will be a revelation. That he will judge each person.
[9:00] According to what they've done. And thirdly there'll be no. Partiality. He'll show no favoritism. In any way. And I think the Jews listening to this.
[9:15] In Rome. They would be really shocked by that. Because. They believed in they. Isn't that the very thing. That God had said he would do.
[9:27] Isn't that the very nature. Of the Jewish blessings. That God has treated them. As his favorites. And so the context here. Is the context of judgment. judgment. And the Jews.
[9:39] Are those who lived. In and around the word of God. They spent their lives. In and out. Of the gospel. Of God. And what God is saying to them.
[9:50] Is he's saying to them. He will judge them. According to that fact. So here are Gentiles. That is non-Jews. They didn't know the word of God.
[10:00] They didn't have the promises of God. They didn't have the sacrifices. And they will be judged. By their works.
[10:10] In the light of that. But here are the Jews. And here are the Jews. They have the word of God. They have the promises of God. They have the sacrifices of God. And they will be judged. In the light of that.
[10:24] And so I think. For us. That is a really solemn thing. Isn't it? It is a solemn thing. To grow up. Under the sound of the gospel. For you children.
[10:36] To have the privilege. Of mums and dads. Who read and pray with you. And seek to teach you. And seek to show you. With your mum and dad. All their faults. That's what they want. That is a great.
[10:48] Great privilege. Or if we have come to know. And understand the gospel. And we have heard it explained to us. And it has been delivered to us. And we have lived our lives.
[11:00] Under the sound of the gospel. Because in the light of knowing. All of that. God will look at your works. And your actions. And the course of our life.
[11:13] To see what we have done with it. And he will judge us. On the base of that. And it is a solemn thing. Isn't it? Because what Paul is doing. In this passage.
[11:23] Is he is setting before us. Heaven and hell. He speaks to the Jews. And he speaks to the Gentiles. And he speaks about the priority.
[11:34] Of the Jews. He says. Yeah. Yeah. The Jews will go first. And then the Gentiles. But there will be no difference.
[11:46] When it comes to that judgment. And so. In essence. He's saying. Of course. Certainly the Jews will go first to heaven. But the Jews will go first to hell. Hell. And so.
[11:57] If we've been surrounded. By the word of God. That may be. We are the first ones into heaven. But it may also be. That we may be the first ones into hell.
[12:08] You see. With great privilege. Comes great responsibility. You've enjoyed the gospel.
[12:20] That God has made known to you. And so we must remember. Isn't it? The words of Jesus. To whom much is given. Much will be required. And so the favor of God.
[12:31] In one sense. That he's blessed you. With a knowledge of the gospel. Is not to be construed. And not to be confused. Confused with. Favoritism on the day of judgment.
[12:43] For we shall all be judged. On how we've acted upon. The mercy offered to us. In Jesus Christ. And that is what God will do. That's what he tells us in his word.
[12:57] I want to apply this in two ways. So my second point is this. What does this mean. If you're not a Christian. What does this mean. If you're not a Christian. Paul says.
[13:09] God will render. He will give to each one. According to his works. And he says. Because of your hard. And your impenitent heart. You are storing up wrath. For yourselves. On the day.
[13:20] Of wrath. When God's righteous judgment. Will be revealed. Then again. In verse eight and nine. For those who are self-seeking. Do not obey the truth. But obey unrighteousness. There will be wrath. And fury.
[13:31] There will be tribulation. And distress. For every human being. Who does evil. The Jew first. And also for the Greek. And so. We stand in the light.
[13:42] Of what we know God will do. We've just been told. God will judge us all. According to our works. Without partiality. So do you remember.
[13:54] In chapter one. He gives us some of the signs. And some of the characteristics. Of someone who's not a Christian. So let's look.
[14:05] And let's see. If some of these characteristics. Describe you. Are they your characteristics? Let's try and establish. The kind of person. Who is actually not a Christian.
[14:17] And he does that. In a variety of ways. It's important to pay attention. Because of the context. Do you remember. God is saying. If you think you're ready. For judgment. Beware of your hypocrisy.
[14:29] That's the context. In which these words come out. So what are the signs. The first sign is this. It's a hard heart. Isn't it? A hard heart. Stony.
[14:41] Impenetrable. In terms of hearing. The appeal of the gospel of God. So to the depth. Of your being. You reject the gospel.
[14:51] You reject the Lord Jesus Christ. And you reject the ministry of God. As it's held out to you. In the good news of the Lord Jesus. A hard.
[15:02] And an impenitent heart. It's not only suffering from stubbornness. But also impenitence. In refusing to humble ourselves.
[15:14] That's that you don't repent. Of any of your own sin. There's a certain hardness. In saying. I'm not a sinner like that. I'm not guilty.
[15:25] Of any of those things. And your heart. Has not been punctured. And wounded. With conviction. And feeling. And a sense of guilt. And the awful.
[15:36] Accusing of yourself. In God's presence. And so. Consequently. You are not repenting. Of anything. You don't come to God.
[15:47] With tears. And you don't come to God. With brokenness. And with anguish. And cry. Lord have mercy. On me. You find yourself.
[15:59] Refusing to see any sin. In yourself. Refusing to repent. Of any of your own sin. Because there's nothing. To repent of. You just keep on going. And that's the hard.
[16:11] And impenitent state. What right. Has God. Got to look at me. There is a certain. Hardness isn't there. I was in a Bible study. This week.
[16:21] With some men. And. It was great. There was an atheist man. Came. And he said. I've got some comments. And he spoke for about. Half an hour. And. He said to me. I just. I just don't see myself.
[16:32] As a sinner. And I said. Would you say. That you haven't sinned. No. No. I've not sinned. I've done things. I regret. But I've not sinned. It was remarkable. He was absolutely adamant.
[16:43] I'm not a sinner. And so. What right is God. To say what he thinks about me. Well I could say a thing or two about God. My friend certainly did. And the hardness.
[16:56] And impenitence of hearts. Is evidence. And so. Do you find. That you have a broken heart. Do you find. That you have a consciousness. Of your own sin.
[17:07] Or if it's hard. And impenitent. That is a dreadful sign. That's not the only thing. Look at verse eight. He goes on to describe more characteristics. He says.
[17:18] Are you self-seeking? I don't need to. Explain that to you. Do I? It's all about you.
[17:28] And so. Literally. The word means. There's a contentiousness. About you. In the way that you relate. To everyone else. And particularly.
[17:39] In the way that you relate. To God. Because it's all about you. Every. Other. Planet. Revolves around you.
[17:49] And nobody else. Look what else it says. It says. They do not obey the truth. Well. That's what Romans one.
[17:59] Has told us already. Isn't it? What. What do sinners do? We. We. We. Know the truth. But we suppress it. We push it down. And so. In the context of Romans one.
[18:10] Some people know the truth. In a general sense. They know that there is a God. There is a glorious being out there. And he used to be worshipped. But they suppress it. But others of us. Actually know the truth. In more detail.
[18:21] Right down to the death. Of the Lord Jesus. And that great exchange. Which takes place. The Lord Jesus. Taking. The sin. Of men and women.
[18:32] And boys and girls. And giving us his perfect righteousness. And we know that. And yet we. Just stamp on it. We walk away from it. And that's the characteristic.
[18:43] Of somebody who's. Not a Christian. They suppress the truth. They want to obey the truth. And then he tells us. They obey unrighteousness. In other words. Everything. That is contrary to God's will.
[18:54] And God's way. For purity. And holiness. And uprightness. And justice. We turn away from it. We suppress it. We do what God does not want us to do.
[19:06] And we know it. And we do it anyway. And so he describes. What someone who is not a Christian. Looks like. And then he goes on to describe.
[19:19] The consequences of their behavior. He says. Can you see it? If you're living in this way. You are storing up wrath. For yourself. On the day of judgment. And the word.
[19:31] Storing up wrath. It's a picture word. It's like you're. Laying up treasure. For yourselves. In small increments. And so you know what it is. Is that you probably have a jar.
[19:42] In your house. And you. You put the coins in the jar. At the end of the day. And in the end. It gets too full. And you eventually. Bag it up. And you take it to the bank.
[19:53] And when you see how much it is. You're shocked. Because you thought. It was just coffers. And that's what we're. Told you. That's what we're living like. Hard. Impenitent.
[20:04] Hard. Self-seeking. Contentious. Suppressing the truth. Obeying righteousness. And just little. By little. By little. You add to the treasure. And the shock is. The treasure is God's wrath.
[20:17] And you'll never be able to. Comprehend. Comprehend. How much of it. You've treasured. For yourself. And it is stored up for you.
[20:29] In the sight of God. And it will be a terrible shock. On that day. To discover how much of God's wrath. We've stored up for ourselves. And it will flow down upon you.
[20:44] On that day. And ever after. In eternity. He speaks about the. Intense. Personal. Displeasure. Of God. It's not an impersonal force.
[20:56] Against you. Because of your sin. And the third. Aspect of this. Is not only the consequences. Not only somebody who's not a Christian. What they're doing.
[21:07] And they're behaving. But he also describes. What it will feel like. Can you see that? He says.
[21:20] Those who do not obey. The truth. But obey unrighteousness. There will be. Wrath and fury. And there will be. Tribulation.
[21:32] And distress. For every human being. Who does evil. And in those two words. Tribulation and distress. He's describing.
[21:43] What the wrath of God. Will feel like. We don't use the word. Tribulation. Do we? What it means. Is this. It means. Speaking of being. Pushed.
[21:53] And pressed. To the point of breaking. But not breaking. And when he speaks of. Distress. He speaks there.
[22:05] Of being cramped. And confined. And squashed. Into a little place. But you can't get out. And there's no escape.
[22:18] And those two words. Essentially describe. The experience. Of the misery. Of falling. Underneath the wrath of God. It's horrific. It's horrible. It's. Inescapable. And that is what it means.
[22:30] If you are not a Christian. If you are somebody. You are outside of Christ. You. You will be judged. According to your works. And so. How should you respond. This morning.
[22:42] You should respond. What have I done. what have I done and what must I do what must I do we'll come back to that right at the end of this the third point is I want to try and apply this what does it mean if you are a Christian look at how he describes the Christian and what he describes they receive look at verse 6 he will render according to each one he will render to each one according to his works and then verse 7 to those who by patience and well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality he will give eternal life and then go to verse 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good the Jew first and also for the Greek and so there's a number of commentators look at this verse and they say well surely if we are in Christ surely we're going to be spared from the judgment and surely as Christians we will be spared from the day of judgment and so and what many of the commentators particularly modern commentators want to say is that what Paul is describing here is something hypothetical he's describing here as somebody that doesn't exist
[23:51] I'll come back to that in a moment but I do think it is clear from other passages that a Christian will stand and be judged according to their works the other way I think to take this is to see how can we do these things of seeking of seeking glory and honor and peace for everyone how can we do that the only way that you can do that in the first place is because of the work of the grace of God in your life by the Lord Jesus and by the Lord Jesus Christ and for the glory of Jesus Christ and so that when we find ourselves when we're examined and we find ourselves doing these things that is evidence that we are in Christ and so Jesus says by your fruits you shall know them we know that don't we in the natural world the fruit of a tree shows the root of it and so there are many verses in the Bible that make it clear and so what I think the word of God is doing here is it's giving us some marks and characteristics of somebody who's a Christian you can say it's hypothetical if you wish
[25:18] I don't think that's right that if any of us were able to do this perfectly we would be rewarded with eternal life and none of us are able to do it but I don't think that's the way that we're meant to take this by the Apostle Paul there are other texts that make it really clear that Christians will be examined on the day of judgment and those works will be the evidence of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done in you and for you so let me give you something Matthew 25 verse Matthew 25 Jesus speaks of his coming in glory and when he comes again he'll bring all his holy angels with him and sitting on his glorious throne and before him will be all the nations and he will what he will separate one from the other as a shepherd separate sheep from goats and he'll place the sheep on his right and the goats on the left and he will say to those on his right the sheep come you are blessed by my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the world for what what does he go on to describe he goes on to describe not what they believe and he goes on to describe not what they thought but what they did he says when I was hungry you fed me when I was thirsty you gave me drink when I was a stranger you welcomed me when I was naked you clothed me when I was sick you visited me and when I was in prison you came to see me and the righteous answer and say well when did we see you hungry and when did we see you thirsty and so on and Jesus says this truly I say that as you did for the least of these brothers you did it to me so there's many other verses like that
[26:53] John 5 29 he speaks of the resurrection and he says those who do good rise to the resurrection of life 1 Corinthians chapter 3 for no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold and silver and precious stones wood hay straw each one's work will become manifest for the day will disclose it and it'll be revealed by fire and the fire will test which sort of work he has done he's speaking of a Christian's works if the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives he will receive a reward if anyone's work is burned up he will suffer loss though he himself will be saved but only as through fire 2 Corinthians 5 verse 10 for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may receive what is due for what he's done in the body whether good or evil you go to Galatians 6 do not be deceived God is not mocked for whatever one sows that will he also reap for the one who sows to his own flesh will reap from the flesh but the one who sows to the spirit will from the spirit reap eternal life and so let's not grow weary in doing good for in due season we will reap if we do not give up and so we have to bear in mind don't we we do not go right with God by our works we are not justified by God by our works how do you get right with God how do you get into heaven you are justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone and in his work and it is his work alone that makes us right with God and he brings us into God's kingdom and brings that joy and delight that we have in the grace of Christ but Christ when he works in us and when he justifies us and when he accepts us he then goes on to sanctify us to make us like him and sanctification that becoming like Christ is the evidence of what Christ has done in our justification what does James say
[29:04] James says he says show me your faith by your works and when Paul is speaking of that here in Romans he's not saying that you get right with God by works the whole book of Romans blows that out of the water he speaks categorically and absolutely clearly and we are not justified by the works of the law but he is saying we'll be judged by these works because these works show whether or not we are in Christ so just come with me as we close two pages on to Romans chapter 6 verse 22 he says now you've been set free the life of Christian is being set free from sin and you've become a slave of God don't you love that the Christian life it is freedom and it's slavery and the fruit that you get leads to sanctification and it's end eternal life see both those things freedom from sin slavery to God and what is the fruit that comes out of that it is that you do good works you become more like the Lord
[30:37] Jesus Christ and then if you didn't get it for the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord the free gift of God leads to sanctification and so as Christians we get to do good works we get to live out the Christian life we get the privilege of that the joy of that we'll think a little bit more of that tonight but if you hear me this morning and you realise that you're not a Christian can I plead with you can I plead with you with every fibre of my being to flee from the wrath to come to look away from yourself and look to the saviour for sinners the Lord Jesus and to trust in him to ask yourself this morning what have
[31:42] I done and what can I do and the only answer to escape the wrath of God that you are storing up for yourselves is to run to the Lord Jesus Christ the one who has borne God's wrath the one who has borne God's fury to save men and women boys and girls like you and me let's pray God