Bad Things HappenBad Things Happento “Good People”to “Good People”

Romans 2Romans 2

Paul’s Surprising ArgumentPaul’s Surprising Argument

Humanity is in Trouble With God (Ch.1)Humanity is in Trouble With God (Ch.1) Apathetic Towards Him 1:18-19, 21, 25, 28Apathetic Towards Him 1:18-19, 21, 25, 28 God “Gave them over…” 1:24,26,28God “Gave them over…” 1:24,26,28 Humanity Becomes Depraved 1:29fHumanity Becomes Depraved 1:29f

Wanting independence, instead we get slavery.Wanting independence, instead we get slavery. A “Moral Insanity” dominates.A “Moral Insanity” dominates.

But, Paul! I’m a But, Paul! I’m a GOODGOOD Person! Person! ““Good” People Are in Trouble Too! (Ch.2)Good” People Are in Trouble Too! (Ch.2)

God Most Certainly Will Judge God Most Certainly Will Judge (2:2,3,5,16)(2:2,3,5,16)

[2] And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.[3] But do you suppose this, O man…that you will escape the judgment of God?[5] …You are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God[16] on the day when…God will judge the secrets of men…

The Problem with “Good People”The Problem with “Good People”

A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4)A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) ““You’re right Paul, those are You’re right Paul, those are badbad people!” (v1) people!” (v1) Did you know the “good person” is self-Did you know the “good person” is self-

condemned? (v1b)condemned? (v1b) God uses HIS standards of Judgment (v2)God uses HIS standards of Judgment (v2)

I.e., I.e., HISHIS Sense of Truth Sense of Truth,, not not YOURSYOURS..You may be saying, "What You may be saying, "What terribleterrible people you people you

have been talking about!" have been talking about!" – Romans 2:1a (NLT)– Romans 2:1a (NLT)But you are just as badBut you are just as bad, and you have no , and you have no

excuse! When you say they are wicked and excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, should be punished, you are condemning you are condemning yourselfyourself, for , for you do these very same thingsyou do these very same things. . – – Romans 2:1b (NLT)Romans 2:1b (NLT)

Now we know that God's judgment Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is against those who do such things is based on truth. based on truth. Romans 2:2 (NIV) Romans 2:2 (NIV)

The Bad Guys

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Our Sense of Our Sense of Judgment:Judgment:

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Someone Someone Else’s Sense Else’s Sense of Judgment:of Judgment:

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God’s Sense of Judgment:God’s Sense of Judgment:

God's Judgment

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Now we know that God's Now we know that God's judgment against those judgment against those who do such things who do such things is is based on based on truthtruth. Romans . Romans 2:2 (NIV) 2:2 (NIV)

The Problem with “Good People”The Problem with “Good People”

A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4)A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) ““You’re right Paul, those are You’re right Paul, those are badbad people!” (v1) people!” (v1) Did you know the “good person” is self-Did you know the “good person” is self-

condemned? (v1b)condemned? (v1b) God uses HIS standards of Judgment (v2)God uses HIS standards of Judgment (v2) If you agree SOMEBODY should go to Hell, If you agree SOMEBODY should go to Hell,

then you agree then you agree YOUYOU should go to Hell. (v3) should go to Hell. (v3)

Do you think that God will judge and Do you think that God will judge and condemn condemn othersothers for doing them and for doing them and not judge younot judge you when you do them, too? when you do them, too? Romans 2:3 (NLT)Romans 2:3 (NLT)

““But I Don’t But I Don’t BelieveBelieve in in HellHell” !” !

Not a convincingNot a convincingargument.argument.

What shouldWhat shouldGod do toGod do tothese men?these men?

1.1. Nothing?Nothing?2.2. Reward?Reward?3.3. Apologize?Apologize?4.4. Judgment?Judgment?

They are fully aware of God's death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway – Romans 1:32a (NLT)

Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. – Romans 1:32 (NLT)

The Problem with “Good People”The Problem with “Good People” A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4)A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4)

““You’re right Paul, those are You’re right Paul, those are badbad people!” (v1) people!” (v1) Did you know the “good person” is self-Did you know the “good person” is self-

condemned? (v1b)condemned? (v1b) God uses HIS standards of Judgment (v2)God uses HIS standards of Judgment (v2) If you agree SOMEBODY should go to Hell, If you agree SOMEBODY should go to Hell,

then you agree then you agree YOUYOU should go to Hell. (v3) should go to Hell. (v3) By God’s standards, only 1 sin means Hell By God’s standards, only 1 sin means Hell

(Jas.2:10)(Jas.2:10)

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. guilty of all. James 2:10 (NASB-U) James 2:10 (NASB-U)

Rotten-EggOmeletteTheology

The Problem with “Good People”The Problem with “Good People” A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4)A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) A Problem of A Problem of PridePride (v.5) (v.5)

But because of your stubbornness and But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God the righteous judgment of God – Romans 2:5 (NASB-U) – Romans 2:5 (NASB-U)

An unrepentant heart is a PROUD heart before God.

The Problem with “Good People”The Problem with “Good People” A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4)A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) A Problem of A Problem of PridePride (v.5) (v.5) Found Guilty By God’s Found Guilty By God’s LawLaw (v.6-8) (v.6-8)

who will render to each person according to his deeds: who will render to each person according to his deeds:

to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;

but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. Romans 2:6-8 (NASB-U)indignation. Romans 2:6-8 (NASB-U)

There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:9-11 (NASB-U)

The Problem with “Good People”The Problem with “Good People” A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4)A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) A Problem of A Problem of PridePride (v.5) (v.5) Found Guilty By God’s Found Guilty By God’s LawLaw (v.6-11) (v.6-11)

Which includes thoughts and motives (v.16)Which includes thoughts and motives (v.16)““on the day when, according to my gospel, God will on the day when, according to my gospel, God will

judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.” – judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.” – Romans 2:16 (NASB-U) Romans 2:16 (NASB-U)

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder…But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell!” – Matthew 5:22 (NIV)

but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28 (NASB-U)

"So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away… Matthew 5:29 (GW)

The Problem with “Good People”The Problem with “Good People” A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4)A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) A Problem of A Problem of PridePride (v.5) (v.5) Found Guilty By God’s Found Guilty By God’s LawLaw (v.6-11) (v.6-11) Found Guilty By Your OWN Law (v.12-15)Found Guilty By Your OWN Law (v.12-15)

For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law; for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves…

They demonstrate that God's law is written within them, for their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right. – Romans 2:15 (NLT)

For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. – Romans 2:1b (NASB-U) Rom. 2:16b God will judge the secrets of Rom. 2:16b God will judge the secrets of men’s heartsmen’s hearts

…For their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right.

– Romans 2:15 (NLT)

The Problem with “Good People”The Problem with “Good People” A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4)A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) A Problem of A Problem of PridePride (v.5) (v.5) Found Guilty By God’s Found Guilty By God’s LawLaw (v.6-11) (v.6-11) Found Guilty By Your OWN Law (v.12-15)Found Guilty By Your OWN Law (v.12-15) God Will Not Be Placated (v.17-24)God Will Not Be Placated (v.17-24)

Rituals are Rituals are UselessUseless (v.25-28) (v.25-28)The ceremony of [baptism] is worth something only if you obey God's law. But if you don't obey God's law, you are no better off than someone [unbaptized]… In fact, unbaptized people who keep God's law will be much better off than you [Catholics/Methodists/etc] who are [baptized] and know so much about God's law but don't obey it. – Romans 2:25-27 (NLT, edited by Keith)

What Works With God?What Works With God?

Something Something Internal Internal (v28-29)(v28-29) If you If you KNOWKNOW Christ. Christ.

Matthew 7:22 “I never knew you!”Matthew 7:22 “I never knew you!”For he is not a [Christian] who is one outwardly, nor is [baptism] that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a [Christian] who is one inwardly; and [baptism] is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. – Romans 2:28-29 (NASB-U)

What Works With God?What Works With God?

Something Something InternalInternal (v28-29) (v28-29) If you If you KNOWKNOW Christ. Christ.

Approaching Him By Approaching Him By GraceGrace. (2:4). (2:4)Or do you show contempt for the riches of his Or do you show contempt for the riches of his

kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? God's kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4 (NIV)Romans 2:4 (NIV)

Approach as in Luke 18:9 Approach as in Luke 18:9 – “– “Be merciful to me, the sinner!”Be merciful to me, the sinner!”

Ephes. 2:8-9 “…so that no one may boast.”Ephes. 2:8-9 “…so that no one may boast.”

What Works With God?What Works With God?

Something Something InternalInternal (v28-29) (v28-29) If you If you KNOWKNOW Christ. Christ. Approaching Him By Grace. (2:4)Approaching Him By Grace. (2:4)

Means: Means: LivingLiving By By GraceGrace.. See Matthew 18:23ffSee Matthew 18:23ff

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience… – Romans 2:4 (NIV)