Sermon Tone Analysis

! Romans 2

!! Romans 2

*Tape #8119*

*Pastor Chuck Smith*

 

We continue our study of this classic book in the Bible, written by the Paul the Apostle.

In chapter 1, verse 18, he tells us the wrath of God is going to be revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness.

And he tells us what men were doing.

Because when they knew God they would not glorify Him as God, neither were they thankful.

They became vain in their imaginations and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise they became fools as they changed the glory of an uncorruptible God.

And they began to fashion images like corruptible man and birds and creeping things.

So God gave them up to the uncleanness through the lusts of their own heart to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.

They changed the truth of God into a lie and they worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.

So God gave them up to vile affection.

The women changing the natural use to that which is against nature.

And likewise also men, leaving  the natural use of the woman burned in their lust toward one another.

Men with men, doing that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was fit.

And even as they did not want to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind to do those things which were not convenient.

And thus being filled with all unrighteousness, and fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy and murder, debate, deceit, malignancy, whisperers, back biters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful, who knowing the judgment of God that they that commit such things are worthy of death not only do the same but have pleasure in those that do them.

Now, when you read that what’s your response?

What’s your reaction?

The wrath of God is worthy.

Just nail them, Lord!

They are horrible!

They are guilty!

That’s awful to do such things.

But watch out, because Paul said, /Therefore /(because of all of this) /you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

/Jesus said, judge not lest you be judged.

And yet we find it quite easy to pass judgment on people, as though we know what they are thinking.

As though we know what is their motive.

We don’t know what is in the heart of a person.

We’re so prone to cast judgment.

Yet, we really don’t know what’s going on in their heart.

We think we do.

We say, well, did you see the way he looked, you know.

Did you see that sneer?

You know, and we are so prone to judge people.

We’re all different.

A person may be doing the same thing but have a whole different attitude and heart.

I remember when I was just a small boy.

My parents had gone to the store.

They left my older sister in charge.

We found some paint in the garage and decided to surprise my parents and paint the garage while they were gone.

It was a bright red paint.

But I thought that looks good on the garage door.

So as they came home, I was busily painting the garage door.

I couldn’t understand why my dad was so angry.

I couldn’t understand why he gave me a whipping.

Because I really thought, they are going to be so happy to see this new paint job on the garage.

I thought they would appreciate it.

Years later, the chickens come home to roost.

When I came home, I found my little daughter painting the garage.

My wife screamed out in horror and was ready to correct her.

I said, oh, wait a minute.

Because I remembered my own experience as a child.

And I, you know,  said, honey, as you were painting the garage, what were you thinking?

She said, I was thinking I’ll probably get a spanking for this.

But it’s fun!

So you don’t know what’s going on in a person’s heart or mind.

We are so ready and quick to judge.

But God has not allowed us that luxury of judging others.

He has reserved that for Himself.

Now the moment I enter into judgment on another person’s actions, I am now possessing a knowledge of righteousness that is knowing that that is wrong.

It’s an admission on my part that I know it’s wrong!

And in the judging, I am actually acknowledging that I know the right from the wrong.

Which means that I am inexcusable when I do something similar.

And so often as we judge another person for what they have done, in reality all you have to do is alter the circumstances slightly, and we find that I’m doing the same thing!

Just alter slightly.

As when Nathan came to David and said David, there is a man in your kingdom who is extremely wealthy.

He has more than he could ever spend.

Herds and flocks.

Next door to him there lives next to him a very poor man.

All he has is one little ewe lamb.

It’s like a child to him.

It eats at his table and sleeps in his house at night.

And the rich man had company come for dinner.

He ordered his servants to go and by force take the one little ewe lamb from the neighbor and slaughter it in order that he might feed his guests.

And David’s righteous indignation raised within himself and he said, that man will surely be put to death!

Nathan said, David, you are that man.

You see, change the circumstances slightly.

Change the story and we find that quite often, we are guilty of judging someone for the same things that they are doing.

Only with a slight change of the story.

We often are the guilty ones.

We’re the man.

So, we are inexcusable in judging others.

As we have pointed out this morning, God sees our hearts.

And the law was intended to deal with the spirit, the attitude of man.

And interpreting the law to only deal with its physical, outward, was a mistake.

Thus I could be guilty of murder without ever touching another person.

But by the hatred, the absolute hatred, that I have for them.

It is brewing in my heart.

Jesus said that I’m guilty of murder.

I may never enter into with a physical relationship with another woman, other than my wife.

And yet, if I am lusting and desiring a relationship, then I have already have committed adultery in my heart.

So as Paul gives us this list of things that are being done by the pagan world, the murder, adultery, fornication, and all, he says not only do they do those things, but they take pleasure in those that do them.

Now today in the film industry, Hollywood, what are the things that are being portrayed in the movies?

Murder, violence, fornication, adultery.

Do you watch those movies?

Why do you watch those movies?

As you are watching them, do you think, that is terrible?