Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: Inexcusable Gentiles

The apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-32 makes it clear that the Gentile world are in guilt because “that which may be known of God is manifest to them.”

Simply put, as the following verses imply, the invisible things of God, meaning His power and Godhead, are understood by the things that are made, or created.

These things are sufficiently made manifest to the Gentile world, but instead of yielding to the evidences of God’s existence and sovereign, they dismissed it and chose to serve the things that are created rather than the Creator.

From Romans 1:26-32 we find what was the result when God gave them up to their own sinful desires.

Let us list the results of the rejection of the knowledge of God:

Filled with all unrighteousness.

Fornication

Wickedness.

Covetousness

Maliciousness.

Desire to cause pain, injury or distress to another.

Having a grudge

Spiteful.

Full of envy.

Murder

Debate or strife.

Deceit.

Malignity

Evil in nature, influence, or effect.

Having or showing intense vicious ill will.

Whisperers or gossipers.

Backbiters.

Slanderer or one who defames or insults.

Haters of God.

Despiteful.

Proud.

Boasters or arrogant person

Inventors of evil things.

Disobedient to parents.

Without understanding.

Dull or foolish

Covenant-breakers’

Or truce-breakers 2Timothy 3:3

Without natural affection or unsociable

Heartless or without love

Implacable.

Not capable of being appeased.

Irreconcilable.

Unforgiving.

Unmerciful

Ruthless

Merciless.

Now in the judgment, the end of all these deeds is death!

Romans 6:21

Inexcusable Jew

The Jews looked at the Gentile world through this lens of superiority and self righteousness.

Because they possessed the precious oracles of God, THEY were the ones enlightened, and all the others were counted as good as lost in their sins.

I am afraid that the “Jews” of today, the people of God, the SDARM, can make the same mistake in having their perspective distorted of those of other faiths, and even of other Christians who don’t hold to the Bible as we do.

Romans 2:1

Can we judge them truly?

Can we look at that list of sins that bar an entrance to eternal glories, and say “I am without sin”?

Even as a professed follower of God?

When Mary Magdalene was about to be stoned, what did Jesus say as He intervened?

“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” John 8:7.

What about king David, who was a Jew of Jews? 2Samuel 12:5-9

There is only one Man born into this world that could truly ask the question, “Which of you convinceth me of sin?” John 8:46

What did Christ teach about judgment of others?

Matthew 7:1-2

Romans 2:2

We believe that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such offenses!

Romans 2:3

And yet we somehow numb our consciences that we who commit the same offenses shall escape the judgment of God?

Look at the example of Paul:

Acts 24:16

Let’s be clear that we do possess an ability to judge to a certain degree.

We judge a person whether they are trust worthy of committing something to their care.

But we can only judge according to what we see.

Matthew 7:1-5

But when we posses a spirit of judgment that includes self righteousness and condemnation of other people’s lives, that’s when we step over a boundary with God and man, and try to take that form of judgment that is the prerogative of God alone.

Those who came to Battle Creek when they had a work to do in the church that they left, lost their missionary spirit and their spiritual discernment in coming to Battle Creek.

There they came in contact with a pharisaism, a self-righteousness, that is always a snare.

It is the form of godliness without the power thereof.

Earnest workers have no time to dwell upon the defects of others.

They behold the Saviour, and by beholding become changed into His likeness.

He is the One whose example we are to follow in our character building.

In His life upon the earth He plainly revealed the divine nature.

We should strive to be perfect in our sphere, as He was perfect in His sphere.

No longer are the members of the church to remain unconcerned in regard to the formation of right characters.

Placing themselves under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, they are to form characters that are a reflection of the divine character.

Romans 2:4

Do we presume upon His goodness, taking it for granted; not knowing that the the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Romans 2:5

If we continue down this path the result is that we are treasuring up to ourselves wrath on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Romans 2:6-11

All will receive wages that they are worthy of.

Whether wages of death, or wages of eternal life.

Romans 14:12

We shall give an account to ourselves to God.

Romans 2:12-16

This law in their hearts I believe is the enmity that God has placed in men from the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve sinned.

God has placed eternity in men’s hearts.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Christ is the “Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”

John 1:9.

As through Christ every human being has life, so also through Him every soul receives some ray of divine light.

Not only intellectual but spiritual power, a perception of right, a desire for goodness, exists in every heart.

But against these principles there is struggling an antagonistic power.

The result of the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is manifest in every man’s experience.

There is in his nature a bent to evil, a force which, unaided, he cannot resist.