(A) Introduction. Read Rom2v1to16.

This is a passage that is very troublesome to me! I am trusting in God's grace for salvation. I believe that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. No one can lay any charge against God's elect. My faith is summed up by the first verse of Zinzendorf's great hymn:

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.

I feel it is best to examine what this Scripture has to say about God's judgment.

(B) God's judgment.

God's judgment is:

(1) True.

Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. v2.

In verses 1 to 3 Paul accuses those who are quick to censor the godless for the sins mentioned in the previous chapter of condemning themselves because they are equally guilty of the same sins.

How many who call themselves Christians are free from:

• Greed. We may not be part of the big bonus culture or dishonest when it comes to our expenses but we can be greedy for praise, popularity and recognition. If our appetite for these things is not met we can become disillusioned, cynical and even bitter.

• Envy. We may not be envious of another man's material possessions, his lovely wife and attractive children or his exciting life style but we may envy a fellow pastor's congregation.

• Malicious gossip. We may not actually slander anyone but how we enjoy having a small titbit of juicy gossip to impart. We are delighted to pass on information to someone's discredit.

• Arrogance. We may not be a pushy chief executive of business but that does not stop us being right about everything. Many Christians are unprepared to admit to the smallest mistake. They take a pride in their doctrinal infallibility.

• Faithlessness. Most, if not all, Christian husbands are faithful to their wives but the same could not be said about their relationship with their churches. Wife swopping is certainly not common among Grace Baptists but church swopping is.

• Heartlessness. It is very sad when Christians are hard, heartless and unforgiving. Some are quite ruthless over minor deviations from doctrine or practice. There are churches in Suffolk that ban users of the New International Version of the Bible. Who can forget the Wee Free Presbyterians of Scotland rescinding the membership of Lord Mackay, former Lord Chancellor, for attending a friend's funeral in a Roman Catholic Church. It was an act of infamy - guaranteed to bring Christianity into disrepute.

We are all inclined to be biased in our own favour - prone to excuse our little failings. We are strangely blind to our weaknesses and quick to forget our sinful deeds.

I have just finished reading an article in the Daily Telegraph about selfish cricketers. The author, a former professional cricketer himself, concluded that most cricketers were selfish. He finished by quoting Henry Ward Beecher: Selfishness is that detestable vice which no one will forgive in others, and no one is without himself.

King David was quick to judge wickedness in others. When Nathan the prophet told him the story of a rich man who stole a poor man's pet ewe lamb, a lamb that was like a daughter to him, to roast for a visitor, David was full of fury. He burned with anger. Nathan had to tell David, "You are the man." He took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be his own. How could he be so blind to his own sin?

The reason we are so remarkably tolerant of our own wickedness in because we have the plank of self-love in our eye. It is this that distorts our judgment. See exposition on Luke6v37to42.

God's judgment is true! He has no planks in his eye! And he has perfect recall. Yesterday I found an old letter I had written to my parents while they were on holiday in Sheringham in 1970. It is a long letter - full of incident - all of which I had forgotten! It is such a comfort to forget our failings but God does not forget.

(2) Deferred.

Do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realising God's kindness leads towards repentance? v3and4.

In the time of Jesus the Jews believed that if things were going well in this life God was pleased with them and there was no doubt about their future felicity. I think there is a hint of this attitude today. When life is sweet and people are deliriously happy then surely God cannot disapprove of them.

What many fail to realise is that God defers judgment because he is tolerant, patient and kind. He is giving men and women time for a change of heart and an opportunity to repent.

This is how Peter explains the long wait for Jesus' Second Coming: The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2Pet3v9. But the apostle adds that although deferred the day of the Lord will come like a thief.

I was talking to a man a few days ago. He was longing for Christ's Second Coming. He was so looking forward to the ungodly getting their comeuppance. That, would be IT for them: ZZZZZZZZPHT. He made a noise similar to that which occurs when a fly is incinerated in one of those incandescent fly traps.

God is kind! He will take no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked. However, it is the height of folly to be stubborn and hard of heart and so miss out on the extended opportunity for repentance and salvation.

In the old days when cities were under siege the inhabitants of a beleaguered town were given the opportunity to surrender. There was mercy available to those who yielded but awful retribution to those who were defiant to the last.

There is very little hope for those who remain defiant to the last. Consider Jesus' lament over Jerusalem: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look your house is left to you desolate." Lk14v34and 35.

The barren fig tree was given a second chance. Judgment was deferred. But the words of the owner of the fig tree are unequivocal: "If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not then cut it down." See Lk13v6to8.

The lesson is clear: if we treat God's tolerance, patience and kindness lightly we shall suffer in the day of God's wrath.

(3) Discriminatory.

God's judgment will depend upon what we have done. There is no doubt about it. Jesus told many parables to this effect: the parables of, the Ten Virgins, Talents, Sheep and Goats, the Tree and its Fruit, the Wise and Foolish Builders. The Parable of the Sheep and Goats is particularly clear and uncompromising. See Mt25v41to46.

The reason works are so important is because they are evidence of faith. James writes: What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds. Jms2v14.

We must ask ourselves two questions:

(a) Do we persist in doing good. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life. v7.

Do we aim daily to please Jesus in the hope of one day receiving glory, honour and immortality? That was Paul's aim. He wrote to the Philippians: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection to the dead. Phil3v10and11.

Jesus promised to give eternal life to all who believe in him. Belief in Jesus involves more than relyng on his death to save us from our sins. It also requires that we live to please him.

(b) Are we living to please ourselves. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

If people say, "No," to Jesus and decide to pursue their own interests thereby refusing the only way to enter the family of God they have only themselves to blame for the consequences.

Those who reject the truth about Jesus are certain to anger God. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." Imagine how God feels toward those who answer, "No, Jesus, you're not. If anything you darken men's minds rather than enlighten them." Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Heaven." How is God going to react to those who reply, "No, Jesus, you're not. You do men more harm than good." Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd." How will God respond to anyone who says, "Jesus is not my shepherd - I'm not going to be led astray."

If we do not live to please Jesus our lives are wasted. They are full of missed opportunities. The evil consists of having the potential to give so much and having actually given so little. Remember Jesus' parable of the Rich Fool. "God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'

This is how it will be with anyone who stores up for himself but is not rich toward God."

We must persist in doing good. In Haarlem during the Second World War the ten Boom family sheltered Jews. They were betrayed, discovered and arrested. Mr ten Boom and his daughters Corrie and Bessie were taken to the Gestapo headquarters in The Hague. As they were being processed the chief interrogator's eye fell on Mr ten Boom. He said, "That old man! Did he have to be arrested? I'd like to send you home old fellow. I'll take your word that you won't cause any more trouble."

Mr ten Boom replied, "If I go home today, tomorrow I will open my door again to any man in need who knocks."

Mr ten Boom did not go home! He died a few days later in prison. But although he died, the saintly old watch mender was determined to persist in good to the very end. That is what he did. (Taken from, 'The Hiding Place,' by Corrie ten Boom.)

(4) It is impartial.

For God does not show favouritism.

I find it difficult to know what Paul means by verses 12 to 16. The phrase, It is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous, is difficult. He doesn't say it those who obey Jesus who will be declared righteous - but the law. Later in the epistle he writes: Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Rom3v20.

All I can do is to make a few points that the passage suggests to me:

(a) God's judgment will not depend upon what race, culture or class you belong to. God does not favour the Jew before the Gentile, the Englishman before the Pakistani or the aristocrat before the gypsy.

(b) God's judgment will not depend upon knowing what is right but doing what is right. He wrote: For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

The Jews considered that they were special because it was to them that God gave the law. They thought that as custodians of God's law, as his elect people, they were assured of Paradise.

Paul argues that this does not make them special. Everybody - whether Jew or Gentile - had an instinctive knowledge of what was right and wrong. He wrote: The requirements of the law are written on their hearts their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them. v15.

Paul concludes that no one has any excuse for bad behaviour. Nobody thinks it is right to be stolen from, lied to, slandered, discriminated against or punished for what they haven't done.

This illustration proves the point: A philosophy professor began each new term by asking his class, "Do you believe it can be shown that there are absolute values like justice?" The free-thinking students all argued that everything is relative and no single law can be applied universally. Before the end of the term, the professor devoted one class period to debate the issue. At the end, he concluded, "Regardless of what you think, I want you to know that absolute values can be demonstrated. And if you don't accept what I say, I'll fail you!" One angry student got up and insisted, "That's not fair!" "You've just proved my point," replied the professor. "You've appealed to a higher standard of fairness."

A smoke alarm warns us of danger. When it goes off we know that we are in peril. Conscience is a bit like that. It warns us when we are about to do something wrong. It tells us to stop, to think about what we are about to do - to desist from evil. Unfortunately many smoke alarms are untended and neglected and fall into disuse. So are many consciences.

(c) The only thing that will be taken into account at the judgment is whether or not a person has done good to please God. The real good is not obedience to the law or conscience but to believe in Jesus. The evidence for belief in Jesus is a willing and cheerful obedience of him.

(5) Demanding.

This (The outcome of the way we live) will take place on the day when God will judge men's secret thoughts through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. v16.

Paul doubtless taught as part of his gospel that men and women would have to appear before the judgment seat of Christ. Jesus said: The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son. Jn5v22. God delegates judgment at the end of this present age to Jesus and this judgment will take into account man's secret thoughts.

In some ways this is an encouragement. Jesus will not be taken in by appearances. Some people are judged very favourably because they are talented, beautiful, charming, personable and confident. Others are judged harshly because they are austere, angular, brusque, charmless and ordinary.

I often use the example of my two grandmothers to illustrate this. When my grandmother Hughes visited and attended our chapel the people made a great fuss of her. She was very much the lady - well dressed and spoken, attractive and personable. On the rare visits of my grandmother Reed the members of the congregation ignored her. She said to my father, "You're folk are not very friendly." My grandmother Reed was a spare, rangy sort of woman without much style or charm. The fact is, my grandmother Reed was humble, hard-working and a very kind, selfless woman - my grandmother Hughes wasn't! (Although I have to say in fairness, she was good to me!)

In other ways Christ's demanding judgment is very challenging. Jesus is going to examine our hearts. He will take into account the motives for our behaviour.

Our Saviour taught: Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. Mt5v8. See exposition on Mt5v8. It is very hard to serve with pure motives. I have spent ten years working on this website without being convinced that my motives are sound. Perhaps I am writing for recognition and commendation! I know I should be writing to edify and enlighten. We scarcely know sometimes what our predominating motive is!

Jesus will also assess our thoughts - thoughts that can so often be lustful, angry, bitter, resentful, uncharitable, censorious and malicious. If I manage to get through a day without sinning in word and deed the same could not be said of my thoughts!

There is no doubt that Christians will be judged. Our works will be judged. See 1Cor3v10to15. See also exposition on 1Cor3v10to17. However my plea when I appear before Jesus will be: "I am a new creation. No more in condemnation. Here in the Grace of God I stand."

(C) Conclusion.

The emphasis in the passage we have been looking at is on works, the evidence of faith. Later in the epistle Paul will stress the crucial role of grace and faith in man's salvation. See Rom8v33. This is much more to my taste! The present Scripture is about eternal life being the prize for pleasing God. But Romans also teaches that it is the gift of God's grace. It is hard to reconcile that salvation is both a prize and a gift. But it is necessary because an undue emphasis on either results in dangerous errors. If salvation is only a prize this can result in legalism; if it is only a gift the outcome will be licence.