Bad Things Happen to “Good People”

Bad Things Happento “Good People” Romans 2

Paul’s Surprising Argument • Humanity is in Trouble With God (Ch.1) • Apathetic Towards Him 1:18-19, 21, 25, 28 • God “Gave them over…” 1:24,26,28 • Humanity Becomes Depraved 1:29f • Wanting independence, instead we get slavery. • A “Moral Insanity” dominates. • But, Paul! I’m a GOOD Person! • “Good” People Are in Trouble Too! (Ch.2) • God Most Certainly Will Judge (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… Surprise, Surprise!

The Problem with “Good People” • A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) • “You’re right Paul, those are bad people!” (v1) • Did you know the “good person” is self-condemned? (v1b) • God uses HIS standards of Judgment (v2) • I.e., HIS Sense of Truth, not YOURS. • You may be saying, "What terrible people you have been talking about!" – Romans 2:1a (NLT) • But you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you do these very same things. – Romans 2:1b (NLT) • Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. Romans 2:2 (NIV)

Our Sense of Judgment:

Someone Else’s Sense of Judgment: Arrrrgh!!

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

The Problem with “Good People” • A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) • “You’re right Paul, those are bad people!” (v1) • Did you know the “good person” is self-condemned? (v1b) • God uses HIS standards of Judgment (v2) • If you agree SOMEBODY should go to Hell, then you agree YOU should go to Hell. (v3) • Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do them, too? Romans 2:3 (NLT)

“But I Don’t Believe in Hell” ! • Not a convincingargument. • What shouldGod do tothese men? • Nothing? • Reward? • Apologize? • Judgment? The Bible Teaches: Hell exists 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” • A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) • “You’re right Paul, those are bad people!” (v1) • Did you know the “good person” is self-condemned? (v1b) • God uses HIS standards of Judgment (v2) • If you agree SOMEBODY should go to Hell, then you agree YOU should go to Hell. (v3) • By God’s standards, only 1 sin means Hell (Jas.2:10) Rotten-EggOmeletteTheology UNFAIR!! • For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. James 2:10 (NASB-U)

An unrepentant heart is a PROUD heart before God. The Problem with “Good People” • A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) • A Problem of Pride (v.5) • But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God – Romans 2:5 (NASB-U)

The Problem with “Good People” • A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) • A Problem of Pride (v.5) • Found Guilty By God’s Law (v.6-8) who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and 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” • A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) • A Problem of Pride (v.5) • Found Guilty By God’s Law (v.6-11) • Which includes thoughts and motives (v.16) “on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.” – Romans 2:16 (NASB-U) 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) “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) "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” • A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) • A Problem of Pride (v.5) • Found Guilty By God’s Law (v.6-11) • 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) …For their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right. – Romans 2:15 (NLT) Rom. 2:16b God will judge the secrets of men’s hearts

The Problem with “Good People” • A Judgmental Attitude (v.1-4) • A Problem of Pride (v.5) • Found Guilty By God’s Law (v.6-11) • Found Guilty By Your OWN Law (v.12-15) • God Will Not Be Placated (v.17-24) • Rituals are Useless (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? • Something Internal (v28-29) • If you KNOW Christ. • 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? • Something Internal (v28-29) • If you KNOW Christ. • Approaching Him By Grace. (2:4) Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4 (NIV) • Approach as in Luke 18:9 • – “Be merciful to me, the sinner!” • Ephes. 2:8-9 “…so that no one may boast.”

What Works With God? • Something Internal (v28-29) • If you KNOW Christ. • Approaching Him By Grace. (2:4) • Means: Living By Grace. • See Matthew 18:23ff Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience… – Romans 2:4 (NIV)

Bad Things Happen to “Good People”