Romans 2:1-11 – “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.  Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?  Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?  But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.  There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.  For God shows no partiality.”

There is a message here for us all.  I must begin by saying what this scripture is not about.  Now I know in reading the first verses above, there will be some of you, who say, “Yes!”, we should not judge others, and lose sight of what is actually being said.  Jesus, and the Bible are of one accord that we should be wise, we should be discerning (make judgments about situations and others), and we should act accordingly.  A few examples of our calling to discern/make judgments:

Leviticus 19:15 – “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”

1 John 4:1-3 – “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God:  every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.  This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 – “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 – “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?  What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?”  (requires discernment/judgment whether or not someone is a believer)

So all of these people who run around saying, judge not, lest ye be judged, and imply that it means we should never make judgments about another… that’s just foolishness.  I want to ask that person, really?  Ok, if you really feel that way, I tell you what, I’ve got a free trip for you and your spouse, and don’t worry about your kids, I’ve already got a babysitter lined up.  Yep while you’re off in Europe, they’ll be spending the week with Michael Jackson on his ranch.  What?  You’re not ok with that?  But I thought we weren’t supposed to make judgments about others, right?

This passage is not a license to ignore common sense sense judgments about morality or wisdom/prudence in dealing with others.

Alright, that was a big side lesson on what this passage is not about, now I want to quickly run through what it is about.  What it means is that we are not to condemn anyone.  It means that the entire point of the gospel; the good news to all of us as sinners, is that no one’s sin is greater than the blood of Christ.  We should love sinners (of which we all are) enough to call them to repent of their sins and turn to Christ, but it doesn’t mean we walk around like fools ignoring the obvious.  It also means that if a sinner (of which we all are) does repent of his/her sins and turn to Christ, we should rejoice.  Even still, loving them we should not put them in situations where they are prone to fall into their old sin.

There are many who profess the name of Christ, and assume because they have made a decision, prayed a prayer, or done some act, that they are saved.  No.  Faith is a gift, not a work.  I’m not saying those things aren’t helpful; I ask God to save me every day, knowing that my heart is deceitful, and I rest only in the grace and mercy purchased for me through Christ.  Our assurance of salvation though should never come from any single act.  I cringe when people say “If you just prayed that prayer, congratulations, you’ve passed from darkness into light, you’re saved!”  5 years down the road, when that person has continued in sexual sin, committed unrepentant, habitual adultery against their spouse; they’re still clinging to the false belief that there were saved because of a 5 year old prayer and the confirmation from a pastor.  We need to break from this lie.  The grace of God in Christ is meant to push you towards repentance and righteousness in following God.  If there is no repentance, no turning from your sin, no delighting in God and the peace and joy in obedience to Him, there is no forgiveness of sin.  Does that get preached?  Probably not, which is a tragedy.  I don’t care if you call yourself a Christian, if you continue to deliberately sin, not turning from it towards God, you do not understand the gospel.  How can you claim salvation through Christ without understanding that He came to save you from sin?  If you want sin, you don’t want Christ.  That should be scary for those who in self-righteousness condemn others for their sin, while they themselves continue to sin.  Here is what we are told in Hebrews 10:26-27 – “if we go on sinning deliberatelyafter receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.”

This is what Jesus spoke to the crowds when He was delivering His sermon on the mount – Matthew 7:21-23 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'”

I live each day, pursuing peace and joy in obedience to God, and there is enough sin on my best day to condemn me to hell for all eternity.  This is what God says in 1 Peter 4:18 – “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 

Here is my exhortation:  Are you harboring sin in your heart?  I don’t have to convince you if you are or not, your own conscious will tell you.  Stop making excuses for your own sin.  Aren’t you tired of dealing with it?  Lay it down.  Don’t feign self-righteousness by pointing out the sin of others; what does that have to do with you and your sin?  Matthew 7:3-4 – “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” 

The blood of Christ is infinitely precious that God has made atonement for all of your sin, past, present, and future.  Run the race that has been given you for Christ.  Let your light so shine before men, that they would see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven.  Wherever you are today, whatever your yesterday was, turn to pursue peace and joy in obedience to Christ now.  Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  You will struggle; your flesh will cry out for it’s old sin, but the surpassing joy of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord is infinitely more valuable.  Let the love of Christ be your guide.  1 Peter 5:8-11 – “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  

Grace and Peace,
Adam