Romans 2 Passing Judgment

 

Romans 2

Passing Judgment

It has been said, “If you find the perfect church, don’t join it”

John 7:24 tells us

Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment

Our judgment should always be like Christ

When we see sin, we cover it with love

This means our compassion moves us to restore, not condemn

Not that we ignore the sin, but in love, we look for a way to restore

 We will all stand before the Judgment Seat of God  

He will deal with sin according to a person’s works, righteously

We will judge angels, so we should judge the things of this life, as well

1 Corinthians 6:3

But it is God’s vengeance, not ours

Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30; Revelation 2:23

Let us be very careful in how we pass judgment

 

Passing Judgment

 

It has been said…

 

 “If you find the perfect church, don’t join it.”

 

Human nature has been the same from the beginning.

 

Paul in Chapter One of Romans, lists about 20

wicked and evil things that people do.

 

Time and location change

but human nature is still the same.

 

Sin may never be as bad when you do it,

 as someone else, but we all do it.

 

Paul says…

 

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things

Romans 2:1

 

Paul gives warning for those who pass judgment.

 

Someone once said…

 

 “Don’t judge me because I sin differently than you.”

 

It is true…

 

 All have sinned according to Romans 3:23.

 

John in 1 John 1:10 is talking

to believers when he says…

 

If we claim we have not sinned,

we make him out to be a liar and

his word has no place in our lives.

 

We still sin, even after we have been forgiven.

 

So, Paul says you don’t have an “excuse”.

 

Human judgment is full of “pride”.

 

I am better than you because you are ________.

 

Human judgment is based on opinion.

 

We have opinions on everything.

 

Those opinions come from what we like and dislike.

 

So, we make judgment on what people

 wear, types of music, foods, etc….

 

We all live in groups.

 

 Some groups we are born into like family, and race.

 

 Other groups we join like a school, church,

organization, work group or neighborhood.

 

In our groups…

 

 We sin by the “us vs them” attitude.

 

We get very nosey when someone new moves in.

 

When “clicks” are formed, others are judged.

 

Paul deals with the issues of Jews and Gentiles…

 

Judging throughout all his writings.

 

When we judge…

 

 We judge by something.

 

 Most of our judgment is by “opinion”,

but other times it is by “law”.

 

Paul saw the passing of judgment based on the law.

 

Paul never says the law is bad.

 

Jesus said it this way…

 

 I did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.

 Matthew 5:17-20

 

Paul, in Galatians 6:2 says…

 

Carry each other's burdens,

and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

 

There is a big difference between

carrying burdens and judging them.

 

Notice Paul says God’s judgment is based on “Truth”.

 

We will not escape God’s judgment

by passing judgment on others.

 

Their wrong does not make you better.

 

Ever notice how we make comparisons

when we judge, to make us look better.

 

Or, how we use others as an excuse for our actions. 

 

We know God is Just and He judges with truth…

 

Yet, God’s love is not to condemn.

 

Jesus came not into the world to condemn the world.  

John 3:17

 

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 Romans 5:8

 

And here in Romans 2…

 

 We see again God’s goodness

even when we are guilty of sin.

 

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

 

God does not want any to parish.

 2 Peter 3:9

 

Even when a law is broken,

 God offers mercy.

 

We are to judge.

 

Matthew 7:15-20 warns us to…

 

 Judge prophets because some of them are false,

judge them by their fruits,

 not by the sheep’s clothing they wear.

 

2 Timothy 3:16 tells us…

 

 The scriptures are given to help us make judgments

and pass judgments.

 

John 7:24 tells us…

 

Stop judging by mere appearances,

and make a right judgment. 

 

Our judgment should always be like Christ.

 

When we see sin, we cover it with love.

 

This means our compassion moves us to restore, not condemn.

 

Not that we ignore the sin,

 but in love, we look for a way to restore.

 

 We will all stand before the Judgment Seat of God.

 

 He will deal with sin according to a person’s works, righteously.

 

We will judge angels,

 so we should judge the things of this life, as well

1 Corinthians 6:3

 

But it is God’s vengeance, not ours.

 Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30; Revelation 2:23

 

Let us be very careful in how we pass judgment.

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

Romans 2:1-4 NIV

 

2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? 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?