8/27/23 - The Failure of Religion and Moralism - Romans 2 - Pastor Jason Fritz

For the last couple of weeks we’ve been reading from Romans chapter one. The apostle Paul paints a bleak but realistic portrait of what happens when people reject God. There is a very predictable trajectory that leads to dark places and practices including idolatry and sexual perversion. However, in chapter two he makes an abrupt, unexpected, and shocking turn. It only makes sense if you understand what he’s written at the end of chapter one... 
 
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32

Paul understands his letter is going to be read in front of the entire congregation. So you can imagine many in the church shaking their heads saying, “Those pitiful, awful idolaters, sexual perverts and wicked sinners - May God have mercy on them!” Paul confronts these people in the very next verse by saying, “You who sit there and pass judgment on others, you are also guilty.”

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. Romans 2:1

Paul has everyone’s attention now. It is human nature to look down on others. This is a result of our own insecurities and deep desire to perceive ourselves as better than the people around us. Church-goers tend to be especially competent at this. It’s as if Paul says, “Hey, you religious people, you Bible-believing, Bible-obeying folks, looking at all these awful pagans out there rolling in the streets together in their drunkenness and their orgies, you’re feeling superior to them but guess what - You’re doing the same thing!”

Now you might ask, “How is this possible? Religious folks are not actually bowing down to man-made idols and indulging in orgies.” No, they may not be doing that, but you must understand that rebellion takes many different forms. Jesus tells a story about two prodigal sons. Both use their father, but in very different ways. The younger tells dad, “I want my inheritance now!” Which is another way of saying, “I wish you were dead.” Remarkably, the father does it. He gives the son his share. The boy goes off and spends it all, living wildly. Eventually, he is face down in the mud with pigs. Not where good Jewish boys ought to be. He comes to his senses and goes back to his father. Dad welcomes him and all is forgiven with a huge party to follow. Meanwhile, the older son is watching and growing angry. You think he would be happy but in fact, the nature of his heart is revealed. He says to dad, “You never gave me a party and I’ve been with you this whole time!” Both boys were using their father, one by being bad...the other by being good. Dad was gracious to these young men and yet both took advantage of his kindness. Paul comments on the kindness of God as a corrective influence in our own lives...
 
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? Romans 2:4
 
To presume on God’s kindness is the Christian who willfully and knowingly chooses to sin and in the back of his or her mind is thinking, “I can always come back to God.”  God’s kindness should not be leading you toward sin, it should be leading you away from it.