God's Judgment, Goodness, and the Call to Repentance

 

Summary

In this evening's reflection on Romans 2:2-4, we delve into the profound truth of God's judgment and the implications it holds for all humanity, including the Jews who believed themselves exempt. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that God's judgment is always according to truth, unlike human judgment, which is fallible and often biased. This truth is crucial for understanding the doctrine of the atonement, which asserts that God's justice requires the punishment of sin. The atonement, therefore, is not merely an expression of God's love but a necessary act of justice where Christ bore the punishment for our sins.

The Jews, confident in their special status as God's chosen people, failed to recognize their own sinfulness and the necessity of God's righteousness. They misinterpreted their history and the scriptures, blinded by sin, and believed that God's goodness would exempt them from judgment. This false sense of security is a common human condition, where people presume upon God's goodness and forbearance, failing to see that these are meant to lead us to repentance.

The Apostle warns against despising God's goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. These attributes are not to be taken lightly or used as excuses to continue in sin. Instead, they should lead us to a deeper understanding and appreciation of God's character, prompting genuine repentance and transformation. The riches of God's goodness are evident in His provision and care for all, regardless of their righteousness. His forbearance and longsuffering demonstrate His patience, giving us time to turn back to Him.

As we reflect on these truths, we are called to examine our own lives and attitudes towards God's goodness. Are we truly grateful and responsive to His grace, or do we take it for granted? This reflection should stir within us a sense of urgency in sharing the gospel, knowing that God's judgment is inevitable and that His goodness is an invitation to repentance.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Judgment and Truth: God's judgment is always according to truth, unlike human judgment, which is fallible. This truth is foundational for understanding the doctrine of the atonement, where Christ's sacrifice satisfies God's justice. [02:12]

2. The Danger of Presumption: The Jews' confidence in their special status led them to presume upon God's goodness, failing to recognize their own sinfulness. This presumption is a common human condition that blinds us to our need for repentance. [17:19]

3. The Riches of God's Goodness: God's goodness is evident in His provision and care for all, regardless of their righteousness. This goodness should lead us to gratitude and repentance, not complacency. [37:03]

4. Forbearance and Longsuffering: God's forbearance and longsuffering demonstrate His patience, giving us time to turn back to Him. These attributes are not to be taken lightly or used as excuses to continue in sin. [43:56]

5. Urgency in Evangelism: Understanding God's judgment and goodness should stir within us a sense of urgency in sharing the gospel. We must communicate the reality of God's wrath and the necessity of repentance to those who are unaware. [13:46]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - Introduction to Romans 2:2-4
- [01:11] - Jews Under God's Judgment
- [02:12] - God's Judgment According to Truth
- [03:36] - The Doctrine of the Atonement
- [05:17] - God's Justice and Punishment
- [07:19] - Christ's Sacrifice and Our Forgiveness
- [09:36] - God's Righteousness and Forgiveness
- [11:21] - The Inescapability of God's Judgment
- [13:11] - The Urgency of Evangelism
- [15:06] - Misunderstanding God's Goodness
- [17:19] - Sin's Blinding Effect
- [20:52] - Signs of the Times
- [22:17] - False Sense of Security
- [24:32] - The Argument of God's Goodness
- [30:25] - Despising God's Goodness
- [37:03] - The Riches of God's Goodness
- [43:56] - God's Longsuffering and Patience
- [46:36] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 2:2-4

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Paul emphasize about God's judgment in Romans 2:2, and how does it differ from human judgment? [01:57]

2. How did the Jews' perception of their special status affect their understanding of God's judgment and goodness? [01:11]

3. What attributes of God are highlighted in Romans 2:4, and what purpose do they serve according to the Apostle Paul? [00:33]

4. How does the sermon describe the common human condition of presuming upon God's goodness? [15:06]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that misunderstanding God's judgment can lead to heretical views about the atonement? [03:36]

2. How does the sermon explain the relationship between God's goodness and the call to repentance? [30:44]

3. What does the sermon suggest about the dangers of taking God's forbearance and longsuffering lightly? [43:56]

4. How does the sermon connect the urgency of evangelism with the understanding of God's judgment and goodness? [13:46]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be presuming upon God's goodness, assuming it will exempt you from judgment? How can you address this presumption? [15:06]

2. Consider the attributes of God's goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. How can you cultivate a deeper appreciation for these in your daily life? [41:55]

3. The sermon calls for an urgency in sharing the gospel. Identify one person in your life who may not be aware of God's judgment and goodness. How can you share the gospel with them this week? [13:46]

4. How can you ensure that your understanding of God's judgment aligns with the truth, avoiding the fallacies that the Jews fell into? [01:57]

5. Reflect on a time when you took God's grace for granted. What steps can you take to foster genuine repentance and transformation in your life? [32:44]

6. How can you use the understanding of God's judgment and goodness to motivate your spiritual growth and commitment to living a life that honors Him? [09:36]

7. In what ways can you actively remind yourself of the riches of God's goodness in your everyday experiences, and how can this awareness impact your interactions with others? [37:03]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Judgment is Rooted in Truth
God's judgment is always according to truth, unlike human judgment, which is fallible and often biased. This truth is foundational for understanding the doctrine of the atonement, where Christ's sacrifice satisfies God's justice. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that God's judgment is impartial and based on truth, which is a stark contrast to the often flawed and biased judgments of humans. This understanding is crucial for grasping the depth of the atonement, where Christ's sacrifice is not just an act of love but a fulfillment of divine justice. It is a reminder that God's standards are perfect and that His judgment is inevitable and righteous. [02:12]

"For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." (Isaiah 30:18, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you relied on human judgment rather than seeking God's truth in your life? How can you align your understanding of justice with God's perspective today?


Day 2: The Peril of Presuming on God's Goodness
The Jews' confidence in their special status led them to presume upon God's goodness, failing to recognize their own sinfulness. This presumption is a common human condition that blinds us to our need for repentance. Many people, like the Jews of Paul's time, assume that their special status or past experiences with God exempt them from judgment. This false sense of security can lead to spiritual complacency and a lack of awareness of one's own sinfulness. It is crucial to recognize that God's goodness is not a license to sin but an invitation to repentance and transformation. [17:19]

"Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you have taken God's goodness for granted? How can you actively respond to His kindness with genuine repentance today?


Day 3: The Riches of God's Goodness
God's goodness is evident in His provision and care for all, regardless of their righteousness. This goodness should lead us to gratitude and repentance, not complacency. God's abundant goodness is a testament to His character and His desire for all to come to repentance. It is easy to become complacent and take His blessings for granted, but His goodness is meant to draw us closer to Him and inspire a heart of gratitude and transformation. Recognizing the richness of God's goodness should prompt us to live lives that reflect His love and grace. [37:03]

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" (Psalm 34:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a heart of gratitude for God's goodness in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to express this gratitude today?


Day 4: Embracing God's Forbearance and Patience
God's forbearance and longsuffering demonstrate His patience, giving us time to turn back to Him. These attributes are not to be taken lightly or used as excuses to continue in sin. God's patience is a profound expression of His love, allowing us the opportunity to repent and return to Him. It is important to understand that His forbearance is not an endorsement of sin but a chance for transformation. Embracing His patience should lead to a sincere desire to change and align our lives with His will. [43:56]

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you been using God's patience as an excuse to delay repentance? How can you actively respond to His forbearance with a commitment to change today?


Day 5: Urgency in Sharing the Gospel
Understanding God's judgment and goodness should stir within us a sense of urgency in sharing the gospel. We must communicate the reality of God's wrath and the necessity of repentance to those who are unaware. The reality of God's impending judgment and His incredible goodness should compel us to share the message of salvation with urgency. It is a call to action for believers to spread the gospel, emphasizing the need for repentance and the hope found in Christ. This urgency is not just about warning others but inviting them into a transformative relationship with God. [13:46]

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (Romans 10:14, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the message of the gospel? What steps can you take today to share God's love and truth with them?

Quotes

"Now we must remind ourselves that here the Apostle is bringing home especially to the Jews the fact that they like everybody else were under the wrath of God and that the only hope of salvation that was open to them as all others was in this righteousness provided by God in the Lord Jesus Christ which is received by faith." [00:47:59]

"God's judgment is always according to truth against them which commit such things. Now before I leave this there is just one thing I've got to enter there is a kind of deduction which we make from all that which is of tremendous significance and importance we shall find the Apostle taking it up himself later in the third chapter." [00:49:00]

"Now you know there are many who Israel the atonement is just this they say that what was really happening on the cross and Calvary's Hill was that God was announcing through the death of his own son that he is nothing but love and that there is no judgment that he's ready to overlook sin." [00:48:53]

"God has said that he is going to punish sin therefore God must punish him and God does punish him how then can he forgive me how can it possibly forgive me there is only one answer it is because he has punished my sin in the person of his own son so you see this whole theory here this great doctrine about the judgment of God according to truth introduces the great doctrine of the atonement." [00:51:34]

"Are we truly grateful and responsive to His grace, or do we take it for granted? This reflection should stir within us a sense of urgency in sharing the gospel, knowing that God's judgment is inevitable and that His goodness is an invitation to repentance." [00:45:52]

"Now the Jews were constantly bringing this particular argument forward they were doing it in the time of our Lord Himself they were doing it up against the Apostle Paul their argument was this they said look young look back across our long history is there anything plainer and clearer than this that God has blessed us that God loves us we don't say we are perfect but look at the way his bestest look at the way he's led us." [00:57:38]

"Sin is something that affects the whole of men it is a ruined man it affects our intellects as well as every other thought of us and what he does is to blindness now let us see how it had blinded these jewelers you see it made them miss read their own Old Testament they were very proud of their Old Testament it was the thing that differentiated them from all of the nisshin's the Oracles of God." [01:03:03]

"Now the Old Testament Scriptures that tell them quite clearly what God's character was God had revealed himself in his character to them as I say in the Ten Commandments the moral law in the writings of the prophets it was perfectly plain and clear that his righteous and the holy God who judges always according to truth they'd read the very scriptures but they hadn't seen that they'd misread them they were twisting the scriptures to suit their own case." [01:07:23]

"Now here I think we see very clearly don't we the terrible blinding effect upon sin sin is something that affects the whole of men it is a ruined man it affects our intellects as well as every other thought of us and what he does is to blindness now let us see how it had blinded these jewelers you see it made them miss read their own Old Testament they were very proud of their Old Testament it was the thing that differentiated them from all of the nisshin's the Oracles of God." [01:03:03]

"Now the form in which he puts it adds to it he puts it in the form of a question a rhetorical question which answers itself or despises thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering not knowing that the goodness of God lead as he to repentance what you are doing says the Apostle is to despise the goodness of God now here is one of the most serious and one of the most solemn charges that can ever be brought against me." [01:32:34]

"Now the Jews were constantly bringing this particular argument forward they were doing it in the time of our Lord Himself they were doing it up against the Apostle Paul their argument was this they said look young look back across our long history is there anything plainer and clearer than this that God has blessed us that God loves us we don't say we are perfect but look at the way his bestest look at the way he's led us." [00:57:38]

"Now the Old Testament Scriptures that tell them quite clearly what God's character was God had revealed himself in his character to them as I say in the Ten Commandments the moral law in the writings of the prophets it was perfectly plain and clear that his righteous and the holy God who judges always according to truth they'd read the very scriptures but they hadn't seen that they'd misread them they were twisting the scriptures to suit their own case." [01:07:23]

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Transcript
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