Romans 2- The Desperate Need of the Gospel

Let's be clear on this next portion of Romans 2. Those that have not heard the gospel will stand condemned. We must feel the seriousness and urgency so we will take up our calling to make disciples with haste.

"Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them. This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secret through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares" (Romans 2:14-16).

Paul notes that even those that do not have the law do things required by the law because the law is written on their hearts (vs. 14-16). So even a people group in the jungle with no Bible will stand condemned on the basis of their own moral compass (the law written on their hearts by the finger of the Almighty), or as a previous entry noted, by their tape recorders. I hope you see the need for the Gospel!?! The Bible clearly says, "All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law" (vs. 12). We must conclude that all people groups that have ever existed, stand under the curse of sin, the curse of Adam (Romans 5). And, all people groups are in desperate need of liberation, by and through the work of the second Adam, Jesus Christ (Romans 5).

How should this effect us? Well, by very nature, it begs us to take action. The fact that we sit idly by as many of our friends and coworkers race toward everlasting destruction is sin on our part. We cannot remain cool or calm regarding others that do not know Christ. We are compelled to share. Not because we want to convert or win over others to our way of thinking, but because out of great love and compassion, we want to rescue them from torment and deliver them into a everlasting kingdom of joy.

This passage should also inform our world missions. On the local front we are concerned for those that do not profess Christ. But, there are presentations available. We live in a Church saturated society. The gospel, if you don't know, is being preached in Beloit, Wisconsin and the surrounding areas. There are Disciples of Jesus in our midst that are making Him known. However, there are places where there is no visible Church of Jesus Christ. There are places where the gospel has not penetrated the darkness and it is our duty to pray, give, and sacrifice (even our own lives if necessary) to see the Gospel reach those places and those people.

Romans 2-Condemned by Yourself

When it comes to this concept of judgment found in Romans 2, I think Francis Schaeffer does a superb job of illustrating. He writes about it like this:

Let us suppose for a moment that as each baby is born, a tape recorder is placed about its neck. Let us further suppose that this tape recorder works only when moral judgments are being made. Aesthetic judgments, etc., are not recorded, but every moral judgment is. Throughout one's whole life, every moral motion is recorded upon the tape recorder. Finally, when each person dies and stands before God in judgement, God pushes a button and each person hears with his own ears his own moral judgments as they roll out over the years: "You were wrong in doing this. You are wrong in doing that." Thousands of moral judgments pour forth, and God simply turns and says, "On the basis of your own words, have you kept these moral standards?" And each man is silent. No person in all the world has kept the moral standards with which he has tried to bind others. Consequently, God says, "I will judge you upon your own moral statements (those judgments upon which you have bound and condemned others), even if they are lower than moral statements should be. Are you guilty or not guilty? No one will be able to raise his voice. The whole world will stand totally condemned before God in utter justice, because they will be judged not upon what they have known, but upon what they have judged others and have not kept themselves. So all men must say, "Indeed I am justly condemned." (A Christian View of the Church pg.278)

As you can see, God is utterly just in His dealing with us. I try to emphasize this over and over, there will never be a person in Heaven that feels slighted. Grace will be the only explanation of why anyone is present.

Romans 2- So Quick to Judge

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things." (Romans 2:1).

Why is it so natural to judge? As I sit here and try to think of things and people that I condemn, I am having a hard time coming up with a substantial list. The reason however, is not because I do not judge, but because it is so natural that I hardly give a thought to it. The reality is that I judge all the time. I judge people that I come in contact with, I judge the performance of others, I judge the attitudes displayed by others, I judge motives, I judge content, I judge, I judge, I judge.

Now the reason why this passage is so indicting is because it says, "you who pass judgement do the same things." It would be one thing if I was morally blameless. However, the reality is when I am judging something or someone else, I am judging something that I myself do or have done.

We all stand guilty. We are each guilty of being annoying, guilty of not looking or acting a certain way, guilty of flaws, guilty of making mistakes, guilty of reacting wrongly, and most damning-- guilty of treason against God. But, God in His infinite kindness, tolerance, and patience, has lead us to repentance (vs. 4). Imagine for a moment, that God actually gave you what you deserve... Recently the Great Accuser has marched my most embarrassing sins through my mind in an effort to discourage. They are absolutely terrible sins that I wish I could undue. Take a moment to think through some of the utterly despicable things you have done.... What if God treated you as your sins deserved? We would all be in a lot of trouble. Yet, God in his grace has redeemed us by Jesus' death on a cross. Amazing! But let us press this even further. Even after your conversion, you still do things that are absolutely punishable. This week even, when given the option of obedience or sin, you chose sin. (I'm not a prophet. I simply know my own flaws and think they are common to humanity.) But, God is still patient with you!?! Isn't this bizarre?!?

In 1555 John Bradford was burned at the stake for being a protestant Christian. He was known as a compassionate and Christ-like man. Also, he had made a habit of cultivating a life of repentance. Meaning, he made it his ambition to see his own flaws and shortcomings and repent of them quickly. One of the practices that he was known for, I heavily recommend to you: When Bradford would see criminals being lead out to execution he would say, "There but for the grace of God go John Bradford." (Rediscovering Holiness, by JI Packer pg. 116).

We live in a world of broken and messed up people. We need to be careful that we do not judge others for what we ourselves do. Whenever I see someone who is stumbling through life, making mistakes, and sinning, I should remind myself, "there but for the grace of God goes Cory Williams."

Spring 2010 Newsletter

Here is a link to a newsletter to let parents and families know what is going on around Central these days. If you are a parent or student check it out here.

If God Wants His People to Grow Up...

My dad reminded me tonight of a great video from John Stott Ministries also known as the Langham Partnership. It is a beautiful reminder of the global church and the basic requirements of spiritual growth. Superb.

"If God wants His people to grow up, which He does... and if they grow by the Word of God, which they do... and if the Word of God comes to them mainly through preaching, which it does, then the logical question to ask is, "what can we do to raise the standards of biblical preaching?" Because then the Word of God will come to the people of God more effectively, and they will grow up to the glory of God Himself."

John Stott's Final Chapter

Last month was a big month for "uncle John," as some call him. The release of his newest and self-proclaimed last book took place mid April. Which was followed by his 89th birthday last week.

His last book is titled, "The Radical Disciple: Some Neglected Aspects of our Calling" is a beautiful work.

A few years ago Stott wrote a book called "The Living Church" in which, after decades of serving the Church, he wrote a phenomenally profound and incredibly simple book on what the church should be. I was rocked as I read this man's honest assessment of what the Church needs to strive for.

The Radical Disciple had a similar affect. As Stott is now in the final chapter of his life, he is assessing his many years of experience and addressing the generations to come. In this book he looks at what it means to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. He takes up eight different profound yet simple aspects that Christ followers should exhibit.

The eight aspects are rather diverse. I believe that is because he is emphasizing "neglected" aspects. I especially enjoyed the chapter on Simplicity. That is an area that I have often neglected in my discipleship. Stott says, "we resolve to renounce waste and oppose extravagance in personal living, clothing and housing, travel and church buildings" (pg. 76). I will be the first to admit that this is a hard aspect to live up to because I am steeped in materialism!

I am sure this will be a book I return to over and over again.

God is Still God, and God is Still Good

I found this video over at the resurgence blog... It is well worth a viewing.

The Story of Zac Smith from NewSpring Media on Vimeo.