The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Romans 2:1-11
Trinity IV
1. After the introduction (1:1-17), Romans 1:18 to 3:20 is the Bible's most
severe description of natural man's sin and sinfulness and what will happen if
he does not repent of his sin. It ends with this thought: "Therefore, by the
deeds of the law no person will be justified before God, for by the Law is the
knowledge of sin." The Law can only show us our sin. It cannot save us.
2. Our text, 2:1-11, is addressed to both Jews and Gentiles. "To the Jew first
and then also to the Gentile" occurs twice in our text, verses 9-10. In this
context "Greek" means "non-Jew." But Paul adds in verse 11: "There is no
respect of persons before God." This thought pervades both Testaments
(Deuteronomy 10:17; Galatians 2:6; Acts 10:43) and is peculiar to the Bible.
The Covenant came first to the Jews but God treats Jews and Gentiles the same.
The Jew has no advantage because he was first and the Gentile has no advantage
because as first he had no Covenant.
3. Our text can be divided into two sections: Verses 1-5 which can be
summarized with: "You are without excuse," and verses 6-11 which are an
exposition of Psalm 62:13: "He (God) will pay back to each one according to his
works." Verses 7-8 distinguish between the faithful Christian and the faithless
unbeliever. And verses 9-10 restate verses 7-8 with the added thought of "To
the Jew first but also to the Gentile." But verse 11 makes clear that God
treats all impartially.
4. Our text does not teach that a person can be saved by his works. These
verses are a good example of what Luther meant when he said: "Faith alone
justifies but faith is never alone." Or as James said: "Faith without works is
dead." Or Jesus' words at John 15:1-8: "I am the Vine, you are the branches. He
that abides in Me and I in him brings forth much fruit." Verses 6-7 of our text
says "according to" not "because of." Where there is faith there will be good
works, Galatians 5:6. God _does_ reward the good works of a Christian, Matthew
19:29; Luke 17:10. But don't forget Paul's word at Romans 6:23: "The _gift_ of
God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." In fact both salvation and
Christian living are both a gift of God, Ephesians 2:8-10.
5. At 1:20 Paul had said "They are without excuse." In verses 18-20 Paul speaks
of those who have only a natural knowledge of God, knowledge of God from
creation only. Such people are without excuse. They cannot say: "You did not
reveal the Gospel to me. I am not to blame." At 2:1 Paul repeats: "You are
without excuse." But here in verses 1-5 Paul is speaking about people who try
to deny their sin and sinfulness, who condemn people but excuse those very sins
in themselves, who despise the kindness and goodness of God and who in their
ignorance do not know that only God's kindness leads people to repent of their
sins and believe in their Savior. Then in verse 5 he shows how the lot of this
ignorant man keeps getting worse and worse. The worst part of the unconverted
state is that people hypocritically excuse themselves, lie to themselves,
deceive themselves into thinking they are getting better when actually they are
getting worse. Twice (verses 1 and 3) Paul says "oh man" because he is
addressing both Jews and Gentiles.
6. Do these verses also speak to Christians? Most definitely. The unconverted
man denies what these verses say. The Christian, since he is still a sinner,
admits and confesses that these verses describe him. He cries "Lord, have mercy
on me!!" And He does. He forgives.
7. Sundry thoughts: "People show the worst kind of impenitence when they
condemn others while doing the same things themselves." This attitude shows the
awful sinfulness of human nature. "Paul is talking especially to people who
think they are getting on just fine." "Sinful human nature tends to exalt
itself and make itself god." In verse 10 "glory" denotes everlasting life,
"honor" of being with God, and "peace" signifies salvation.
8. The purpose of our text is to cause both unbeliever and believer to repent
of his sin. Jesus said: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is here."
The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Romans 2:1-11
Trinity IV
THEME: Why All People Desperately Need To Repent Of Their Sins
INTRODUCTION
Man by nature is spiritually blind, dead and an enemy of God. But, what is even
worse than that, man denies this. Or he condemns in others what he allows in
himself. Or he claims that he can escape the judgment of God. Or he despises
the goodness of God which alone can lead him to repentance. Or he thinks that
the threats of the Bible don't pertain to him. Sinful man constantly deceives
himself.
I. THEY DECEIVE THEMSELVES ABOUT THEMSELVES
A. They condemn in others what they allow in themselves. Perhaps the best
example of this is found at Matthew 7:1-5. There Jesus speaks about the
hypocrite who criticizes the sliver in another's eye but does not see the
beam in his own eye. That is what He calls unjust judgment. We are to
show other people their sins but only to bring them to repentance, not
to make ourselves look superior to them.
B. They fail to realize that the judgment of God rests on them. Read Luke
13:1-5. Jesus cites two examples, one of the Galileans whom Pilate had
cut down in the Temple and the other of the eighteen who were killed in
the reconstruction of the Tower of Siloam. People were greater sinners
than they thought they were. But Jesus said: "Unless you repent you too
will perish." Human nature is prone to say of God's eternal judgment in
hell: "Oh, it won't happen to me." The Lord says: "Don't deceive
yourself. It _will_ happen to you unless you repent of your sin."
C. They despise the kindness, the forbearance, the patience of God. A
good example here would be the unbelieving people in the days of Noah.
They married and were given in marriage, they did business as usual,
disregarding the warnings of Noah both about the judgment and kindness of
God. They said: "It won't happen to me." But it did happen to them. The
flood caught them unprepared and they perished.
D. They don't realize that their heart is hard and impenitent, verse 5.
When human beings are blind to their true sinful condition before God,
they are constantly heaping up for themselves a greater store of the
anger of God on judgment day, see Matthew 23:37.
II. THEY DECEIVE THEMSELVES ABOUT GOD
A. They do not recognize His true nature. People have strange notions
about the nature of God. Some think of Him as a kind old grandfather who
is out of touch with reality. Others think God got the world started but
lost control and now does not know what to do about it. Others think of
Him only as a stern judge who only wants to punish. But God is love. That
is the story of the Bible. He made a way for all to be saved in Jesus
Christ and He truly wills all to come to repentance. That is mentioned in
verse 4 of our text. Only the goodness of God can lead a person to repent
of his sins and believe in Christ. God is rich in kindness, forbearance
and patience, not willing that any should be lost but that all should
come to repentance. Natural man is blind to all of this. It is our duty
to being him to a knowledge of the Truth.
B. They think that God is a respecter of persons. Our text warns us
twice that Jew and Gentile will be treated exactly alike. The Jews will
not have it easier because the Covenant came to them first. And the
Gentiles will not have it easier because at first they had no Covenant
at all. God sends His rain to the just and the unjust. He is no
respecter of persons. The wages of sin is death. All men die. He is no
respecter of persons. He said: "Repent for the Kingdom of God is here."
He is no respecter of persons. He means this for all equally.
CONCLUSION
"All men are liars" said David. By nature they deceive themselves about
themselves and God. Avoid this by repenting.
__________________________________________________________________
This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
by Marilyn F. Gardner and is in the public domain by permission
of Dr. Buls. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text.
Please direct any comments or suggestions to:
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Walther Library
Concordia Theological Seminary
E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu
Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
Phone: (219) 452-2148 Fax: (219) 452-2126
_____________________________________________________________________