So, You Think the Law Will Save You?

Introduction: As he deals with the religious Jews, Paul ... 1) Points out their hypocrisy. Though they claimed the Law, which the Gentiles did not have, they still did many of the same bad things they accused the Gentiles of doing. 2) Explains that God is impartial in His judgment. Because they misunderstood the doctrine of election, they thought that God was going to treat them with favoritism.

Introduction: Paul emphatically teaches that God is not going to grade on a curve, but that His Law is going to be strictly applied and enforced.

Romans 2:12-14 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: P

Romans 2:15-16 15 which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. P

TWO MODERN ERRORS:  In the final judgment, God's grace is going to triumph over His justice, and those who have not embraced Christ in this life will be pardoned by God's mercy.

TWO MODERN ERRORS:  In the final judgment, God's grace is going to triumph over His justice, and those who have not embraced Chrit in this life will be pardoned by God's mercy. Clark Pinnock

TWO MODERN ERRORS:  In the final judgment, God's grace is going to triumph over His justice, and those who have not embraced Christ in this life will be pardoned by God's mercy.  People who feel secure because they have made a “profession of faith,” yet their lives deny the transforming power of the gospel.

Key Concepts Some have misunderstood the Law, because the Law was never given to justify us. The promises of God are what we are to trust in for salvation. The Law is our standard for living.

Key Concepts Then there are those who make a lot of noise about having the Law, the problem is they don't live by it.

EVEN IF SOMEONE HAS NEVER HEARD GOD'S LAW, THEY WILL STILL BE JUDGED BY THE LAW BECAUSE THEY HAVE BROKEN IT. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Since we break the Law, we will be judged and condemned by it. The Law will not justify any sinner whether he is a Jew or a Gentile. As Paul took aim at the religious crowd, he zeroed in on their hypocrisy and self-justification. His tool of diagnosis is the distinction between hearers and doers of the Word.

OUR CONSCIENCE ALSO CONFIRMS THE JUSTICE OF GOD'S JUDGMENT 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Another objection was that God wasn't fair if He was judging everybody by the Law, because some have never heard it. God's judgment is fair because everyone who has ever lived has the Law of God written on their hearts, and our consciences confirm to us that God's judgment against sin is real and it's right.

Paul presents the following evidence: 1) Some Gentiles often fulfill the works of the Law. 2) Gentiles' governments have rules and standards some of which are in accordance with God's Law. 3) Gentiles' consciences reveal they have the Law of God written on their hearts because sometimes they feel guilty about the things they have done or not done. 4) They also reflect upon these guilty feelings considering the difference between right and wrong.

GOD'S JUST JUDGMENT WILL BE REVEALED BY THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. In the preaching of the Gospel, there is a proclamation of God's just judgment.

If we truly believe the Gospel then we are inherently committing ourselves to the belief that God will judge mankind, but those who are in Christ will be spared from His punitive judgment; and those who reject Christ will not be spared from God's righteous judgment and its penalty.

The Gospel doesn't negate judgment. Grace and mercy are optional, but justice and judgment are not. The very existence of grace requires a final judgment.

The Gospel doesn't negate judgment. Grace and mercy are optional, but justice and judgment are not. The very existence of grace requires a final judgment. There would be no grace available for us apart from the justice of God; because God's grace is based upon exacting His justice upon His Son. Therefore, if grace and justice are incompatible, then the Gospel is impossible.

Until we understand the seriousness of sin, until we admit that we are deserving of judgment, until we believe that God's judgment is just, then we will never understand just how IS