DIG DEEP Bible Study, Pastor David Cooper, Riches In Romans #7 THE CURE FOR JUDGMENT One of the easiest commands Jesus gave us is one of the most difficult to keep – “Do no judge or you too will be judged” (Matt 7:1). The apostle Paul was a very religious man. When he met Christ, discovered that religion couldn’t save him from sin only Jesus could save him. He needed redemption not religion. Religion can make us judgmental but grace makes us merciful. 1. RESIGN YOUR POSITION AS JUDGE: “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things. Now we know that God's judgement against those who do such things is based on truth . So when you, a mere man, pass judgement on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgement?” (Romans 2:1-3) 1. Judgmental people are guilty: 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. Now we know that God's judgement against those who do such things is based on truth. (Romans 2:1-2). 2. We have “no excuse” to judge because we are sinners saved by grace – we do the same things we judge others for doing. 3. God’s judgement is based on truth but ours is based on speculation. God knows the motives of the heart but we make faulty judgements on external observation. He reminds us that are “mere men or women.” We lacked the power or the place to judge. 2. SHOW GRATITUDE FOR GOD’S KINDNESS: “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgement will be revealed” (Romans 2:4-5) 1. The Greek word for contempt means to think lightly. 2. True spiritual riches: for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience. 3. God’s kindness makes us merciful: “God's kindness leads you toward repentance.” (Romans 2:4) Here Paul means we need to repent of the sin of being judgmental and playing God in other people’s lives. When Joseph’s brothers thought he would take revenge on them for betraying him and selling him into servitude, he showed them mercy. “But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God?...and he reassured them and spoke kindly to them” (Gen 50:19-21) 3. YOU GET WHAT YOU GIVE: “God ‘will give to each person according to what he has done.’ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:6-11). 1. The law of sowing and reaping applies to every area of life. 2. God does not show favoritism (Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34). God loves us all equally. We are all guilty of sin and we are all saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ regardless of who we are, where we are from or what we have done. Copyright © 2021. David Cooper, All rights reserved. Mount Paran Productions .