A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 11 Chapter 2:3 – 4

A. Introduction.

1. Last week the Lord spoke to us about judgment. Verse 1 “...whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself...” We must be careful whom we judge and how we judge them because we will be judged in like matter by The Judge.

2. Verse 1 “...for thou that judgest doest the same things.” We are all sinners, truly who are to cast stones at others. John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” - This is not judging the leaven in the church.

3. Judgment is hard, we do not always know the truth or maybe all of the facts and this is the reason the Lord told us to be so careful in expulsion. Matthew 18:15 - 17 "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (16.) But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (17.) And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

4. However, the one true judgment is The Omniscient God. He has never sinned and knows all the truth, He will judge our every word because He knows our every word. He never misses or forgets anything. Verse 2 “But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. Psalms 9:8 "And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness."

B. Verse 3 “And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?”

1. “...and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” Be sure that we all will be judged in the same matter, God has no respect of persons that is judging one race different than another.

2. This is fact every person will face God in Judgment there is no escape.

C. Verse 4 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

1. The word “ despisest” means - to think against, that is, disesteem – or we could look at it as - to treat with neglect. That is God's “riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering” Just because God's judgment is not immediately does not mean He blesses wrong. People do not need to mistake these graces of God and neglect His “riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering” These graces should cause repentance of wrong doing but most of the time lead to neglect.

2. “...the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering...” The word “riches” means wealth or abundance which describes the three words that follows. God is rich in goodness and forbearance and longsuffering and thank God that He is. Ephesians 2:4 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us"

3. Goodness - describes His kindness.

4. Forbearance - Speaks literally of His holding in or restraining his indignation; or forbearing to manifest his displeasure against sin.

5. Longsuffering – Speaks of His slowness to anger; or his suffering them to commit sins long without punishing them.

6. God is rich in them all however God will not always be so gracious, one day God will punish sin, and God will one day bring chastisement on His own people. We are not to disesteem or neglect them but allow them to bring us to repentance. Ecclesiastes 8:11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."