Justifying God’s Heart

Manuscript Notes          Outline Notes

Text:  Romans 2:1-11; 12-16

“Houston, we have a problem!” This famous quote from the Apollo 13 space mission in April 1970 was uttered by the mission commander, Jim Lovell, when he was informed that an oxygen tank on board had exploded, resulting in catastrophic effects on the mission’s success and the survival of those on board the shuttle. That phrase has become iconic in our culture as an expression of when a major, show-stopping, mission-ending problem arises. 

And that is what is happening here in our text. “Paul, we have a problem—two, in fact!” And they are major, gospel-stopping, mission-ending problems!

They appear right in the middle of Paul’s discussion where he maps out the fallen human heart and the five major conditions to which it is prone. 

We have discussed the pagan heart that refuses to glorify God, rejects the goodness of God, and rebels against the moral authority of God (1:18-32). 

In chapter two, we encountered another type of person—someone who received significantly greater light from God than the Gentiles in chapter one. However, despite possessing clearer and more abundant knowledge about God in the Law of Moses, these people faced the same condemnation as the Gentiles in chapter one. 

In this chapter, Paul aims to prove that these presumptuous individuals deserve condemnation for three undeniable reasons: 

1. They commit the same sins as those they condemned in chapter one; 
2. They are guilty of significant and undeniable hypocrisy; 
3. They have brought shame upon God’s name and brought condemnation upon themselves.

However, before he addresses the issue of Jewish hypocrisy, Paul must deal with these two significant problems that could potentially undermine not only his argument about the human heart but also the entire premise upon which the gospel rests—that God saves people by grace alone through faith alone and extends this salvation impartially to all who repent and believe. 

Problem 1: Is God __________ when He states in Romans 2:6 that a man is justified by his works, while He clearly states elsewhere that man is not justified by works but by faith alone?

Problem 2: Is God __________ in being partial to one group of people to whom He gives the Law? How can He say He is impartial when He judges those who have not received the Law for not following it?

These two questions get to the heart of spiritual hypocrisy. Hypocrisy appears in this text in two main ways: a) Duplicitous Speech: When we say one thing and do another; and b) Partiality in Action: When we act unfairly toward someone by holding them to a standard to which we have not granted them access.  

  I. Is God Duplicitous in His __________? (2:6-11)

• The __________ – God appears to speak out of both sides of his mouth in ways that are incompatible with His nature, His Word, and the reality of Human nature.
• The __________ – this is not a minor matter that is easily dismissed.

• The __________ – What does it mean to be justified by “doing (practicing) the law?” (2:13)“For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified.”
  1. This is hypothetical 
  2. This is actual
  3. This is affirmational 
• The __________ – Does the Scripture teach this?  Yes!
  • Paul teaches that a man is justified (declared righteous) by a living, obedient faith, just like Abraham’s!
  • James teaches that a living faith that saves is verified and validated by the ongoing, faithful obedience it produces in the life of the person who has been declared righteous. (James 2:18,21-24).
  • Paul teaches that on Judgement Day, our faith will be validated by the obedient works it produces, not merely by what it professes to believe (Romans 2:6-10).

• The Conclusion – God is not Duplicitous in His Speech

When God states that we are saved by faith and justified by works, He is not duplicitous.

1. Because the Scriptures clearly teach that we are saved by __________ alone through __________ alone in __________ alone.
2. Because the Scriptures clearly teach that we will be judged according to our __________ —specifically, the works our faith produces that demonstrate whether our faith is __________ or __________!

II. Is God Hypocritical in His __________? (2:12-15)

How can God be just in His actions and impartial in His decisions when He only gave the written Law to one nation?

• The Problem – if it isn’t the hearers but the doers of the law who are justified, how can God be just in condemning a world full of people who never received the Law that He gave to Israel?
  Rom 2:12-13 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified 
• The __________ – God condemns me for sinning, not for my relationship to the Law; therefore, everyone is judged Impartially.
  Rom 2:12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
  • Everyone gets the Moral Law of God, so they are judged fairly.
  • Access to the Law of Moses does not determine anyone’s eternal destiny; therefore, everyone is judged impartially.  
  • Hearing (having access) the Law is not what acquits (justifies) a person—only those who consistently do the Law will be acquitted.

• The Explanation – those who are justified have the Law written in their hearts and are therefore judged by the true spiritual nature of their heart (2:14-15).
  14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

What is their true spiritual condition? Are their hearts morally dark and idolatrous (1:18-32)?  Are they hard and impenitent (2:1-11)?  Or has their heart (inner man) been transformed by the grace of God so that they now desire to obey the Law of God and are energized to do so by the Spirit of God who dwells in them?

• The __________ – their conscience confirms their standing before God. (2:15-16)
  They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

• Their conscience “bears witness” for or against them. 
• This happens now in this present life.
• This will happen then on the coming Day of Judgment:  

So what do I do when my conscience convicts me and my thoughts affirm that conviction?  What will I do on that day?  

I will run to Jesus, who promised to deliver me from condemnation on that day if I obey the gospel’s demand for an obedient faith!

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!’

Conclusion:  What about My Heart?  (Romans 8:1-4)

Houston, we have a problem – and it isn’t God after all!  It is me!!

When faced with the undeniable reality of our guilt, our fallen hearts will do anything they can to avoid repenting – including finding fault with God and using that fault (inconsistency) to justify themselves!

Paul has made it very clear that the problem does not rest with God. There is no hypocrisy with God, not in duplicitous speech or partiality in action. The problem lies with us! 

Only the gospel of God that Paul is preaching is powerful enough to save us from our sins and deliver us from His wrath—if we respond in repentance and obedient faith!

So, what will you do with the God who justifies?