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Sermon Outline Prepared by Joseph P. Metoyer, Jr.,
September
16, 2001 Text:
Romans 2: 28-29 Subject:
“It’s Time To Get Real”
Introduction: The Apostle Paul has given us the principles that govern God’s judgment upon man. First he said “don’t’ be defiant, judgment will be according to truth; Secondly he said that there were no more excuses for judging our fellow man when we are guilty of the practicing sin. God’s judgment will come in the midst of His storing up His wrath against those who trample His mercy. The third principle is that God’s judgment will be according to man’s works, as it applies to the believer and the un-believer: Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality. But to those who are self- seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness – indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish (Vv. 8,9). The fourth principle was given to us in (v. 11) without respect of person. Paul now tells these Saints in Rome that it is Time to get real. Dr. Barnhouse says, If you want a place to hide, you choose a tree larger than yourself. You must be smaller than an object to hide behind it effectively. Therefore, if you seek cover behind the hypocrites, you condemn yourself as being smaller than they. (D. G. Barnhouse, Romans, p. 129). I.
Don’t make excuses Some people are claiming to be Christians (Jewish Christians in Paul’s day) but they were not living Christ before others. Paul’s says this is not a time to be a hypocrite: You may dress up like a committed Christian and go to Church or prayer meetings like committed Christians but God is looking beyond the outer appearance. A. (Vv. 16-24) These people were full of excuses: In our context they are shown as boasting in the law, and were declared to be confident that they were a guide to the blind, a light to those who were in darkness, and an instructor of babes. In an attempt to apply this truth (v.24) says that just as the Jews in Rome so we today have caused the name of God to be blasphemed among the Gentiles (others who need to know the truth) because of you. B. Christ lifted the mask from their pretensions and called them hypocrites fourteen times in the Gospel of Matthew. What terrible epithets the Lord Jesus was forced to use to describe these blind leaders of the blind, these graveyards, well kept on the outside but full of dead men’s bones. They were generations of vipers, cups that were cleansed without but filthy within. They were men who made long prayers but who devoured widows’ houses. (Barnhouse p. 125). C. In the shadow of the horrific tragedy of Tuesday, September 11th, Christians must take off our mask. Allow me to express our God’s indictment upon the Church: Some who died in that tragedy have brushed with a Christian; either as a co-worker, family member or friend, but the Christian only looked like a Christian and did not witness to that loss friend. And in fact not only made excuses: I’ll do it another time… but ultimately became an excuse because that individual who died never met the Lord because there was no inward conviction of an outer appearance. II.
Don’t become an excuse It’s time to be real! If you do not want to be a full time Christian, don’t tell people you are a Christian at all. Some of you were called upon at your jobs this week to lead the employees in prayer at your company. They called upon you because of something they saw on the outside but it is also lived on the inside. Application:
(v.29) Proclaims that Salvation results from the work of God’s
Spirit in the heart, not mere
external efforts to conform to His law. God
gives His praise to men and women who believe that His Commission to the Church
should become a part of our daily lives: (Matthew
28: 18-20) And Jesus came and
spoke to them, saying, all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth. Go therefore and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. I don’t know about you but if I could have anybody with me “always” I would not ask for BJ, Sharyl, Nicol, Fred, Monica nor David. Just give me Jesus… When Christ descended from heaven’s glory down to earth’s dungeon, He came as a…Shepherd seeking for sheep to
feed… Savior seeking for sinners to
save… Physician seeking for patients
to heal… Father seeking for prodigals
to welcome… Master seeking for servants to
hire… King seeking for subjects to
rule… And He came as the Groom
seeking for a bride to marry…! |
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