Peter Barnes | Romans 2:1-5
SERMON NOTES
WE JUDGE OURSELVES
(Romans 2:1-5)
– ‘Practise what you preach’ is something we all struggle with
– to Jews (Schreiner, Lloyd-Jones, etc), to moralists (F. F. Bruce) or to hypocrites (Calvin)? Paul is general – hence ‘O man’ in 2:1, 3. But he is heading towards the Jews in Rom.2:17. Not unlike Amos 1-2.
1. In condemning others, we condemn ourselves.
– 2:1; Alexandre Vinet: construct great standards for what we expect from others and low from what expect from ourselves. Alexander the Great was outraged at a pirate but was doing the same.
– see David’s blindness in 2 Sam.12:1-6; Jer.17:9
2. God’s judgment is according to truth.
– 2:2; we tend to be selective in working through 1:29-31
3. God’s forbearance is meant to lead us to repentance.
– 2:3-4; see Rev.2:20-21; 2 Peter 3:9
– many draw the wrong conclusion from this kindness and forbearance (2:5)
– note Eccles.8:11; Matt.6:19-20; Amos 5:18