Sermons on Romans 2:5

… led, led to faith and repentance, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen. Our text this morning comes from Romans chapter 2 verses 4 and 5. Paul has been laying out this indictment against the whole human race. First, the sins focus particularly upon the Gentiles, the outsiders, in chapter 1. But lest the Jews or any religious insiders get comfortable, he has made the case that they do the very same things. that the only difference, as Paul laid it out from chapter 1 to chapter 2 between the Gentile and the Jew, is that the Gentiles know what is right and wrong, and they do what is wrong, and they affirm those who do what is wrong, where the Jews know what is right and wrong, they do what is wrong, and they condemn the person who does what is wrong. And having laid out his case to you, O man, without excuse, that they will not escape the judgment of God, he continues in verses 4 and 5. …

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… the wrath of God will be revealed. That is the wrath of God as a future reality on the day of judgment. And that is certainly true. Look at chapter 2 verse 5. But because of your hard and impenitent heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. So clearly, 2.5, he says the wrath of God is something that will be revealed. You're storing up in hard hearts for the judgment of God to come upon the world. And we're used to thinking of the wrath of God as that day that is coming. Beware. But notice the verb is present. Not just that it will, but the wrath of God even now is being revealed. How is the wrath of God now being revealed? Some people suggest Paul has in mind here the preaching of the gospel, the preaching of the gospel that warns people of the wrath of God. And that's true in a general sense. And you can see that possible connection. Verse 16 is, I'm not ashamed of the gospel, it's the power of God. And what does the gospel announce? It announces, first of all, the righteousness of God is revealed, but that's the solution. It also is going to talk about the problem, which is the wrath of God. So, there's truth to that in a general sense, though that's not usually how the word gospel is used with connection to God's wrath upon sinners. So, …

Watch at 17:17 · See full text →

3. By the same authority I ask, Who of you are endeavouring to be rich? to procure for yourselves more than the plain necessaries and conveniences of life? Lay, each of you, your hand to your heart, and seriously inquire, “Am I of that number? Am I labouring, not only for what I want, but for more than I want?” May the Spirit of God say to everyone whom it concerns, “Thou art the man!” 4. I ask, “Thirdly, Who of you are in fact “laying up for yourselves treasures upon earth?” increasing in goods? adding, as fast as you can, house to house, and field to field! As long as thou thus “dost well unto thyself, men will speak good of thee.” They will call thee a wise, a prudent man! a man that minds the main chance. Such is, and always has been, the wisdom of the world. But God saith unto thee, “‘Thou fool!’ art thou not ‘treasuring up to thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God?’” 5. Perhaps you will ask, “But do not you yourself advise, to gain all we can, and to save all we can? And is it possible to do this without both desiring and endeavouring to be rich? nay, suppose our endeavours are successful, without actually laying up treasures upon earth?” I answer, It is possible. You may gain all you can without hurting either your soul or body; you may save all you can, by carefully avoiding every needless expense; and yet never lay up treasures on earth, nor either desire or endeavour so to do. …

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First. Wicked men trouble those who serve God, by the injuries they do them. As at first, “he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” And so it must be, till all things are fulfilled; “till heaven and earth pass away,” “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” For there is an irreconcilable enmity between the Spirit of Christ, and the spirit of the world. If the followers of Christ “were of the world, the world would love its own: But because they are not of the world, therefore the world hateth them.” And this hatred they will not fail to show by their words: They will “say all manner of evil against them falsely;” “they will find out many inventions” whereby even “the good that is in them may be evil spoken of,” and in a thousand instances lay to their charge the ill that they know not. From words in due time they proceed to deeds; treating the servants as their forefathers did their Master; wronging and despitefully using them in as many ways as fraud can invent and force accomplish. [2.] It is true, these troubles sit heaviest upon those who are yet weak in the faith; and the more of the Spirit of Christ any man gains, the lighter do they appear to him. So that to him who is truly renewed therein, who is full of the knowledge and love of God, all the wrongs of wicked men are not only no evils, but are matter of real and solid joy. But still, though he rejoices for his own sake, he cannot but grieve for theirs. “He hath great heaviness and continual sorrow in” his “heart, for” his “brethren according to the flesh,” who are thus “treasuring up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” His eyes weep for them in secret places; he is horribly afraid for them; yea, he “could even wish to be accursed” himself, so they might inherit a blessing. And thus it is, that they who can not only slight, but rejoice in the greatest injury done to them, yet are troubled at that which wicked men do to themselves and the grievous misery that attends them. …

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