Romans | Lecture 5 : BC303-Rom-20260825

Good morning everyone. >> Praise the Lord. Welcome online students. Thank you all for joining class this morning. And we also like to welcome all our um e-learning students as well. Okay. So we um um studied Romans chapter 1 till verse 27. So we'll continue from verse 28 onwards. Uh before that there was a question from um I think the question was from um Reanita. Yes. So Reanita has not yet joined. So maybe when she joins I'll answer that question. Okay. But for now we'll just then continue from verse um 27 onwards. Okay. Before we do that, uh can anyone lead us in prayer, please? Anyone? >> Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus. Lord, this wonderful time that you given us, Lord Jesus. Lord, I submit this classes in your mighty hands, Lord Jesus. Lord, you open our hearts and open our mind, Lord, to listen your word, Lord Jesus. Lord, Lord, I submit me in your mighty hands, Lord Jesus. Lord, Lord, you Lord, Lord, you give us understanding from your word, Lord Jesus. Lord I speak your name Lord Jesus in Jesus name I pray. Amen. >> Amen. Okay I think Reita's joined us. So um Reena had a question last week. Uh what does uh from faith to faith mean uh in verse um verse 17 right? That was your question. Romans 1:17 uh for it is uh for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. So what is the meaning from faith to faith? Okay. So the basic idea is God's righteousness is revealed. How how is God righteousness revealed? When is it revealed through people? When is it revealed? >> Huh? >> When we believe. >> When we believe. when we put our faith in Jesus Christ. Okay. So God's righteousness is revealed through faith. And how do we receive God's righteousness in our lives? >> Through faith. Yes. So the righteousness of God is revealed through faith. When we put our faith in Christ, his righteousness is revealed that he's a righteous God. He's a right God. He's a just God. And how do we receive his righteousness? or when is his righteousness put into our account or when are we clothed with his righteousness? When we put our faith in Jesus Christ. So Paul is explaining here that the gospel reveals how a person can be right with God. How can a person be right with God? Not by just keeping the law, not by works, not by human effort, but how? faith in Jesus Christ. Okay. So you can understand it like this faith at the beginning. You put your faith in Jesus Christ. Okay. And you receive salvation. You you are made righteousness. And then you walk and live by faith throughout your life and you live your life of faith until the end. Okay. So in other words, the Christian life begins by faith. And how does it continue? by faith, right? So, we are saved by faith and not by works. We live by faith and continue trusting God every moment, every day of our lives. We grow in our relationship with God. How? Through our faith and our confidence remains in Christ in in in what Christ uh has done rather than in our own righteousness. So, that is what he's saying. Righteousness is from faith to faith. That means he's telling the Jews, the Gentiles that we we are made righteous not by keeping the law, not by circumcisions, not by, you know, observing certain days as holy. Okay? Not by the kind of food that we eat. It's not by our works, but we receive righteousness by faith. And how do we continue living this righteous life? By faith, not by just keeping a set of rituals and laws. and you know following certain patterns and certain lifestyles and all that that is nothing but by having again faith in Jesus Christ. Did I help Reanita? Okay. So now we'll move on to um we reach through Romans chap 1 verse 27. So Paul is basically uh you know um uh drawing a progression in this passage and this progression is very important. He's telling people knew God but in spite of knowing God what did they do? They refused to glorify him or they refused to acknowledge him as God. They refused to glorify him. And then he progresses to say that how because they refused God, they refused to worship and glorify him. They exchanged the truth of the of God for a lie. Okay? And they started worshiping created beings instead of the creator. Okay? They started worship creation instead of the creator. And then ultimately what did God do? God gave them up over to their to their consequences of their rebellion to the consequences of their choices. Okay. So Paul is here building a larger argument. He says when human beings reject God, sin does not just remain confined in one area of their life. It affects their thinking. not only their thinking, it affects their worship, it also affects their desires for life, okay, and also ultimately their behavior. So you're able to see how he's building up his argument and how he's progressing his line of thought. Okay, so he's saying when humanity even though creation itself reveals the invisible attributes of God, okay, I think it's in verse 16, he says that you know creation itself reveals the invisible attributes of God. Okay. And he's saying in spite of them knowing God, they did not glorify him or acknowledge him as God, glorify him. And they exchange the truth of God for a lie. And what happens ultimately leads to them worshiping the created beings. And then it giving them over to uncleanness and uncleanliness and to rebellious spirits. Okay. And so we see that sin does not just confine itself or remain confined in one area. It affects our thinking. It also affects the our worship, who we are worshiping, whether it's money, whether it's people, whether it's property, you know, our jobs, our careers, whatever. And then it ultimately also affects our desires and then our behavior. So this is a line of thought that he's actually building up and progressing with and he continues with that in verses 28 to uh 32. So can somebody please read verses 28 to 32 please? And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a [clears throat] debased mind to to do those things which are not fitting. Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, uh covetousness, maliciousness, full of envi envy, murder, strife, deceit, evilmindedness. They are uh whisperers, uh backbiters, haters of God, violent, violent, proud, boosters, in in inventors of evil things, disobedience to par uh parents, undiscerning, untruthworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, who knowing the uh righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. >> Okay. Amen. Thank you. Okay. So verse 28 he says even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge. God gave them over to a debaseed mind to do things which are not fitting. Okay. So we see that people deliberately rejected God. Okay. They did not want to keep him in their minds or acknowledge him in their daily lives. And we see God's response. What is God's response to what? Of people rejecting him. Okay? What is God's rep response? He says, God says God gave them over. Right? So we see three times in this very chapter, Paul says God gave them over. Look at verse 24. He says God gave them over. Verse 26, God gave them over. Right? And verse 28 also we see that God gave them over to a debased mind. Right? So this does not mean that when we say God gave them over does not mean God forced them into sin or God pushed them into sin. No, it's not that God is pushing them into sin or God is forcing them go and sin, right? Rather, he let them go their own way or we can say God gave them up to their own choices, right? God created us as uh people with a gift of self-will. We can make the choice. That's why even Adam and Eve, he gave them over to their will, to their own choice. Okay? So he let them go and do what they choose, what they will. And we see that he withdraws his restraining hand from them. So what is this meaning? God gave them over to a debased mind. A debased mind means a corrupted way of thinking. A mind that thinks uh you know full of corrupt uh corrupt thoughts, you know. And a a a debased mind is also a mind that is unable to discern right from wrong. Okay. So and a dbased mind is a mind whose moral compass is broken so to say. We don't have compass in our in our minds don't you know but it's just like the moral compass is broken. Okay. So even when they see evil they do evil they think it's normal. It is okay. Why? because they're not able to discern between what is right and what is wrong. They're not able to properly discern what is right or what is wrong. They're not able to recognize properly what is right and what is wrong. So even when they do evil or they see evil, they consider it as normal. So that is what God gave them over. He gave them over to a debased mind. In in 26, what did God give them over to? Dishonorable. 26. What did God give them over to? Uh wild passions. >> Passions. >> Yes. Dishonorable passions. And um in verse um 23 God gave them over to not [snorts] no 24 gave them over to uncleanliness and to every lust in their hearts and to dishonor their bodies among themselves. Okay. So that is what God did and he gave them over to a debased mind. That means a mind that is not able to properly discern, properly recognize, per properly perceive or observe what is right and wrong. And then in verses 29 to31, Paul here gives a sweeping list of sins that results from rejecting God. And we see it's a downward spiral. Okay, you're going down. So firstly, he says unrighteousness. What is unrighteousness? is talking about general corruption. A life out of alignment with God's standard. When you're you live unrighteous life, you're living outside God's standard. Sexual immorality. That means what? Lustdriven sins. Okay. Perversion of every god's design. We saw in the previous verses, right? They exchange their uh me bodies men with men and women women with women. Okay? So homosexuality, lesbianism. So there was a perversion of God's design. Then there was wickedness and covetousness. Okay. What is the meaning of wickedness and covetousness? That means they were greedy. Okay. Selfserving and making harmful choices. Greedy, self-serving, making harmful choices. What is maliciousness? That means intentionally planning evil against others. planning evil things against others. And then you have envy, murder, strife, deceit, and evilmindedness. All social sins, basically sins that destroy relationships and create hostility. Then he talks about, you know, backbiters. That's basically those who are gossipers, slanderers, you know, people basically tearing down each other with their words. Haters of God. That means open hostility towards the creator. Okay? They just hate God. Open defiance and arrogance against God the creator. They're proud. They're violent. They are boasters. That means they are arrogant, aggressive and self- glorification. Inventors of evil things means what? Constantly finding new ways to sin. Okay. Disobedient to parents. Rebellion. Rebellion not only against God, rebellions even at home. Okay, so rebellion starts at home and it reflects a breakdown of respect for authority. And then he says untrusting uh undeserving, unloving, unforgiving and unmerciful. That means a heart that has become so cold, so hard uh without natural affections, without any kind of loyalty or compassion. So this list basically that he mentions here, he takes a pain to write down all of these things shows that rejecting God does not just affect our worship of God, okay, and who we are woring worshiing, but it corrupts all of human relationships and even society. So why do you think Paul is taking the pain to write down all of these things? Nowadays for us, it's very easy to write down. You take a pen and you just take a paper and you keep writing. the ink flows, right? Or you keep typing it on your phone or your laptop, right? Um or your gadgets. But in those days, they have to take the name, tip it, you know, tip it in ink and then just writing in parchments. But even then, he makes the effort to write all of these sins. So why is he making the effort to write down all his sins? He's saying, "Hey, when you reject God, it corrupts all of human relationships and even affects the society." Okay. Verse 32. Can somebody read verse 32? Who's reading verse 32? Who's knowing the righteous judgment of God? that those who practice such things are deserving of death not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. >> Amen. Thank you. So he says they those who know the truth or he's saying they know the truth that means deep down people know that the sins that he's listed above okay in verses 29 to 31 he says they know such things uh sins deserve God's judgment okay their cons their conscience creation and even culture testifies that certain things are wrong yes or Yes, even our culture testifies some things are wrong. Creation itself testifies some things are wrong and even our conscience tells us what is right and what is wrong. But what is what does what is happening here? He says but in spite of that they keep doing them. It's not that people do not know that these are sins. They know it is sins because they have a conscience. Their conscience is telling them. Culture is also telling them that this is wrong. Creation is also telling them what is right and wrong but they keep doing it. That means the knowledge doesn't stop the sin. Okay, they know but their knowledge does not stop their sin. And what are they doing? They are persisting in rebellion. And not only are they persisting in rebellion, he says they also approve of others who are doing them. And this is the darkest point. Okay? Not that they are just sinning, but they're also celebrating sin and encouraging it in others and normalizing it in society. So for us in our society today, it's it's okay to, you know, uh to take money under the table, corruption, you know, bribing, cheating, you know, um also homosexuality and all of these things. and you know uh live in partners living with each other even before you're married all things have become very very normal in society divorce adultery right um uh rape you know it's it's we it just become like a normal thing in society so that is the darkest point that is where he's bringing us all to he's saying you know the darkest point is not just people are sinning but they're also celebrating sin and encouraging it in others and normalizing in society So Paul is basically painting uh humanity in a downward spiral. That means he's saying how we are following down down down down down. Okay. He says they reject God. What happens when they reject God? Their thinking becomes corrupt. And after their thinking becomes corrupt, their action follows suit. That means they're full of sin and destruction. And they even come to a place where they applaud sin is good. saying it's okay, right, to do all of these things. So, this passage, you know, is Paul's way of showing that apart from Christ, the whole world stands guilty before God. That we cannot be made righteous uh without Jesus Christ. So, he's showing us that apart from Christ, the whole world stands guilty before God. And he sets the stage for his later declaration that all have sinned and Romans 3. Romans 3:23 says what? >> All have sinned and >> fallen short of the glory of God. So that is where he's building up everything to and he's saying the only hope is what in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 1 uh chap chapter 1 16 and 17. Okay. So we see even in our world today people do not you know re uh uh give glory to God. They do not worship God. They worship created beings. We see this even in our day and time today. And we see that God gives us up to the things that we choose to the consequences of our choices. Because three times he says God gave them up. Verse 24, he gave them up to uncleanliness. Verse 26, he gave them up to wild passions. Verse 28, he gave them up to a corrupt mind and thinking and going in the wrong way. Okay. And then he lists out all the things because man is doing uh is because of his uncleanliness, wild passions and corrupt mind. And Paul is saying that hey all who do these things, what will happen to them? What will happen to them? All who do these things, what will happen to them? >> Huh? >> Look at verse 32. >> Judgment of God. And there's a punishment. What is a punishment? Deserving >> death. >> Death. Okay. So, and note that very clearly. Not only those who do it, but also those who approve not practice not only those who do the same but also approve of those who >> practice it. Okay. So that is very very dangerous. Okay. So there is eternal consequences uh to the choices that we make. Okay. And that is eternal death. You see how beautifully he's writing chapter one right and how he's building up the argument. Okay. Any questions in chapter one before we move on to chapter two [clears throat] pastor I have one question I don't know if it's a question but u I mean yes uh it's written in 32 right they they are punished those who approve and those who practice both but I see many times you uh consequences don't come soon for such people pastor why I mean yes Paul has written that they uh they they will be punished they you know for what they have done but uh somebody who has done wrong I see they have a long way to go yes we are coming to that in chapter two and you will see and you will get the answer in chapter two. why they have a long you know uh ex you know uh uh judgment has not yet come upon them and why is God being merciful to them and it's a long road where they are not turning back they are not changing and we don't see God doing anything with them why there is the answer Paul is coming to that he knows like you are thinking Paul has already thought about it and he has written about it so we will look at that in a little bit. Okay. >> Okay. Thank you, Bri. >> Okay. Okay. So, we'll move on to chapter two. We'll answer Anita's question in chapter two. But anyone else has another question? >> Yes. Sukkesh. >> So, actually the question is from Raju Adines and me ma'am. >> So, uh we have a doubt that if a person is unbeliever, he doesn't know about Christ. So if he dies he where where he will go heaven or hell. >> Okay. So we can't say that they don't know Christ. Paul has also written about that in chapter three. So when we come to chapter three that our question will also be answered. Okay. So if you still don't get the answer but we know those who evidence is there already Paul says Romans chapter 1:16 creation creation has no excuse right look at that it's very important that verse right look at Romans chapter 1 verse uh no not 16 that is Uh where is that creation sorry >> 20 man >> sorry >> I think it's 20 verse 20 >> verse 20 okay thank you yeah uh Romans chapter 1 verse 20 yeah so since the creation of the world his in for since the creation of the world. So since God created the world, his invisible attributes are clearly seen being understood by creation by things that are made even as eternal power and godheaded. So they are who are the they not animals and birds who we human beings are without any excuse. What is the what excuse we don't have? that there is no God, that God does not exist. Why? Because creation itself reveals the invisible attributes, the Godhead and the his eternal power. And it says here, "And they are without excuse." Very clear. No excuse. Without excuse this not Paul writing, it's the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. So God himself is saying people are without excuse. Creation itself reveals who I am. But we'll answer your question also in chapter three. How are people judged who don't have the law? And of course, where do they go when they do not believe in spite of them having everything? Where? Hell. There's no gray in that matter. There's black or white. You believe, you go to heaven, receive eternal life. You don't believe. But people are not without excuse. They can't say I did not know God. So that again he writes about very nicely in chapter 3. We look at that. Okay. Okay. Good questions. Anyone else has any questions? >> Ma'am, even though they are good people, they will go to him. Even though they are good, they did good to others. >> Yes. So what is Paul writing? What did we study in Romans chapter one? How do you receive righteousness? How are you made right with God? How are you made right with God? So >> yes ma'am through Jesus. >> How through Jesus. How what did we start the class? >> Thank you. Shoubam. Faith. Okay. Righteousness is from >> faith to >> faith. You receive righteousness by faith. You believe Jesus Christ is God by faith. You receive his righteousness by faith. You walk the Christian life by faith from beginning to the end. That is why faith to faith. So what is he trying to say? You are not going to receive righteousness by good works, not by keeping the law, not by circumcision. He comes back to the same thing in chapter 3. And you, he's telling the Jews very clearly, it's not by keeping the law, it's by righteousness. And then he builds on in chapter five four and five that you know we've been made uh we receive righteousness by grace through faith. See not by works. So even if anyone is a good man and even um you know Jesus tells Nicodemus why do you call me good? No man no one is what does he say? No one is >> yes no one is good. Yes no one is good. So the matter is closed there. And Paul also talks about it in chapter 2 in chapter 3. Hey, no one is good. We are all for. And then he comes back to Romans chapter uh 3:23. He says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That means there's no one who is good. We can't receive righteousness by our good works or by uh who we are or by rituals or by our even he says not even by who you are a Jew. You can't boast that you're a Jew and you are righteous because you are born as a Jew. No, you receive only righteousness by faith. Yes, good questions. Romans is all making you all think good. Nice. Okay. So, yeah, even if it's very silly questions, don't uh bother. Just ask them. It's nice. Okay. Don't think any question is silly. It's not silly. They are important questions. Okay. Okay. Any other questions? I guess we'll move on to chapter two. Yes. Sukkesh. I'm thinking who gets married? [laughter] Sukkesh is going home and so he's uh fooling all the students that he's getting married. [laughter] [gasps] Okay. Romans chapter 2. Okay. Romans chapter 2. Can um can somebody please read verse okay before we start reading Romans chapter 2? Okay. Uh we see that in Romans chapter 2 the Paul deals with the issue of law and conscience uh you know both with the Jews and Gentiles. Okay. So actually Paul when he's writing this he's debating within himself you know thinking what his readers would what questions would pop up in the mind of the readers even as they are reading my letter. So smart he is just like some of you are so smart you ask some smart questions and it's leading up to chapter 2 and chapter 3 and you know the same way Paul even before his readers could read his letter and ask the questions he's already thinking hey they read this what will their questions be what will the Jews think what will they question what will be the debate in their minds what will the Gentiles think and debate in their minds so he's thinking like that you know is the mind of the readers. And so he is here talking about the whole issue of the law and conscience with respect to the Jews and the Gentiles. So he's saying for the Jews they have the what do they have? What is God given Jews? >> Old testament. >> Old testament. So what is the old testament basically made of? The laws, right? So he's saying they have the law and he's saying how will they be judged? By the law. >> By the law. Yes. The Gentiles, were they given the law? >> No. >> No. So, how will the Gentiles be judged? So, he's thinking the Gentiles when they read my letter, they will think, "Hey, the Jews have the law. They'll be judged by the law." What about how will we be judged as Gentiles? Okay. So, for the Jews, Paul says there is the law. Okay? They'll be judged by the law. But he's saying but for every human being or for every person or inside every person God has given them two things. What are the two things that tells you what is right and wrong? >> Consciousness. >> Your conscience and reason. So he's saying okay the Jews have their law but what has God given every human being? Conscience and reason. Which means within every person the way God has designed them he's already given them two things which tells them about God reasoning okay and their conscience and their conscience also tells them what is right and wrong. So what are the two things that God has even built in every person? What are two things reason and conscience? So those who don't have the law, what do they have? >> And reason, right? They can look at creation, reason. Oh, there's a God. He created all these things. Okay? Reason and conscience. If I do this, it's not right. There will be consequences. Reason, and they have their conscience. So he says, you know, yes, the Jews have the law, but all the others have reason and conscience. And Paul says everyone would be. But even though the Jews have the law, even though the Gentiles don't have the law, they have reason and conscience. He comes to one common base. And he says, "But everyone will be judged according to the gospel of Jesus Christ, whether they are Jew or whether they are Gentiles." Now you can ask how will everybody be judged according to the gospel when people some people have not even heard the gospel. We'll come to that. Okay. So Paul in chapter one says man is sinful. He has suppressed the truth. He's gone away man has gone away after his own wild passions and thoughts of his corrupt mind. And therefore Paul continues his letter that is chapter 2 verse one. He says, "Therefore they are inexcusable." So we'll read verses 1 to verse 4, please. Can somebody read verses 1 to verse 4? Verses 1 to verse 4. Uh you therefore have no excuses. You who pass judgment on someone else for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you a merry human being pass judgment on them and yet do the same things do you think you will escape God's judgment or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness forbearance and patience not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you. Okay. So here we see that you know uh like I said Paul in chapter one uh you know he says man is sinful man has suppressed the truth man has gone away in his own wild passions and the thoughts of his corrupt mind and therefore he continues you know chapter two is a continuation it's a letter he says therefore you are inexcusable that means therefore you man woman you are without any excuse okay now he in verses 1 to verse 16 Paul turns to the Jews who might feel very self-righteous and they agree that Gentiles are sinful okay but think they are safe because they have the law and they have are in covenant with God so they're feeling very self-righteous you know oh we have the law you know uh and the covenant with God but the Gentiles are the only ones who are sinful okay and then he Paul says You who teach the law. Who is the you here? >> The Jews. The Jews. You say you. He's telling them you teach the law. But what do you do? >> You don't follow the law. >> Yeah. You don't follow it yourself. You don't keep the law. Okay. You know the law. You have the law. You feel very selfrighteous. Say, "God has given us the law, but you don't keep the law. What's the point? It's pointless." Right? And what is he saying? God is going to judge us. Paul is saying because he also is a Jew. He's saying God is going to judge us. And then Paul warns them. Okay. In verse one, he says, "You who judge others are doing the same things." So what is he telling them? He's saying, "Hey, your religious privilege does not exempt you from judgment." Right? Religiously, you feel you're Jews chosen by God. It comes again in chapter I think four or he says you know uh you have the covenants you have the prophets you were for you were given the law you know for you were given the circumcision so they're feeling very self-righteous he says hey religious privilege does not exempt anyone from judgment right so even if we are born again we will face the consequences for our sin right of course we uh we have the gift of eternal life. But you know if we continue in persistent sin, Hebrews chapter uh six also says there is no more forgiveness of sins. You know in some sins that we keep on persisting because we treat as unholy the covenant of God. We trample it under our foot. Even after knowing tasting salvation we continue to sin. So he's saying you know that religious privilege does not exempt anyone from judgment. So even he's telling the Jews even if you're judging someone else you are inexcusable. Don't think chapter one which you know the the the previous uh paras I had written in the in the in the in my letter or in chapter one for us is only for the Gentiles. No, even for you Jews, you might have the law, but if you don't keep it and you're judging someone else, you are also inexcusable. Okay? So, he's saying to the Jews, if you are the teacher of the law and you don't keep the law, it's pointless, and God is going to judge us. So, he's telling the Jews that we can point to the Gentiles by saying, "Hey, you're doing all of these things he has listed out in chapter one, okay? You are inexcusable." Okay? Okay. But he's saying, "Hey, even if we are telling the Gentiles, you are inexcusable, we are also inexcusable because we judge others and we too will be judged by the same standards." So he's saying that God's judgment is according to what? Look at verse two. God's judgment is according to what? >> The truth. Yes. Look at verse six. God's judgment is according to what? deeds. Yes. According to the things that we are uh doing or done. And verse 11, God's judgment is >> ah no favoritism. It's God's judgment is impartial. So three things he's mentioning here. God's judgment in verse two is according to the truth. Verse six is according to the deeds that we do. And verse 11 it is impartial. Okay. And then he comes to verse four. Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? So what is he saying in verse four? He says, don't despise the goodness, the patience, and the longsuffering of God. Why? Because God, the goodness of God is leading to repentance. Think about it. Coming to Aranita's question, think about it. God's goodness leads to what? >> Repentance. Yes, God is a just God. God and his justice demands that all sin must be judged. Or God in his justice demands judgment for all sin. And yes, God will judge sin. But God is really trying to do what? Okay, you sinned but you know [clears throat] drop you dead die or suffer you know and face the consequence I give up your new you know no God is a God is a loving God he leaves a 99 goes behind that one sheep yes he's a god who's a righteous God he cannot see sin he cannot stand sin god will judge sin but what is really God doing he's actually in his love also drawing people to himself. And how is he drawing people to himself? In his >> goodness. What else? >> Mercies. Forbearance. Forbearance means what? Patiently waiting for that person. And longsuffering means what? It's okay. Don't worry. patiently waiting for the person to >> repent and change. So we might ask, "Oh my gosh, I'm seeing that person's sin, but God is, you know, I think that God should strike him or her down dead." But what is God doing? He's showing him what? >> Goodness. >> Mercy. He's being very very forbearant with him. And long-suffering. Longsuffering means what? God is suffering. [laughter] Long longsuffering means being very very very very patient with that person and the sin that person is committing. Why? So that his goodness, his longsuffering, his patience will do what? >> Bring that person to repentance. Okay. So when we are dealing with this issue of sin with people, what should we do? When somebody is sinning, what should we do? [clears throat] >> Demonstrate the >> love, goodness, mercy, patience, forbearance of God. That does not mean we don't condone we that does not mean that we, you know, um that we encourage sin, that we overlook sin. No. Or we don't deal with sin. No, we deal with it. It's not that we, you know, um, you know, just write them off or, you know, pronounce judgment or curses on them. But, you know, at the same time, we don't encourage it. We don't u, you know, overlook it uh uh that we condone sin uh and we don't deal with it, but we need to demonstrate the goodness and the mercies of God knowing that the goodness of God will lead that person to repentance. But again there is a thin fine line there and we need to ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and help right like if you read Corinthians and you read even Timothy Paul says you know in Corinthians there is a brother who is committing sexual immorality right and they have spoken to him the elders have spoken to him and what does Paul say leave him to Satan have you read that leave him to Satan when you read that you say How can Paul say, you know, give him up to Satan? What is he basically saying? Basically saying, get send him out of the church when he's outside the protection or the covering, spiritual covering, spiritual protection of God. He will be open to the attacks of the enemy. What does the enemy do? It's all out to steal, kill, and destroy. So, doesn't mean that when people are sinning that, you know, they are enjoying life. They're actually struggling. who don't see their struggles because they're all open to they're exposed to the enemy. And what does the enemy do? Steal, kill, and destroy. But if if that person is following the enemy, the enemy says, "Okay, I don't have to deal with him. Let me go and deal with Paul or you know, Timothy or John or you know, Diana, whoever you know, XYZ in church who are strong believers. Let me deal with them. Anyway, you know, Selena's already gone, right? I don't have to, you know, worry about her. She's already going to come to me at hell, right? Let me go and focus on others. So, you think that they're living a good life, but actually they're open, they're exposed to the works of the enemy. And then Paul is saying when they're open to the works of the enemy, they would learn, right? They would come to a place where say, "Hey, I've gone against God. That's why I'm suffering." That would bring them to repentance. And actually, it happened with this brother in the church at Corinth. And Paul says, "Receive him back. Accept him back." Okay. So, uh, we need to be patient with people. Show goodness and mercy knowing that the goodness of God leads to repentance. So, did you get your answer, Reanita? >> Okay. >> Yes, thank you. Verse five. Can somebody read verse five? But in accordance with your hardness and your impatient heart, you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and re revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Amen. Thank you. So in the light of Romans 1:32, he says, you know, where he says, Gentiles knew sin that leads to death, but what they do today they do? They keep on sinning. Romans 1 the last few chapters he's talking about all the Gentiles who are sinning lists out all the sin and he says where does a sin lead to yes it leads to death now Paul is in the light of that what he's written in verse 32 of chapter 1 Paul now says with Jews who are hard unrepentant hearts are even doing the same thing they're going to be judged okay they think that they are the Jews think they're storing up merit by being Jews and having the law. But in reality, what are they actually doing? They're actually storing up wroth for the day of judgment. That means they are going to be judged and God's wroth is going to fall upon them just like the Gentiles are and what he is explained in uh chapter 1 verse 6. He says, "Who will render to each one according to his deeds?" Okay. Now this verse six ties directly to Paul's argument. You know that judgment will be according to what? According to our >> deeds, not our religious identity. You might be a pastor's son, pastor's daughter. You might be raised and uh brought up by missionaries. You know, you might be, you know, you might be a Jew. Uh you know, or your your parents might be, you know, strong believers. that does not give you the uh uh you know exemption from being judged because each of us will be judged according to our deeds and not our religious identity. So in Romans chapter 1 we see in Paul verses 29-31 where Paul lists the deeds of Gentiles. Now Paul is saying to the Jews that deeds with their deeds will also be examined. So don't think that I've just listed out all these deeds and these are Gentiles and you know the Jews think oh we don't belong there but Jew the Paul is telling the Jews hey you will be also judged according to your deeds or all of us whether Jews or Gentiles will be judged according to our deeds. Okay verse seven and 8 someone somebody read verses seven and 8 please. eternal life to those who by patient continuence in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortal immortality. But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wroth. >> Amen. Okay. >> So here Paul in verse 7 and 8, he's contrasting two groups. Who are the two groups? What are the two groups? First one, those who >> patiently continue doing good. And who are those? Those who live by faith, okay, in Christ Jesus. And that faith produces obedience irrespective of them being Jews or Gentiles. And what is the second group? Those who are >> self-seeking and rejecting the truth whether they are Jew or Gentiles. Okay. So this continues you know uh his point Paul's point that Jews cannot hide behind the law. They cannot keep the law and say oh we are safe. Okay. And Gentiles cannot plead ignorance by saying hey we don't have the law. So you can't judge us. Okay. But God looks at what he looks at the reality. What is the reality? The Jews have the laws. But every human being God has given an inbuilt thing that he can judge them. What are the two things? Conscience and reasons. So God looks at the reality and not at the labels whether you're a Jew or a Gentiles. Okay, we'll stop here and come back and continue after after the break. Thank you. Yeah. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Thank you.