Grace and Peace Episode Season 2 Episode 7
Presbyterian Church of Easton
March 6, 2022
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7)
Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, 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. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 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?
In the first chapter of Roman Paul talked about the problem that affects all of us, sin. Sin causes us to worship things instead of God. This is called idolatry. And according to Paul idolatry leads to God giving us depraved minds. With depraved minds we are filled with all kinds of wickedness. And this wickedness has a harmful effect on our lives. This is ultimately the source of all the problems we face.
As you look over the list of wicked things in chapter 1 you may be thinking that you are doing ok, After all you are not filled with wickedness like other people. You are not greedy, evil or depraved. You don’t murder, or practice envy and deceit. You are not a gossip, Thanks be to God! All of this puts you in a position to judge. You are a good person. All those other people are depraved.
But before you go down this road remember that God knows you better than you know yourself. God knows those secrets buried deep in your hearts. God knows what you have done and what you have left undone. And since you are far from perfect, when you judge others you open yourself up to the charge of hypocrisy. Ultimately God will judge all of us. And since none of us measure up to God’s standards we are in a heap of trouble.
But there is a solution. God pours down on us blessings from heaven. We receive God’s kindness, forbearance and patience. And according to scripture God blesses us as an incentive to lead us to repentance. It is through repentance and faith that we are forgiven and reconciled with God.
Heavenly Father, we ask for blessings to pour down on us from heaven. Lead us to worship you and you alone. Forgive us and wash away our sin. We pray for this in the name of Jesus our Lord and savior. Amen.
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