“GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM” (Outline)

September 15, 2019 – Pentecost 14 – ROMANS 2:11-16

INTRO: Verse 11 gives us our theme: “God does not show favoritism.” This is God’s truth we want to
study in order to understand the depth of its meaning. We all have our own favorites. Favorite book.
Food. Friends. Fact is, our lives are lived by doing our favorite things. We can be thankful “God does
not show favoritism.” The Lord told Peter he was not to call unclean the things God declared clean.
Soon after this visitors invited Peter to come and preach in a Gentile house. An unclean place. Peter
proclaimed God’s gospel at the house of Cornelius. They believed. Peter learned. "Then Peter began to
speak: ‘Now I really am beginning to understand that God does not show favoritism, but in every nation, anyone who
fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him’” (ACTS 10:34, 35). “GOD DOES NOT SHOW
FAVORITISM.” I. God judges all lawlessness. II. People know God’s laws.

I. GOD JUDGES ALL LAWLESSNESS.

A. The opening verses of Romans chapter 2 teaches about sin and God’s judgment concerning sin.
1. Verse 11. God’s judgment is fair. The righteous wrath of God condemns all lawlessness.
2. Makes no difference if lawless one is Jewish or Gentile. Both alike sin. Are lawless.
B. Verse 12. Some people live as if they do not know God’s law. Deny law. Reject it. Still lawless.
1. Other people know God’s laws but live as if God’s law was not meant for them.
2. Both types of people will be judged by God’s law. Will not escape. God’s law is God’s law.
C. Verse 13. There is more to faith-filled lives than merely hearing God’s Word.
1. The Christ-filled life begins by hearing God’s Word. Hearing yields believing and living.
2. The one who does the law will be declared righteous. Only One obeyed God’s law—Jesus!

D. God’s law is clear. To the point. Good time to review the teaching of God’s Law and Gospel in the
Scriptures. The law shows our sins (SOS). The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ shows our Savior
(SOS). Law has three (3) letters. So does sin. Gospel has six (6) letters. As does Savior. Law and
Gospel are the two mean teachings God reveals throughout the Bible. God’s law does not save. God’s
law clearly reveals our sins. Our lawlessness. God’s simple truth. “For this reason, no flesh will be declared
righteous in his sight by works of the law, for through the law we become aware of sin" (ROMANS 3:20).

E. We might cringe a bit when hearing God’s law. None of us like to have our sins pointed out. As
believers we do not like hearing that we are lawless. Or that we disobey with our evil imagination. Our
wicked words. Our sin-filled actions. We are guilty. We deserve eternal punishment. Our loving,
heavenly Father has given us his law to we know the difference between good and evil. As God’s
children we learn what is good and right in God’s sight. We are accountable for our thoughts, words,
and deeds. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for
what he did while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 CORINTHIANS 5:10).

F. God’s law is a good thing. We discover how helpless we are to save ourselves. We cannot earn a
place in heaven. We cannot buy our way into eternity. None of us deserve to share in eternal joy. We
come to know that we need someone to save us. A Savior. Jesus the Christ. We will each appear
before the judgment seat of God. On Judgment Day there is no second chance. The door will be shut.
Some will be cast out forever. Weep and gnashing of teeth (today’s gospel: Luke 13:22-30). We stand
before the Lord at the gates of heaven. “Why should I let you in?” asks the Lord. “WHY?” Saving, simple
truth: Christ paid the price. Died for my sins. "Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who
are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’” (MATTHEW
25:34). Jesus took our judgment upon himself. His sinlessness covers all our sinfulness.

“GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM.” God judges all lawlessness. All sinners.
II. PEOPLE KNOW GOD’S LAWS.
A. Our text continues to teach that all people know God’s laws. Not just Jewish Christians, but all.
1. Verse 14. General scriptural reference: Jews = believers. Gentiles = unbelievers.
2. Gentiles do the law even though not have the law. Did not know God’s laws through Moses.
3. In a broad sense the Gentiles understood some things were wrong. Other things were right.
B. Verse 15. Gentiles’ actions showed law was written in their hearts. They had a conscience.
1. Their conscience bothered them when they did wrong. Other times defended them.
2. The law in hearts, the conscience, not always “fine-tuned”. Conscience quickly clouded.
3. God’s law written in hearts of Adam and Eve. Cain kills Abel. Conscience already darkened.
4. God wrote Ten Commandments on stone tablets. Moses brought to Israel. No more excused.
C. Verse 16. Nothing is hidden from God’s sight. Lord knows hearts’ secrets. Judgment of lawlessness.

D. Sin. Wickedness. Judgment. Law. These are not popular words or topics in our society. The
worldly do not want to hear about anything negative. Especially concerning themselves. Nor do we
want to hear such things. Sin cannot be dismissed. We cannot explain it away. Or redefine it. "If we
say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 JOHN 1:8). We want to—need to live in
God’s truth. The law cannot save us. Will not save us. We confess sin. God’s truth lives in us.

E. The devil wants us to think we are not that bad. At least not as bad as other wicked people. Like
Paul we confess we are the worst of sinners. God does not show favoritism. Our loving, heavenly
Father provided his Son, Christ Jesus, to save us from ourselves. Do not fool yourselves. Sin is sin. It is
a slap in God’s face whenever we disobey. How often have we thought one little sin is not so bad. But
what happens with a little sin? It leads to lots of sins. Lots of sinning. Hearts become hard against
God’s truth. “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. To be sure, whatever a man sows, he will also reap”
(GALATIANS 6:7). By the way in God’s eyes there are no little or big sins. Sin is breaking God’s law.

F. Look closely at our world today. People are unhappy. Lonely. Suicidal. All of this even though
we live in one of the most prosperous eras in history. Why? Sin. The answer goes deeper. Sin arouses
guilt. Yes, people have a conscience that convicts them of sin. They feel guilt even if they do not
recognize it. By nature everyone knows there is male and female. Two genders. This is also God’s law.
To cross those boundaries will erupt in guilt. Abortion is murder. Many try to explain it away. Guilt
strike at peoples’ hearts. Many do not have the fine-tuning the Ten Commandments but all people do
have the law written on their hearts. "A person who conceals his sins will not prosper, but one who confesses and
abandons them will receive mercy” (PROVERBS 28:13). Concealing sin produces guilt. Recognizing sin
discovers God’s mercy. Forgiveness—full and free. We confess our sins. We can abandon them.

CONC.: What great joy and comfort is ours because God does not show favoritism. God’s law clearly
uncovers sin. We are wicked. Lawless. Rebellious. Disobedient. Our sinfulness demands righteous
wrath. God’s judgment. God’s Law makes us aware of sin. We are helpless. Hopeless. Our desperate
need for a Savior turns us to the Lord. Without any favoritism the Lord God of Armies forgives our
sins. "If you, LORD, kept a record of guilt, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is pardon, so you are
feared. I wait for the LORD. My soul waits, and in his word I have put my hope" (PSALM 130:3-5). “GOD
DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM” but God does show us his favor. Amen.
Pastor Timm O. Meyer

PENT. 14 rdgs.: ISAIAH 66:18-24; HEBREWS 12:18-24; LUKE 13:22-30; (PSALM 72)
SERVICES: 7:45am @ McCook (Sun) / 10:00am @ Redeemer (Sun) / NCF 1:00 Min. (Sat) & 12:00 Med. (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES: 11:15am @ Redeemer (SUN) / 5:45pm (Med) + 7:30pm (Min) @ NCF (TUES.)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:00am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM