[0:00] This message was recorded at Vision Baptist Church in Alfred, Georgia. It is our prayer that you will be blessed by the preaching of God's Word.
[0:14] Amen. Hallelujah, holy, holy, the great I am. I'm so thankful to worship the great I am. How about you tonight? I'm thankful to worship the great I am because I am the great I am not.
[0:27] See, everything that God is, I am not. And because of my great sorrow for my sin, I have great joy in the grace that is given to me today. I really enjoy singing with you when we say, I come guilty to be pardoned by the blood of Christ the Lamb.
[0:43] Because we know that. How many of you are glad to serve the great I am? Would you raise your hand? How many of you recognize that you are the great I am not in here? And those that may be visiting or watching online, but it seems odd that a group of people would revel in the fact that we are the great I am not.
[0:57] That we are nothing and that he is wonderful. That he saved us. And so I tell you today as we are in Romans chapter 2 verses 1 through 5. And we look at that. And it's just wonderful timing.
[1:07] As we go through the Bible, it always seems to be that I told you that I am very sad today about sanctity of life. That it would need to be mentioned anywhere in America that life is sacred. But I tell you something else that I am very much afraid of today that is happening in America.
[1:22] It's that in sitting in churches that will honor sanctity of life, that good moral people that look the part will sit in their seats. They will cast judgment upon people that had an abortion saying, those people need grace and they need salvation and they are unlike us.
[1:41] It's been all through the Bible is that those that cast judgment on other people's sin need to be seen that they too will be judged themselves. Because I come guilty to be pardoned.
[1:51] And if you say I would, you have a list of sins and say, if you were ever involved in that, if he had ever done that, I wouldn't want him standing here today. Can I tell you, if you have that list, then you don't want me standing here today.
[2:03] Because I have not ever had an abortion and I've never been involved in things that we would see horrific that you might measure. But I have shaken my fist in front of an almighty God and I've rebelled against him.
[2:16] And I was a sinner in need of grace. And if you've never recognized that in your life today, then you've never received that grace. Thursday night we looked at Genesis chapter number 3 and I was just so excited because when he was giving the penalty of sin, he couldn't wait to tell you of the promise of a Savior.
[2:33] Before he even outlined all that was going to happen, he said, I have a plan for you. I'm going to give a covering for your sin because even though you're bad, I am still good.
[2:44] And so today we'll look at this and we'll see that God is good to us. Not because we are good, but because he is good. And his goodness should lead you to repentance. It should not lead you to believing that you are something that does not need to be fixed.
[2:58] So before we get to Romans chapter number 2, verse 1 through 5 and pray, just a quick summary. Romans chapter number 1, we go through just a list. Towards the end of the chapter, verse number 28, we go through a list of 21 just horrific sins that happened there.
[3:13] And we see these people. And we begin to judge and say, that is just horrible. These pagan people without the gospel, without any special revelation. I can't imagine. And we sit here today and we think about the things that go on in America, around this world.
[3:27] And we say, that's horrific. A 50% discount with a college ID. And we look at them. And when we see their sin, if we're not careful, we'll stop seeing our own sin.
[3:39] As we begin to hate their sin, and we say we love the sinner, how about we hate their sin? We love the sinner. And we really hate our own sin as well. Because we were people of darkness, and now we want to draw near to a side, loving the world and hating the dark.
[3:54] So Romans 1, 28, and through there we begin to get just a list of things. Unnatural affection. And it looks very similar to a time that we live in. And as you watch the news, you begin to feel pretty good about yourself.
[4:05] Because it is so horrific out there that we feel like we're doing pretty good. But then the question could be asked, what if there's a group of people, and all through the Bible, we find in the days of Noah, we find to the Tower of Babel, people, they were denying the natural revelation of God.
[4:23] They denied creation, and they said, there is no God, we'll make a God unto ourselves. And they continued to deny the God. They said in Romans 1, that you're without excuse. That the people of the world, because creation alone, are without an excuse to recognize there is the great I Am.
[4:39] But then we begin to ask, what if there was a group of people, and they didn't just have this revelation of creation, but what if they had a special revelation? What if God gave them the word, and gave them something? And then we find with Abraham, he gives more light to these people.
[4:54] And these people that had the light, the light should show that they are even more in need of salvation. They have used what should bring conviction. And now they use it to criticize other people.
[5:05] And so we find that in Romans chapter number 2. So you think those people are without excuse. You name the people in here that you think are without excuse. We get the Romans chapter number 2, and we find that we as well are people without excuse.
[5:18] The moral pagans, the moral Jewish person later on, were without excuse. And Romans brings conviction. Ms. Sharon shared with me, her husband read a little book of John, book of Romans.
[5:29] I believe it was the book of Romans that was given to him, grew up in a Catholic church, and it brought conviction to him. That's what I pray that the word will do today, that it will bring conviction.
[5:39] All morning I couldn't think something about the old hymn that says, All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down. That there is nothing I can say to you people that if the Holy Spirit does not work through his word will ever convict you of sin.
[5:55] And I am not a judge, and if I am a judge I will still be judged by the great judge someday. But there are people that are moral and good that have never seen their need of a Savior. And let me tell you, if that's you here today, and if through his word he brings conviction what will happen, in about 25 minutes I will give you an opportunity to look this way, and I will pray with you, and you will stand up while everybody else has their head bowed and with their eyes closed, and somebody that loves you and cares for you will take the word of God, and they will show you the Savior in the Scripture.
[6:24] And I pray that's you. For those of you in here that you have received Christ, and I pray that when you look at this, that the weight of your sin and the sorrow that you have for it will let you realize how wonderful this grace is that he gives us.
[6:35] Romans 2, 1 through 5. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest, for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself, for thou that judgest doest the same things.
[6:51] But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to the truth against them which commit such things. And thou thinkest thou this, O man, thou judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou should escape the judgment of God.
[7:05] Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. But after thy hardness and infinite heart, treasurest thou thyself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
[7:25] God, heavenly Father, we stand today, Lord, in need of forgiveness. Lord, we ask, Lord, as we come to you, Lord, as I came to you as a nine-year-old boy, knowing my need of a Savior, and seeing the weight of my sin, and how it should cause separation, and how undeserving I was of you.
[7:41] Lord, as I think today, Lord, I go back to that time, and I love your grace so much, and I want to draw near to you, Lord, hating this world, loving the world, but hating the darkness that is in it. Lord, I pray that people in here, Lord, we will see that we are without excuse.
[7:55] Lord, by the world's standards, there are some of the best people in the world here today. People that would die for one another, people that are moral, patriotic, loving, giving, generous, and so many things, Lord.
[8:08] But I pray if they never see their need of a Savior, that today, through your word, Lord, will bring conviction to their heart, and they'll see that your goodness has been forbearing and patient, that someday, Lord, it will be too late, and the day will be the day of repentance and salvation for them.
[8:23] In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. So we turn here in Romans chapter number two, a bunch of people were hearing this. If you imagine, it's like a church service. They were saying the things, and people were saying, Amen, I'm with you.
[8:35] I'm against the natural affection. I'm against all the things that you're saying. I'm with you, and I judge them. And those people, they really need some grace. And then he turns it on and said, those that have this law, you too are without excuse.
[8:48] You too, moral man. You too, Jewish man. You are in need of a Savior. I too am in need of a Savior, and I'm completely without excuse.
[8:59] We're told here, as I said in Romans 1.20, that the Gentile people, because of creation, they're without excuse. Can I tell you one of the hindrances, the missions, is that many people do not believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, because we don't want to believe that people on the other side of the world, that have never held the word of God, are guilty today.
[9:18] But can I tell you that they are without excuse, because of creation, and they're without excuse. Can I tell you today, that we are without excuse as well. The moral Jew might say, I see their need for a pagan Gentile.
[9:30] And I may say, I see the need of the gospel in the villages of Peru, and among the vile and poor in our area. But I can tell you that we need the gospel as well. Just the martyr had a ministry among Jewish people, and he writes this book, which is him sharing the gospel with a man, and named Trifup is his name.
[9:49] And when he's writing, he says, you tend to believe, you Jewish people, that Father Abraham sits at the gates of hell, and will not allow one Jewish man into hell, no matter how sinful and unrepentant he is.
[10:02] He says, that's your attitude. Can I tell you in America, maybe in this room today, but definitely in this community, that we have this idea, because we're such good people, and so generous, and we help other countries of the world, that somebody sits at the gates of hell, and he says, I would never allow any good conservative, white Republican, from the southeast of America, to go to hell.
[10:23] Can I tell you, unrepentant sinners, go to hell. The price of your sin. There's nobody sitting at the gate, keeping you from there, because you're such a good person. Your sin deserves punishment.
[10:34] It deserves to go to hell. And if your sin is as Romans chapter number one, or if your sin is a rebellion in your heart, we deserve that. These verses show us, that we are without excuse. Here in Romans chapter number two, it's very similar to the story, that we find with David, and the prophet there, is giving a story, and he says, let me tell you about this man, and he had one lamb, and another man came in, and he took his only lamb, and the other guy had a lot of sheep, and David was very mad at him, and he said, I can't believe that, I want to kill that man, I want to put him in prison, and I want to detain this man, and the prophet looked at him, and says, thou art the man.
[11:11] Group of people in history, Jewish people, and today, moral people say, these people that are involved, in all these things, they deserve hell, but God has grace for them, or they deserve hell, but I don't, and God says today, thou art the man.
[11:25] You are guilty of this. As Simpson had his hair cut, and he ran into battle, and he had no power, many people today, will find that they have no power, in hell, that they will not escape hell, because you have no power, without God.
[11:39] When truth is read, they answer in their heart, I am okay, because I'm more biblically literate, than the pagans, I must be okay, but can I tell you in here, that salvation does not come, from knowing Bible trivia, and salvation does not come, from gathering information.
[11:54] You may have some wonderful things, that you could teach me, about this Bible, but you've never repented, in your heart, and asked him to be your savior, there's no place for you, in heaven. Those that have no place, in their heart for the word, there's no place for you, in heaven, and to the moral pagan, they say, we are without excuse.
[12:12] God is just, in his condemnation, of the good, and the bad pagan. Nobody will raise their hand, in heaven, and say, that I am not, I should not be here, that I should not be condemned, and we are condemned already.
[12:25] The pagan Gentile, the moral Jew, the poor, the rich, Republican, the Democrat, or whatever you may have, we're all condemned, we're all lovers of darkness, unless he does a work, in our heart.
[12:35] It's our default setting, John 3, 18 and 19, it says that we're born, we are sinners, and that because of that, we are condemned already. You will not become condemned, that you're already condemned, and no amount of morality, and no amount of good works, will ever remove, one ounce from it.
[12:51] And this is not a message, that is favorable, upon people. You know, I share the gospel with people, and growing up, I would go to somebody's door, that's the way church, I grew up in, and I'd go to it, and all I wanted them to do, was say something, where I feel like, I could be off the hook, and say that they're Christian.
[13:05] I'd knock on the door, and say, hey, can I tell you about Jesus today? And they'd say, well I go to church, and they're like, well great, I'm out, alright? I got that taken care of, or I'd say, can I tell you about that? And they'd say, well you know what, I prayed this morning, I'm like, okay good, I'm done, or knock on the door, I ate angel's food cake, hey that's good enough for me, okay?
[13:21] Or I opened the door, I'm a nice person, or just anything, I was looking for just any excuse, to be able to go back to the car, and say, oh those people are Christians, they don't need to hear anything, but were they all Christians?
[13:33] No they're not. I've said this time and time before, that you can be taking a very narrow walk, on a broad way, and you don't end up in heaven. There's a lot of people that have religion, but they're down a broad way, that leads to destruction, and I don't want to have that conversation with them, I don't want to talk about it, because I've seen what's happened, in history.
[13:51] See the Jewish people, they got mad at Stephen one day, when the first deacons, and they said, you're one of those conspirators with Jesus, and you want to destroy our temple, and don't you know, Moses told us, we need to protect this temple, this is a big deal, and Stephen goes off, on a message, without any notes, that's incredible, he covers the history of the Old Testament, and he says, guys you're getting this thing wrong, it's not about an outward temple, it's that Jesus Christ, now the temple is inside of us, he is going to die, and be risen again, again, and he begins to share this, in verse 7, chapter 7 verse 1, the high priest says, is this not so, he looks at Stephen, and Stephen begins to teach, and he begins to preach to them, and he says, you guys, you've got to get this, there's so many things, that you're believing, that they're wrong, it's not about this outward, exterior, culture, of religion, but it's a matter, of the heart, and you know what they did, they begin to grind their teeth, they did not want to hear him, they cover their ears, they don't want to hear them, they're like little children, and they say, I don't want to hear what you're saying, it messes up our external system, don't mess with this, we feel good where we're at, don't bring conviction, and they do that, and because they can't silence them, with the grinding of their teeth, they decide to silence him, with the throwing of stones, can I tell you that, when you engage in a conversation today, with somebody who says they're a Christian, and you ask them about, have they ever been convicted of sin, and have they ever known, that they're a sinner, in need of grace, many times they may not throw stones at you, but they find a way, to grind their teeth, and not listen to you, because they don't want to recognize, they're a sinner, but what good is grace, if you're not a sinner, they need to know, that they are sinners, then he goes, he says in verse number three, and thinketh thou this,
[15:31] O man, thou judgest them, which do such things, and does the same thing, that thou should escape, the judgment of God, he says you're doing the same thing, he says you read chapter number one, and you think wow, you're a really good person, but you're just guilty of the same sin, in a different manner, and isn't it amazing, how we can do mental gymnastics, in our mind, and we can say man, that's horrific, I read this funny story, this man went to this little deli, and he picked up some lunch meat, and he's going to have a picnic, and when he left, he grabbed the bag, and inside the bag, he got this picnic, and he opened it up, and it had $800 in it, that the man had put the money, from the cash register, in the paper bag, and given him the wrong food, so he goes back to the deli, and he said sir, I just want to return this to you, I know it's the right thing to do, this is not my money, and he said thank you sir, that you would do this, let me get your name, and this lady's name, so I could put in the paper, he said no please don't do this, this lady is not my wife, and I'd hate for it to be seen, in the paper, we were having a picnic, can you imagine that, how weird is this, this man says, there's no way, that I would steal $800, from this deli, it would be the wrong thing to do, so him and this lady, that he's having an affair with, go back to that deli, oh we're so much like that, aren't we, that we hate the sin, and we see it, and say man, they need the gospel,
[16:46] China needs the gospel, but that guy in the cubicle, beside me, he's just so good, he's such a nice guy, and maybe there's another option, maybe there's a plan, maybe a starter package, maybe grace is what people in China need, but maybe just some, behavior modification, maybe that guy just needs, the change a little bit, he needs the gospel, you need the gospel, we need the gospel, say that with me, we need the gospel, and anytime you hear of sin, you ought to be reminded of your own sin, and say, I need the gospel, and I come, I become guilty, to be pardoned, by the blood of Christ the lamb, and I'm guilty as any man, that has ever lived, you haven't killed anybody, but you've thought about it in your heart, that's what Jesus says, in the New Testament, Matthew 5, you've never committed adultery, but you've lost it in Matthew 5, 27, you know that you're guilty, and you know that you're just covering it up, it's a wild thing, the Old Testament, the blood is sprinkled upon the altar, it's outward, it's on the door, it's outward, but in the New Testament, he says, I'm going for the B level,
[17:46] I'm going for your heart, Romans chapter number 6, he says, drink my blood, eat my flesh, and they say, I don't understand that, and he's saying, my blood is going to cleanse you from the inside, because that is where the cancer of sin is killing you, and so I come guilty, and so do you, so he says he's going to judge by a couple different ways that we see here, verse number 2, he says he's going to judge by truth, but we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth, against them which commit such things, there is a truth that he is going to judge by, it is not a hypothetical, it's not something we make up, it's not something debated, there is a defined truth by the word of God, that he will judge this world by, and we are told that we are unwise in our comparison, 2 Corinthians 10, 12 says, you are unwise though, compare yourselves among yourself, and we often do this to feel more spiritual against another, but we also do this in the need of grace, we think we do not need grace, because we compare ourselves, and how unwise is it, it's so unwise that millions of people will die, and go to hell because of this comparison, they are always finding somebody to compare themselves to, heard a wonderful message at the summit by Chris Gardner, who will be at the men's conference on Friday, but John chapter number 2, how the lamb of God walks in there, and the money changers are giving money out, so that these people could buy a lamb for a sacrifice, and they are so caught up in their external buying, and making plans so that somebody else, and it is so outward, that the lamb of God is in the room, and they do not even notice, that we are so busy building this facade, to feel like that there is no sin in our lives, and covering ourselves with leaves, and genesis, and hiding among the trees, that we never realize we are in need of a savior, and we feel good about it, we create a subculture, and we say as long as I am inside of it, see what happens is a couple people join together among the church, and they really believe, and they worship Jesus, and these people begin to do things together, and they begin to do good works, because we are created for it, and they launch out, and they begin to do good works, and somebody else on the outside sees this, and they say well, you know I feel kind of bad for my sin, so I want to kind of get involved in what is going on, and they kind of get involved, and they get involved in the ministry of the Lord, and they never deal with their sin, and see themselves as a sinner, and they look out, and they say man the church is just doing so many good things, and it is just going to help me, and they just kind of get caught up, in the motions, and the culture that we make, and they never dealt with their sin, and they think because I am involved, and nobody notices, and nobody noticed Judas either, and nobody noticed that he had a job among them, but if you never dealt with your sin, then you are not a believer, so we find here that it's not why,
[20:19] Jesus will judge the judges in Acts 24-25, and he will do it by his righteousness, and that will be his measurement, in Romans chapter number 1, 17 and 18, which is kind of our theme verse, it says, for therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith, for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, against all ungodliness, and the righteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness, here is the truth, that Jesus is going to judge you by, he will not measure you, and say you're a pretty good person, you're going to make the cut, you must have the righteousness of God, upon your account, or when you are judged by truth, you will be found guilty, and unforgiven, for all eternity, of your sin, that is the truth, that you will be judged by them, you will not be judged by me, and if you are, you'll do very well, you'll not be judged by another person, you may do okay, you'll be judged by the holiness, of the almighty God, and you'll be found guilty, of that, and he is the ultimate truth, and we are not, do you really think, that you will escape, it says here in verse number three, do you really think, you're going to escape judgment, do you think in here today, or do you think this about your friend, that because you can judge other people, then you must not be guilty, because you're able to cast judgment, apparently you're not also going to be judged, yourself, do you think that you have, some kind of secret pass on sin, because you and God are just, so close, and you've done so much, because you've done so much good, because God has bigger cases, to deal with than you, that you have some kind of, extraneous circumstances, where you're going to have, a different place there, that in the judgment, where there's sinners there, and they're being, they're unforgiven, the judgment is made of them, for their sin, that somehow there's going to be, like a secret room, where you're hanging out, and you're not in heaven, because you're not forgiven, but you're not like them, and so that is not the case, at all, it says verse number five, men are treasuring up wrath, for the day of judgment, but after thy hardness, and impotent heart, treasuring up thou unto thyself, wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation, is the righteous judgment, of God, the hardness of your heart, it says that you treasure it up, it's the same word, we get the word, the thoris from, which I'm not saying, it's a funny word not to say, wish I could get a synonym, for it right now, okay, and so in this, it's a book, they're just gathering up words, they're just gathering up wrath, sin and sin, and we're going to look here, and you're thinking, well I'm sinning, and getting by with it,
[22:40] I must be okay, no, you're not okay, he's long bearing, he's forbearing, and he's patient upon you, but that sin, you'll pay for, for all eternity, their opinions will not matter, their being better, will not remove one ounce, of evidence against them, that are unrepentant sinners, their lives will be contrasted, against the holy God, we must have his righteousness, it says that they have a hard heart, why do they have a hard heart, because they continue to resist, the goodness of God, can I tell you parents in here, of teenagers, that I'm honored to work with, one of my biggest fears, about teenagers, that constantly hear the word of God, at a young age, and they never respond to it, is that every year, their hearts get harder, and harder to it, it'd be better, if we could even remove them, from hearing this, to apply them, when they respond, because the more they hear it, the more they reject it, the harder their hearts will get, that's why you cannot, it's not the same, you can't say in five years, I'll handle this, because five years, that heart will be so much harder, they resist it, even though they never, they may even recognize it,
[23:41] God's goodness, should lead them to repentance, the conversion, but it has caused them, to be critical, they reason, based upon their privilege, of enjoying God's goodness, the fact that they have special revelation, that they're in a good church, among good people, that they're privileged, that God must really love me, because he has given me, special attention, we've heard it time and time again, God is good to you, because God is good, not because you are good, you share the gospel with somebody, and they say, have you ever put your faith in Jesus, you ever come to him, and ask for him to save him, and they'll say, well when I was younger, I was in a car wreck, and I didn't die, so I know that God must have, a plan for me, and you know what you tell them, yes, God had a plan for you, he wanted you to live another day, so that I could stand here, at this moment, and share the truth, of his righteousness, with you, that was his plan, I've never killed anybody, so, and they said, that's a false comparison, to somebody else, because plenty of people, who haven't killed anybody, will go to hell, and plenty of murderers, will be in heaven, with me as well, how do you feel about, how you're doing,
[24:43] I felt inside, I was sharing the gospel, with this teenager, and I won't mention, where I was at, but as I was doing it, and I was showing him, about the gospel, and sin, a lady, a well meaning, motive lady, came up to us, and sat down, and said, nobody in this church, but they said, how do you feel, when we sing songs, about Jesus, how do you feel, when we do good works, he said, well I feel good about it, and she said, you know why, you feel good about it, because you're one of the children, of God, and there's no way, you would feel good about that, unless you as a child of God, can I tell you, that is horrifically false, and it's not true, it's horrific, that is not true, you know I was 16 years old, I was laying in a hospital bed, and I had a disease, and I got out, and I didn't get out, because the power of God, because I was a Christian, plenty of unbelieving kids, got out of that same hospital, and they feel good about it, when they give somebody else a toy, and they do something about it, we feel real good about it, a sinner that thinks, he's paying for his own sin, feels really good, about doing something, it's the greatest fundraiser, in the Catholic church history, you know, is that we begin to, you do something, you feel good about it,
[25:49] I feel like I have, as good a chance as anyone, ever heard that one before, I feel like I've heard, as good a chance as anyone, well I tell you, most people don't have, a pretty good chance, so I wouldn't be saying that, you don't have a chance at all, unless you put your faith, and trust in Jesus, God will judge the world, by truth, not based upon how we feel, or how we measure up, against somebody else, or not even based about, how much this Bible, you can quote, but he's going to, based upon the truth, do you have the righteousness of God, have you recognized, the goodness of God, repented of your sin, verse number four, or despisest thou, the richness of goodness, and forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that, the goodness of God, leadeth thee, to repentance, that he has a plan, in this Paul saying, he's being good to you, for a reason, that he is trying, in his goodness, to draw you closer to him, to bring you to repentance, and in so doing, your heart's getting harder, and farther away, really funny book, some of you might have read, about cat and dog theology, any of you all love cats in here, there will be an altar call, for you as well, any of you love dogs in here, in here, and you probably heard it before, you know, we've talked about this before, and how cats have owners, and dogs know, that you're the master, and I can't think about, all the things about it, we see the contrast, between Isaac, and Abraham, in the Bible, but the more good, that God is to them, you're good to the cat, and they say, they're so good to me, they give me food,
[27:06] I must be God, I must be the master, but if you take care of a dog, and feed him, and walk him, they say, he's so good to me, he must be the master, these people, and so many of us, and people around, God's so good to me, I'm here in America, I can pay my bills, and all that, he must really, I must really be something, watching something, the other day, on television, and we talked today, in Psalms 115, we're in our class, we're talking about how, these, the people that are unbelievers, they said, where's your God, he isn't doing any miracles, and today people say, where's God doing any miracles, if I was watching, something on television, they said, man this frog is amazing, because all the things, that this frog can do, these people can't see, how amazing our God is, but they can see, how amazing a frog is, and we've taken our eyes, off the creator, and put it on creation, we put it off ourselves, and we say, God you're good to us, I must be something, really special, because you're so good to me, but that is supposed to be, drawing you with cords, of love, he is leading us to it, and he's pushed away, so Paul says, do you think lightly, of God's mercy, the riches of goodness, where God's got, good to all of us, everybody breathing today, he's been good to, all around the world, but he's especially good to you,
[28:16] Vision Baptist Church, he's especially good to you, to those that are getting, to hear the word of God, he's especially good to you, look at how good, he has been to you today, you're hearing the gospel, you have heard, you have his word, in your hand, you have another day, to repent, you have another moment, to repent, so do you despise his mercy, God is good to us, because he's good, not because you're deserving, you're good, a cynic said, why do you think, God will forgive you, doing these sins, and you never ask him, to forgive you, he said, someday when I get to heaven, I'll ask him to forgive me, and they said, why do you think he'll do that, and he said, because that is God's job, to do that, God is not our employee, obligated to give us forgiveness, I said a prayer, everything's okay, I got baptized, everything's cool, he did not demand us, to pray or to get wet, he demanded us, that we would repent, of our sins, and turn to him, his goodness, should lead us to repent, conversation with, the sinner in the bible, says, I have the law, and I'm doing a pretty good job, with it, oh I have parents, they taught me how to be good, and so I'm doing pretty good, and the bible says, you know what, you may have the law, but you're not doing, so good at it, at all, sinner says, well I'm not involved, in any kind of gross sins, like Roman chapter number one, but the bible says, but you're still a sinner, you're still without excuse, sinner says, but God's mercy will never fail, he'll take care of me, so good to me, and the bible says, yes God is good, and merciful, but his goodness, should lead you, to repentance, and not to procrastinate, and to wait another day, then Paul says, do you understand who God is, when he gives these words here, it says, forbearance, and love suffering, it says, not knowing, he says, you don't understand, he says, if you do not repent, then you are really not apprehending, who God really is, to not repent of your sin, and put your faith in Jesus, is to acknowledge, you really don't know who he is, because there's no way, that you know that you're a sinner, and you know who he is, and you don't repent, do you really believe, who is that he's good, that he's kind, that he's patient, that he's loved, along suffering,
[30:10] Genesis 15, 16, it says, if we turn there, Patrick, Genesis 15, 16, but he's talking there, and so, but in the fourth generation, they should come, hither and again, the iniquity of the Amorites, is not yet full, that as the children, are going through the wilderness, and they're headed there, that their iniquity, is not yet full, and you say, well God's given me another day, and he lets me keep on living, even though I'm sinning, so everything must be okay, and your iniquity is not yet full, but there will come a day, and it will be too late, he is patient, and he is long suffering to you, but there will come a day, that is already appointed, and it's a day of judgment, and on that day, the judge will judge all judges, which is us moral people, as well, if you think it's no big deal, because you did not immediately, see the effect of your sin, in your life, that is foolish, 1 Peter 3, 9, the Lord is not slack, concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but is long suffering, toward us, with not willing, that they should perish, that they should come to repentance, you must say, you believe in God, because you must, if you believe in God, you will not continue, to deny his goodness, in your life, so I close on this, and the last question, that Paul asked these people, is simply as this, why do you believe, that God is so patient with you, what do you think, his purpose in being patient, because he would lead you, here the day, and give you another chance,
[31:29] God has been good to you, not because you're good, and not because everything's okay, and you're not in need of grace, he is good to you, because he is long suffering, and he is patient, and he doesn't desire, that any one of you, would perish, let today be the day, that you'll decide, to repent from your heart, it doesn't matter that God, doesn't matter you, if God isn't at the center, of your life, it doesn't matter, that you really don't love, the kingdom, it doesn't really matter, that Christ is not the one, that rules your heart, you may feel that way, and just like the Jewish man, and just like the moral person, you may sit there, and you may deflect, and say I can't be judged, because I am a judge myself, and those people need grace, but I don't, do not be confused today, because of his goodness, it has a purpose, and do not let it give you, a false sense of security, that's because you know the Bible, and he's been so good to you, that he has not done that, in long suffering, and in patience, I'll look out here today, and I pray that the Holy Spirit, convicts the hearts, of those that are moral, and those that believe, that everything's okay, just because they're such good people, and today will be, the day of repentance in life, today will be, a day of salvation,
[32:36] I'm going to ask you, to make a decision here, in a second, not a decision for me, but a decision, about what you know, about God to be true, and what you know, to be about sin to be true, the Christian in here, as I study this passage, can I tell you, my eyes have been open, so much to the pagan, mission field, that we live in, there's a bunch, of good people here, and their goodness, is the worst thing, in their lives, it's horrible, they're not in need, their wealth is something, that causes them, that they don't need, and they don't have, a disposition, towards the gospel, everything is okay, they're not going to, hit rock bottom, they're never going, they're not going to, get to a point, and that they're going, to get to a point, where they continue, to reach and reach, and reach for something else, thinking it'll give them happiness, they're going to find their place, and hell, for all eternity, was never designed for them, does this not, stir something up in you, do you not see, the fact that you are, forgiven of sin, do you not see, that that person, that you work with, and your family member, that's so good, is going to die, and go to the same hell, and that God's goodness, is trying to lead them, through repentance, will you not take, the word of God to them,
[33:39] I don't ask you, to come for my sake, to this altar, and I don't ask you, to pray there in your seat, for my sake, but this church, should make a decision, some of you, if you're in here, and you're not a believer, the day you should accept, Jesus Christ, he's good, and he's forbearing, but we do not know, how much long, you may have, and Christian in here, will you get serious, about the grace, been given to you, will you go ahead, and place somebody, upon your heart, how good, or moral they may be, it does not matter, but you're going to place them, on your heart, and say that this week, I'm going to make sure, that they know, that they're going to be judged, not just by goodness, but by truth, and you know the truth, you know the righteousness, of God, and how dare we allow them, to continue to go on, saying, I can pair my life, with that person's life, and I'm doing pretty good, you need to tell them, that you're a rotten sinner, that was in need of a savior, and that they don't need, to compare your life, to you, they need to compare it, to an almighty God, make a decision today, heavenly father, ask that you'll be with us today, we pray that you'll work, in hearts Lord, as you've worked, in my heart so much Lord, Lord this week, we're going to see, the moral pagan Lord, we're going to see that person,
[34:42] I pray right now, that every Christian in here, will make the decision, that they are going to, take the gospel, to those people, that will stop thinking, that the gospel, is just something, for the other side of the world, but we'll see that, we are living surrounded, by unbelievers, pray that you'll do, a work there Lord, and as the piano plays Lord, and we pray in a moment, they'll find a place, on an altar, and as they come to the altar, they'll bring a name, upon their heart, that they will be praying, for, as the piano player plays, and every head is bowed, and nobody, is looking around, can I urge you today, he's patient, and he's long suffering, and he's good to you, and he's trying to lead you, to repentance, and he's giving you, this moment to repent, could I ask you, is that you here today, if that's you here today, would you just raise your hand, and tell me, I want to learn of this truth, I want to see the truth, in the Bible, if that's you in here today, would you raise your hand, so I can pray for you, and send somebody, to help you, Heavenly Father, you know the hearts, in here Lord, and it is my desire, that every one of these people, are my brother, and sister, in Christ, and that you will, take this passage, that you have designated, for us today, and you will use it Lord, to excite our hearts Lord, knowing that we have truth, and that you are good, and we will go, and take it the people, that we have been overlooking, when it comes to sharing, the gospel, and it's going to begin to sing, and you can stand, and sing with him, when you feel, that you're ready, but this altar is here, and it's a place, for sinners to come, and repent, it's a place, for believers to come, and pray for those, that we should be faithfully, sharing the gospel with, this message, was recorded, at Vision Baptist Church, in Alfred Georgia, for more information, log on to, www.visionbaptist.com, where you can find, our service times, location, contact information, and more audio, and video recordings, and more audio, and video recordings.