The Plowman

Introduction:

A Song was born at Christmas that sat the sky ablaze,
As joyful sound rang all around with heaven’s highest praise.
Now let us join the glorious song that the lowly shepherds heard.
With heart and voice, O come rejoice, that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Why?  Why sing?  Why rejoice?  Because a baby was born in a barn?  Because of some sweet, sentimental tail about some ancient legend now fulfilled?  Let’s see, there was a frightened couple a long way from home who encountered an unsympathetic innkeeper.  There was a birth in less than ideal circumstances.  Then some angels appeared to shepherds and sang a song.  Oh, and there were some strange visitors from an exotic location that somehow figured into the story.  Curious, interesting perhaps but not all that compelling and certainly not worth singing about.  That is until you get behind the story and learn the reason for it all.

I love the music of Christmas.  I don’t mean Rudolf The Red-nosed Reindeer, Deck the Halls, or Santa Baby!  I mean the hymns like Joy To The Word!, Angels We Have Heard On High, and O Come, O Come Emmanuel.  They are upbeat, joy-filled and full of life.  But why?  Let me add one other thing, there is a big different in the singing of those who understand and those who do not.  You can have a choir of excellent musicians who have a beautiful arrangement of a particular Christmas hymn and they can sing it with perfection but it’s not the same as the singing of those who’ve been brought from death to life through the gospel.  Oh the former may bring a tear to your eye and it might move you as beautiful music often does but the latter feeds your soul and stirs your heart.  No, the true music of Christmas is born in the heart of those who have come face to face with the darkness of their own soul and have found light and life in the person of Jesus Christ.  Our text this morning is found in Romans chapter 3 beginning with verse 9.

Text: Romans 3:9-20
At first glance this hardly seems appropriate for a “Christmas” text.
Christmas is upbeat, joyful.
Not exactly appropriate for describing this passage.
This is one of the darkest passages in the whole of Scripture.
Here we have God’s indictment of the human race.
Here we have assembled Scripture’s most explicit description of total depravity.
This is God’s assessment of the man.
When God looks at us this is what He sees.
It’s not a pretty picture.

I’m not thrilled about His conclusion either.  “Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.”  (3:19)

We’re guilty.  We are condemned.  We will answer to God.  “Thanks for the Christmas cheer pastor!”  Wait, what was it that the angels said to those shepherds in the hills of Bethlehem?  “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a SAVIOR who is Christ the Lord.”  A Savior.  God’s deliverer has come.  What deliverer?  The one who will save His people from their sins.

Thesis: You will never understand the beauty and the wonder of Christmas until you understand YOU need a Savior.

That is what this text is about and that’s why it is very appropriate, perhaps the most appropriate Christmas text.  Thus far in Romans Paul has made it clear that the heathen, the hypocrite and the Hebrew have each in turn been arraigned and found guilty.  All are sinners.

This text is about your need of a Savior.  We find three reasons for why you need a Savior.

1. You need a Savior because you stand condemned before a holy and righteous God.  (3:9-12)
   According to Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit we are:
   • Unrighteous – 10
   • Unreasonable – 11
   • Unresponsive – 11
   • Unrepentant – 12

   You need a Savior because you stand condemned before a holy and righteous judge.  But there is more.

2. You need a Savior because you stand rightly condemned by both your words and your ways.  (3:13-18)
   It is not that you are unjustly condemned.
   It is not that charges have been manufactured.
   • Your words condemn you – 3:13-14
   • Your ways condemn you – 3:15-18

   YOU need a Savior because you stand condemned, rightfully so by your own words and your own conduct.  But we’re not through.

3. You need a Savior because your condition is hopeless.  (3:19-20)

That is how dark and desperate your circumstance.  Unless you come face to face with that reality you will never hear or enjoy the music of Christmas.

Introduction:
It is an excellent strategy.  It is used all the time by magicians and illusionists it is called diversion or misdirection.  I want you looking over there while I do something over here.  It is also used effectively by those who really don’t want to answer questions or deal with the truth.  “You asked me about this but I’d rather talk about that.”  We all know who likes to use such tactics!  It’s politics 101.  Just once I’d like to hear a politician say, “Look, this is a press conference the last thing I want do is answer a bunch of questions.”  In stead you hear something like, “That is an excellent questions.  That’s why I have my people looking into…” then they go off on something that’s not even remotely related to the question asked.  But as good as politicians are with “spin” I’ll tell you are the real masters of spin.  They are the folks who love to talk about “religion” but who don’t want to deal with their sin or come to grips with the gospel.

Do you remember the story recorded in John chapter 4?  The story of Jesus and his encounter with the woman at the well?  It’s a classic example.  Jesus made a point to pass through Samaria.  It was noon, the hottest part of the day, and he sat down at Jacob’s well and waited while the disciples went into the village for food.

A woman approached who was, without a doubt, a woman of questionable character.  She came to draw water and Jesus struck up a conversation with her.  Jesus asked her for a drink.  She was surprised that Jesus, as a Jew, would ask her for water.  Jesus said, “If you knew who is was you would be asking me for water.  And I would give you living water.”  She was “hooked.”  “You don’t have a bucket and this well is very deep.  How would you get this water?  Are you claiming to be greater than our father Jacob?”  Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again.  Whoever drinks of the water I give – will never be thirsty again.  In fact that which I give will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  “Sir give me this water,” she exclaimed.

Jesus said, “Go, call your husband and tell him to come here.”  The woman said, “I don’t have a husband.”  “You’re right,” said Jesus.  “You’ve had 5 husbands but the man you’re currently living with is not your husband.”  That’s when it happened.  She was pleased to have the conversation up to this point.  She was fascinated and intrigued.  She wanted to know more.  But know she says, “I perceive you are a prophet.  I’ve always wondered…where’s the best place to go to church?”  Divert!  Move away.  Let’s talk about something else.  Let’s talk about anything else.

If you’ve tried to talk to others about the gospel.  If you’ve ever tried to move the conversation toward confronting an individual’s sin and their need of Christ then you’ve experienced “diversion tactics.”  You’ve been hit with the Crusades and all the evil that’s been done throughout history in the name of the church; you’ve been hit with the poor, innocent heathen in the African bush and the lowly villager in China who have never heard the gospel or the name of Jesus.  Is that brought up because they’ve always had this burden and wanted to know the answer or is it because they are not comfortable dealing with the gospel up close?  I suspect it’s the latter.  I imagine they don’t really want to deal with their sin and thus their condition before God it’s much safer to talk about the heathen in Africa or what happened 1200 years ago.

That’s what Paul is dealing with in our text this morning found in Romans chapter 3.

Text: Romans 3:1-8

The key to this section is found in 3:8 – “Their condemnation is just.”  Their condemnation is right, is fitting, it is appropriate.

That is highlighted in our text by revealing the depth of our sin.  The depth of man’s depravity is seen in that…

Thesis: Man’s wicked heart will go to any extreme to avoid dealing with God’s sovereign, wise and just judgment.

1. Man’s depravity is seen in that he tries to use his own unfaithfulness as grounds for charging God with unrighteousness.  (3:1-4)
2. Man’s depravity is revealed in that he seeks to justify his own wickedness as a means of glorifying God.  (3:5-8)

At first glance this text seems out of place and an unnecessary side track.  Paul why go down this road?  Why muddy the waters with a somewhat confusing rant?  But it is not a rant at all.  It’s not even out of place.  It’s purpose is to underscore the wickedness of man’s stubborn, sinful, heart.

It is given to declare yet again man’s destiny is hopeless apart from the mercy and grace of God in Christ.

Introduction:
Shocked.  Stunned.  Outraged and offended.  That’s the only way to describe the crowd’s response to the sermon.  For some it was the most outrageous thing they had ever heard.  It was unimaginable.  Others were frightened by what the preacher had said.  There were no, “Amens” in fact there was nothing but silence as the end of the sermon hung in the air.  It was a terrifying prospect – the thought of hearing the voice of God thunder, “Depart from Me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you!”  You might expect such if He were speaking to thieves, murderers or adulterers but listen, “Lord we prophesied in your name.  We cast out demons.  We did many mighty works in your name.”  Depart from Me?  I never knew you?  If He had said, “Liars!  You did no such thing.”  He did not dispute their claims He just said, “I never knew you.”  No wonder the crowd was astonished at His teaching.  Is it possible?  Could it be that there will be those who have “believed” the truth, worked in the church, labored for the kingdom who will be damned?  Is it true that there will be some at the judgment who will genuinely be shocked to learn that they are not included in the heavenly band?  Our text this morning is found in Romans chapter 2 beginning with the seventeenth verse.

Text: Romans 2:17-29
The apostle Paul is building his case for salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone.  He begins by driving home the point that we are all sinners in need of salvation.  Unless we understand we are sick – we feel no need for a doctor.  Unless we understand the sickness we have no need of a cure.

• Paul says God has revealed himself.
• He had made himself known.
• Creation screams, “There is a God!  He is powerful, majestic and awesome.”
• But man has suppressed that revelation – he has pushed it down.
• We refuse to acknowledge God as God.
• We do not honor Him as God or give him thanks.

Instead we pervert the truth and eventually exchange the truth for a lie and worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator.  That leads to a depraved, condemned, abandoned mind that in turn leads to profound sensual perversion, an endless variety of sin and a twisted morality.  Thus Paul addressed the openly flagrant sinners at the end of chapter 1.
At the beginning of chapter 2 he address the “righteous sinner.”  Both the moral pagan and the Jew for their hypocrisy.  Those who think themselves righteous and treat others with contempt.  Railing against sin while failing to recognize their own wickedness.

In our text he address the most difficult group to reach with the gospel – the religious sinner.  I say most difficult because it is difficult to convince earnest, sincerely religious people that they are “lost.”  But the Bible is very clear on this.  You can believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, confess all the doctrinal truths of the faith, and be a member of the church and miss heaven by 18 inches.  Because it never got from your head to your heart.  Your association with the truth, your exposure to the truth even your knowledge of the truth may prevent you from dealing with the heart of the matter.

My purpose is not to create doubt or to confuse but to deal honestly with what Paul says in this chapter.  I do want to make it clear, salvation is not the same as church membership.  Salvation is not to be equated with orthodox belief.  Salvation is about the work of God in the heart of the believer enabling the believer to understand the truth, desire the truth and surrender to the truth.  Salvation comes from trusting in Christ and in him alone!

As we walk through the text you’ll see why that is important.

First, knowledge of the truth may prove to be deadly.  (2:17-23)

• Part of the problem is their sense of privilege – (17-18)
• The problem of deadly pride and presumption – (19-20)

Thus, this is important, “Professed religion will not save a man from Divine judgment!”

Knowledge can be a dangerous thing.
Let me point out another truth from verse 24.

Betrayal of the truth is damning.  (2:24)

Embodying the truth is essential.  (2:25-29)

I have to pity the man who trusts in his religion to save him.  The man who thinks his church membership will get him to heaven or thinks his doctrine will get him there is sadly mistaken.

It is not enough to be near the truth; or to be associated with the truth; or even agree with the truth.  The truth must be embraced and lived out!

Introduction:
As he walked confidently into the Temple he was very aware of all who were present. He was shocked and a little bit offended by the man he saw over in the corner. A traitor. A Roman sympathizer. No doubt a thief as were all tax collectors. Having surveyed the room he took his stance in a prominent place and, in the words of Jesus, he “prayed to himself” saying, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get…” Meanwhile the tax collector could not bring himself to look up, overcome with grief he cried out, “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” It was the tax collector who went home justified in the sight of God not the other. Jesus told this parable to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt. How are we made right with God? Just what is required for us to be at peace with our Maker? That’s what the gospel is all about and the gospel is the focus of Paul’s letter to the church at Roman.

He was writing a letter of introduction. He wanted them to know what he was preaching. His great desire was to come to Rome that he might minister there. He desired to see a harvest in the capital city of the Empire. He also desired to be ministered to by the folks in Rome. He said to them, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” It is in the gospel, he said, that the righteousness of God is revealed. This righteousness that God provides is obtained by faith thus the just shall live by faith. Paul’s gospel, his good news, is that God himself provides all that is necessary for your salvation. His point being that you and I could never be good enough on our own. Why? Because we are sinners. Now the easiest thing in the world is to get someone to admit that they’re a sinner. “Well, no one is perfect,” they will say. The problem is most have no idea what that really means. Actually the problem is twofold. First we don’t understand that God is holy. We don’t understand that He is distinctly different from us, transcendent and perfect, pure and righteous. And second, we don’t understand the depth of our sin.

In Romans chapter 1 Paul pulls back the curtain and reveals man’s natural condition. He exposes our depravity. God has revealed himself in the creation. Nature screams, “There is a God!” But we suppress that truth. We push it down refusing to acknowledge God as God. We do not honor Him as God or give Him thanks. In fact we exchange the truth of God for a lie and worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator. As a result God gives us over to a depraved mind. A rejected, condemned and abandoned mind. One that leads to profound sensual perversion, an endless variety of sin and a warped, twisted sense of morality. Paul paints a dark picture of the heart of man. He is laying out that piece of black velvet against which the gospel will shine in all its brilliance. Having dealt with the flagrant, openly corrupt heathen he now turns his attention to the “righteous sinner.” Our text is found in Romans 2:1-16.

Text: Romans 2:1-16

There is some question concerning what group Paul is talking about in this section.
Is it the moral philosophers of Greece and Rome?
The moral pagans?
They looked down on “idol worshipers” as unsophisticated and crude.
They taught the principles of virtue and sought an ideal life through reason.
Others believe that he has turned his attention from the pagans to the Jews.
Certainly he does address the Jews directly but that is not until 2:17.
I think it best to understand he is addressing the hypocrite both Jew and Gentile!
He is address that person who thinks things are just fine between them and the Almighty.

Let’s work our way through the text and see what we find along the way.

• First, we discover that a respectable life of merely external holiness invited the full fury of God’s wrath. (2:1-5)
  You may be tempted to cry, “That’s not fair.” Paul anticipated that objection and he addresses it beginning with verse 6.
• God, the righteous Judge, knows all things and judges accordingly. (2:6-10)
  Let me point out quickly the last thing we note in our text because it is directly related this one…
• God’s judgment is informed, enlightened and impartial. (2:11-16)

So where does this leave us? What is it we need to understand?

• If you are a Christian – if you’ve turned from your sin and thrown yourself on the mercy of God in Christ – you ought to give thanks.
• If you are not a Christian – you’ve never turned from your sin and trusted wholly in Christ and in Him alone – you must flee to Christ now!