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I sometimes hear “I don’t believe in God” in conversation >>>

So I ask a question <ppt>“OK, What kind of God don’t you believe in?” Describe him for me

It’s not a trick question because if I can understand what someone doesn’t believe in we have a good chance of finding out what they do believe in and usually there are some surprises along the way.

When people answer that question one frequent response – God is judgemental!

He looks down at me with disdain – even disgust – he condemns me for not being the perfect specimen of humanity I expect him to want of me. God is a pretty nasty person

he is angry and he is absent so I can do without him thank-you-very-much.

so I have no time for him.

This passage is all about God’s judgement.

And the picture it paints is very different from what people often think about Him

In fact it draws me to him >>>

So why do we reach out beyond our walls?

Because God’s judgement is just (v2)

(we don’t want people we love to be condemned)

Sherlock homes was a master of observation

• tiny detail revealed a huge amount of information.

We are all Sherlocks when it comes to meeting people. As soon as we see someone in church or in the street we start making value judgements – we just can’t help it! It’s a reflex.

• they may be cognitive judgements– what did they say, what emotions did they convey
• they may be auditory judgements – what tone of voice were they using and what does that tell me?
• They may be kinaesthetic judgements – how were they moving their body, were they shifty of confident?
• Or olfactory judgements – do they smell?
• Etc etc

Now turn it backwards – have you ever been in a conversation and wondered “What does he really think of me?”

• many people are worried, even tortured by thoughts like this.
• We easily become anxious about what people think of us and it affects our self-image
• “Does he like me?” does he think I’m stupid
• Will he notice that I haven’t shaved this morning or the hole in my tights
• (maybe you want them to notice you haven’t shaved or that you’re wearing holy tights!)

If we’re honest, many of us wonder about what other people’s perception of us is.

And we’re concerned that their perception of us may be based on little bits of info that might draw them to the wrong conclusion. Another person, however close they are to us will never see the real me inside. And what bothers us is – if they did they might not like us.

There’s a very telling book called “Why am I afraid to tell you who I am” and in it the author says “I’m afraid to tell you who I am because who-I-am is all I’ve got and I fear you might not like it”

Paul addresses a question that is even more penetrating than that: What does God think about you?

• What’s his judgements or his assessment of us?
• And what cues does he see?
• does he have all the right information about me?

I’m very pleased to be able to talk about this at a baptismal service because being baptised illustrates one of the most fundamental aspects of God’s image of us as Christian believers – Christ-followers –

• We are clean in God’s eyes!
• We are made righteous in Christ!

In Romans 1 we had a chilling list of people who were experiencing God’s wrath. Then in 1Corinthians 6 while Paul is writing to the church in Corinth and he spills out a similar list of people but listen to what he says about them: (remember he’s writing to Christians here)

Don’t let anyone deceive you! the sexually immoral the idolaters the adulterers the men who have sex with men the thieves the greedy the drunkards the slanderers and the swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God.

(it’s an uncomfortable list eh?)

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Yes, you were deserving of God’s wrath, but God himself did something about it!

ON the basis of your faith in him God has changed his view of you! (fantastic!)

But coming back to Romans, Paul isn’t talking to a person who has come to Christ, he’s talking to someone who is still messing with the dark side and trying to justify themselves.

So on what basis will God make his judge,ent (assessment)

2 Now we know that God’s judgement against those who do such things is based on truth.

What truth?

The moral truth that he has woven into the universe.

For the Jews that was the law that God gave to Moses – the 10 commandments and the other regulations.

We reach out to people, not because God loves them and his assessment (his judgement) of them is based on immutable truth.

Why do we reach out?

Because God’s character is generous (v4)

(he genuinely wants to be kind to the world he loves)

4 … do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realising that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

It would be easy to conclude that, because God’s assessment sometimes seems to point out the nasty stuff in life, that God is a critical and cantankerous old deity!

Actually nothing could be further from the truth!

This verse tells us a great deal

God is kind

Not aggressive

God is forbearing

He puts up with a lot before finding it necessary to take action against sin.

That’s the kind of God I want to follow! Because I’m human – I don’t always get it right and I need someone who will see me through

God is patient

Makrothumia >>>

The fact that God waits before bringing punishment isn’t a sign that he’s weak, or can’t really be bothered.

It indicates that God isn’t rushing in to bring punishment – in fact leaving most of it until the end times

Then Paul says a crucial thing – “it is God’s kindness that is intended to lead us to repentance”

What is it that is intended to cause me to drop on my knees and say “Lord I know I deserve your wrath, but please forgive and release me”? What is it that is meant to bring me to repentance?

it’s his kindness!

His kindness that promises me that as soon as he hears me say “Lord, I’m sorry!” he comes running to forgive and renew me and restore me and bring me his love and peace and joy!

And that might be true of some of us here today >>

IT’s because God is kind that we are let to a point where we can find forgiveness and freedom and put things right with him and know his love in a renewed way

Later I’m going to give us a chance to do that.

Why do we reach out?

Because God’s warnings are clear (v5)

(whether we acknowledge him or ignore him, the consequences are inescapable)

What happen if we don’t respond to God’s kindness?

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgement will be revealed

Remember Paul is talking to this typical, ‘generic’ person here.

So what does store up God’s wrath on to our account? Stubbornness and un-repentance.

To stubbornly refuse to respond to God’s kindness leaves me in the same state I was in before I realied how kind hw really is.

unbowing

refusing to admit >>>

Why do we reach out?

Because the stuff we do really matters (v6-10)

And it makes a difference.

6 God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.’

7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life.

8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

(we’re not saved by works, but the absence of good works shows the absence of salvation)

it doesn’t mean we always have to be nice, soft people. There are issues of intolerance and injustice that cannot be idle about

Let them see it – and let’s be as public as we can about who is motivating us (the love of Christ constrains us, says Paul) so that the people we rub shoulders with can make the connection! – the connection between the works that they see in us and the saviour that we serve!

Why do we reach out?

Because Jesus Christ holds the key to fullness of life (v16)

16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.