ROMANS 2:6

Sunday Morning:  February 13, 2005

Text:  Romans 2:1-6  "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. 2. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6. Who will render [render, reward, recompense]  to every man according to his (the individual’s) deeds [labor, work, toil]:"

SERVICE BECAUSE WE LOVE CHRIST

2 Corinthians 5:14  "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:"

SERVE THE LORD FOR REWARD

Colossians 3:23-25  "And whatsoever ye do [present active subjunctive], do [present middle imperative, for yourself] it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24. Knowing [perfect active participle] that of the Lord ye shall receive [future middle] the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25. But he that doeth wrong [present active participle, doing unjustly] shall receive (a reward) for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons."

REWARD FOR FOLLOWING JESUS

Matthew 16:24-27  "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25. For whosoever will save his life [soul] shall lose [perish] it (when the Son comes in his glory): and whosoever will lose [perish, (die to self)] his life (in this present age) for my sake shall find (have) it. 26. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose [be cast away, Luke 9:25, receive damage, suffer lose] his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels (start of the kingdom); and then he shall reward [render, pay] every man (disciple) according to his works." (a life of self denial, following the Lord or a life of indulgence, going his own way)

WILLING SERVICE REWARDED

1 Corinthians 9:16-18  “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!  17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, . . . 18  What is my reward then?

FAITHFUL SERVICE REWARDED

2 Timothy 4:7-8  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give [render, reward, recompense] me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them (that fight, finish, keep the faith) also that love his appearing.

WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT

Luke 18:18-24  "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit (enter the kingdom, v. 24) eternal life? 19. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

BE JUST

20. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

LIVE BY FAITH

22. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven (heavenly inheritance): and come, follow [present active imperative] (serve) me. 23. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter [inherit agelasting life] into the kingdom of God!"

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

2 Corinthians 5:9-11  "Wherefore we labour [present middle, to be eager or earnest], that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted [well pleasing] of him.

INCENTIVE TO BE PLEASING

10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good (well pleasing deeds) or bad [evil, wicked (not pleasing)].

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

11. Knowing therefore the terror [fear] of the Lord (in judgment), we persuade men (to be eager to please the Lord); but [moreover, also] we are made manifest unto God (God knows what we are doing);"

OUR WORKS WILL BE TESTED

1 Corinthians 3:12-15  “Now if any man build upon this foundation (of the apostles) gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;  13  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss [be cast away, Luke 9:25, receive damage, lose]: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”

HURT BY THE FIRE

Revelation 2:11  "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death (fire)."

EVIL SERVICE REWARDED

2 Timothy 4:14  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward [render, reward, recompense] him according to his works:

REWARD FOR MINISTRY

Matthew 6:1  "Take heed that ye do [present infinity] not your alms (ministry to others) before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven."

PRIVATELY DONE

Matthew 6:4  That thine alms (ministry) may be in secret (privately done): and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

REWARD – HIRE WAGES

Matthew 10:41-42  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous [just] man's reward.  42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones (those entering into the kingdom) a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

ABUNDANT REWARD

Matthew 25:28-30  "Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

RECEIVE FROM ANOTHER SERVANT

Luke 19:24  “And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25  (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26  For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.”

DO NOT LOSE YOUR REWARD

2 John 1:8  Look to yourselves, that we lose [perish] not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

HOLD FAST YOUR CROWN

Revelation 3:11  "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."