God's Righteousness Provokes Hatred

God's righteousness always provokes hatred in sinners

Romans 1:16-32

I. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD AND THE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN

A. In Romans 1:17-18 Paul is comparing and contrasting the righteousness of God with the unrighteousness of men. This is important because if we understand the unrighteousness of men, then we will be able to understand the righteousness of God.

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18)

B. Understanding the righteousness of God is one of the most important things you can ever learn.

C. The unrighteousness of men:

1. Unrighteous men suppress the truth (v.18)

2. Unrighteous men do not honor or give thanks to their Maker (vv.20-21)

3. Unrighteous men exchanged God’s incorruptible glory for corruption (v.23)

4. Unrighteous men exchanged the truth of God for a lie (v.25)

“Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said in a talk to children, ‘You may be young; but you are old enough to sin, and you are old enough to die.’ As long as that is true, you need a Savior” (quoted by James Boice, Romans I:99).

5. Unrighteous men exchanged natural functions of sexuality for unnatural (vv.26-27)

6. “being filled with all unrighteousness…” (v.29)

D. Both Jews and Gentiles fall into the category of unrighteous! (Romans 2:1-3:20).

E. God’s righteousness is His wrath and punishment of unrighteousness.

II. IN OUR SINFUL AND REBELLIOUS FLESH, GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL HATE

A. Martin Luther wrote autobiographically, “For I hated that word ‘righteousness of God,’…Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God…Thus I raged with a fierce and troubled conscience” (Martin Luther, “Autobiographical Fragment: Preface to the Complete Edition of Luther’s Latin Writings” [1545] quoted in Denis R. Janz, A Reformation reader, 75; emphasis added).

Did you know?

Ø Christopher Columbus set sail when Luther was in grammar school. Michelangelo was completing his Sistine Chapel ceiling as Luther began teaching theology.

Ø Luther once said he had not even seen a Bible until he was 20 years old (Christian History).

B. God’s righteousness is His wrath and punishment of unrighteousness. The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus took upon Himself the wrath and punishment for the sins of those Who believe in Him (Romans 1:16-17; 3:21-31).

“As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11)

C. God’s righteousness always provokes hatred in sinners.

1. Jesus was hated and opposed during His public ministry (cf. Matthew 12:14; 26:3-5; John 7:30, 44; 8:59; 10:31, 39; 11:53; 11:47).

a. “And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage… they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff” (Luke 4:28-29).

b. Jesus’ Sabbath healings almost always provoked hatred (cf. Luke 6:1-11).

c. Jesus’ righteousness was demonstrated in His eating with tax collectors and sinners and yet He was maligned for being a glutton, drunkard and a friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19).

d. Jesus’ righteousness was demonstrated in His miracles and yet He was then accused of being demon possessed (Matthew 12:24-29).

e. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead the religious leaders convened a council and from that day on planned together how they might kill Jesus (John 11:47,53).

f. God’s righteousness in the Person and work of Jesus provoked such hatred in the Jews that they crucified Him.

g. Jesus is still the most hated and maligned person in all history!

h. Hatred is the natural response to God’s righteousness. Faith is the supernatural response to God’s righteousness.

“Wherever Paul went there was a riot. Wherever I go, they serve tea.” (John Stott)

2. Jesus often warned His disciples that they too would be hated.

a. “You will be hated by all because of My name” (Matthew 10:22-25)

b. “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name” (Matthew 24:9).

c. “because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18-19; 17:14).

3. Whenever Paul preached the Gospel of God’s righteousness, he was always confronted with hatred (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

D. I hope and pray that we will be hated for righteousness’ sake!

1. “Blessed are you when men hate you…” (Luke 6:22)

2. “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master” (Matthew 10:24-25).

For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. (1 John 3:11-13)

E. If you are a faithful disciples of Jesus:

1. There will be people who will hate you more than they hate the devil.

2. God’s righteousness will provoke hatred for your sin (Psalm 45:7 with Hebrews 1:9; Psalm 97:10; 119:104,128; Proverbs 8:13; 13:5; Romans 7:12,15-15, 24-25; 12:9; Jude 23).

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate” (Proverbs 8:13).

QUESTIONS FOR SABBATH DISCUSSION & MEDITATION

Take what you have learned this morning and make it into a prayer. Pray that God would enable you to understand what righteousness is and how His righteousness is received. Pray that God would enable you to hate evil and love righteousness. Pray that you might know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10).

What is the unrighteousness of mankind?

What is the righteousness of God?

____________ is the natural response to God’s righteousness. ____________ is the supernatural response to God’s righteousness.

Explain why Martin Luther hated God’s righteousness before he understood Romans 1:17.

Explain how God’s righteousness always provokes hatred in sinners.

Explain how God’s righteousness should provoke hatred in the heart of Christians.

How do God’s righteousness and the world’s hatred pose temptations for you in your life?

Have you ever been hated by someone else because of your love for Jesus Christ? Why or why not? (“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” [John 15:19])