Good morning and welcome in. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Romans.
Romans 2:5-8 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; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
When somebody is impenitent they don’t feel any shame or regret about their actions or attitudes. They lack a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done. When you do something wrong to God or others it should make you feel sorry enough to apologize and admit fault. When we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of our iniquities. This group of people have no sorrow about their sin or sins and are obdurate.
Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Because of pride and a lack of contrition, the Pharisee lifted himself up in the eyes of God, as if he were righteous, but the truth is that all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God, none of us any better than another. It was the penitent heart of the publican that resulted in forgiveness with God as he cried out for mercy.
Psalms 38:18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
Impenitence is not being contrite. It’s having a hard heart. It’s not feeling sorry or ashamed about something bad that you have done, which is something that a soft hearted person would feel. Without heartfelt penitence, one won’t confess fault, so their sin remains.
Acts 3:19 – Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
If we want sins to be forgiven and blotted out, we must confess them. The Apostle Paul was glad to hear that the Church was filled with true sorrow.
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
It’s the refusal to be penitent and confess faults that hardens the heart. This is why we need to be exposed to God’s holy Word each and every day.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Instead of provoking our blessed Lord Jesus who loves us, and laid down His own life at the cross to redeem us, we want to serve Him with meekness and submission.
Hebrews 3:8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
A hardened heart is filled with pride and results in being obstinate and stiff-necked.
2 Chronicles 30:8 – Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.
It warns in our study passage about those who are contentious and fight against God’s Word. When somebody is contentious, it means that they are given to arguing or provoking an argument, or causing, involving, or likely to cause disagreement. They refuse to accept scripture and display an open rebellion and resistance to God’s teachings.
1 Samuel 15:23 – For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Psalms 107:11 – Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
To resist is to attempt to counter the actions or effects of, to withstand the actions of and to oppose. Here are a few examples.
2 Timothy 3:8-9 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
2 Timothy 4:14-15 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
Pharaoh withstood Moses repetitively.
Exodus 8:15 – But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
As a Born again Christian we are supposed to submit to God’s Word, doing the will of God from the heart.
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Luke 11:28 – But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Obeying God’s Word shows that we love Him.
John 14:23-24 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
Listen to how the Apostle James explains true penitence and contrition to the church.
James 4:8-10 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Always remember that pride comes before the fall, and that before forgiveness comes humility. Having a penitent heart is truly the key to God’s grace, because when we come humbly before him, He is going to… ….Lift us Up.
Let’s think about these things for right now and Lord willing, we can talk some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.❤️
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