Ink & Fire: Words that Changed the World Part Three: The Mirror and the Megaphone Micaiah Irmler Romans 2:1-16 NKJV Real faith . Fake faith . Remember: You will never have the real if you are always settling for a replica. Romans 2:1-16 NKJV 1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. Matthew 23:25 – “Woe to you… you clean the outside but inside you are full of hypocrisy. Isaiah 29:13 – “They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Revelation 3:1 – “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” Paul is trying to… Save the Saved. Self-Righteous Spirit vs. 1-3 Note: Paul is addressing religious people here — folks who think they’re “in” because of their background, knowledge, or status. Note: They were projecting righteousness but practicing . Calling out sin in others doesn’t cancel out sin in . Note: We can be so good in finger pointing. When it has to do with others its a sin. When it has to do with us it's a struggle. Matthew 7:4-5 NKJV 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Remember: Knowing Right Doesn’t Make You . Calling out in others publicly what we are cuddling in private. The loudest are often hiding the deepest . Culture Judges us by our God Judges us by our . Quote: The greatest form of deception is self-deception. – Watchman Nee Remember: Hypocrisy is the devil’s favorite disguise for righteousness—it keeps people religious but resistant to grace. Selective Standards vs. 4-9 Note: They thought since they were Jews or followers of the way that they would get special treatment. James 1:22-25 NKJV >22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. >23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; >24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. >25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. Remember: God is about clean up not cover-up. Megaphones While Mirrors . Religion Without Is a Performance. The Smaller the Mirror the More that You Miss. Mirrors Are About Reflection Not Just Reaction. Magnify Others Sin the Magnify the Grace of God. You can’t receive grace if you’re too busy grading everyone else. God’s patience isn’t permission—it’s a to repentance. Grace is not a green light. God’s goodness is the whisper before the wake-up. Secret Sins vs. 12-16 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. NLT 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. Remember: Heat reveals what is hidden. 1 Peter 4:17 says, “Let judgment begin in the house of God.” Question: Are you faking faith? I Corinthians 3:12-15 NKJV 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. You don’t know what is fake until it passes through the fire. A counterfeit faith might fool people, but it never fools the . Only the will remain. Quote: Live in such a way that if people spoke badly of you, no one would believe it. – Unknown Question: Are you working hard to keep up appearances and playing the part? Note: This morning God wants to burn through the performance and get to the person. Remember: Put down the and pick up the . Remember: Let God deal with the pharisee in me.