Romans 2
God’s righteous judgment -
The one who is passing judgment in this chapter is someone who is bound by legalistic law to a certain behavior, who then condemns those who do not follow the same law. Their motives are impure, their hearts are far from God (as spelled out in Chapter 1), yet they set themselves up as a righteous judge of their neighbors. But God’s judgment is righteous – right according to God’s standards. God’s judgment looks at a man either through the person of Jesus Christ (which deflects the judgment of God from that person), or at the man alone. The man alone is subject to God’s wrath and true judgment. May no man be found to be “unclothed” by Jesus Christ when God comes to judge all men!
They show contempt for God’s riches, kindness, tolerance and patience in that they reject the work of Grace in their lives and try to live righteous before God on their own merit, which is no merit at all!
If they only understood that it is the kindness of God that attempts to lead them toward true repentance, which is seen by faith in Jesus Christ alone, and that their attempts lead them nowhere except into death.
Alas, these stubborn-hearted and unrepentant persons are actually storing up God’s wrath toward themselves. And that wrath will be poured out upon them on the day of God’s wrath. On that day, God will reward each person according to what he has done. The basis of this reward will be on whether or not each person has accepted Jesus Christ, leading to life, or rejected the sacrifice of the Son of God, which will certainly lead them to permanent death and separation from God.
If we are doing good, seeking glory, honor and immortality, we will have eternal life. However, for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, their “reward” will be God’s wrath and anger. God promises that there will be trouble for every human being who does evil. Yet there will be glory, honor and peace for anyone who does good.
All who sin apart from the law will perish apart from the law. The law is meant to convict of sin. Those who try to keep the law as a means of righteousness, without allowing the law to do its task of convicting of sin, will be condemned to perish. It is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. To obey the law is to use the law “lawfully”; as a conviction of sin which points to a need for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
God will judge our secrets through Jesus Christ. If we are seen through Jesus Christ, we will be judged righteous: if we are seen standing alone, we will be condemned.
