Romans Chapter 2

Sin and rejection of god will bring judgment

In verses 1-16 of this chapter we learn on what basis God judges people. We have just learned in Romans 1:18-32 that God’s wrath is revealed in judgment against a sinful world that has rejected His provision. But there is a question here that we have not yet dealt with. What about the good people who are not murderers, liars, thieves, and homosexuals? What happens to the people who live generally good and moral lives?

There are people in the world who live morally acceptable lives. They may even claim to be members of a Christian church. But because they do not truly believe in Jesus, they make every attempt to uphold an external moral value system to prove to others how good they are. But in reality their hearts are filled with sin although they are quite skillful in hiding that sin from others by the masks that they wear. To other people they appear to be fine, decent, upstanding citizens, but inwardly their true motives are not what they appear to be on the surface. In chapter 2 Paul sets out to expose such people who in his day were the Scribes and Pharisees. Such a sense of moral purity gave them a false sense of security, and it does the same to people who think that way today.

The whole basis of the Christian Gospel can only be understood by people who recognize that they are guilty before God, whether they consider themselves immoral, as were the people described in chapter 1, or moral as the people in chapter 2 thought themselves to be. In Paul’s time the Jews considered themselves to be the people of God. Today it is the Church-going people who consider themselves to be the people of God. The Jews in Paul’s day would have readily agreed with his evaluation of the unbelieving world, just as those who call themselves Christians would today. The truth is that all people of all time are the people of God, but that is the subject for another study. But the Jews then and the Christians now seem to think that they are exempt from any judgment because of their connection with Israel or the Church. Big mistake!

Although we will be describing the nation of Israel for the most part, because that is who Paul was writing about then, it applies equally to the Church today. The first thing we will address is that they believed in a salvation by works, which is often called legalism. They believed that obeying certain rules, participating in certain rituals, being circumcised, and attending services regularly, provided them an automatic membership in the Kingdom of God and that they were home free. Thus there would be no consequences for personal sin because they were under this umbrella of protection.

In the Church today many people believe that if a child is baptized as an infant, the child is guaranteed a place in God’s kingdom. They believe the same thing about the sacrament of confirmation. Actually there are people like this all around us today. They have been baptized and they keep the rules. They go to church and behave outwardly in a moral way. They are self-righteous, try to do what looks right, and just do not think they are going to be judged. Have you ever heard anyone say, “God wouldn’t do that to me, I am a good person?” These moral, self-righteous people are by far the hardest people to reach with the truth. In chapter 2, Paul points out with great force and clarity that the ethical, moral person is going to find himself/herself in the same Hell as the person who loves to sin if they keep believing what they believe.

You may be saying, “What terrible people you have been talking about!” But you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you do these very same things.

So both of these groups, the unreligious and the religious, are equally guilty. They have both been given the truth and both ignore it. The religious group proves that they know the truth about God because they are judging the unreligious group. How many people live less than moral lives but are the first to criticize others because of their behavior? I believe it is called gossip and slander and hypocrisy. We will see later that we should evaluate the behavior of others, being ready to dialogue about what is right before God, but we are not to criticize.

For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged.

In the next few verses of Matthew 7, Jesus tells people that before they try to get the splinter out of another person’s eye, they should take the 2 x 4 out of their own eye. He was telling the Jewish people that they were doing the same things as those they were condemning. Their reaction was that they did not do such things. They were moral men. But Jesus knew better. He had said that He came to fulfill the Law, and this is what He said to these Jews in Matthew 5:21, 22 NLT:

“You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’
22 But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

This verse is saying that they have been taught that they should not kill. Their response of course was, “We do not commit murder. So you see, we are keeping the Law.” Then Jesus tells them that they may not kill outwardly but they kill in their hearts. They restrain themselves from actually committing the murder because they are seeking so hard to be self-righteous. They want everybody to look up to them and respect them, but in their hearts they are murderers. This folks, is false religion. It cannot restrain sin in the heart, it can only hide it with a mask of self-righteousness. Jesus said the same thing to them about anger, sex, divorce, honesty, and vengeance in Matthew 5:23-39. Self-righteous people make two big mistakes. First, they misunderstand God’s Law, which also encompasses a person’s heart and mind. Secondly, they misunderstand the extent of their sin.

Romans 2:2, 3 NLT:
2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.
3 Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do them, too?

11 For anyone who disobeys God, as the people of Israel did, will fall.
12 For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are.
13 Nothing in all creation can hide from him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes. This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.

Every act and every thought has been recorded on “instant replay.” There is nowhere for us to hide. How can we escape this inevitable judgment? We find the answer if we continue reading in Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT:

That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him.

If we know we are exposed to God on this giant screen, then we should run to the one we know can mediate between us and God, and that is Jesus. Jesus has already paid the penalty. He has already received the judgment of God.

We will now continue by looking at the impartiality of God. We are all equal before Him no matter who we are. He gave each one of us special gifts to use in His service. It does not matter if you are rich or powerful or good looking or intelligent. The meek and humble who serve faithfully will receive the rewards.

You cannot earn your way into Heaven.

Romans 2:4,5 NLT:
4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? cannot you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

You will recall that Paul is writing to the Jews in Rome who consider themselves to be in good standing with God, whereas they consider the non-Jews, whom they criticize, not to have such standing.

People are guilty of rejecting God’s goodness, mercy and grace, and they even go on to mock His kindness. Stubbornness in Romans 2:5 means an “unreasonable persistence, a hardness, a mind that will not be changed in spite of overwhelming evidence.” They refused to accept the goodness of God. They refused to accept how valuable this goodness was. People today do not recognize how valuable His goodness is either.

The word, tolerant, in Romans 2:4 means “truce.” It is a cessation of hostility. It means that God is withholding judgment for the time being. So in these two verses we see that God is good and that he is withholding His judgment. God says that for the time being there is going to be a truce and no hostility between Himself and humankind. God will be patient because He does not want anyone to perish as Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:9 NLT:[fn]

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise to return, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.

Is it not interesting that the psalmist said something very similar way back in Old Testament times when he wrote in Psalm 103:6 NLT:

The Lord is merciful and gracious; he is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love.

God is just plain good! Many people would question that today because they think it inexcusable that God would allow tragedies to befall decent people. In the first place many of those tragedies occur because of the sin of people themselves. A murderer takes a gun and uses it to shoot innocent people. Or someone on drugs or alcohol gets behind the wheel of a car and crashes head on into another car. However, the truth is that God has a purpose for everything, including suffering. When a tragedy occurs in a person’s life or to groups of people in various parts of the world, God has a purpose in allowing that to happen. When we look back on events that have occurred in our lives ten years later, we may actually see more clearly the good that may have resulted from what once seemed to be such a time of suffering. You may accept this explanation or you may not, that is between you and God. But one thing we can point out to you for certain is what the Bible says, and in Romans 8:28 NIV, it says this:

Many people say, “Well then, I can go on having a good time until I get older and then I’ll think about this religion stuff.” Big mistake! What if you get hit by a truck tomorrow? It is too late. What if you are involved in a plane crash or any of hundreds of other things that can happen that could take your life in the blink of an eye? It is too late then. “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” It could very well determine where you spend forever.

Many people also think that God will be merciful to them no matter what they do because mercy is His job. They do not believe for a minute that God would judge them. They have the feeling that everything is going to be okay.

Village Church will take whatever time necessary to attempt to answer any and all questions you have about the Bible, and if there is a question we cannot answer, we will not mislead you, we will seek the answer from reputable sources and then let you and God work out what you are willing to accept or reject.[fn] There is nothing higher on the priority list of Village Church then to help others establish a true faith based on what Jesus did on the cross. Grace that is rejected leads to the end of goodness and ultimate judgment as we read in Romans 1:5,6 NLT:

This is not a new idea in the Bible. In fact it was stated way back in the Old Testament. Let us take a look at just a couple of verses where this is stated. First we will look at Jeremiah 17:10, then Isaiah 3:10,11 NLT:

10 But I know! I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

The Old Testament tells us that God will judge based on the lifestyle of a person. Let us look at some verses in the New Testament that emphasize this truth as well, Matthew 16:27 NLT:

For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds.

2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT:
For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies.

While eternal life is a free gift given on the basis of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8,9), our lives will be judged by Christ. This judgment will determine our rewards and will be based on how we have lived. Faith in Christ does not free us from obedience. Believers will also be judged according to how they have lived. Their faith will get them into Heaven, but eternal rewards will be based on how they have lived. The only issue will be whether or not a person has lived a life in obedience to the will of God.

Now let us look at the two alternatives people have for eternity. First of all we will look at those who receive eternal life in Heaven and then those who do not, Romans 2:7-11 NLT:

He will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.
8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and practice evil deeds.
9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on sinning.
10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good.
11 For God does not show favoritism.

Paul’s purpose here is not to describe a way of salvation, but the behavior that is produced by salvation, the behavior of a person who has been truly saved. When God judges our works, those who possess eternal life will be those who have persisted in doing good, not to win salvation, but because they care about “glory, honor, and immortality,” and not the things of this world.[fn] “Doing what is good” in verse 7 means that people do things which seek after glorifying God, and in so doing provide glory for themselves, and they can do this only because of a circumcised (repentant) heart which can only be brought about by the Holy Spirit of God (see Romans 2:29).[fn]

God will bestow eternal life on those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality. On the other hand wrath and anger will be the portion of the self-seeking who reject  the truth and continue to pursue evil. Each one who pursues those things which are evil will receive trouble and distress, whereas each one who pursues the good will have glory, honor, and peace. This just compensation by God is without regard to ethnic background and applies to all people everywhere. But just as there will be varying degrees of compensation or rewards, the same will hold true of punishment.
Perhaps this is best illustrated in the following diagram:

ETERNAL LIFE OR DEATH

                ETERNAL LIFE
­­
                                           ­­
Finds, glory, honor, & peace
­­             
Seeks glory, honor, & immortality       
­­
Persists in doing good
 ­­
Believes in Jesus as Savior                                                                       
                                    ­ ­               
                                                      ¬¬¬¬
________________________________              _______ ¯_____________________
                            Person “A”                                                  ¯   Person “B”
                                                                                                   ¯    
Rejects Jesus
¯
Self-seeking
¯ 
Pursues self-satisfaction & evil
¯
Experiences trouble & distress
¯¯
                                                                                                               ¯¯
ETERNAL DEATH

  
God is totally fair. He does not favor certain people over other people, nor does He hold people responsible when they do not know as much as someone else knew who had more exposure to the Word of God. God deals fairly with everyone according to the level of knowledge they had. God will not judge every one the same and we see that in Romans 2:12-24 NAS:

12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law;
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God,
18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law,
19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth,
21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal?
22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?
24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.

For those of you who are not familiar with God’s formation of the nation and people of Israel, we will just say this to help you relate better to these verses:

Big mistake! We begin to see why in verses 12-16.

People around the world universally have an inner sense of right and wrong. The bible calls this inner judge “conscience.” You find among all cultures a sense of sin, a fear of judgment, and an attempt to atone for sins and appease whatever gods are feared. [fn]

The Jews looked on the Gentiles as blind, in the dark, foolish, immature, and ignorant. But if God would find them guilty of not obeying the Law even though they had not heard or read it, how much more guilty were the “privileged” Jews to whom God gave  the Law and instructed them in it, so that they might teach the rest of the people of the world  the Law? God not only judges according to truth (Romans 2:2), and according to people’s deeds (Romans 2:6); but He also judges “the secrets of people” (Romans 2:16). He sees what is in the heart.

The Jewish people had a religion of outward action, not inward attitude. They may have been moral on the outside, but what about the heart? Jesus’ indictment of the Pharisees in Matthew 23 illustrates the principle perfectly. God would say the same things to the Church today. God not only sees the deeds but He also sees the “thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). In the Sermon on the Mount we are told that sins can be committed in the heart.

Instead of glorifying God among the Gentiles and teaching them about God, the Jews were dishonoring God. The Gentiles had daily contact with the Jews in business and other activities, and they were not fooled by the Jews’ devotion to the Law. The very Law that the Jews claimed to obey turned right around and accused them.[fn] And that is exactly what is happening in the greatest majority of churches in this country. Church-going people act so self-righteous and they have no reason to. And if their expressed belief in Jesus is not confirmed by behavior that demonstrates the presence of the Holy Spirit within them, the likelihood that they are truly saved is questionable, and it could therefore mean they are going to be judged in the same way as un-churched people because their religion is only external and not from the heart. God made the following promise back in the Old Testament  to the people of Israel through the prophet Jeremiah around 600 B.C, Jeremiah 31:31-33 NAS:

31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord.
33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

When Paul describes how people positively respond to the gospel message when they hear it, he says that it is the power of the Holy Spirit working on them to receive that truth. Now they can reject that influence of the Holy Spirit, but they can accept it as well, and without the power of the Holy Spirit working within them no one would be capable of accepting the message.

Paul preaches The Gospel, which is the good news about Jesus and why He has come. In and through that message, God works by His Spirit to change their hearts. As a result of this they come to believe the gospel message. God then declares that the person who believes the Gospel is righteous and a member of the covenant family of God. Justification is not how someone becomes a Christian. It is the declaration that they have become a Christian. Believing in the Word of God and worshipping the true God results in a transformation whereby one becomes a more complete human being. Paul tells his Jewish readers that the only person deserving the name, Jew, is the person who is one in their heart.[fn]

The Church was never meant to be a private, pious religious club. In order to be effective communicators of the Gospel we need to confront the powers of the world and let them know that Jesus is Lord, and because of that there is a different way of being human, a way characterized by love, justice, honesty, and by the breaking down of the barriers that reinforce the divisions which keep human beings separate from and often at odds with one another. There is no sense in saying this, however, if the Church is not saying it by its very life, by the way the members of the Church conduct themselves in the world. If Jesus is truly the Lord of the world, then there is a different sort of power, a power that is made perfect in weakness.

It is through the death and resurrection of Jesus through which God’s promise, to deal once and for all with the sin of the world, would finally be accomplished. God has dealt with sin through the cross of Jesus. He has found Jesus to be blameless, to have lived a perfect life without sin, and has declared Him righteous by raising Him from the dead. The faithfulness of Jesus, the obedience of Jesus, is the means by which God can reveal His righteousness.

By faith in Jesus Christ and his work of atonement, people are able to receive God’s righteousness. They are given a true relationship with God which involves the forgiveness of all sin and a new moral standing with God in which they find themselves in union with Christ, the Righteous One.[fn]

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Now let us move on to the concluding verses of this chapter by looking at Romans 2:25-29 NLT:

The Jewish ceremony of circumcision is worth something only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.
26 And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, will not God give them all the rights and honors of being his own people?

Circumcision for the Jew was like baptism for the Christian. It did not do a bit of good if you did not keep the Law. It is no more than an outward expression, a ritual if the meaning of the expression is not internalized. God intended circumcision to be a physical symbol of a spiritual reality. What God wanted was a heart that was circumcised and obedient in response to His will.

We will look at this in much more detail in chapter 4.

People who have not been circumcised or baptized but who have believed the gospel message will be saved, while those who think they can earn salvation through ritual will not. The bottom line of the verses we have been looking at answers the question: “Are you inwardly one of the people of God?” Circumcision is the cutting away of evil from the heart. It is a renewal of the heart. Do you allow Christ to dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16)? If you do, you do not need the praise of people, you only need it from God. We believe it appropriate that we close chapter 2 in our study of Romans by reading Psalm 51:5-17 NAS:

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.
16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.