Romans 2 - Judging/God's Law

Right now I'm attending our bi-weekly Young Adults Bible Discussion group. We are studying Romans 2 tonight. So I thought I would post current notes! (Jonathan Potter, these are also specially typed up for you!) Enjoy :)

Romans 2

1Therefore 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. 

There is a difference between judging those according to your own standard and according to God's law. When you look at others and say that "Oh they're not as good as me here and here" you are judge according to you and your standard. Instead we are to look at God's Law and "judge" according to that. We are not exempt from judging...we are called to live out God's Law and part of that is to distribute the earthly punishment of God. We are not to condemn them to hell...that is not our role...but we are to preach the judgement of God to those who practice sin. Not just sin...because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, but this is for those who live a daily life of unrepentance in this sin. It is our right, even duty, to bring those who refuse to live in accordance to God's will to judgment and punishment. Those who live an ungodly life do not deserve to escape from dishonoring God and His Word.

These people that Paul was talking to were hardened Jews...those who looked at the Gentiles and looked down at them because they regarded themselves better then them. "I'm perfect except for this one little area and because it's so little I have no need to repent." However the Romans 2 starts out with verse after verse saying how God will judge all...*all* have sinned. "Who will render each one according to his deeds" ...the first 6 verses speak on the fact that you are to judge according to God's truth (Law) like God does. Looking at verses 7-10 we see very powerful words...eternal life for those who are patient and and seek to do good to earn glory, honor, and immortality...but damnation and anguish for those who are self-seeking. This just asks how we seek glory, honor, and immortality...do we diligently seek to do good in Christ to achieve eternal life? Or do we horde it all to ourselves and become self-seeking? 

Matthew Henry says in his commentary of this passage that it is not so much "glory, honor, and immortality" but rather glory and honor in immortality...that is, glory and honor that are eternal and everlasting in God. We are looking for acceptance and glory and honor forever and ever...we look forward. We do good not to gain such things or not even because we are in debt, but rather out of gratitude. We do it out of love and thanks to Christ so we always seek to follow His example. Those who seek glory and honor for themselves it will be a short-lived and temporary glory and honor...it will not last forever and ever, but rather as long as they live here on earth...then it lasts no longer. As long as they breath they have glory and honor of themselves...but those who seek glory and honor for God will gain it forever and ever.

The Jews, as once God's people, will be judged with a harsher and stricter penalty or a better and bigger blessing in the matter of which they end...if they do good and trust (have faith) and follow God's Law then they will be blessed first. However, they are very responsible if they do wrong...they are worse than the Gentiles because they have lived as God's people and know what God expects of them. The Gentiles are responsible as well, but not as much as the Jews because the Jews were once God's own people and so understand God's Law and standard. You are guilty and you shall receive guilt. If you are God's own ten you have been convicted of the Law and know and understand it but have run away from it. Jews and Gentiles stand on the same ground in the presence of God, there is nothing to say one is better than the other...simply that those who know and understand God and His Law but refuse it are more liable than those who are ignorant. However even those who are ignorant of their own will are still responsible and worthy of punishment. Those who are unaware of God's Law (obviously still sin) they still have natural law and a conscious within themselves. Natural law is simply general revelation combined with grace and special revelation. There is no coming to natural law apart from Christ and we cannot forget it. 

Conscience is not a word you find in Scripture because for them it wasn't conscience that taught them right and wrong...it was not something they depended on to tell them if it was right or wrong to do something. Rather, it was the Law that convicted and drove them forward...guiding and directing to God's perfect standard. Therefore we cannot blame our conscience when we fail the Law, rather we are to blame ourselves for not being more attentive to God's Law and Word of His standard and requirement. It is our fault and we cannot blame something like a faulty conscience. If you do not have God as your foundation then your conscience and natural law will be formed and shaped by something other than God (and His Law). 

Something interesting we find in verse 16 is that he calls it "my gospel"...this was his gospel and how he found his identity. What is God's is also ours...it's not only God's word but since we are His children and heirs of His then it is ours also. It is a good reminder to stay faithful and always seek to find our identity always in the Scripture and in God. When God says he will judge us by Christ is is simply saying that Christ is the standard  that we are to look up to and live by. God shall judge by Jesus Christ...it will be Christ judging. It will be part of the reward for his humiliation. There is little else more terrifying to sinner or more comforting to saints to hear that Christ will be the one dealing out punishment. The secrets of men are bad and wicked...something we are attempting to hide. What have we to hide from God and from one another? Only true Christians are open and honest with their lives...they have nothing to hide from anyone (least of all God).

So that's it! That is a summery of Romans 2:1-16...I hope you all enjoyed it and benefited greatly from these words from God. Hoping you all have a lovely evening :)