Basic Training 03 Series

Welcome back to Basic Training. We have 7 weeks remaining in our study of the book of Romans after today.

Last week we looked at Romans 1:18-32 as we discussed the wickedness of man. The bad news was we determined that God’s wrath would be poured out upon the wicked. We also determined some good news, those people who are considered wicked can be saved. There is hope for the world and that hope is found in Jesus Christ.

Today we will turn our attention to Romans 2:1-16. Paul continues his discourse on man’s condition as he begins to point us to God’s righteousness.

To get us to God’s righteousness, Paul explains that the wicked person is not the only one with a problem. He explains that the moral person has problems as well.

What comes to your mind when you think of a moral person?

Someone who is nice? Someone who does good deeds? A person who doesn’t swear, drink, or chew or date girls who do? A person who goes to church? A person who tells the truth? A person who obeys the law of the land? Even moral people have problems.

Let’s pray,

Father,

Open my eyes so I can see Your truth.

Open my ears so I can hear Your voice.

Open my mind so I can understand Your Word.

And open my heart so I may receive all that You want me to receive. AMEN

1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. Romans 2:1-16 NIV

Paul wastes no time getting to his point. He gives us some more bad news. Everyone struggles. The moral and the immoral but the moral man who judges someone who is not moral is in as much danger of God’s wrath as is the one who lives immorally.

Once again, as he has done in the past, Paul speaks about a principle that Jesus taught.

Jesus said, 1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:1-5 NIV