Have you ever heard a Christian describe themselves as one beggar telling the other beggars where he found bread? If you have then good for them. That attitude is so important because we are not to be judgmental, but we should humbly acknowledge we are all sinners. We were saved by grace, and we need to share God’s kindness and undeserved favor with others.
Romans chapter 2 is a clear warning against judgementalism. God is the true judge, and we need to prepare ourselves for the coming judgment of God and share the love of Christ to others. Judging others was what Jesus was warning against in the Sermon on the Mount. We are to be careful not to point out the speck in the eye of others while all the time having a plank of wood in our own eye.
You have no excuse
Romans 2:1-4
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?
In Romans chapter one Paul has laid out the devastating realities of sin. He has said that general revelation, the creative awe of God that we all see, is sufficient to hold us accountable for our sin. Therefore, we have no excuse for our sin. There is a coming judgement, and we are only prepared by the kindness of God in our salvation in Jesus Christ.
Paul is addressing the Jews in this chapter. They were following the law of Moses and that made them feel morally superior to the barbarians who did not have and follow the law. They are wrong in holding this moral superiority and have become hypocrites. What they look down on others for and judge them, they do the same. They are actually condemning themselves.
I like the way we find the opening verses of Romans 2 in the Message version. It goes like this, “Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard?”
The Jews living in Rome and following the law of Moses were not to think they are the ones who judge others. This is a message for all of us because we all need to remember that judgement is reserved for God alone. His judgements are true. In judging others, we are only condemning ourselves. We need to look at ourselves instead of having a holier than others approach. As Christians we are sinners saved by grace.
We have in these verses some of the wonderful attributes of God. We are reminded of the kindness of God. That kindness translates to his unconditional love for us. It incorporates the mercy he has extended to us. What is the purpose of God’s kindness? We need to have the eyes to see that the purpose of God’s kindness is to lead you to repentance.
God is holy and he cannot excuse sin, but He is patient, and, in his kindness, he extends to us grace. We should repent and turn to God. In his mercy he provided our salvation. It was his plan and his indescribable gift that brought our way of salvation through Jesus Christ dying on the cross.
God does not show favoritism
Romans 2:5-11
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.
This passage reminds us that there is a time coming when God’s judgement will be revealed. The parable of two farmers "God does not settle all accounts in September" is the story of two farmers. The wicked farmer defies God and reaps an abundance of crops, while a righteous farmer has a small harvest and struggles to pay his bills. The story emphasizes that God's judgment isn't always immediate but will eventually come. The prosperity of the wicked farmer is temporary. The parable highlights that divine justice is not confined to the seasonal harvest time.
The story reminds us as believers to remain faithful to God. God’s righteous judgement will come. Any prosperity of the wicked is temporary. Even those that mocked Jesus prospered temporarily. Jesus remained faithful in the face of incredible injustice. He knew the resurrection and ultimate victory was his. The wicked can sometimes appear to be prosperous, even thriving, in this life, while the righteous may face hardship.
In the end the wicked get what’s coming to them. We are reminded not to be jealous of the wicked. Their due will come as we read in Psalm 37.
Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:1-4)
We are to trust God. There will be glory, honor and peace for those who walk in the ways of the Lord. Although the wicked may temporarily prosper, their actions will ultimately be judged by God. We are called to have faith and live by faith and walk in his truth.
There will be honor and peace, even in the face of adversity, as God's blessings ultimately flow from those who live in accordance with His will. It is the wicked with an unrepentant heart who have an awaited judgement of God. We are called to walk in the ways of God.
The day when God judges
Romans 2:12-16
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.
The only hope for salvation is faith in Jesus Christ. The law will note save us and those apart form the law must have faith in Jesus Christ. There is no favoritism. There is one way, and that way is when Jesus’ death on the cross counts for your sins by your faith in Christ.
We are to be doers of the word, but it is faith in Christ that brings our initial salvation in Christ. The judgement of Christ is coming. We prepare for that judgement by our faith in Christ. That is the gospel that is declared in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We trust in Christ to receive our salvation and escaping the coming judgment of God.
