Deeds and Impartiality
Romans 2:6-10: Scripture everywhere teaches that salvation is not on the
basis of works (4:1-4; Eph 2:8-9), it consistently teaches that God’s
judgment is always on the basis of man’s deeds (Is. 3:10-11; Jer 17:10;
John 5:28-29; 1 Cor 3:8; 2 Cor 5:!0; Gal 6:7-9; Romans 14:12).
Romans 2:6-11, “6who "will render to each one according to his deeds":
7eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for
glory, honor, and immortality;” 8but to those who are self-seeking and do
not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath,
9tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew
first and also of the Greek; 10but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who
works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11For there is
no partiality with God.
When unsaved men appear before the final judgment bar of G-D, the Great
White Throne Judgment, salvation will not be the issue there. This is a
judgment to determine the degree of punishment. Thus, G-D will mete out
punishment in relation to the evil deeds of the individual. By the same
token, at the judgment seat of Christ, where only believers appear, G-D
will reward us according to our deeds.
Eternal life: Not simply in duration, because even unbelievers will live
forever (2 Thess 1:9; Rev 14:9-11), but also in quality (John 17:3).
Eternal life is a kind of life, the holy life of the eternal G-d given to
believers. Self-seeking: This word may have originally been used to
describe a hireling or mercenary; someone who does what he does for money
regardless of how his actions affect others.
Some may view 2:7 as doing good in the sense of eternal life. This is
wrong for Romans clearly teaches that justification is by faith (3:22).
Paul does not contradict himself here, for the content of the verse is
judgment, but not justification. Believers who continue in good works will
receive rewards in the life to come. Whenever the NT speaks of eternal
life as a present possession, it is a gift received by faith (John 3:16);
but whenever it refers to eternal life as something to be received in the
future by those who are already believers, it refers to eternal rewards
(5:21; Gal 6:8; 1 Tim 6:17-19; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:17). Rewards will be
based on works accomplished here on earth.
Jew First: Just as the Jews were given the first opportunity to hear and
respond to the Gospel (1:16); they will be the first to receive God’s
judgment if they refuse (Amos 3:2). Israel will receive severer punishment
because she was given greater light and blessing (9:3-4). Partiality: “To
receive a face” that is to give consideration to someone simply because of
his position, wealth, influence, popularity or appearance. Because it is
G-D’s nature to be just, it is impossible for Him to be anything but
impartial (Acts 10:34; Galatians 2:6; Eph 6:7,8; Colossians 3:25).
Romans 2:12, “12For 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.”
Sinned without the Law: The Gentiles who have never had the opportunity to
know God’s moral law (Exodus 20:1), will be judged on their disobedience
in relationship to their limited knowledge (1:19-20). Judged by the Law:
The Jews and many Gentiles who had access to God’s moral law will be
accountable for their greater knowledge (Matthew 11:20-23;Hebrews 6:4-6;
10:26-31).
Paul’s reference to law is actually to Torah as throughout this verse
Torah is used in the Jewish New Testament which better describes Paul’s
meaning since these verses are mainly pointed towards the Jew. The Law or
Torah has to do not with laws in general, but with the specific code of
rules and regulations that the Lord gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. The
Torah was part of the covenant that set Israel apart as the Lord’s people.
It governed their worship, their relationship to the Lord, and their
social relationships with another. The Ten Commandments form a summary of
that Law.
Israel was not the only nation to have a law code. Indeed, such
collections were common in the ancient world. Most of them began by
explaining that the gods gave the king power to reign, along with a
pronouncement about how good and capable he was. Then came the king’s laws
grouped by subject. Finally, most of the codes closed with a series of
curses and blessings.
What set the Mosaic Law apart from these other codes was, first of all,
its origin. The Law was given by the Lord Himself. It issued from His very
nature; like Him it was holy, righteous and good. Thus , all crimes in
Israel were crimes against the Lord (1 Sam 12:9-10). He expected all of
the people to love and serve Him (Amos 5:21-24). As their final judge, He
disciplined those who violated the Torah (Ex 22:21-24; Deut 10:18; 19:17),
though He also held the nation responsible for insuring that justice was
carried out (13:7-10; 17:17; Numbers 15:32-36).
Furthermore, the Lord ruled over Israel, in effect as the nation’s King.
Ancient kings often enacted laws to try to outdo their predecessors in
image, economic power, and political influence. G-D, however, gave His law
as a an expression of love for His people to advance their best interests
(Ex 19:5-7). The Law can be divided into three categories-moral laws,
ceremonial laws, and civil laws The latter regulated in great detail
matters having to do with leaders, the army, criminal cases, crimes
against property, humane treatment, personal and family rights, property
rights, and other social behavior.
The ceremonial laws contained specifications regarding public worship and
ritual, giving high priority to the concept of holiness. Because the Lord
is holy (Lev 21:8, Israel was to be holy in all its religious practices.
The Law was given specifically to Israel, but it rests on eternal moral
principles that are consistent with the Lord’s character. Thus, it is a
summary of fundamental and universal moral standards. It expresses the
essence of what the Lord requires of His people. That’s why when the Lord
judges, He can be impartial. Gentiles will not be judged by the Law
(2:12), since it was not given to them, but they will still be judged by
the same righteous standard that underlies the Law itself.
Romans 2:13, “13(for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of
God, but the doers of the law will be justified;”
Hearers… doers: It is not enough to know God’s will; only those who do His
will are pleasing to the Lord (Luke 6:46). Justified: By having their sins
forgiven and being accepted into a right relationship with Yeshua
Hamasriach.
Romans 2:14, “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,”
By nature do..the law: Without knowing the written law of the Lord, people
in pagan society generally value and attempt to practice its most basic
tenets. This Is normal for cultures instinctively (v.15), to value
justice, honesty, compassion, and goodness towards others, reflecting the
divine law written in the heart. Law to themselves: Their practice of some
good deeds and their aversion to some evil ones demonstrate an innate
knowledge of the Lord’s Law- a knowledge that will actually witness
against them on the day of judgment.
Romans 2:15, “15who 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)”
Work of the Law: Best understood in light of what we have already
discussed as the Mosaic Law. The Law of Moses was engraved in stone, and
there is a similar moral law within every person. Conscience, “with
knowledge” that instinctive sense of right and wrong that produces guilt
when violated. In addition to an innate awareness of the Lord’s Law, men
have a warning system that activates when they choose to ignore or disobey
that law. Paul urges believers not to violate their own conscience or
cause others to (13:5; 1 Cor 8:7,12); 10:25, 29; 2 Cor 5:11; 9:1; Acts
23:1; 24:16), because repeatedly ignoring the conscience’s warnings’
desensitizes it and eventually silences it (1 Tim 4:2; 2nd Cor 1:12;
4:12).
Romans 2:16, “16in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus
Christ, according to my gospel.”
The day: Goes back to 2:5, where we were discussing the final judgment.
Secrets: This primarily refers to the motives that lie behind men’s
actions (1 Chron 28:9; Ps 139:1-3 Jer 17:10; Matt. 6:4,6,18; Luke 8:17;
Heb 4:12). Jesus Christ or Yeshua Hamasriach: Goes back to John 5:23. My
Gospel: Not his own personal message, but the divinely-revealed message of
Yeshua Hamasriach (1:1); which is “good news” in light of the bad news of
judgment.
Pastor David Jenkins
