Gospel Light Christian Church Thru-The-Bible Series (7.3)

The Epistle to the Romans

Romans 2:1-16 - Read this Bible passage once through before referring to the notes below.

The Impartiality of God

v.1 When Paul had described the sins of the idolater in the previous chapter, the Jews felt that they were different and that they were “holy.” Therefore, Paul warns them not to judge the Gentiles as sinners and think that they were not because the truth was that they also committed the same sins (though probably not in the same severity as idolaters). Christians too must not judge non-Christians as sinners because we are also sinners, and we are also capable of committing the same sins (prayerfully, in lesser severity and with diminishing frequency!).

v.2 However, God’s judgement  on us, that we are sinners, is true because He is sinless.

v.3 The Jews felt that if they could identify and judge the sins of others, then they were better people! And they could therefore escape the judgement of God. We must be careful that we do not talk about others’ sins and feel spiritually superior because we are able to identify and condemn their sins – when we in fact are also guilty of those same sins!

v.4 The Jews probably reasoned that they had not sinned in judging others because God had not punished them for doing so. Paul warns them that they should not mistake God’s forbearance and longsuffering (patience) for permissiveness, or approval. When we sin and God does not judge us, we must not assume that God has overlooked our sin but rather that God is patient with us. And this goodness of God should not lead us to sin more but rather to repent! It is God’s goodness that produces true repentance. Fear produces false repentance.

v.5 Sinful men usually respond to God’s patience by sinning more, rather than repenting. Their heart is so hard that it is not always melted by God’s love. Therefore, instead of using the time available to reflect their sin and repenting, they commit more sin and accumulate more wrath (angry punishment) from God. They “treasure up unto themselves wrath” at the day of God’s judgement (which occurs in the next life). Therefore, when we see wicked men die in peace, we must not think that God has failed to judge them.

v.6 Be assured that God will judge every man according to his deeds – not his religious knowledge, religious affiliations, or faithfulness in performing rituals, etc.  He will execute justice on all men.

v.7 Those who continually seek to do good so that they will have immortality, will get what they sought for, namely, eternal life. Of course, no man can attain this by himself (ECC 7:20). This is not set forth at all as a means of receiving eternal life but as a description of those to whom God does render eternal life according to His perfect standard of absolute holiness, that cannot be accomplished in reality through man’s independent effort (ROM 3:23).

v.8 Those who contend (challenge) against living a godly life in the fear of God and will not obey the truth that is in their conscience (namely, that God will judge every sin) but instead live unrighteous lives, will receive God’s judgement (ie, His indignation and wrath). Every man and woman falls into this category.

v.9 God will punish (ie, tribulation and anguish) every sinner – whether Jew or Gentile. The Jews mistakenly believed that they were God’s people who knew God’s law, therefore, they would not be judged. On the contrary, they would be judged first because “to whom much has given, much is expected.”

v.10 Those who continually do good will receive eternal life. Of course, we know that such a man does not exist.  At this point, we must carefully bear in mind that the apostle Paul is teaching here the principles of God’s judgement as Judge of all (GEN 18:25).  It is not a description of how a man may enter eternal life by his own good deeds for Paul will shortly explain in chapters 4 and 5 that a man is saved by faith in Christ Jesus alone.

v.11 God judges all men impartially according to their deeds – the rich, the educated, the religious, the cultured, the prominent, the influential, the pleasing, the strong, the weak, the poor, the ignorant, the despised and neglected, etc. Neither the advantaged nor disadvantaged in life will be an excuse for sinning against God.

v.12 In both cases, if they chose to sin, there is doom.  The Gentiles who did not know of God’s law (ie, without law) would perish without the law, which they did not know. The Jews who knew God’s law would be condemned according to God’s law, which they knew.

v.13 Verses 13 to 15 are in brackets because they clarify God’s method of judgement. The Jews thought that they would be spared from judgement because they heard the law frequently in the synagogues. However, God reminds them that it not the hearing of the law that matters but the doing of the law. Many church-goers are content to come each Sunday to listen to God’s word – and do not realise that it is pointless to listen without doing what was preached.

v.14,15 Though the Gentiles did not know about God’s law (given through the Prophets), they had a law written in their hearts, namely, their conscience. The human conscience is God’s witness in our hearts. It is as if God’s representative was in our thoughts – who accuses us when we did wrong, and who excuses us when we do right. Though the conscience can be dulled by repeated sin, it cannot be totally eliminated.

v.16 This verse connects to verse 12 – and tells us that God will judge both Jews and Gentiles in the day of judgement, when all our secret sins will be revealed.