God's Judgement on Jew and Gentile

*In chapter 1, Paul told the Romans that God would judge the unrighteous, and he spoke specifically of those “who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” 

*Our temptation, as the Jews would have had as well, is to say: “Yeah, those wicked people! God’s going to judge them!” as if we do not share in the same sins and stand just as condemned.

*What Paul will show us in chapter 2 is that Jews and Gentiles are all condemned by our sin, equally!

*Chapters 2-3 show us the “bad news” assumed behind the message of the gospel—all have sinned, and all are condemned by the law!

*Focusing on vs. 1-12, today, we will learn four things about God’s judgment:

 

God’s judgment will come to judgmental hypocrites.

In vs. 1-3, Paul makes it clear that God will ultimately judge those who condemned sin on the hand, but practiced it on the other. He says, “Therefore, 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. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 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?” The description of those in chapter 1 that God’s wrath was upon is easy to appreciate. The reader would likely read that description and fully expect that God would judge such people. But they would also likely not think that way about themselves, even though they too break the law, they too sin against God, and they too are unrepentant. It was purely hypocritical. As such, Paul makes it very clear that God will judge hypocrisy. Notice that they condemn the very thing they practice. Paul makes it clear that they, too, are going to be judged.

Matthew 7:1-5. “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Therefore, be cautious of what and who you judge. But more importantly, repent of those things you know are sinful.

 

God’s judgment comes because of our unrepentant hearts.

In vs. 5, Paul teaches us that the major problem we face is not so much sin itself, but the hardness of our hearts and our lack of repentance. “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.” Paul describes our hearts as hard and unrepentant. He says that we are “treasuring up for [our]selves wrath in the day of wrath.” All of us sin; this is true of the entire human race. The response that we should have is brokenness and repentance.

Luke 18:10-14. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 5: 3-6. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. . . Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.”

Therefore, we must be repentant of our sin.

 

God’s judgment is impartial to color, culture, and tribe.

In vs. 6-11, Paul shows us that God’s judgment is not based on our color, culture, or tribe. He says, “who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.” His point is simple:

Those who live unrepentant in sin will receive God’s judgement (vs. 7, 10).

Those redeemed by grace and walk in new life receive peace (vs. 8-9).

Notice here that God’s judgment has nothing to do with color, culture, or tribe. It has to do with our breaking of the law.

This is an important point about who is condemned and how we are condemned. He will go on to show a parallel truth about grace and salvation. Just as all stand condemned by the law, all can be saved by grace and mercy.

Romans 2:12-16. “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  (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 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, 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) in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”

Therefore, place faith in nothing about the flesh.

 

God’s goodness leads us to repentance, into godliness, and out of judgment.

In vs. 4, Paul notes that God is the one who graciously brings us to repentance. He says, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” In other words, despite what we have done and the hardness of our hearts, God is gracious to us and leads us to repentance. We pray that God will cultivate this in us more and more.

John 6:44. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Psalm 23:2-3. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”

Isaiah 30:18. “Therefore, the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.”

Therefore, we pray that God would cultivate a repentant heart in us more and more.

 

Conclusion:

1. Do you condemn what you practice?
2. Are you repentant of sin?
3. Are you inclined to think of yourself as special in some way that God would give you special favor?
4. Do you pray that God would cultivate repentance in your heart?