Romans: Chapter 2

God is Kind, Not Soft

2:1

Paul identifies us as considering ourselves the “moral man”. We tend to minimize our own sins and failures and yet criticize and judge others far more harshly than ourselves. We look at ourselves with rose colored glasses; seeing ourselves as ‘pretty good’. This distorted view of ourselves condemns us before God, by our very own words and attitudes. God always sees us in the light of absolute Truth. God does not distort Reality – which is Truth. God must judge us according to the Truth. The Truth about who we are is always perfectly accurate when revealed by God. This is why we must look to God’s perfect Truth in His Word in order to begin to discern who and what we really are – sinners. We rationalize our sins, so we will not believe the Truth, that we are guilty before God. Think you are better than others because you don’t commit Adultery, Murder, or are Prideful? Look carefully at God’s Word of Truth: Matt. 5:27 tells us that we know we are NOT to commit adultery, yet Jesus says that even looking and lusting after another is committing adultery in your heart. Matt. 5:21-22, Jesus tells us that to be angry with a brother without just cause, puts us in danger of Judgment; calling someone a fool, puts us in danger of hell fire! 1 John 2:9-11 tells us if we hate a brother then we are in darkness. No one in darkness can enter heaven. 1 John 3:15 tells us if we hate a brother we are MURDERERS, and no murderer has eternal life in him. Matt. 6:1-4 tells us that bragging about giving (money or service) causes us to lose any reward. Claiming we are just ‘sharing’ what we have done in God’s service, IS BRAGGING, as we are trying to make ourselves look ‘good’ before others, and God hates that; he directs us to give in secret, so our Father in Heaven can reward us openly. So, are we guilty of Adultery, Murder and Pride? Be honest, you can’t fool God. Look at your assessment you did on the first day; did you rate yourself better than others? This shows you are judging others. Why do we do this? Simply because we want to “FEEL GOOD” about ourselves! Our culture emphasizes the “feel good about yourself” lie! Can we really trust our ‘feelings’?

2:3

We deceive ourselves if we think we can escape God’s perfect judgment when we practice sin as we judge others for their sin. We are condemned before our Holy and Perfect God. We try to fool ourselves into thinking we can escape God’s judgment. Remember, believing the lies you tell yourself makes you a LIAR before God. No Liars can enter Heaven. Remember, the unbelievers think God will ‘grade on a curve’! How insane, to think that God can ignore sin. He cannot even be in the presence of sin. It is contrary to His very nature and character. This is the reason why an unbeliever, an unforgiven sinner, can NEVER EVER be in Heaven!

2:4

We actually despise, and dishonor, God’s goodness when we treat his Grace lightly, not taking His patient longsuffering seriously. How? By not really repenting of our sins and seeking with all our hearts and souls to change our wicked attitudes and actions. God’s goodness should lead us to True Repentance. True repentance is honestly seeking to deny our selfishness, our flesh, our wants, and seeking, moment by moment, to obey Him. It means changing our attitude and actions. It means to obey the Holy Spirit in obeying God’s Word.

2:5-6

By refusing to repent, having an impenitent heart, we store up God’s wrath against us in the day of righteous judgment. Note that our sinful nature, if not changed by obedient repentance, will cause us to have God’s judgment stored up against us. We accumulate guilt; which prevents us from doing good! We will someday have a pile of wood, hay and stubble, instead of gold, silver and precious gems. Someday, everything we do, say and even think, will be revealed by God. We, who are rich, are easily subject to pride. Poor people are easily humbled. We, who have pride in our hearts are hard of heart. Do you realize you are Hard of Heart, according to God’s Word? Are we perceiving a more accurate portrait of ourselves? This Truth is difficult, yet quite necessary to reveal the Truth of who we really are. God will render to each of us according to our Deeds. Prov. 24:12 “Oh, we didn’t know any better”, we claim. Does God believe that lie? Of course not! God knows our very hearts and souls, we cannot fool Him! He will render to each of us according to our actions.” Our ‘wages’ that is the payment, for our Deeds, will be great sorrow and regret.

2:7

To those who patiently and continually seek to do good to honor and glorify God; they will receive immortality – Eternal life with God. This does NOT mean that they ‘earn’ Eternal Life; but is a proof that they are already saved and obey God. We should seek God’s glory and honor in our lives. (Notice there are different types and kinds of judgment; God judges all people, yet there are different’ judgments’.) More about this as we continue our study.

2:8-9

When we chose to be selfish and self-centered, we do not obey the Truth, instead, we chose unrighteousness, indignation and wrath. Notice that self-centeredness is a choice. “Oh, I couldn’t help it.” Baloney! No one believes that lie! It is our choice to choose to obey God or not. We foolishly claim that we need more ‘Faith’; that is untrue, what we need is OBEDIENCE to God’s Word! Disobedience brings indignation, wrath, tribulation and anguish on every soul of man who does evil. Tribulation and anguish will come to everyone who does evil; the Jew first then the Greek (Gentile). Notice what we do is based on our heart attitude. Lest any man foolishly thinks that “he got away with it” God is not mocked, the sinner will be judged and will pay the price, no one can escape God’s judgment; it’s just a matter of God’s timing.

2:10

Our “works” are the direct result of our Beliefs ~ that is why the Truth Project emphasizes DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT WHAT YOU SAY YOU BELIEVE IS REALLY REAL?! (See THE TRUTH PROJECT, available through Focus on the Family) This is crucial, because IF we really believe the Truth, our actions will prove it!! What do your actions say?? To those of us who chose to obey God, we are given His glory, honor and peace! What a wonderful promise this verse is for us. Remember, God’s Truth was given to the Jews first, then to the Gentiles (Greeks and non-Jews). So also, Salvation was offered to the Jews first, then to the Gentiles ~ that’s us!

2:11-12

God shows no favoritism or special treatment to anyone! What a great Truth to take to heart. We will be judged by whatever Truth ~ law, God has given us. To whom much is given, much is required. This is true concerning our wealth and our Bible knowledge. So for those of us who have been given much Biblical education, much more will be required of us. God gives us ‘riches’ to test us to see how we will use them. Our true heart attitude is revealed by how generous we are with God’s gifts to us. This includes our Time, Talents and Treasures!