connect

God is the judge (and you're not)

Paul has already explained the power of the gospel, and the wrath of God that is coming on those who do wrong and approve of others doing it. He now turns his attention to those who do wrong and condemn others who do it: the self-righteous. We easily fall into patterns where we excuse in ourselves the behaviour we condemn in others. We must repent, we desperately need mercy, and should be surprised by the kindness of God.

Share:

Romans 2:1–11 (Listen)

God’s Righteous Judgment

2:1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking1 and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

Footnotes

[1] 2:8 Or contentious

(ESV)

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.

Podcast feed - put this into your favourite podcast software to keep up to date with all of our preaches.