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Lesson Three
Romans Chapter 2
The righteous judgment of God upon the Jews.
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Romans 2:1-5
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. 2We
know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who do such things. 3Do
you suppose, O man—you who judge those who do such things and yet do
them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4Or
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? 5But
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. |
One can nearly see the heads of the Jews shaking approvingly as Paul
condemns the actions of the idol-worshiping pagan world. However, when he
turns to the Jews he says that they have "no excuse" either because
they who are condemning the pagans (that is the Jews) are practicing "the
very same things" (Romans 2:1).
The guilt of the Jews stems from the fact that, while they condemned the
pagan lifestyle, the Jews were guilty of doing the very same things (Romans
2:3). Paul reminds them that God had shown kindness, forbearance and patience
toward them to lead them to repentance (Romans 2:4). However, they did not
repent and their impenitent attitude was having the effect of "storing up
[God’s] wrath" (Romans 2:5), which would be unleashed upon them when
the time of God’s judgment takes place. For further study on repentance, the
student should read passages such as Matthew 3:2 and 4:17; Luke 13:3 and 5;
Acts 2:38; 3:19; 5:31 and 17:30. For further study of the subject of judgment,
the student should read passages such as John 5:29-30; Acts 24:25; I
Corinthians 4:5; II Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27; II Peter 3:7 and
Revelation 20:11-15.
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Romans 2:6-11
He will render to each one according to his works:
7to
those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and
immortality, he will give eternal life; 8but
for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey
unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9There
will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the
Jew first and also the Greek, 10but glory and
honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the
Greek. 11For God shows no partiality.
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In Romans 2:6, it is stated that God "will render to each one
according to his works." To one group, which practices "well-doing,
he will give "eternal life" (Romans 2:7). This group is
described as a group that seeks "glory and honor and immortality"
(Romans 2:7). To the other, which is described as "self-seeking and do
not obey the truth," there will be "wrath and fury" (Romans
2:8) with its resultant "tribulation and distress" (Romans 2:9). In
all this, "God shows no partiality" (Romans 2:11). What is true for
Jews is also true for Gentiles (Romans 2:9-10).
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Romans 2:12-16
For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the
law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13For
it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the
doers of the law who will be justified. 14For
when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law
requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the
law. 15They show that the work of the law is
written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and
their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them
16on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the
secrets of men by Christ Jesus. |
When it comes to God’s judgment and the Law, it is not the
"hearers" who are righteous before God, but the "doers of the
law who will be justified" (Romans 2:13). In other words, God will be
looking at the "the secrets of men" i.e. the hearts of men, when He
judges the world (Romans 2:16). Therefore, the ones "who by nature do
what the law requires" and thus show that "the law is written on
their hearts" (Romans 2:14-15) have a judge who knows their hearts and
will judge them showing no partiality (see Romans 2:11). Paul’s gospel
included teaching about the judgment (Romans 2:16; see also II Corinthians
5:10 and II Thessalonians 1:5-10).
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Romans 2:17-29
But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God
18and
know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed
from the law; 19and if you are sure that you
yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20an
instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the
embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21you
then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against
stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that
one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols,
do you rob temples? 23You who boast in the
law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24For,
as it is written, "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles
because of you."
25For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but
if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26So,
if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his
uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27Then
he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who
have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28For
no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward
and physical. 29But a Jew is one inwardly,
and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the
letter. His praise is not from man but from God. |
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In Romans 2:17-29, Paul points out that the problem for the Jews was
that they were relying on their relationship with the law (of Moses) to
save them. Twice in Romans 2:17 and 19 the word "if" is used,
followed by several conditions. In the original language of the New
Testament (Greek) the structure is called a "first class conditional
sentence." The importance of this is not quite as clear in the
English, but what Paul is saying is in actuality similar to our use of the
word "since." Thus, Paul is saying in verses 17-20 that these
things are true and then tops off the statement by asking, "You then
who teach others, do you not teach yourself" (Romans 2:21). This and
the other questions (Romans 2:21-22) expect an answer of "yes."
The problem with this was that while they boasted in the law, they
dishonored the law by breaking it (Romans 2:23). The effect was that God
was blasphemed among the Gentiles (Romans 2:24). The law could show their
status before God; however, it took a change of heart to be right with God
(Romans 2:28-29). This message is very similar to that of James (James
1:22-25). See also Deuteronomy 10:16; 30:6 and Jeremiah 4:4.
Review Questions:
- How can Paul say that the Jews "practice the very same
things" when their response would be, "but we don’t do
those things you just described?
- What was the purpose of God showing the Jews "kindness,
forbearance and patience?" (see Romans 2:4).
- In Romans 2:6-11, Paul describes two different groups. How would
you describe the difference in the two groups?
a. Eternal life group:
b. Wrath and fury group:
- What do the following scriptures by the apostle Paul contribute to
our understanding of the judgment?
a. I Corinthians 15:35-38; 42-44; 50:
b. Acts 17:30-31:
c. II Thessalonians 1:6-10:
d. Philippians 2:9-13:
- Reread Romans 2:17-24. Consider what Paul says in Romans 2:13,
Jesus’ statement in John 13:17, and James’ statement in James
1:22-25. What is the message for us today?
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