Just Judgement For All (Romans 2:1-16)

Why: To show that God's justice is based on truth without partiality, not just for the very wicked but also the moralists.

Text

Romans 2:1-16. You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ² Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

⁵ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ God "will give to each person according to what he has done." ⁷ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸ But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ⁹ There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; ¹⁰ but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹ For God does not show favoritism.

¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, ¹⁵ since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) ¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Introduction

I remember when I was little when I would sometimes "catch it" from Dad for doing something wrong. Discipline was usually offered in such a way so as to convincingly impress it on my mind that righteous living was far more beneficial than unrighteous. That discipline left a great impact upon me- especially on the posterior equatorial region.

I also remember how we siblings reacted when someone else would catch it! There was a certain kind of delight knowing justice was being done. Our eyes would grow wider. We would cover our smirking mouths with our hands. And think, "There but for the grace of God go I!"

Transition

As Paul has unfolded the multitude of sins of which the Gentiles are guilty in Romans 1, we can almost see the other siblings- the self-righteous moralists and self-righteous religious faithful- the pharisaical Jews and all other people whose religion is sustained by self-effort- we can almost see them standing just a little behind Paul looking over his shoulder. They heartily agree with the Paul's assessment of the depravity of these people, and thank God that they are not like those kinds of people (cf. Luke 18:10).

In Romans 2, Paul turns our attention to the Jew and self-righteous religious moralist- and their need for God's good news. We all need the gospel. We all are deserving of God's judgement.

>>>God's just judgement is for all. And the righteousness He provides by grace through faith is for all.

As we turn to Romans 2:1-16, we may find God's just judgement is revealed in startling terms which we may not use in daily language of "evangelicalish." God's just judgement for all is based on truth, on deeds, and on obedience.

God's just judgment for all is based on truth (2:1-4)

Romans 2:1-4. You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ² Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

You, therefore . . . What is therefore there for? Paul is referring back to what he has just established about the condition of mankind. In 1:18-20, he stated that though a righteousness from God is being revealed that is available to all through faith, God's wrath is also being poured out against unrighteousness. ¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Paul emphasizes, You therefore, have no excuse . . .

He is focusing now on those who are not overtly like those wicked Gentiles. He is turning his attention to that sibling who stands over to the side with a self-righteous smirk on his face. It is clear in 2:17 that he is speaking primarily to the Jews. But the NASB shows us that there is a bigger audience to whom this applies: Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment . . . MacArthur emphasizes that everyone of you "encompasses all moralists, including professing Christians, who think they are exempt from God's judgment because they have not sunk into the pagan, immoral extremes Paul has just mentioned."

As these people pass judgment on others, they do see their own shortcomings. At every point they have a judgmental attitude toward others- every time that childish smirk starts to creep on to their faces- they are condemning themselves as well. How are they doing that? We need to remember that though some of what Paul described as being the condition of the Gentile world made many of us shudder, there are other things that are quite common offenses- envy, strife, gossip, disobedience to parents, and so forth.

We also bring to mind that Jesus taught that sin is not so much a matter of outward compliance to a religious system, but a matter of the heart. This was the point of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Thus, the most heinous sins are often committed by the self-righteous in their hearts. This is why Jesus could teach that to look lustfully at someone was the same as adultery and to burn with anger against someone was the same as murder.

Well, we might say, no one then is exempt from these terrible sins. Exactly! It makes sense that Jesus would say, Do not judge or you too will be judged . . . Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your won eye? (Matthew 7:1-5). The point being, take care of your own issues, your own sins, then help others with theirs. You've got a sin issue, a problem with someone, make it right- in your own heart, and between you and the other person.

Here's our key thought in 1:1-4. ² Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. Based on truth. God knows our hearts. He is the just judge. He knows the truth. It cannot be hidden from God. Later in 3:4 (NET), Paul argues, Let God be proven true, and all mankind shown up as liars . . .

In 2:3, 4, Paul argues that if we are going around self-righteously judging people when we have are guilty ourselves, how will we escape God's judgement. The fact is we are often harder on others than God is on us. Paul tells us that God deals with us with kindness, tolerance and patience . . . God's kindness leads you to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 affirms, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God is kind to us, patient with us, tolerant toward us. He is kind so that we will be led toward repentance. It is His desire and purpose draw us to repentance.

God's just judgement for all is based on deeds (2:5-11)

Paul then tells us something that we are not used to hearing in "evangelicaldom." It just doesn't ring true to what we would consider sound doctrine.

2:5-11. ⁵ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ God "will give to each person according to what he has done." ⁷ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸ But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ⁹ There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; ¹⁰ but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹ For God does not show favoritism.

At first glance these verses seem to be teaching that salvation is based on works, on doing good. ⁶ God "will give to each person according to what he has done." ⁷ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸ But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. We know, however, that though Scripture at times may appear to contradict itself, it does not. There is always a reason for what it says that is consistent with the whole.

The Bible is very clear that eternal life comes by grace through faith. Just a few paragraphs ago Paul said that the righteous will live by faith (1:17). Ephesians 2:8, 9 clearly outlines that salvation is not by the good that we do. Rather, good deeds are a result of faith in God. And John 3:16 says, ¹⁶ "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Since God makes it clear that we are not saved by out own good deeds, but through faith, what are these verses talking about? MacArthur points out,

"Salvation is not by works, but it will assuredly produce works. The presence of genuinely good deeds in a person's life reveals that he has truly been saved, and in God's infallible eyes those deeds are a perfectly reliable indicator of saving faith. In the same way, the absence of genuinely good deeds reveals the absence of salvation. In both cases, deeds become a trustworthy basis for God's judgment. When God sees works that manifest righteousness, He knows if they have come from a regenerated heart. And when He sees works that manifest unrighteousness, He knows if they come from an unregenerated heart."

A careful study of Scripture reveals to us that salvation is on the basis of faith and judgement is on the basis of works . These verses draw a stark contrast between two classes of people in the world: the saved and the unsaved. The fruit of the life of the redeemed, the saved who have God's righteousness is evidenced by a life distinctly marked by righteousness, good deeds. (Later in Romans, Paul teaches us how to appropriate God's righteousness in our lives, how to live on a daily basis demonstrating the fruit of God's righteousness.)

The mark of the unredeemed, unsaved life is rejection of the truth about God and following evil. At the judgement God will give to each person according to what he has done (1:6). Let's note that at the final judgement the evidence that will demand a verdict is made on the basis of deeds. ¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life . The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done . ¹⁴ Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵ If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15, emphasis added).

Paul makes it clear to these Jewish moralizers- and to all people who are not willing to grapple with their own guilt and need to receive God's righteousness through faith- that we are all on equal footing. God's just judgement for all is based on truth and is based on deeds. For God does not show favoritism.

God's just judgement for all is based on obedience (2:12-16)

Paul continues to develop this truth- that all are equal under the just judgement of God- in the following verses. And he shows us that God's just judgement for all is also based on obedience.

2:12-16. ¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, ¹⁵ since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) ¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

The Jews prided themselves in having God's written revelation. They felt that since they were God's special, chosen people, that no matter how things went, in the end God would be loving and forgiving of them. But Paul makes it clear that having the law actually put them on a greater level of accountability. Even the Gentiles who don't have the law written down for them, have it written on their hearts. They know right from wrong, and will be held accountable for it; how much more will the Jew be held accountable for what is clearly given to them.

A pivotal phrase here is verse 13: ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. God's just judgement for all is based on obedience.

Let's be perfectly clear. I don't read this as saying obedience to the law makes a person righteous. But it does say that on the basis of obedience to the revelation that God has given us there will be a declaration that we are righteous. 2:16 reiterates that this will be on the final day of judgement when we stand before God. The secret motives of our hearts will be judged. They will be judged through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the gospel the Paul is declaring.

What is that gospel? It is God's good news that we have His righteousness and life through faith. Truly none of us can be sufficiently obedient to the law through our own good deeds to qualify for eternal life. It is all through Jesus Christ received by faith.

But let us again note that this faith is an "obedience of faith." This is such an important concept that Paul wraps his entire letter with this phrase: it is found in 1:5 and 6:26 (NASB). As our NIV puts it in 1:5, ⁵ Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. This is a faith that is evidenced by a life of obedience to God and His revelation. It is a life that is exemplified by a faith in God that results in the fruit of God's righteousness being evident on a daily basis. It is a life of victory, fulfillment, joy, and love. It is the life of relationship with God for which we are created.

Conclusion

My friends, this is why this is such good news! Though we are deserving of God's judgement, He has provided all that we need to be everything He wants us to be. Our lives lived in the "obedience of faith" resonate with the glorious presence of Jesus Christ through His Holy Spirit.

This is such good news that it must not be kept to ourselves. As sure as we are here gathered to worship this morning, one day mankind will be gathered for the great white throne judgment. On that day, mankind will be judged. The books will be opened. The book of life will be opened. The records will be examined. ¹⁵ If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

It seems we have two motivations to share the good news. One motivation is the glorious truth that God's transforming love and power is ours through placing our faith in Jesus Christ. Who would ever withhold such glorious news from anyone?! The other motivation is the terrible destiny of those who have not received God's righteousness.

CBC, we have good news to share! We were lost, but now we are found! We were unrighteous, but now we are forgiven. We are equal footing with all mankind. God does not show favoritism. His judgement is equally dispensed to all. And His grace and forgiveness is abundantly available to all who would receive it by faith.