Book of Romans -2

JUDGMENT OF ALL SINNERS

 MEMORY VERSE: “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

TEXT: Romans 2:1-29

The first chapter of the book of Romans highlights the corrupt nature of man with direct emphasis on the Gentiles. It reveals the guilt of all men and a God who will not ‘look the other way’ at the sinner and his sin. The chapter also underscores His revealed wrath against all unrighteousness. Numerous sins such as fornication, wickedness, covetousness, malignity, envy, murder and others are catalogued as condemnable, including those who have pleasure in such practices (Romans 1:18-32). The apostle comes in chapter two to stress the universality of sin in order to puncture the notion of Jews who condemn the Gentiles and excuse themselves because “that unto them were committed the oracles of God” (Romans 3:2). He points out that Jews as well as Gentiles are guilty and will suffer the same severe divine judgment if they practice the same sins. Paul harps on the impartiality of God to prove that no sinner can escape the grim reality of His judgment which is backed by the unchanging standard of His law. The chapter closes with the true identity and character of the faith that is in Christ.

IMPARTIALITY OF DIVINE JUDGMENT

(Romans 2:111; Acts 17:30, 31; Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; James 2:13; Hebrews 9:27, 31; Proverbs 11:21). “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things” (Romans 2:1). The inexcusable position of the man who thinks that God will favor one over the other is here stated. It calls attention to the impartial posture of God towards all men irrespective of their status. As privileged custodians of the law (Romans 9:4), the Jews had thought that they would escape the judgment of God no matter what they did; they erred. Here lies the inescapable lot of people who feel that they will get away with their evil or be excused from God’s judgment because of who they are. The scripture makes it clear that if they commit the same sins, God’s impartial nature of justice will “render to every man according to his deeds” (verse 6).

QUESTION 1: Mention instances of God’s judgment in the Bible. Right from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22-24), God’s judgment fell on individuals, families, generations of people, cities and nations who sinned against Him. Other examples include: overflowing flood on Noah’s generation (Genesis 6:5,6,21-24); fire and brimstone on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24,25; Luke 17:29; Jude 7); death by stoning on Achan and his family (Joshua 7:20-26); Korah, Dathan and Abiram died unnaturally when the ground caved in and buried them alive (Numbers 16:31-35); Ananias and Sapphira died prematurely (Acts 5:3-10); the fallen angels are reserved for judgment in everlasting chains (Jude 6; 2 Peter 2:4). The word of God is replete with warnings concerning the judgment of sinners who reject God’s offer of salvation “…because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness…” (Acts 17:31). God requires sinners to repent of their sins. Following divine example, governments, societies and organizations exercise judicial powers to enforce morality and restrain evil, reward good conduct, punish evil-doers, acquit the guiltless and condemn the guilty (Roman 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13). However, whatever judgment or punishment man receives now or might have received in the past, all is anticipatory of God’s future judgment.

QUESTION 2: Why do sinners continue in their sin despite constant warnings?

Satan’s grand design is to keep sinners blinded and unprepared for God’s judgment. He flatters them to believe that God is too merciful to judge and punish them. He makes them feel that the story of the flood and the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah are mythical; many see hell as a metaphor. Some also believe that their sins are not grave enough to attract God’s displeasure. To them God is a permissive and indulgent Father who cares little about how men live their lives. This is not strange. The antediluvian people did not believe Noah’s preaching; the Sodomites laughed Lot to scorn as he told them of God’s visitation against their sins. King Belshazzar did not give serious thought over his impending doom while he drank himself to a state of stupor; Pharaoh paid no heed to Moses’ warnings. Today, many people think it is incredible that God should judge sinners. Therefore, let everyone who know the truth and yet continue in their wickedness realize that God is impartial; there will be “tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; For there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:9, 11).

QUESTION 3: State the qualities of divine justice. God’s justice system cannot be compared with man’s. One, it is according to truth, not by sight or sentiment (Romans 2:2; Isaiah 11:4).

 Two, God will render to every man according to his conduct (Romans 2:5, 6). Three, there is no respect of persons, partiality or favoritism with Him (Romans 2:11). Worldly judicial systems may be skewed in favor of the rich and mighty; they may grant immunity and waivers to corrupt “sacred cows” and government functionaries. A bank executive who loots depositors’ wealth may escape jail term by taking so-called pleabargain and a ‘slap on the wrist’ and go home free. God is not a man. A day is coming when all liars, murderers, whoremongers, corrupt politicians, looters of national treasury and hypocritical church-goers will face His judgment (Romans 14:12).

INVARIABLE STANDARD OF THE GREAT JUDGE

(Romans 2:12-16; Jeremiah 17:10; 32:19; Matthew 12:41, 42; Luke 12:48; John 3:19; 8:9.

God’s judgment is going to be consistent with His truth because He operates a consistently steady rule in His relationship with His creatures. The measure of His standard is not variable but consistent with His way and word in all ages. The scripture reveals His expectation from everyone who had lived before, during and after the law as well as those who lived during the dispensation of grace. He is a righteous, holy and all-knowing God who knows our thoughts, reads our actions, weighs our deeds and interprets our motives. In fact, all things are open and naked before Him (Hebrews 4:12, 13). Though He is a loving Father and a merciful Redeemer, He will not lower His standard of righteousness and holiness for anyone. “For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law” (Romans 2:12). His judgment is going to be according to the privileges men had. Men and women shall be held responsible according to the level of revelation which they had. The generations of those who lived before the law or “without law”, that is, the written law shall be judged according to the truth which God had revealed in their conscience. They had a law of nature which gave them a sense of right or wrong. Evidently, those who did wrong contrary to this law of nature “shall also perish without law”. Likewise, those who sinned or transgressed the law after it was given shall be judged according to the law. This is the equitable rule on which the Lord will deal with the world.

QUESTION 4: Examine carefully principles by which God would reward people from one generation to another.

IDENTITY OF TRUE BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST

(Romans 2:17-29; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 2:11; Matthew 7:15-20).

The apostle points out some of the privileges of the Jews (verses 17-20) but is quick to say how those privileges will enhance their condemnation. Jews take pride in knowing the law, being guides to the blind, instructing and teaching others but they are transgressors of the things they preach. It is not enough to hold privileged positions or titles in the house of God. Those who boast of their titles and yet abuse their positions or live in sin are not true followers of Christ. Our acceptance or rejection before God shall depend on the quality of our character and lifestyle which must of a truth be patterned after Christ.

QUESTION 5: How can we identify true followers of Christ?

 Christ gives a simple description of His followers: they bear fruits of righteousness. He says, “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20). Those who profess faith in Christ must be seen to bear fruits of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, etc. There must be a correlation between their lives and the amount of light they have received. Our text warns believers against hypocrisy, highlighting the sin of others and covering up theirs (Romans 2:13, 22, 23). We should note that God lays premium on the grace of the inner man, than the outer. For “he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh, but he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God” (Romans 2:28,29). God is neither impressed nor deceived by religious activities such as water baptism, giving of tithes, taking of holy communion, pilgrimage to the holy land and giving of alms to the poor without a thorough heart transformation. The bottom-line of Paul’s submission in our text is that self-righteousness cannot procure salvation for anyone unless true redemption found in Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

QUESTION 6: In view of the coming judgment, what is the duty of saints?

 Knowing full well that God is not willing that any man should perish and that God delights in mercy, all saints should make it a point of duty to warn sinners against the dangers of persisting in sin. To escape God’s judgment sinners must confess their sins, repent of them, believe in Christ and make restitutions where applicable. By rejecting God’s offer of mercy, sinners provoke Him to anger (1 Corinthians 10:22). They also accumulate and treasure up His wrath and anger. They bear the shame and dishonor of sinful living. They will face eternal damnation in hell. The twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and Noah’s generation perished for rejecting divine mercy. Today, the sins of modern man have surpassed that of Sodom in depth, sophistication and gravity. In some parts of our society today, men have institutionalized corruption and immorality, conducted same-sex marriages and ordained gay priests, organized drug cartels, kidnapping rings, killing humans for ritual, thus daring God and His judgment. Except they repent and renounce those acts, God’s judgment awaits them.

QUESTION 7: How can a sinner escape God’s impending judgment? s judgment.



Kay Alli