February 9, 2018
Without Excuse!
Romans 2
Blake Holmes
Central Truth
Just as a human judge cannot overlook crime and remain just, neither can God overlook our sin.
Romans 2
God's Righteous Judgment
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. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 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? 4 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? 5 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.
6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking 1 2:8 Or contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 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.
God's Judgment and the Law
12 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. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For 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. 15 They 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 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded 2 2:26 Or counted as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically 3 2:27 Or is by nature uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code 4 2:27 Or the letter and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But 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.
Dive Deeper | Romans 2
The headlines in today’s paper read like they normally do. Words like, "corruption," "dirty FBI officials," and "bribed judges" grab our attention. We grow numb to hearing bad news, but reading about bribed officials raises a particularly sick feeling within our stomachs. We place our trust in judges and expect them to rule fairly.
If this is true of human judges on earth, what about God in heaven? Just as a human judge cannot overlook crime and remain just, neither can God overlook our sin. To remain just, He must judge sin.
In Romans 1-3, Paul makes the argument that all men are guilty of sin and without excuse before the Lord. In chapter 1, Paul argues that the pagan Gentile is without excuse. All of creation declares the glory of God, yet he suppresses the truth (1:18), refuses to honor God (1:21), and exchanges the truth of God for a lie (1:25).
In Romans 2, Paul continues to make his case. Just as the pagan Gentile is guilty and without excuse, so, too, is the moral man. Although he knows right from wrong, he practices hypocrisy (2:1), presumes upon God's kindness (2:4), and hardens his heart toward the will of God (2:5). His own conscience condemns him (2:12-16). He knows right from wrong, but chooses to do the very thing he knows he should not do.
Paul’s attention then focuses on the privileged Jews. They, too, are guilty and without excuse. The Law condemns them. Although they boast in the Law, they break it (2:17-24). Their heritage and righteous works (e.g., circumcision) are unable to save them (2:25-29).
Later, in chapter 3, Paul concludes that all men are guilty and without excuse. Therefore, the righteousness of God is rightly revealed through His judgment of man.
These chapters teach us about the condition of our hearts and need for a Savior. They also teach us about God. He is righteous and just, and therefore cannot overlook our sin. At the same time, He is full of grace. At the cross, we see both the justice of God and the love of God meet.
This month's memory verse
Life in the Spirit
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
– Romans 8:1
Discussion Questions
1. Why do you think the Lord gives each of us a conscience? What do you do when your conscience condemns you?
2. The Jews trusted in their heritage and righteous deeds to merit God's favor. In what ways do we rely upon our own morals in order to win the Lord's approval? Why is it impossible to ever be "good enough" for God?
3. What was the role of circumcision? What does Paul mean when he speaks of "circumcision of the heart"?
4. How would you summarize Romans 2?