Romans #3

3/28-4/2-2011

Romans 2:1-12

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.

·      There seems to be more of an emphasis on the “you practice the very same things” than passing judgment on others sin. Even those who are God’s chosen people sin against him and are condemned in sin. Overlooking your own sin to talk about someone else’s doesn’t bring God any glory. You are to pick the sin out of your own life, not someone else’s.

2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.

·      Romans 1:29-32 tells us about the characteristics that condemn us. I kinda feel like Paul had some sarcasm here, like, since you are obviously saying how bad they are, you know they are going to Hell for these things. “Rightly falls” also makes it clear that God’s judgment is perfect: Romans 1:18.

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?

·      The Jews sometimes thought that their favor with God saved them. They didn’t realize that the kindness he showed was to LEAD them farther to Christ and repentance.

·      Presume: “to think down on”

·      Did the Jews really not appreciate the death that Jesus died on the cross? We take so much for granted.

·      God forbears (holds back) all of the wrath that he could poor down for our sin.

·      God could have destroyed us all. He could think down on us. He could have not offered repentance. But He did, and we (in our sin) feel that we owe Him nothing.

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.

·      We have the chance to get it right and try to live a life worthy of the gospel. If we do not take the opportunity, we lead a life of destruction. Instead of storing up treasures in Heaven, you’ll store up wrath.

·      We are to create a soft and repentant heart.  

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 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.

·      These are not meant to make us believe that our hope is in works, but that our deeds are a representation of our faith. That BECAUSE we are redeemed, we have these characteristics, and BECAUSE they are not, the have those. Salvation is a gift, not a reward.

·      Salvation is by faith; judgment is according to works.

·      Eternal life: believer and unbelievers will live eternally, although the eternal life we will live is the holy life with God.

·      Self-seeking could refer to money hungry.

·      Jews go first in the line of judgment…

11 For God shows no partiality.

·      There is no discrimination when it comes to salvation. He can’t be impartial and just.

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.

·      All will be judged in context, in the standard that they lived. Those who had access to the moral law will be accountable for their knowledge. We are not judged for what we were not revealed. We are judged for our response to the revelation.

      I would say that this is giving me a really good overview of Romans. I'm not sure that I like rushing through this, this fast. But I'm loving it. Plus, this week's was really convicting for me, so I probably don't need to dwell on it for too long, for the fact that i could drown in my tears. Feel free to comment about what the Holy Spirit has taught you through these verses :)