Romans 2:1-10

Key verses:  If your eyes shift their focus from yourselves to others – to judge how they are doing – you have already condemned yourselves! (1)  There is no doubt that the judgment of God will justly fall upon hypocrites who practice this. (2)  Do you take the kindness of God for granted?  Do you see His patience and tolerance as signs that He is a pushover when it comes to sin? 

There is going to come a day of judgment when God, the just judge of all the world (5) will judge all people according ot what they have done (6).  He will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. (7)

But he will pour out his anger and wrath for those who live only for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and who practice evil deeds. (8) 

The Romans Road is a rocky road.  While there is an offering of a great escape from sin, let there be no doubt, judgment will come for those who consciously and effectively sin.  There will be condemnation of wrong-doing and subsequent consequences.  Yes, let me use the word punishment.  God is kind, but He is not soft.  He is kind to allow time for people to repent, to make a real commitment to His truth but He will not ignore a life of evil.

This message is not one we are to use as a tool or device to judge others, but to judge ourselves.  We are tempted to look at the law and use it as a stick to measure others, but this chapter begins with the obvious that we are to examine ourselves.  Our harshness is often reserved for other sinners, but we are to be our own primary concern.  One author said this, “My sin looks so much worse on you.”  Here in chapter 2, it is clear that we only evaluate ourselves. For on “the day” made for judgment, it will all be made public, which includes whether our seriousness about sin applied to ourselves or others and whether we took God seriously or not.

Yet, the test for judgment will not be on the list of sins, but on those who pursue the truth God is looking for.  He is looking for the good in people:  those who persistently make it their business to do that which is  useful, pleasant, honorable  (and they get eternal life, uncorrupted, seen in the glory, honor and peace they will have).  We have to stay conscious and deliberate in doing good.  We make it our business to enact good in every part of our life.  God is noting this.  He is planning a reward for this.

Paul is trying to demonstrate how God has looked for dedication and consistency towards good.  A “slip” does not bring condemnation.  Rather, what business are we known for?  To what are we dedicated?  What is our main aim?  As we explore how to move toward the moral good which is to infiltrate our lives, let us seek how God defines this path.  This is the call of the entire New Testament, to let Jesus lead.  Beware of the business of evil, where we love and pet old behaviors and refuse the great kindness of God which calls us away from that which leads to our ruin.  Some people resist this change.  They would rather be ruined than make changes.  Don’t let that be you!