The Righteous Judgement of God
There was a brilliant Christian apologist who argued so compellingly during debates with his opponents that he reduced them to ashes, and afterward, it was said, he would dust off the spot where his adversaries had stood. I could not help but think of that description as I prepared this study of Romans 2.
Paul has just finished giving an indictment on all people. How long can he torment us with the oppressive character of the law and of our sin before he gives us some relief? After Jonathan Edwards preached one of his stirring sermons on the judgment of God and the threat of eternal damnation in hell, one of the parishioners cried out, “But, Mr. Edwards, is there no mercy with God?” Edwards reminded the people that they had to wait till the following Sabbath before they got that part of the message. The same is true here as we come to Romans 2. If we hope to get that good news now, our hopes are in vain, because the apostle is not finished with the bad news yet. Before we get to the gospel, the good news of justification by faith alone, we must be brought kicking and screaming, if necessary, before the holy standard of God’s law so that we might be duly persuaded of our need for the gospel.
Man’s Judgement
Mankind fervently seeks to cast judgement on others.
When we pass judgement, we bring condemnation upon ourselves.
God’s Judgement
God’s judgement is good.
God’s judgement is perfect.
God’s judgement is impartial.
It is absolutely clear that God is perfectly impartial in his judgment. The word for “favoritism” suggests in its original form that he is not swayed by a person’s face. We may imagine there is something about us that will persuade God to make an exception—our intelligence, our position, our many acts of kindness—but apart from the blood of Christ, he will not be moved.
The basis of God’s judgment of us will be our works. This does not mean some will be saved by works. Rather, believers will give an account of their works, and nonbelievers will be judged according to their works. The standard of judgment for those with a religious heritage will be the same as those who have none: works. In an eternally real sense, unrepentant man is making deposits in a bank account from which he will one day collect to his unending woe. God cannot be fooled. He is absolutely impartial. Such defenses as “My mother sang in the choir,” “I’m a church member,” “My grandfather was a preacher” will never meet the righteous standards of a holy God.