Romans 2:1-16

3 Judgment for All

Romans 2:1–16

There is only one righteous judge—God. Regardless of one’s experience, skill or intelligence, no one is qualified to judge another. Jesus warned against judging—Matt. 7:1–5. If we heed Paul’s advice in 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, we will have no time to judge others. Judging others shows a lack of consecration and maturity.

The Sin of Judging—vv. 1–4

Romans 2:1–4 “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. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

The judging—v. 1. When we judge others, we are judging ourselves. We may not have the sins of Romans 1:21–32, but that does not mean we should become self-righteous and proud. We are all sinners—Rom. 3:23.

The judge—v. 2. God is the righteous judge—Ps. 103:6. Let Him do the judging.

The judgment—v. 3. “Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them (committing the aforementioned sins) and overlook you when you do them too?”—LB. All Christians will be judged—2 Cor. 5:10.

The justice—v. 4. God’s kindness and patience lead us to repentance and new life in Christ. See 2 Peter 3:9. God desires that all turn from their sins, that none be lost.

The Self in Judging—vv. 5–11

Romans 2:5–11 “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.”

Righteous judgment—vv. 5–6. Stubbornness in continuing to sin adds to the wrath the sinner will face in God’s final judgment—Rev. 20:11–15. We are judged by the heart (v. 5); judged by our deeds (v. 6). See also Mal. 3:16. God keeps a record of all who love Him.

Results in judgment—vv. 7–8.

Righteous—v. 7. Eternal life. Our name must be in the Lamb’s Book of Life—Rev. 21:27; 20:15.

Rebellion—v. 8. “Those who love only themselves and do not obey the truth, but do what is wrong, will be punished by God. His anger will be on them”—NLT.

Reasoning in judgment—vv. 9–11. Jew and Gentile, all must stand before God. He is no respector of persons—Rom. 10:12. The gospel of salvation is for all people—Rom. 1:16.

The Savior in Judging—vv. 12–16

Romans 2:12–16 “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; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

Judgment on all men—vv. 12–15. We are sinners—Isa. 53:6. All sin must be punished—Rom. 6:23. The “small and great” shall stand before God—Rev. 20:11–15. If man sincerely seeks God, he will find God—Jer. 29:13.

Judgment on all motives—v. 16. All must die, then comes judgment—Heb. 9:27. We will be judged by the use of our abilities—Luke 12:48. We will be rewarded according to our works—Rev. 22:12. What we sow, we will reap—Gal. 6:7, 8.

God will judge all sin, whether in the life of a sinner or a Christian who has become cold. If the sin is not confessed and forsaken, God’s judgment will fall on that person. It will mean separation from God. Paul advises us to examine ourselves—1 Cor. 11:28.