Romans 2a

2:1 - you have no excuse - Romans 1:20 - the gentile and the Jew both are without excuse

2:1 - you who judge practice the same things - Romans 3:9-18 - charged that all, both Jews and Greeks are under sin…

2:5 - stubborn and unrepentant heart - Romans 9:17-26; 11:25 - Paul is laying the foundation for his argument in Rom 9-11 that God has hardened the already hard heart of Israel in order to show the His of mercy to the gentiles and to make Israel jealous of the New Covenant blessing of the Gentiles, so that they will repent, be restored and experience God’s promises, thus proving God to be faithful to His promise to them.

2:6 - Render according to deeds - Rom 14:22 - Paul speaks of a time when we will all give an account of ourselves to God 2:7 - seek for glory, honor and immortality - Rom 2:29, Rom 5:2, Rom 8:17-21, Rom 8:30,

2:4 - tolerance and patience…Kindness leading to repentance - Exodus 34:6 - God’s nature and character is to be slow to anger - Ezekiel 18:23,33, 33:11 - God does not take pleasure in the perishing of the wicked, but He takes pleasure in their repentance - call of Ezekiel is the same as the call of Paul, “turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” - Genesis 3 - God does not immediately judge Adam and Eve with sudden death but is patient in exacting judgement. See also Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah, Israel as examples of God being slow to anger 2 Peter 3:9 - God is patient desiring that none should perish

2:5 - stubborn…heart - The Deuteronomic Dilemma - Paul is following the pattern of Moses and Jeremiah to indicate to his Jewish opponents that the wrath of God against them is justified because they have persisted in being stiff-necked people. "What Paul suggests here is that Jews who do not believe in Jesus as Messiah have not yet been the beneficiaries of the new covenant work of the Spirit by which the law is written on the heart. Their disobedience shows that they have not yet received the circumcision of the heart” (Schreiner). This foreshadows, by way of contrast, Paul’s conclusion to this argument in vs 28-29. It is there that Paul uses the example of the obedience of the uncircumcised gentile to indicate that they have received an inward circumcision by the Holy Spirit - Deut 9:6, 13 - God declares to Israel that they are not receiving the blessing of the land because of their own righteousness, in fact they are a “stiff-necked people”. The primary example of this was the worship of the golden calf mere days after God’s spectacular appearance and continued presence at Sinai. - Deut 10:16 - After summarizing the demands of the law as fearing God, walking in His ways, and loving and serving Him with all their heart and soul (vs 12-13, Deut 6:9). The reason for this devotion and obedience: The creator God set His love on them (vs 14-15). In light of God’s love for them and the demands He has for them as His people, Moses calls the people to vs 16, “circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer.”Moses introduces a problem here with this command. In order to have a real covenantal relationship with God the Israelites must reverse their natural state of being stiff-necked against Him. They must circumcise their hearts so that their necks can turn from rebellion to righteousness. But how can they do so when their necks are all together stiffened against Him? At this stage in the book of Deuteronomy Moses identifies what is essential, but what is essential appears to be impossible to attain.

2:6 - Render according to their deeds - direct quote of Ps 62:12 and Prog 24:10-12 - Ps 62:12 - This is a Psalm of hope for the people of God for future vindication against their oppressors. In the face of such attacks, one should not fear or turn to power or wealth to alleviate their oppression but instead trust in God there strong tower. Their attacks are but a breath, God’s word is certain - He will render according to one’s deeds. Blessings for faithfulness, curses for oppression - Prov 24:10-12 - This proverb warns of Divine judgement against the one who fails to come to the rescue of his neighbor who is being unjustly taken away to die Indirect Connections - Matt. 12:33–37 - A tree is known by it’s fruit…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks - Matt. 16:27 - take up your cross and follow Him for He is coming to repay to each according to what he has done - John 5:24–29 - Those who hear and believe will have eternal life…One the day of the resurrection of the dead those who have done good will go to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil will go to the resurrection of judgement. - Rev. 20:12-13 - In the final judgement the dead will be raised and the books recording every thought, word, and deed (Dan 7:9-10) are opened; as well as the book of life containing the name of the redeemed elect (Rev 3:5,13:8, 17:8, 21:27), and the dead will be judged according to their deeds as recorded in the books. Those who’s names were not written in the Book of Life are judged solely upon their deeds, their judgement being eternal damnation in the lake of fire. - 2 Cor. 5:10 - Believers’s actions will be judged by Christ and what is judged to be good kingdom will be rewarded (1 Cor 3:14)

2:7 - Persevere in doing good

Luke 8:15- parable of the soils - the seed in the good soil hear the word, hold fast to it and persevere in bearing fruit

Gal. 6:7–10 - those who sow to the Spirit will reap eternal life…do not lose heart in doing good, we will reap if we do not grow weary. Do good to all, especially to the household of faith

1 Cor 15:58 - be steadfast abounding in the work of God, labor is not in vain

2:7 - seek for glory, honor and immortality - 1 Tim 6:12, 1 Cor 4:5, 2 Cor 3:18, 2 Cor 4:4, 2 Cor 4:16-18