God's judgment is impartial

Without a doubt the Jew’s would be ecstatic about the condemnation, the judgment on the Gentiles, those dogs! - now, step back for a minute can we do that too? Can we get judgmental of people who don’t act, look, talk like we do? Maybe we better hold off and pay attention to the passage before us this morning.

It starts with a “therefore” and anytime we see a therefore, we need to ask why is it there. Is it a link, a bridge, or to get our attention as the writer introduces something new. We will quickly be able to know why it is there as we look at the passage.

Here is the plan this morning.

Glean from the passage (Rom2:1-16)

God is impartial: You will be judged by the truth (vv.1-4)

God is impartial: You will be judged by your deeds (vv.5-11)

God is impartial: you will be judged by your light (vv.12-16)

Looking, gleaning from the passage

Let’s look and glean from the passage together, taking note of words to define, general observations, things that stick out, purpose, theme, instructions, corrections given.

Romans 2:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.

Romans 2:3–4 NASB95

3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

This is a long section, passage of scripture, so we will take it a few verses at a time and glean.

Who is the who in (v.1)?

The one who passes judgment of another

The one who judges but practices the same things they are judging others for.

What is the accusation (v.3)?

Do you think you are going to escape the judgment of God when you practice these things?

What is the kindness of God to do (v.4)?

The kindness of God leads you to repentance.

Romans 2:5–6 NASB95

5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:

Romans 2:7–8 NASB95

7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.

Romans 2:9–10 NASB95

9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 2:11 NASB95

11 For there is no partiality with God.

Why is wrath being stored up (v.5)

Who is the wrath or glory being stored up for (vv.6-8)?

What will be the wrath and glory (vv.9-10)

Why is there wrath for all (v.11)?

Romans 2:12–13 NASB95

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; 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

Romans 2:14–15 NASB95

14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,

Romans 2:16 NASB95

16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

Who is guilty (v.12)?

What is key word you see (v.12-15)?

Is the law just about the Jews, or Jews and Gentiles (vv.12-15)?

How is God going to judge (v.16)?

You will be judged by the truth

What is truth? Can you know truth? Is truth objective or subjective? Important questions to ask since we will be judged by the truth.

God’s judgment is according to “the” truth. It is not one standard for the Jews and another for the Gentiles according to Wiersbe.

We are all guilty (Rom1:29-32)

Rom1:29-32, in fact let’s read it really fast and you will see you cannot escape the point we are all guilty, without excuse

Romans 1:29–30 NASB95

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

Romans 1:31–32 NASB95

31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Guilty of sins of flesh and the spirit (2Cor7:1)

2 Corinthians 7:1 NASB95

1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The gentiles and the jews alike are without excuse. It seems this section is a bridge between the unbelieving Gentiles (1:24-26) and the rebellious Jews (2:17-29)

This passage (2:1-16) some consider to be a parenthesis, to point out the fact found in (v.11)

Romans 2:11 NASB95

11 For there is no partiality with God.

God’s judgment will be passed out, delved out on all people for God has made Himself known (Rom1:19-20)

Rom1:19-20 “19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

God does not look at the “who” is being measured but the “how.” In other words, by what standard are they being measured. By truth is what we are looking at now

Romans 2:3 NLT

3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?

Romans 2:4 NLT

4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

Judged by the truth:

For Jesus is truth (Jn14:6)

Jn14:6 “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

The Spirit is truth (Jn16:13)

Jn16:13 “13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”

The word is truth (Ps119:160)

ps119:160 “160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.”

Truth sanctifies (Jn17:17)

Jn17:17 “17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.”

May we be a people who understand that God is impartial and the standard we will be judged by is “the truth” it is not subjective, it is objective, so the words spoken in (vv.1-2) hold true

Romans 2:1–2 NLT

1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.

So, don’t forget, don’t minimize it, the kindness of God’s mercy that should lead man to repentance.

Romans 2:4 GNB

4 Or perhaps you despise his great kindness, tolerance, and patience. Surely you know that God is kind, because he is trying to lead you to repent.

(Transition) Without excuse, for you are judged by the word and we all fall short when judged by the word.

You will be judged by your deeds

Everyone does deeds, be them good or bad. They are taken into account not for salvation but for God’s blessings and rewards.

God will render by your deeds (Ps62:11-12)

Psalm 62:11–12 NKJV

11 God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God. 12 Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work.

What does the word render, or recompense mean? go ahead let’s google that and see.

God’s wrath is revealed through unrighteousness (bad deeds) (1:18) being stored up (2:5) that led to them being handed over (1:24, 26, 28)

but yet that final day of judgment is coming. And we will be judged by the truth and our deeds that stem from the truth.

Romans 2:7–8 NCV

7 Some people, by always continuing to do good, live for God’s glory, for honor, and for life that has no end. God will give them life forever. 8 But other people are selfish. They refuse to follow truth and, instead, follow evil. God will give them his punishment and anger.

So, choose life, life that is eternal, life that has no end.

Deu30:19 “19 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,”

Look at that slide, it’s drastic, but I’m confident you can see the severity of it. And we know, we all fall short (Rom3:23) We need God’s righteousness for God is impartial and will judge by truth, by deeds and next by light.

You will be judged by your light

By the light that one receives, in accordance to it. By the light giver for He is the source (Jn8:12, 9:5); We will be judged by the light received.

We have Jesus the source of light

jn8:12 “12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.””

We have the word that gives light

ps119:130 “130 The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”

We all have light for we all have knowledge of God (Rom1:18-19)

rom1:18-19 “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.”

All are without excuse (1:20)

rom1:20 “20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

All will be held accountable (2:7-10)

To the Jew by the light of the Law

To the Gentile by the work of the law written on their hearts

The Jews had great blessings, but responsibilities too for they had the Law (2:13-14). The Gentiles did not, but they had God’s moral law (2:14-15), but yet God made the mystery known to all (2:16)

we are all without excuse. But can’t end with that, need to say there is hope.

Romans 1:16 NASB95

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

For in the gospel is hope and revelation of the righteousness of God

Romans 1:17 NASB95

17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”