The Condemnation of the Moralist (Romans 2:1-11) (KJV) By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

The Condemnation of the Moralist (Romans 2:1-11) (KJV)

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce   

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical Precepts &Gospel Music

Scriptures reading Romans 2:1-11 (KJV)

 ¹Therefore 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.²But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.³And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? ⁵But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; ⁶Who will render to every man according to his deeds: ⁷To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life;  ⁸But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath.

⁹Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;¹⁰But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: ¹¹For there is no respect of persons with God.

 

Romans chapter 2 Paul shows subtly (vv.1-16), then openly, that the Jews are without defense. God’s wrath results when grace is rejected. Good works do not save (Eph.2:8-9) but are evidence of a changed life. Much of Romans is devoted to this extremely important thesis. The Jews’ Priority of privilege was also one of responsibility, and the principles of God’s judgments are the same for all (v.11). do by nature (v.14). The interaction of conscience and innate morality may result in a good life. To such persons God sends the gospel (Acts4:12; Rom.10:4).

Verse 2 judgement –referring to God’s eternal judgment, which will be carried out mainly at the great white throne, as revealed in Rev.20:11-5. Truth here and in vv.8,20 denotes the reality revealed through the creation and through the Bible concerning God, the universe, man, the relationship between man and God, the relationships among men, and man’s obligation to God. It also refers to the actual situation and condition of man, and it may be the terms of God’s judgment upon man, as indicated in vv.6-15. According to these terms God will execute His judgment righteously.  Verses 7-10 give the basic terms of God’s eternal judgment.

 The Old Covenant, through the Law of Moses, showed the terrible swift justice of God, a God who had to deal with men as they were…to teach them respect for order, for righteousness, for the Living God, to gradually lead them to see His goodness so they could love Him. Paul, by family and education, grew up by the teaching of the prophets, who called God’s wrath down just as quickly as they brought miracles to save His people. As a product of that teaching, as Saul of Tarsus, Paul had leaned the wrong view of God’s justice and even pursued the Christians to far cities to imprison or kill them. Here, under the New Covenant, he discovers God’s continuing revelation of himself, a revelation that again meets men where they are –this time ready to see the goodness of God. “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” was his message. Paul remembered that Jesus could have applied justice instead of mercy that day on the road to Damascus, and Paul would have been found wanting. Instead, Jesus showed him His goodness, His saving and healing power, His desire to fill him with the Holy Spirit, and with love until Paul was the first to preach that it is God’s goodness, not His judgments, that softens men’s heard hearts and lead them to repent and be saved.

 

Bibliography,

 

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

 

            King James, The Holy Bible, Cleveland, OH: The world publishing company

                       

            Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

          

            Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.