In The Word
Read: Romans 2:1-16
The Impartiality of God
2 Therefore you have no excuse, you foolish person, everyone of you who passes judgment; for in that matter in which you judge someone else, 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. 3 But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will repay each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life; 8 but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of mankind who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek, 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
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 righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though 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 testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
In today’s reading, Paul addressed the Jews who mistakenly thought they would enter Heaven simply because they were part of God’s chosen people and were entrusted with the Law. It was not merely having knowledge of the Law that mattered, rather they were to put God’s commands into practice. In Romans 2:13 it says, “For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.”
People who think that they are saved just because they know Bible verses, attend church regularly, have been baptized, or take communion regularly, make the same mistake as Paul’s audience. The key is to believe in Yeshua, know him through a close relationship, and strive to obey all of His commands out of a heart of love and devotion. The faith that saves others results in godly living and obeying God’s commands, even if there may be occasional slips. There have been many funerals for “good” people who did not pass the test to enter eternity in Heaven.
God does not measure a person according to a standard of “good”; rather, He judges a person according to His Word, using every verse of the Bible. It may be easy to “judge” another person’s life and see if they are doing wrong, but Yeshua says we are to first examine our own lives before looking at someone else’s (Matthew 7:3-5). Using the standard of the Bible, what do your habitual actions reveal?