Village Schools of the Bible

ROMANS: Heart & Soul of the Gospel
A Devotional Study of Romans
by Max Frazier, Jr.

ROMANS 2:1-16: Condemnation of the Moral Man

The key word in this passage is "judge" which is used 9 times. One other interesting note: in verse 1, man is on the throne of judgment, while in verse 16, it is God on the throne of judgment.

VERSE 1:

Moral man is condemned according to his own judgment

1.YOU WHO JUDGES - the identification of the man. It is the faculty of moral discrimination - judging right from wrong.
2.YOU CONDEMN YOURSELF - the man was condemned because while he was condemning others, he was doing the same thing; therefore he condemned himself for his own sins (compare the story of David and Nathan and the parable of the sheep in Second Samuel 12). God wants us to first judge things in our own lives.
3.YOU DO THE SAME THINGS - the inclination of the man

1.They may not have done all the things in Romans 1 (they were covetous, envious, boasters, etc), but there are things every moral man is guilty of
2.They may not do them outwardly but inwardly (verse 16)
3.They were doing in their lives the very things they disapproved
4.YOU ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE - the indictment of the man; both men were sinners, both did the same things, but the pagans did something of which they approved, and the moralists did something of which they disapproved.

The second is worse.

VERSES 2-16:

Moral man is condemned by God's judgment

Four great principles:

1.According to truth:

1.Verse 2 - the moral man will have to face the naked and awful truth when he comes before God
2.Verse 3 - THINKS - do you think you are going to escape the judgment of God? False reasoning
3.Verse 4 - DESPISES - you are either the victim of false reasoning or you despise it
4.Verse 4 - NOT KNOWING = ignore

(Note: 3 stages of God's kindness during the earthly life of a man: 1. It is God's goodness in daily preserving him, providing for him, protecting him; 2. God's goodness being despised; God's forbearance is exercised; 3. All God's goodness and forbearance being despised, God's long-suffering keeps waiting (compare with Second Peter 3:9))

e. Verse 5 - TREASURES - treasure up wrath

2. According to his deeds - Verse 6 (compare Revelation 20:11-15)

1.Verse 7 - WELL DOING - obedience to the revealed truth of God

When God reveals a certain truth in a certain age, there are two classes that emerge - obedience and rebellion
Rebellious (verse 8) wrath and indignation from God; (verse 9) tribulation and anguish from man
Obedient (verse 10) glory and honor and peace

3. No respect of persons - Verse 11 - God is absolutely and always impartial; principle is found in verse 11

1.Verse 12 - Paul is saying that ignorance of the law will not save the Gentiles. In this verse, part one deals with the Gentiles, while part two deals with the Jews. The Jews will be judged because a man must DO the things, not simply hear them (compare Leviticus 18:5)
2.Verse 13 - concludes this part
3.Verse 14 - should begin before verse 12. The Gentiles do not have the written law. Their conduct proves that they have a standard of righteousness
4.Verse 15 - HEARTS - law was written there

CONSCIENCE - sat as judge

THOUGHTS - accused or excused him

all three bore witness to God's standard

God will judge every man by the standard that man actually has: For the Jews, it is the written law; for the Gentiles, it is the law of his heart.

4. According to my gospel - Verse 16 - God will judge the secrets of man.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Judgment, wrath, sin, law, righteousness are key words in this particular text. I think we can outline the portion with three statements. First, verses 1-4, Paul states that we must exercise caution when rendering judgment. Often our judgment is flawed. Often our judgment is biased. When I was a young teen, someone told me to be careful when I pointed my finger toward another for there were three fingers always pointing back to me. I must be hesitant in rushing to judgment. I am reminded of that profound illustration of Jesus found in John 8. The Jewish leaders were quick to condemn the woman they had caught in an adulterous act. (Note: they did not bring the man...he also was equally guilty in the eyes of the law). Jesus, writing in the sand, said, "Go ahead and stone her, but let the one who is without sin cast the first stone." Jesus was reminding them that three fingers were pointing in their direction.

The second truth statement is found in verses 5-11 where Paul declares that there is a coming day when we must all stand before God and give an accounting of our actions. Those who have persisted in rebellion against God will be rewarded with His punishment. Those who have responded with repentance to the leading of God will be rewarded with His blessings. So often we are guilty of living just for today. But there is a tomorrow coming. What we do here does not go unnoticed by our heavenly Father. There is a coming day of reckoning.

The third truth statement is found in verses 12-16. Here Paul begins to answer that nagging question: what about those who have not heard? I believe Paul shares with us that God's judgment is based upon God's character not upon ours. God perceives the inward attitude of the heart. God's judgment is based upon our response to the knowledge that we had available to us. Paul certainly does not seem to be teaching that there is a second chance for salvation following death, but does state that our eternal state is conditioned by our responding to that understanding of God that is available to us.

At a time when our world seems to be spinning down a road toward war, it is good to be reminded that at the end of it is God. Each of us has a date before His judgment bar. There we will receive from His hand what we have requested of Him. Some, through acts of open rebellion, have asked for punishment. That will be given to them. Many others, through acts of repentance and contrition, have sought for blessings. That, too, will be given to them.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER AS YOU READ THESE VERSES:

1.It is so easy for us to judge someone else's faults and mistakes. According to Paul, why is this so dangerous for us?

2.In verses 2-5, Paul shares that God will judge men according to truth. In verses 3 and 4, two age-old questions are presented by Paul. What are these two questions? Have you ever met anyone who used either of those questions as an excuse for avoiding God? If so, what was your reaction?

3.There are only 2 kinds of people in the world: those who obey God's truth and those who do not obey. What are the rewards God promises to each group?

4.God is an impartial judge. In verses 14 and 15, Paul wrestles with the question of how God will judge those who have never heard about Christ. What does Paul conclude? Do you think this seems to be a fair judgment by God? Why or hwy not? Does this excuse us from sharing the gospel around the world? Why or why not?

Romans 1:18-32 Return to the Table of Contents Romans 2:17-3:8