Romans 2:1-16 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.… (To read the rest of the passage click HERE)
Here is a reminder of the prayer I prayed on Sunday when I preached that is ALWAYS appropriate when we look into God’s Word:
“Lord, would You capture my mind’s attention and my heart’s affection.”
In chapter 2 Paul addresses those who may be tempted to look down on others. Specifically he is addressing those who after reading chapter 1 might think, “That’s sick. People who do those things are terrible.”
Here are my takeaways from this passage:
1) I am very quick to judge other people. And I am especially quick to justify my sin by comparing my sin level to that of others. Paul is making sure that our reference point is not others but Christ. We will not be judged on whether we are less sinful that others but on whether we have the righteousness of Christ. When we understand this, really understand this, then it should make us less prone to pointing fingers at others because we realize that there are three pointing right back at us.
2) My other takeaway is this – I WILL be judged on the basis of what I do. But, I will not be saved on the basis of what I do! This is a key point that Paul will make throughout Romans. We are saved based on what Christ has done not on what we have done. Salvation is by grace through faith. But Paul does not ever discount works. Our good works do at least two things: 1) They are indicators of the fact that we have been saved – they are the fruit of salvation not the root of salvation. 2) They are the basis for our rewards in heaven. (See 2 Cor 5:10, 1 Cor 3:9-15, Romans 14:10-12) We are saved by faith. We are judged by works.
This is not a make-you-feel-good kind of passage. This is a passage though that requires serious personal reflection largely because we are a people who by nature are quick to judge others. I am reminded again that I need to keep Jesus first and foremost in my mind and heart so that I have a correct base line for my life.
Next Week’s Passage: Romans 2:17-29
Memory Verses: Romans 8:1-6