Romans 2—God’s Righteous Judgment

· Romans 2-God's Righteous Judgment Romans 2 Paul begins by reiterating what was pointed out in chapter 1 "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."-Romans 1: 20 NASB and " 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."- Romans 1: 30-32 NASB. God has shown himself to mankind since the beginning leaving mankind with no excuse for their disobedience, reminding the people that human nature is wicked and the hypocritical nature of their actions warrants death," 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: 1-2 NASB. By judging others by commendation for their unrighteous actions, they are condemning themselves since they also carry out the practices that they know leads to God's rightful judgement to fall upon them therefore setting themselves up to also receive his inescapable judgment and wrath. He points out that God's kindness is being taken for granted instead of allowing for God's kindness to change them and lead them to repentance but with their stubborn and unrepentant heart they are storing up said wrath that in the times of revelation will be rendered, " 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:"-Romans 2:6 NASB. Paul then proceeded to teach them the contrast between a righteous and an unrighteous person's heart and their rewards. Letting them know that God is impartial and the tribulation falls on every soul good or wicked, Jew or Gentile as long as they have sinned whether they knew or didn't know God's law they will perish and peace will be given to those whose conscience is clean for choosing to do good instead of evil because it's not the knowledge of the law that saves is the doing that justifies " 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 2:6 NASB (notice how it justifies not saves, doing good does not save you it's something that ought to be done.) he states that everyone has a conscience that bears witness to condemn or defend them and that we are all hardwired to acknowledge God's existence and laws."14 ...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 2:14-15 NASB, afterwards he raises a case against the "Jew" who boast in God and approves of the teachings in God's law but instead of being light to the foolish and teachers they hypocritically do the things they teach against and dishonor God "24 For "THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written."-Romans 2:24 NASB referencing the OT scripter "22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. 23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes."-Ezekiel 36:22-23 NASB. Paul then even goes to state that the circumcision they hold dear and highly is nullified by them not keeping to the law therefore rendering it useless and that such and act can't compare to an uncircumcised person that does follow the law and such acts gives the uncircumcised person the right to judge them for having privilege of having the scriptures knowledge and circumcision covenant yet still transgressing against God's law, making very clear what truly makes a person a "Jew":"28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God."-Romans 2:28-29 NASB. Chapter 2 ends with the message that is the circumcision of the heart that matters to God and not the boastful empty acts and words.