Romans 2
How bad do you really think you are? Paul follows up here on the second half of chapter one by saying: don’t think this is just about other people! All humans find it so easy to judge others – to compare themselves, to criticise or critique others. And here Paul is showing that in spiritual things this is a foolish thing to do. Romans 2:1-11 explains that God will judge all people the same way, against the same standards, and we all, without exception, fall short of these standards (2: 1-3). Instead, the right response to seeing sin in others is to recognise it first in ourselves, and repent of it (2:4-11). And teachers and leaders have an even greater imperative to do this (2:17-24) because by their hypocrisy they bring the whole community into disrepute!
So instead of just calling yourself a Christian, Paul says, live like a Christian! You are by nature sinful, wicked. You belong in the community of Ch1:18-32, because we all do by nature. And we will all be judged for this. But if you are a Christian, that is “under the law”, you will be judged by your obedience to the law (2:13). And none of us can stand up to this judgement, which is why it is a great relief that this judgement will take place through Jesus Christ (2:16). That it is the Spirit of God in us that counts us right on that day (2:29). We can have confidence and hope about that judgement day not because of what we have done, or who we have been, but because of what Jesus has done on the cross and His salvation bought for us. This is the situation all humanity is in, whether they know it or not. Who can you warn of this today? How do you need to take this to heart in a deeper way this week?
(friend of Christ Church)
(friend of Christ Church)