Romans 2
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The Impartiality of God
2 Therefore you have no excuse, [a]you foolish person, everyone of you who passes judgment; for [b]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 [c]rightly falls upon those who practice such things. 3 But do you suppose this, [d]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 [e]restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But [f]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 [g]for every soul of mankind who does evil, [h]for the Jew first and also [i]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.
One of the things Christians are often accused of is being judgmental, and hypocritical. How can we avoid being judgmental or hypocritical?
One of the ways we can avoid being judgmental and/or hypocritical is to imitate God in that He is not impartial. We should love EVERYONE not just other Christians or our family. If we showed biblical love to everyone, the way God has commanded us to do, and treated everyone as better than ourselves, I think Christians would be thought of in a better light.
Phil. 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,”
12 For all who have sinned [j]without the Law will also perish [k]without the Law, and all who have sinned [l]under the Law will be judged [m]by the Law; 13 for it is not the hearers [n]of the Law who are [o]righteous before God, but the doers [p]of the Law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have [q]the Law [r]instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having [s]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.
The Jews under the Law
17 But if you call yourself a [t]Jew and rely [u]upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and [v]distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to people who are blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 a [w]corrector of the foolish, a teacher of [x]the immature, possessing in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— 21 you, therefore, who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who [y]preach that one is not to steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one is not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who loathe idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast [z]in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.
25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice [aa]the Law; but if you are a violator [ab]of the Law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision. 26 So if the [ac]uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who [ad]though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator [ae]of the Law? 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 of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.
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Verses 12-29 make me think of the parable of the wise and foolish builders. If we just hear God’s Word, but do not act on it, we are acting foolishly, and as Paul says, even sinfully. Just going to church or reading our Bibles or memorizing Scripture is not enough: the Bible is not meant to just be read or heard, but to be obeyed.
This is a hard truth, because it’s much easier to read or even memorize God’s Word than to live it out. If I am honest, there are a lot of things that I do that don’t conform to the standards set down in Scripture. But if I want to honor God in my life, I need to let His Word change me inside and out. I need to build my life on the foundation of the Bible.
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