God Shows No Favoritism (well, maybe a little)

Lesson 4 (Romans 2:1-16)

God Shows No Favoritism (well, maybe a little)

This section, probably more clearly than anywhere in scripture, tells us that God is perfectly just. In summary, the argument for God’s perfect judgment goes something like this.

Don’t act as anyone’s judge because every single one of you are sinners. If you want to be justified by works, make sure you don’t commit one sin in your entire life. Then you will be justified on the basis of your works and you will go to eternity in the kingdom of God. For those of you who realize you’re sinners, I have provided the only way you can truly be justified. Claim My provision for your sin in My Son Jesus Christ; live righteously, and you will enter my kingdom upon physical death, or when I come to establish my earthly kingdom. The rest of you are going to hell. I play no favorites. My provision is for anyone from any ethnic group and for all ages. And, by the way, no one is going to hell for failing to accept my provision for man’s sin. Everyone I cast into hell will be cast into hell because they did not keep the law they had. The fact that those who don’t have my law still know murder and adultery are sin, makes it clear they have my law written in their hearts, yet they still murder and commit adultery. Therefore, by their actions, they prove my judgment is both perfect and just.

The reason the above summary might be helpful is that this argument, posed by Paul under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit, is much like the philosophical reasoning the Greeks engaged during Paul’s life. Unlike the way western minds reason today, stating one premise and then providing supporting arguments to prove that premise, the Greeks would state two or more premises and argue them against one another. In this scenario, Paul is arguing justification by works (always a failure) against justification by imputed righteousness (always a success). The statement, “for it is not the hearers of the Law who are jut before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified,” is a two edged sword that will not be clearly understood until we get to Paul’s many statements later about universal sin and imputed righteousness (3:23; 4:20; 5:1, 8-17; 6:23; 7; 8:1-3, 6-9).

1. According to 2:1, what’s wrong with judging others?

2. What group of people who practice sin will escape God’s judgment? 2:2, 3



It’s crucial to an understanding of the text we not confuse judgment with observation and discernment. Doing so has resulted in a great deal of bad theology being taught in the church. In the eternal sense, there is only one Judge. I trust the capital “J” on judge gave that one away. We have many judges on earth. It is their responsibility to look at the facts in a case and determine the appropriate punishment for those convicted of a particular crime. Matthew 7:1, 2 is a warning we are not to act as anyone’s judge. However, by the same argument that instruction does, at the same time an tell us how we can help our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ not incur the discipline of God for improper actions. Chapter 7:4, 5 make it clear what must take place in one’s own life before he can be of any help to another. Like the friend who tells his buddy, if you rob that bank, you’re going to spend twenty years in prison, we are instructed to make sure we aren’t bank robbers if we expect him to listen to us. That's taking the log out of our own eye first.

Providing biblical counseling for a brother or sister who has temporarily lost sight of his calling to live a life glorifying to His master is not judgment. Romans 15:14 makes it clear God has given us the tools with which to assist one another in staying on the narrow path that leads to life, ”And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.” Dr. Jay Adams, author of Competent to Council, uses that verse as his proof text for his book, but he suggests the word “admonish” would have been better translated “council.”

3. What is the purpose of God’s kindness, tolerance, and patience? 2:4

4. Without divine intervention and regeneration, what is man’s response to God’s kindness? 2:5



5. What is God going to render to each man according to his deeds? 2:5b, 6



6. Considering what we have learned so far, about what two groups is Paul referring in 2:7, 8?



7. What does God’s words promise to those who do evil? 2:9                                                                    
               a.

               b.



8. What does God’s word promise to those who do good (regenerated believers. (2:10 cf. Rom. 8:8)

              a.

              b.

              c.

Verses 9 and 10 repeat an interesting phrase, “to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Until we read verse 11, the phrase seems incongruous. Verse 11 gives us context. God is revealing to us that, though He will treat all ethnic groups fairly, they will not be treated equally. He has called the seed of Abraham to be the ethnic group through whom the Messiah would come. Therefore, it is the Jews, the seed of Abraham, who stand first in line for both God’s blessing and/or judgment. That acknowledged, I have already pointed out that the church is the special group of believers of the New Covenant (Rev. 20:4, 5). And in that group, He has made it clear there is no ethnic group with celebrity status. The Jews, under the New Covenant, are only first in the sense that the message of the gospel came to them first. Actually, it wasn’t until Peter went to the centurion’s home and witnessed the gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit just like the Jews received Him that the Hebrew believers finally realized the gospel was to be offered to all national groups of people throughout the world (Acts 10 & 11).

9. What is the theological significance of 2:12? cf. 1:19 In other words, what makes it just for God to send those to hell who never received the law?



10. Who will be justified? 2:13



Summarize the meaning of verses 14-16 in your own words.





I’ve already stated the premise of these two verses, but take time to discuss their implication for those who have not heard the gospel. Close lesson 4 with discussion about personal confession of faith and living a life that bears fruit, even when no one is looking. Finally, spend time praying for an understanding of how to personally apply this difficult instruction from God’s word.