07 God’s Righteous Judgment

In Romans chapter two, Paul continues to show the ramifications for those who will insist upon living a rebellious lifestyle.

Paul began however, by addressing those who considered themselves as good and moral, unlike those spoken of in the previous chapter.

1 Addressing the Morally Righteous

While those Paul addressed in the prior chapter were in obvious rebellion against the Lord, those he speaks to here, considered themselves to be different from those others.

And by displaying that attitude, they were showing themselves to be in a state of rebellion themselves.

So, here in chapter two, not only built upon what he began in chapter one, but he was laying the foundation for his ultimate point, which would be shown in chapter three, that all men are sinners and in need of salvation.

Jesus addressed the self-righteous attitude of the morally righteous in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector:

Luke 18:10-14

Most of the Israelites at that time looked upon themselves as moral, since they believed, they were adhering to the Old Covenant Law, even though Jesus had already performed the ultimate sacrifice at Calvary.

Therefore, Paul was showing that their self-righteousness alone was exposing them as being no better than those whom they believed they were better than.

The Roman church was also being influenced by the cultural thinking of that day, because of so-called “moralists”. These believers admired the moralists, whose views they falsely believed to be more in line with Christianity. 

However, the moralists did not teach Christ, but were also condemning of those they believed to be moral failures.

Therefore, they were setting the standards by which they believed others should live by, rather than pointing to the standard which God has established, and which may be met only through Christ.

Because these moralists were setting the standards, they unwittingly were setting the standards by which they would also be judged.

It is for that reason, Paul said: “Therefore you are inexcusable”

In verse 2, the apostle showed that only the judgment of God can be looked upon as being “according to the truth”.

The reason His judgment is according to the truth, is because He is truth:

John 14:6

Therefore, the Lord does not judge according to our individual standard but based upon His standards of righteousness.

He continues that thought in verse 3, by showing that those who seek to establish personal standards for judging, still will not escape God’s judgment. 

The Lord will never bend to man’s will or standards, since we are simply His creation, while He is our Creator.

2 God’s Righteous Judgment

Romans 2:4-5

In this passage, Paul addresses those who presume that God will be good, forbearing, and longsuffering, despite their actions and motives.

They failed to understand that while God is indeed good, forbearing, and longsuffering towards us, it is with the purpose of humbling us, and to cause us to repent and turn to Him.

Paul was very intentional in listing those actions of the Lord:

• “Goodness” describes God’s kindness towards us, despite our past sins, showing that He doesn’t immediately render judgment when we sin.

God’s goodness is one of His divine attributes.

• The Lord’s “forbearance” refers to His kindness towards us, despite our present sins.

That speaks to the fact that we all sin, which we see from James in his epistle:

James 3:2

• “Longsuffering” shows the Lord’s patience with us regarding our future sins. It shows how His grace is sufficient to cover those sins as well.

When combined, each of His actions emanate from His love, and His inherent goodness, and are all design to bring us into alignment with Him.

It is the Lord’s desire, that we man repents of his sins, and turn to Him.

The Bible is clear, that the Lord does not desire the destruction of the wicked:

Ezekiel 18:23

And even though the depths of mankind’s wickedness is nearly unfathomable, God’s grace is far greater.

In verse 5, Paul makes it clear, that those who’ve hardened their hearts, and who refuse to repent, are storing up God’s wrath and righteous judgment on the day of judgment.

The day of judgment speaks of the day when all the unsaved will stand before God’s great judgment throne.

In verse 5, Paul speaks of this as being the “righteous judgment of God” since God’s character itself is just, being without flaw.