Grace Unveiled: Everyone Is Guilty (Rom. 2:1–9) | Jim Hammond
Recap
Last Sunday, Pastor Jim gave the fifth installment of his series entitled, “Grace Unveiled.” The first three chapters of Romans can be summed up by saying people who rely on their own righteousness, their own ability, their own self-effort will not escape the judgment of God. It is only through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ can any man escape His judgment. In the book of Romans, the apostle Paul defines New Testament righteousness as the ability to stand before God without a sense of guilt or inferiority.
Dive Deeper
There were many Jewish Christians who tried to bring Old Testament law and different facets of it into receiving salvation. “You have to be circumcised. You have to eat a certain way.”
The book of Hebrews addresses the issue of Jewish Christians who grew up under the law and had a hard time letting it go once they became born again.
We will not reach the potential that God wants us to reach through our own ends and our own abilities without the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
We cannot reach the perfection that God requires relying upon our own righteousness and abilities. That is what the first three chapters of Romans is about.
Romans chapter one addressed the pagans who suppressed the truth of God. Trying to change the incorruptible glory of God and refusing to acknowledge God as creator. At a certain point, God would turn them over to a reprobate mind, sort of like a point of no return.
Some commentators are of the opinion that Romans chapter two is referring exclusively to the Jewish Christians. While other commentators are of the opinion that Romans chapter two is simply referring to Roman Christians.
Romans 2:1, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”
This passage in Romans says no one has the superior morality to the point where it exempts him from sin, so he is in a position to judge others.
Pastor Jim said, “Judging others always involves the sin of presumption. Presumption is the evidence lending probability to your belief. It’s coming to your conclusion from the proven existence of another fact. And then you make a presumption. You take it further. You’re looking at another fact that’s true, and you’re judging others for something else. You’re making a presumption on something else that happens. It’s a rush to judgment.”
Romans 2:2. “But we know that the judgment, adverse verdict sentence of God falls justly in accordance with truth upon those who practice such things.”
Being that God is all knowing, He is qualified to judge because He does know all things. He knows the very motives of our hearts. Verse two tells us that His judgment is always based on truth. But in verse one, judging the spirituality of others comes from a standpoint of your own supposed personal righteousness.
Read About It
Romans 2:1–9, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek.”
Discussion Questions
We understand that our righteousness before God is through Jesus Christ. It’s not through our own worth or good works. Can you think of a time when you, unknowingly, depended on your own righteousness, or goodness, when approaching God in prayer?
Paul talked a lot about judging others. Can you think of a time when you were unfairly judged? Conversely, can you think of a time when you unfairly judged someone? Describe the difference between being on the receiving end of judgment versus being judgmental toward someone.