Romans Chapter Two Lesson 28
In 2:6 the standard of Judgment will be according to His Works 2:6
There
are 3 important aspects of judgment here:
#1 universality = “to every man” to each one e[kastoj no exceptions;
#2 Criteria = works o` e;rgon
#3 Certainty = fut. act. ind. speaks of the certainty “will
render” avpodi,dwmi reward, to pay back, a just requital
Intro: There are
some things that we need to remember as we examine this context!
Paul is
not talking in the context, 2:6-11, about the basis of Salvation.
What he is
talking about is the basis of judgment.
From
Observ: Who among us would look forward
to being judged on the basis of everything we’ve ever done?
Prin: A
believer may be viewed by root or fruit!
That is, how one becomes a believer or what is produced in
the life.
When
Paul is discussing what is involved in becoming a believer he is addressing the
root.
If you
mistake here in this context the works, the well doing, the good as the root,
the effort or means of salvation; then you have a real problem because that
will put Paul in a difficult spot; he’ll be
clearly contradicting himself within a few paragraphs.
Rom.
God’s judgment is just and it is impartial.
What Paul focuses on here in these verses is the whole
course of one’s life choices;
In
vs:7, 10 we
have one whose life reflects the reality of the new birth and his seeking after
God dominated his life;
In vs: 8-9 we have the
counterpart those who do not obey the truth , but obey
unrighteousness.
Does
God reward the seeker? You bet! Heb 11:6
Example
of a seeker and reward = salvation;
#1 Acts 8:23f Ethiopian
eunuch;
#2 Acts
10:23f Cornelius
• In vs:8-9 you get the contrast; the 2nd category of mankind
the disobedient;
Scripture is always consistent,
the unbeliever is still an unbeliever having rejected the light given, not
because he is without light.
Consequences
of their disobedience; what is it that awaits these? wrath, indignation,
tribulation, and distress
- orgh = wrath speaks of
the settled condition in the thinking of God related to those who are apeiqw Jn
- While qumoj
= anger/indignation is used of the outbreak of
the that anger at the Great Day of
Wrath/Judgment described most vividly by Nahum; Nahum 1:3,6
• Vs:10 shifts back to focus on the believer and his
lot; “glory, honor and peace”
•
With vs:11 Paul returns to the
basic premise of the context; that God
judges not only justly but impartially,
w/o respect to ones person; w/o
deference paid to someone on the basis of position or what we think someone can
do for us.
The
statement here is very strong and emphatic
- this describes the way that God judges always; without partiality; never changes;
- Eph 6:9;
- principle is stated in 1 Sam 16:7