You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
In the beginning of chapter 2, we have one of my favorite points that Paul makes. It isn't my place to judge another person. I am to judge the angels. However, it does bring into question of what judgment is. There is a judgment that is holy, which Jesus tells us to do (Matthew 7:1-5). Then there is this kind of judgment, which is an abomination.
What is the difference between the two?
One of the obvious differences would be that Jesus was talking about lovingly keeping a brother accountable. Paul is talking about those who would condemn someone because they have erred. There is a vast difference between the two. Another point to consider is that Paul is still speaking to those who are not godly. Jesus was talking to His disciples, which (I have to assume) had already been circumcised of heart.
With that, I want to bring the focus. In chapter 1, Paul concludes with those who are godless and how their wickedness only compounds until they display obvious immorality. Now we reach chapter 2, and Paul is still talking from the same thought. This isn't a moment where Paul switches gears. In conclusion to the fact that these people not only do that which is abominable, but even teach others to do so, you must make sure not to pass judgment upon them. Don't think that you are more pious than they. Don't think that David's sin with Bathsheba was something you would never do. Don't think that you would have never killed the prophets. Don't act like if you were in the times of Christ you would have believed on Him while those wicked Pharisees crucified Him.
You have the same wicked heart that every other human being has. There is no one righteous, no not one. I have performed my fair share of abominable practices. It isn't by my merit or my good deeds that I am saved. It is quite the contrary. We must remember this above all else. If the attitude ever comes in that we are better than or more holy than another, it is only proof that we are still the wicked sinners and have not been fully converted. True conversion leads to a heart that claims, "I am the chief of all sinners." There have been many times that my wife and I have discussed how we question whether we are even Christians... There are times where we feel lower than others. This is a death that God has us pass through for sanctification. That does not, however, give us the authority to blaspheme or question God as though we have not the Holy Spirit as a seal and proof that God is righteous and judge.
But what shall we say of these verses? Truly all men are condemned before God apart from Christ. We have no hope. Our sin is a condition that cannot be cured. Just as the lepers would be lepers for their entire lives, we too are sinners for our whole existence apart from a miracle. There are some who believe that we will never truly be free from sin until we die. Others believe differently. I believe differently. I won't go into it here and now, seeing as we'll have plenty of time to discourse on this later in Romans. I'll warn you that I probably won't list arguments, but only give my opinion.
Back to the point I made about conversion. Paul even makes this statement in verse 5-11: But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.11 For God does not show favoritism.
This is the exact thing said in Ezekiel. It is said twice: he who is wicked and dies in his wickedness will suffer judgment, but if he turns from his wickedness and becomes righteous he will receive paradise; he who does righteousness and dies righteous will receive paradise, but he who turns from his righteousness to pursue wickedness will be judged. It isn't about whether you do right or you do wrong. All who are humble before God and He has circumcised their hearts (term from Jeremiah), they shall receive the reward of their righteousness. But the wicked will go away to everlasting punishment.
It also find it interesting that here again Paul says, "to the Jew first..." This can be translated as to the religious first, and then to the secular. Or it can be translated as we read it - to the Jew first. Paul later tells us who are Israel. He mentions that anyone who is in Christ has been grafted in. So this isn't simply to the Jewish people, but to anyone who is under that Head. Anyone who calls upon the one true God - the Jews currently in their unbelief, Church in its belief - is a part of this indictment. It is in this way that I see both of these interpretations to be true. It is to those who claim to see because of their religion first, because they are the Jews (whether by birth or by faith).
It is for this reason that Paul then discourses by what means are we claimed righteous or wicked? Those people who ask the question, "Will the pygmies in Australia go to Hell because they didn't know Jesus?" are given the answer right here in the following verses: 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
Why is it that Paul is able to say this? They didn't receive the Law. They don't know what the Law states. How are they supposed to live according to the Law?
It all goes back to Romans chapter 1 that God is clearly seen and His righteousness is clearly observable in the natural world around us. We can observe that the animals do not treat one another maliciously. They do not murder for revenge. They do not seek to be honored above all. They do not perform mass genocide. They do not practice homosexuality (anyone who thinks they do are severely miseducated - it is a dominance thing). There is an order of authority in the pack that the others submit to. Anyone who is able to view this is able to at least view these laws. If the animals submit to authority, then how much more should we? And how much more should we submit to the authority of God? It does require of us to seek Him in truth to know His will and desires, but do we serve a God who would not answer that honest prayer?
Thus we conclude this blog post. In the next post, we'll get more specific into what the religious leaders (which even the Church as a whole is supposed to be this to the world) are to live according to.
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