Romans – Chapter 2

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. Romans 2:1 – After making a long list of sins in chapter one such as murder, inventors of evil, and gossiping, Paul redirects the focus of his message to those listeners who saw themselves as “good” and looked down on the people who committed the sins of chapter one. These “good” individuals saw themselves as right with God due to their refusal to do such horrible sins as other people did, but Paul checks their heart by telling them a truth they likely didn’t want to hear. When they passed condemning judgement on those sinners around them, Paul tells them that they condemned themselves because they practice the same things. This isn’t meaning that they practiced the exact same sins, but that they practiced sin just like the people they were condemning. Christians must understand that in the Lord’s eyes all sin has an equal level of severity and punishment. Certainly our sinful actions can have different levels of impact on those around us, for if I murder someone it’s going to affect people more than if I worry about something. Yet in seeking to stand before a righteous God even just one sin, either murder or worry, is enough to cast us far from His throne. This was Paul’s message to these “holy” listeners. Their sin of condemning pushed them far from God just as the murderer’s sin did for them. In our life take time to remember the cost of sin was Jesus’ death on a cross. Whether it was the grandest sin you can think of or something simple a child would do, it equally sent Jesus to the cross. Let’s not cast judgement then on those in sin when we to have sinned just as they have. Instead introduce them to the Savior who forgives all types of sin. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3425

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. Romans 2:6-8 – God gives to us what we choose. At least when it comes to our life after we die is what we see being taught here. God is laying out the choice for us. Choose Him and His way of life and we find eternal life in Him. Choose to disregard the truth and go our own way to find wrath and fury. We must understand this isn’t a threat from God to mankind, but a casting out to us of life preserver. Our sinfulness has led us to the wrath and fury and God is offering a way out of the punishment and a new way to live. As we seek to share this message with others, or accept it for ourselves, we must understand God is being gracious to us by offering this life preserver. He’s under no obligation to do this for us but is because He chooses to and because He loves us. God’s desire here is not to condemn you, it’s to save you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1050

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Romans 2:4 – Why should I change my ways if I know God is loving and will forgive me? At the root, this is the questions being proposed with this verse. We have individuals who acknowledge God is kind, gracious, and patient towards them. They then rest on such attributes of God when it comes to the sin in their story. God is so kind to me, He doesn’t want me to change from doing things I enjoy. God is so patient, He’ll understand if I continue in this sin a little longer. Scripture isn’t disagreeing with the truth that God is kind, gracious, and patient with us in our sin, but scripture is reminding us why we have such things from the Lord in our story. This grace and kindness is in our lives from God to point us towards God. To point us towards a life change from following sin to following Jesus. Instead of God’s wrath destroying us the moment we sin, we have God’s grace, kindness, and patience in our story to guide us to repentance. If then you have seen in your story the patience of God towards your sinfulness and you have felt the kindness of God even when your actions shouldn’t have earned you kindness from God, know why you have been shown such patient and kindness. To lead you to repentance. God desires all people to be following Him and His ways. He’ll give grace upon grace to us, but His heart is still all people following Him, not sin. Since we all have tasted God’s kindness, grace, and patience, let’s all take a step towards a faithful pursuit of Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2411