PODCAST
God’s Judgment
September 27th, 2013
Romans 2:1-11
One of my theology professors objected to the words of a hymn, “If I walk in the pathway of duty, if I work till the close of the day, I shall see the great King in his beauty,” because it made salvation seem to be all of our striving and nothing of Christ’s suffering. Is not Paul saying the same thing here?
Paul is quoting from Psalm 62:12 and Proverbs 24:12, where God’s reward to persons according to what they have done brings assurance and rest to those who have lived righteously.
In the first part of his letter, Paul had spoken to the Romans about pagans who had not heard the Word. They were “without excuse” because God had revealed himself plainly through creation. In chapter 2, though, Paul is speaking to believers about not passing judgment upon pagans. The believers were not above their own “stubborn” and “unrepentant” hearts. Yet God had remained kind to them.
God’s grace to us demands grace from us. We retain the grace so freely given us in Christ by freely demonstrating grace to others. On that basis, God will judge.
Author: Floyd T. Cunningham
