QT 10/21/2024 Rom 2:1-5, We are all without excuse (moral and immoral persons)

Romans 2:1–5 (ESV) —

1 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. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 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? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

 

NOTE: In the preceding chapter, God says that all men are without excuse (on the basis of creation alone). Additionally as Paul continues, one only has to look at the descent of man to realize that something is wrong. Men do not get better morally over time, but only become more evil. Chapter 2 continues the theme but points out that even those who think they are righteous and not evil (possibly Jews looking at Gentiles) are just as bad, because they also sin in many of the same ways. As 2:1 says, the "moral" are also without excuse. Today, we might think of the "moral" as the do-gooders, the church-goers, the philanthropists, the non-profit volunteers -- the people who deep down somehow think their good works overshadow anything they have done wrong. Yet these people are gossipers; they pass judgment on the "sinners;" they are no better than those who sin outright and in the open. We have a problem. We are storing up wrath against ourselves. In Chapter 3, Paul will argue that we are all sinners and conclude that "no one does good, not even one."

 

We can say we have put our faith in Jesus, but I think if we are see ourselves as "good" people we really have missed the point. We are STILL sinners and the only difference is that we are saved by grace (meaning we did not deserve it). I think some of us believe that we deserved our salvation. We believe that Jesus saved us, but we also believe we deserved it. We need to repent of that message, and repeatedly admit to God that we are undeserving of salvation.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I think I was deserving of salvation?
2. Do I see myself as better than "sinners?"

 

PRAYER: Father, I … am … undeserving … of … your … love … and … salvation. Forgive me for thinking anything better of myself. You have certainly changed me and created in me a new creature, but I don't deserve it. I repent of my pride and confess my wrong thinking. I am so glad that you poured mercy and grace upon my life. And I don't know why. Other than you chose to love me.