Romans 2
Inexcusable judgementalism:
1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
The Doctrine of Hypocrisy: “Certainly the Jews would applaud Paul’s condemnation of the Gentiles in Rom 1:18-32. In fact, Jewish national and religious pride encouraged them to despise the “Gentile dogs” and have nothing to do with them. Paul used this judgmental attitude to prove the guilt of the Jews; for the very things they condemned in the Gentiles, they themselves were practicing! They thought that they were free from judgment because they were God’s chosen people. But Paul affirmed that God’s election of the Jews made their responsibility and accountability even greater.” (The Bible Exposition Commentary)
Hypocrites are usually the ones that judge the most (thou judgest another). Hypocrisy is defined here, to some degree: ‘thou that judgest doest the same things’. Hypocrites are self-righteous and self-deluded; they think they are going to ‘escape the judgment of God’ for doing the same things which they condemn others of doing.
Impenitent hearts:
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
The Doctrine of Judgment: They understand that God is longsuffering and wanting them to repent, but they don’t seem to care about it. Their heart has grown hard and it just won’t repent any longer (seemingly). These (and all the lost) are treasuring up judgement, punishment; while the saved are treasuring up rewards!!! The wicked will be judged on their evil works, the righteous on their good works. The righteous are focused on doing good, while these wicked are focused and ‘obedient’ to ‘unrighteousness’. “This proves that sins will be punished according to their accumulation. A man is rich according to his treasures. The wicked will be punished according to the number and aggravation of their sins.” (R. Haldane)
The types of people in this world are basically in two different groups: bent on wickedness vs. bent towards righteousness. Apparently, the Jews will be judged with more expected from them than the Gentiles (both the wicked and the righteous). But, for sure, you will be judged whether Jew or Gentile. It is possibly true that the Jew will be judged more intensely than the Gentile…for more was given to them and expected of them (to the Jew first). But, ‘there is no respect of persons with God’. The ‘day of wrath’ begins with the Tribulation, and ends with the Great White Throne Judgment. “The difference between indignation and wrath, says Ammonius, is that the former is of short duration, but the latter is a long continued remembrance of evil. The one is temporary, the other denotes continued expressions of hatred of evil.” (Barnes’ Notes)
A law unto themselves:
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
The Doctrine of the Law: Those that have not ever heard or read the Law (the Bible) will perish in Hell unless they get saved. Does this seem unfair? They actually, though, do have the Law; the law is written in their hearts by the Holy Spirit through what they see in creation and it’s creatures; He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement; they are without excuse (Ro 1). The Gentiles ‘by nature’ have the law (written in their hearts).
“Without law” – That is, they shall not be judged by a law which they have not. They shall not be tried and condemned by the revelation which the Jews had. They shall be condemned only according to the knowledge and the Law which they actually possess. This is the equitable rule on which God will judge the world. According to this, it is not to be apprehended that they will suffer as much as those who have the revealed will of God;” (Barnes’ Notes)
Surely, then, those that have heard the Law will be judged by it (all the more)(Jews specifically here; but nowadays the “Christian nations”). If you say you are a Christian but don’t do the things that the Bible says a Christian should do, then you probably are not a Christian (13).
Practice what you preach:
17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, 18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness; 20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? 22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? 23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
The Doctrine of Hypocrisy: The Jews, I suppose, thought that just by being people that ‘dealt with the Law of God’ they would then be justified before God. The Jews would boast of their being children of Jehovah. Just by their heritage they thought they would be spared judgement. Many Americans think that too, due to their being in a Christian nation. Many church goers think it also. Many Bible readers think it. Many folks that pray think it. But it is the doer of the law, not the hearer only that shall be justified! Even if you are a teacher of the Bible (or even a preacher, minister). There are so many hypocrites out there impersonating Christians. This oh so tarnishes true Christianity. Practice what you preach… what you hear….what you say you believe! These Jews didn’t, and thus were not justified (saved). Orthodox Christianity’s leaders seem to have this attitude in the above passage: they are oh so holy appearing in their fancy robes and tunics; they walk around slowly and reverently; the speak with a stained-glass voice; but, they are a bigger sinner than those to whom they are ministering to.
“By your hypocrisy and crimes the pagan world is led to despise a religion which is observed to have no effect in purifying and restraining its professors; and of course the reproach will terminate on the Author of your religion-that is, the true God. They were scattered everywhere; everywhere they were corrupt and wicked; and everywhere they and their religion were despised.” (Barnes’ Notes)
“That the Jewish priesthood was exceedingly corrupt in the time of the apostle, and that they were so long before, is fully evident from the sacred writings and from Josephus. The high-priesthood was a matter of commerce, and was bought and sold like other commodities. Dr. Whitby well observes that of all these things mentioned by the apostle the Jewish doctors were notoriously guilty; and of most of them they were accused by our Lord:
1. They laid heavy burdens upon others, which they would not touch with their own fingers, Mt 23:3-4.
2. They made the house of God into a den of thieves, Matt 21:13; John 2:16.
3. They were guilty of adultery by unjust divorces, Matt 19:9.
4. Their polygamy was scandalous: even their rabbis, when they came to any place, would exclaim, “Who will be my wife for a day?”” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary)
Circumcision of the heart:
25 For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
The Jews made circumcision to be more than just a symbol of salvation; it became the means of salvation. Just like baptism today. If the uncircumcised (Gentiles) obey what the Law, then they are God’s people (their uncircumcision will be counted for circumcision).
“The circumcision which is according to the letter is the cutting off of the foreskin, but the circumcision of the Spirit is the circumcision of the heart, that is to say, the spiritual result of the ceremony is true holiness and righteousness, by which the people of God are known from profane and heathen men.” (Geneva Notes)
Salvation is all accomplished in one’s heart, not by external things like baptism, going to church, giving money, not doing certain ‘mortal sins’, etc.. And, even further, you can keep every letter of the Bible externally, but if there has not been a change internally then you are hopelessly lost.