In this episode, I walk through Romans 2:6-11. This passage is going to explain that God judges humanity by the works they commit while here on earth. Paul is going to show the difference between good works and evil works. The key to this passage of Scripture is to understand that God shows no partiality. God is a righteous judge that judges humanity according to their works. A key idea to note is that Paul is not saying that salvation is through works but rather that God judges based on works. We must remember that Paul’s central teaching is that we are not good enough or strong enough to save ourselves. We will never do enough good things to enter Heaven. It is only through Jesus that one can enter the presence of God.

“He will render to each one according to his works:” verse 6

Verse 6 is going to introduce the principal that God judges based on what each person does. The key here is to see that God is just and perfect in what He renders. There is nothing that He gets wrong in His judgement!

“To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;” Verse 7

God will grant eternal life to anyone who truly deserves eternal life. The qualifications for this judgement are those who are without sin and selfishness. Anyone who meets this qualification can access God without any help. This verse is not saying it is possible to do this but rather that God would grant eternal life to anyone who is good enough if they existed which they don’t. The key here is seeing God as righteous and perfect in His judgement. If a perfect person existed, God would, by His perfection, deem him righteous and blameless.

“But for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”

Verse 8

As Paul has taught throughout all of his teachings, all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. There is no one that is perfect not even one. The point of this verse is to show that God is just and righteous in judging us according to our sin. As God would grant eternal life to the sinless, God also judges humanity based on their sin. God is consistent with judging based on His perfect standard. Anyone that falls short is condemned because of their sin.

“There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.” Verse 9-11

Paul summarizes the previous verses by essentially showing that God shows no partiality; God judges each person as they deserve. The sinless are granted eternal life while the sinful are condemned. Paul is not saying this to leave the reader hopeless but rather to show God as a perfect judge who does not judge partially. God is perfect in His judgement.

I think it is vital to explain that Paul is not saying that humanity cannot be restored to a right relationship with God. Paul is saying that outside of God’s grace we are all condemned because of the sin we have committed against God. This text exists to show that God is a perfect judge. Our response to a text like this is to praise God that we are not left hopeless in our state of guilt but that God has made a way for humanity to be restored to a right relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.

In summary, Romans 2:6-11 shows us that God shows no partiality and He judges each according to their works. This is another example of Paul laying the foundation to introduce grace. Paul must first show the readers that God is just to find us to blame for our sin and that without grace we are left rightly condemned. As we continue in Romans 2, we will see what Paul says about righteousness and the human heart.