In this episode, I walk through Romans 4:1-5. Paul is going to use the forefather of the Jewish people, Abraham, to show the importance of faith. Paul is going to show that Abraham was justified because of his faith not because of his good works. This passage will be interesting for us to understand how foundational faith is to both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

“What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.” Verses 1-2

This is a big deal for Paul to use Abraham as an example of faith because of his role and important to the Jewish religion. This goes to show that Paul believed that the Old Testament, Jewish God is the same God of the New Covenant. As a result of Paul’s belief that this is the same God, he moves with confidence to show Abraham as an example of faith. He shows that Abraham could not stand before God boasting of his own works for he was justified because of faith not works.

“For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’” Verse 3

If it wasn’t already a big deal for Paul to be using Abraham as an example, he goes a step farther by referencing Genesis 15:6 from the Old Testament. Paul is confidently making a case for faith by using Old Testament examples to add value to his present day claims. The Jews could not argue with the covenant that God made with Abraham. As Abraham was counted as righteous because of his belief, anyone who believes today will be counted as righteous before God.

“Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.” Verse 4

If our works justified us, salvation would not be a gift but rather a paycheck. For if we had works good enough, God would just be paying us what he owes us like a worker who has earned their wages. Paul is not implying that this is possible but just showing that salvation is not like a worker collecting his wages.

“And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,” Verse 5

We are not worker who are earning our wages, Paul shows that we are justified simply by believing in the One who justified the ungodly. This is the essence of the New Testament teachings about salvation. It is consistently taught that mankind is hopeless left to their own but God made a way for mankind to be restored to a right relationship with Him which is made available through faith in Jesus. The temptation for people in the Old Testament and New Testament is to try and earn our way to Heaven which Paul just showed is not possible. As Paul showed previously, humanity is totally separated from God because of sin but he has now shown that humanity is offered hope through Jesus which is to be received through faith.

In summary, Romans 4:1-5 shows the importance of faith by using Abraham as an example of faith. The key idea here is salvation is a gift that must be received through faith just as Abraham was justified because of his belief in God. As we continue our study through Romans, Paul will continue to use Abraham and David as examples of faith.

It’s time for the Saturday Special. In today’s Saturday Special, I walk through the causes of bitterness and the cures for bitterness. In today’s episode, I will be referring to an article published by Leon F Seltzer, PHD at Psychology Today to help show the costs of bitterness. I found his article incredibly insightful so I want to make sure I give credit to him. I will post the link to the article in the episode description.

With that being said, I want to start by defining bitterness.

Bitterness can be defined as a smoldering resentment towards something or someone that has hurt you. Bitterness is always pain not dealt with properly. In today’s episode, I want to look at the impact that bitterness can have on us and what we can do to combat bitterness.

Costs of Bitterness (8):

1. Prolonged mental and emotional pain

2. Leads to long-lasting anxiety and depression

3. Can lead to committing acts of violence

4. Prevents you from experiencing full joy of living presently

5. Create distrust in your relationships

6. Prevents you from creating new and healthy relationships

7. Cause you to psychically suffer (Insomnia, high blood pressure, back pain, headaches)

8. Blind you from seeing your involvement in the situation

Now that we understand the causes and costs of bitterness, let’s look at the cures for bitterness.

Cures for Bitterness:

The most widely accepted and believed cured for bitterness in both the Bible and the Psychology field is forgiveness. It seems that there is not getting around the fact that forgiveness is the most powerful force in freeing you from bitterness. I know that we all want a different answer that does not require forgiveness. It might seem impossible to forgive the person or situation that hurt you but it will make a profound difference in your life. Bitterness is a trap that keeps us from living free. While you sit their bitter, the person may be walking around with no idea that you are hurting or they have moved on entirely yet you stay imprisoned to that past situation. Now there are certainly situations that make forgiveness harder than others. For example, a family member abusing you or neglecting you is almost guaranteed to be harder to forgive than that coworker who said something mean about you behind your back. There is no doubt in my mind that there are levels to bitterness but I will stand by the fact that regardless of the degree of bitterness, all bitterness is a prison. My desire is to see you walk in freedom.

The common misconception about forgiveness is you have to trust someone again after you forgive them. This is not true. You forgiving someone does not mean you need them back in your life. It does not mean you recklessly enter back into a relationship or situation that hurt you. Forgiveness is letting go of the resentment and anger, choosing to not hold a grudge or bitterness towards the person, and choosing to move on. Forgiveness does not equal forgetting what happened. Forgivness is more about choosing to look at the sitatuion through a different light and choosing to no longer let the situation imprison you today.

The other misconception is that forgiveness is a one step process. This is crap. Forgiveness is a process that takes time and often takes multiple attempts to forgive the person. I found that James Messina has a great example of a four step process that you can use to help cure bitterness in your life.

1. Identify source of bitterness and what this person did to evoke your resentful feelings

2. Develop a new way of looking at your past, present, and future— including how resentment has negatively affected your life and how letting go can improve your life

3. Write a letter to the person, describing their offenses towards you, then forgive, and let go of them (don’t send letter)

4. If bitterness remains, repeat the process

Now this process seems simple because it is simple. Sometimes we want the most complicated blueprint possible to move forward when in all reality life’s most profound changes come from simple steps. Your pain is real, your past is real, and your frustration is understandable, but you must fight to move forward. Life is too precious and too short to let the past imprison you. You are too strong and too valuable to let past pain keep you from present flourishing. The bitterness may feel impossible to let go of but keep fighting to move forward. Use the tools I provided in this podcast to help you overcome the bitterness in your life. I value you and want to see you flourish in your life. The mountain looks impossible but if you are willing to take it one step at a time, you can reach the top. Fight to forgive and move forward today.

n this episode, I walk through Romans 3:27-31. Paul continues his thoughts from Romans 3:21-26 by explaining that both Jews and Gentiles are justified by faith alone. It was very common for people to question whether or not the Gentiles were included in this new covenant with God. Was justification through Jesus only available to the Jews?

“Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.” Verse 27

Paul is insistent that there is no grounds for humanity to boast in themselves for they cannot save themselves. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ can someone be justified. This is crucial idea that Paul will continue to expound on in Romans as well as his other letters. Why is our boasting excluded? It is because of the law of faith. It is faith that justifies just like Abraham was justified through faith before the Law was given.

“For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Verse 28.

We believe that a person is justified by faith alone not by their own doing. Paul is showing, once again, no one can obtain salvation outside of faith in Jesus. There is simply no one good enough to meet the perfect standards of the law. Paul is saying that we believe, hold true, that one is justified by faith alone.

“Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one— who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.” Verses 29-30

God justifies both the Jews and the Gentiles through faith in Jesus Christ. It is incredibly important to note how revolutionary this idea was in this time and place. For Christianity to say that the God of Abraham, Moses, and David is the God who not just justifies the Jewish people through faith but to go a step farther and say that all people are justified through faith. This was a really big deal. As Paul previously claimed that Jews and Gentiles were guilty for their sin, he now claims that both can be justified through faith.

“Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.” Verse 31

The law of faith does not overthrow the Law. The law of faith actually predates the law and serves as the foundation for which the Law was given. It has always been faith that justifies as seen in the story of Abraham in which Paul will explain more in depth in the chapters to come. Paul is trying to show the reader that faith is not in contradiction with the Old Covenant but rather that Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant and brought about the New Covenant which overs salvation to anyone who believes in Him.

In summary, Romans 3:27-31 is a powerful passage in which Paul shows that justification is for all who have faith through Jesus. It does not matter Jewish or Gentile, all are now justified through faith and faith alone. In the upcoming chapters, we will see Paul go more in depth to explain the law of faith and grace that comes through Jesus Christ.

In this episode, I walk through Romans 3:21-26. This passage is the turning point of Romans where Paul is going to introduce us to grace through Jesus Christ. These six verses will show how Jesus has taken the payment for our sin on the cross and through His death, He has made a way for everyone to have access to God the Father in Heaven.

“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” Verses 21-22a

The righteousness of God appearing or manifesting is speaking of Jesus coming down from Heaven living a perfect life, dying a horrible death, and rising from the dead on the third day. The Bible often speaks of the life, death, and resurrection as the grace or righteousness of God appearing. Salvation did not come from the Law but through Jesus which is exactly what the Law and the Prophets said would happen. Jesus was the subject of countless Old Testament prophesies which is what Paul is referring to here. In verse 22, Paul sums up the Christian faith well, “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe,” meaning anyone can find righteousness and salvation by having faith and believing in Jesus.

“For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” Verses 22b-24

Paul returns to the idea that all have sinned but this time he goes a few steps forward. The central idea of the phrase, “justified by his grace as a gift,” is that justification of sins and true righteousness cannot be earned or obtained through human effort. Paul is showing that it is only through the gift of God that one can be found righteous and justified. This gift of grace is a cornerstone teaching of the New Testament and one that Christians have fought over for years. In fact, this idea is one that Martin Luther fought for in the Protestant Reformation. This idea was part of his five solas: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone), Sola Fide (Faith Alone), Sola Gratia (Grace Alone), Solus Christus (Christ Alone), and Soli Deo Gloria (to the Glory of God Alone). The idea that is Martin Luther fought for is the same that the Apostle Paul lays out here which is that the justification of sins is only found through the grace of God that is received when a person places their faith in Christ and Christ alone. Paul shows that redemption is found only in Jesus.

“whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Verses 25-26

The term propitiation has a two part definition: (a) the atonement of Christ has satisfied the wrath of God, and (b) those who believe in Jesus find favor from God. The death of Jesus Christ is taught to be perfect sacrifice for humanity. Jesus is the only one who has been seen as perfect in the sight of God for He never sinned. This is why salvation and justification can only be found through Him. Paul goes on to show that God looked past former sins as He looked to the cross knowing that Jesus would pay the full payment for the sins of humanity. Paul pleads that God’s patience in looking past former sins was to show the righteousness of God through Jesus as He took the wrath of God upon Himself, and in doing so became the justifier of all those who would believe.

In summary, Romans 3:21-26 shows that the love and justice of God was satisfied through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This passage transitions the book of Romans from the first part which was mainly showing the wrath of God and the sins of humanity to the second part which shows that grace is found through faith in Jesus Christ. As we continue to study the book of Romans, we will see that both the Jews and the Gentiles had access to this free gift of grace.

In this episode, I walk through Romans 3:9-20. In this passage, Paul will cite several Old Testament passages to charge all with sin, both Jews and Gentiles. Romans 3:9-20 prepares the way for the second half of Romans 3 to claim that right standing only comes from God.

“What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,” Verse 9

This verse is adding onto Romans 3:1-2 where Paul shows how the Jews had an advantage since they had the oracles of God (Old Testament). Although the Jews had an advantage, Paul is showing that they are not better off. They received the oracles of God, the Law, yet never did anything with it. God showed them how to live upright lives yet they chose to ignore his commands and lived as they pleased. They had the advantage but they were not better off. The Jews had the law and sinned while the Gentiles sinned against their conscience making both groups guilty and worthy of judgement. All people have been charged with the sin they have committed.

“As it is written: ‘None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.’” Verses 10-12

These three verses are quoting Psalm 14:1-3. Paul’s purpose in quoting this passage is to show that humanity left to itself will never seek God. Although Paul is not saying that humanity can do no good, he is acknowledging, regardless of some of even the good they have done, they do not live to glorify God or to seek to know Him. These verses are not just charging humanity as a whole but also charging every single person with sin.

“‘Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.’ ‘The venom of asps is under their lips.’ ‘Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.’” Verses 13-14

These two verses quote three different passages. The first quote is a reference to Psalm 5:9 to show the deadly effects of sin coming from deceitful talk whether it be lying, slander, gossip, or any other sinful speech. The second quote is a reference to Psalm 140:3 to show the toxic effect of one’s speech. The third quote is a reference to Psalm 10:7 to show that this type of toxic speech is not occasional but constant. Paul references these three quotes to show how our speech has condemned. One commentary pointed out that Paul’s first quote in verse 13 to his last quote in verse 14 is a progression from the throat to the lips show that the sinful speech starts deep inside us that overflows outward showing a deep rooted sin issue.

“Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” Verses 15-17

These three verses are a reference to Isaiah 59:7-8 showing the results of human action. This specific passage goes to show that sin has led humanity to building a world full of destruction, misery, and war. Sin has hindered humanity from knowing God and therefore knowing peace. Paul is showing that humanity’s sin has left a blood trail that is undeniable. Not only has each individual sinned and our speech has condemned us, but the destruction that we have left on this planet goes to show the effects of sin.

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Verse 18

This verse is a reference to Psalm 36:1 showing that the root to sin is a lack of fear of God. Humanity does not fear the judgement and holiness of God so they continue to do evil and live in sin. The fact that people do not fear God shows why sin abounds in the lives of both the Jews and the Gentiles.

“Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” Verse 19-20

Romans 3:19-20 is the concluding thoughts of the first part of Paul’s letter to the Roman readers. The purpose of these two verses is to show that all are charged with sin. Paul shows that no one can find righteousness in the law because the law is meant to be a mirror that shows them their sin. God did not give them the law expecting they would be able to live perfectly under it but rather to show them their sin. God gave them the law as the first step in His redemption plan to show them their sin knowing that if they saw their sin they would see their need for a Savior.

In summary, Paul references the Old Testament to further charge both the Jews and Gentiles with sin. The references are split up to four categories: the sinful condition, the effects of sinful speech, the result of sinful actions, and the root of all sin. Paul then concludes this part of Romans with Romans 3:19-20 showing that all have sinned. This passage was the last section in the verse part of Romans. As we continue our study of Romans, Paul will introduction grace starting in the next few verses.

Episode 16: Romans 3:1-8

In this episode, I walk through Romans 3:1-8. This passage is going to discuss four main objections or challenges that Paul was receiving at the time. He is going to address these challenges through a series of questions. This passage will discuss four major topics: the Jewish advantage, God’s faithfulness, God’s righteousness, and just condemnation of cheap grace. This text is part of Paul’s plan to introduce grace to the Roman readers through showing them the bad news first.

“Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.” Verses 1-2

Paul very clearly acknowledges a major advantage the Jews possessed over the Gentiles. This advantage was the Law. God gave His covenant people, the Jews, the written Law for them to know the difference between right and wrong. The Gentiles had no written law to show them the difference between right and wrong. The Jews had access to the Law that would show them how they were to live, yet they still rebelled. These two verses acknowledge the clear advantage the Jews had in having the law.

“What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, ‘That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.’” Verses 3-4

One of the recurring teachings of both the Old Testament and the New Testament is God’s faithfulness despite man’s unfaithfulness. Paul is staying true to those teachings by hammering down on the faithfulness of God. Paul is explaining that God is faithful whether or not we keep our end of the bargain. The Jews had not kept their end of the bargain, yet Paul is showing that God remains faithful. He is faithful to do what He says He will do. There is nothing that would stop God from accomplishing His will. God is faithful to His people even when His people are not faithful to Him.

“But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteousness to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world?” Verses 5-6

These verses are essentially saying something along the lines of, “How is God’s wrath justified if He knew we would not be able to keep His commandments?” Paul is answering a line of questioning that stems from a misinterpretation of the Law. Some saw the Law as this unreasonable contract with God that destined humanity for destruction. Paul viewed the Law as the first step towards redemption. It showed the difference between right and wrong, which was an act of grace. It gave the Jews a clear target to shoot at. The law did not condemn humanity, humanity was condemned before the law. The law was an act of grace to show God’s people how to live righteous lives.

“But if through my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not do evil that good may come?— as some people slanderously charge us with saying. Their condemnation is just.” Verses 7-8

These verses are saying, “Since God’s light shines brighter because of our darkness, doesn’t it glorify God for us to keep sinning?” Paul was absolutely against this view. There were people that accused of Paul of teaching a cheap grace that essentially said those words. Paul calls this accusation slanderous and says that any thinking along those lines is worthy of condemnation. Paul will confront this accusation further in chapter 6 of Romans.

In summary, Paul was facing a variety of different challenges and objections to his teachings. He was being asked about the Jewish advantage, God’s faithfulness despite man’s sin, God’s righteous judgement, and a just condemnation of cheap grace. This is really the transition point in Romans where Paul will shift from discussing condemnation and judgement to grace and faith. As we continue studying the book of Romans, we will see Paul teach on the topic of grace, salvation, and eternal security.

In this episode, I walk through Romans 2:17-29. This passage of Romans is going to walk through the emptiness of religion that is only external and not rooted in a heart centered around God. Paul is going to show that you can say all the right things but the only thing that matters is if you have a pure heart and a life that shows that you believe what you believe. This passage hits heavy on the topic of empty religion. This is a longer passage but the truths are hopefully simple to grasp.

“But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approves what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For as it is written, ‘The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’” Verses 17-24

There is a phrase that we have all heard a million years, “Practice what you preach!” This is exactly what Paul is accusing the Jewish leaders of not doing. They are hypocrites who preach one way and live another. This is the kind of hypocrisy that has pushed people away from religion all together. This passage is incredibly clear to understand right? They said one thing and did the opposite. This is the danger of empty religion: Paul is showing that one can say the right things while walking in total disobedience. The sins of the religious pushed the Gentiles away from God; they saw the emptiness of their religion and wanted nothing to do with it.

“For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” Verses 25-29

Circumcision was required of Jewish men to enter into covenant with God. This was an outward symbol of a belonging to God. This outward symbol was meant to be just that: outward! The outward symbol is never meant to replace the inward commitment to follow God and worship Him as the Bible commands. In these several verses, Paul is explaining that just because some have the outward sign, it does not mean that they are inwardly following God. Paul is explaining that the true sign of a person who follows God is one who has centered their heart around God’s Word and lived lives for His glory. Paul is showing a person can be without the outward sign yet still be counted in as righteous because of their heart. It is the heart that shows your belonging. The uncircumcised who keeps God’s laws and lives for His glory would be counted as circumcised while the circumcised who did not keep God’s laws would be counted as uncircumcised. This was a heart issue.

In summary, Paul is explaining that a person can say and look right on the outside yet be empty on the inside. One can say all the right things while completely living in disobedience. The central takeaway from this passage is that God cares about the heart. It is our hearts that God judges and exposes. We cannot hide who we truly are from Him. A person may convince everyone that they are holy and blameless but God is the exposer of hearts and sees through the empty religion. As we continue to study Romans, we will see that God changes people from the inward first and then the outward. God transforms hearts because the heart shows who we truly are.

In this episode, I walk through Romans 2:12-16. This passage is going to look at how both Gentiles and Jews are judged. It was easy for both the Gentiles and Jews to come up with reasons for why they would not be judged by God. Paul’s intent of these verses is to show how both types of people, Gentiles and Jews, are judged by God. All of humanity is to be judged by God regardless of religion, creed, or heritage. This text shows that it didn’t matter if the reader was from Jewish decent or was a Gentile, they would still be judged.

“For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.” Verse 12

Paul is essentially saying that all will be judged regardless of the standards they held to. Although the Gentiles did not have the law, which was the written Old Testament, they still sinned knowing it was wrong. The Bible teaches that mankind is made in His image and has a deep since of knowing the difference between right and wrong. Even though the Gentiles did not have the written laws of the Old Testament, they knew the difference between right and wrong and still sinned. Thus the Gentiles would still be judged according to their sins. On the contrary, Jews who have lived under the law and sinned will be judged according to sinning against God by going against His commandments He gave to them in the Old Testament. It did not matter that they were of Jewish decent, they were still to be judged for their sins.

“For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.” Verse 13

Paul is establishing a truth that is restated through the New Testament which is that God is concerned with those who live out the truths of God rather than just hearing the truth. It really didn’t matter that the Jews heard the law if they did not live out the law in their lives. Paul is establishing that righteousness comes from submitting to God and living according to His standards for our lives rather than just hearing His standards.

“For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” Verses 14-16

These three verses are to explain why Gentiles are still judged by God on the day of judgement. Paul explains that they have a conscience, who despite sometimes has conflicting thoughts, showing them what is right and what is wrong. Their conscience has become for them a law that bounds them to right and wrong. According to the law written on their hearts, right and wrong, Gentiles will be judged.

In summary, Paul is telling the Roman readers that regardless of being gentile or Jewish, there will be judgement from God according to the sins that each person has committed. Once again, Paul is showing that all are sinful and deserving of God’s righteous judgement. This passage continues to layer on the foundation that Paul has been laying in Romans 1 and 2 which is to show the separation between God and man, and the judgement that is coming. Our response to this passage should be to see that God has instilled in all of us a sense of right and wrong and that ultimately He wants us to constantly do what is right. As we continue to study the book of Romans, Paul will show us how we can live rightly through the power of the Holy Spirit that comes to those who place their faith in Jesus Christ.

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.

In this episode, I talk about three practical ways to maximize the impact we have on those around us. This episode is not one of our daily reading segments. We get more personal and practical by diving deep into the things that help us grow our impact and influence.