Paul informs us that there is no room for boasting because salvation is a gift. We are justified by faith and not based on the works of the law. 

Paul tells his readers that we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory. The answer to our predicament is the propitiation of Jesus. The blood of Jesus is our answer. 

Paul explains in our passage why radical secular humanism is a bad idea. He lays out the universal nature of our sin and our dependence on God. No one is righteous before God and all are in need of mercy and grace. 

In our reading today Paul discusses the advantage of being a Jew. They were entrusted with Scripture and the covenants. In this section, Paul lays out the faithfulness of God to His promise in the face of our unfaithfulness to Him.

In our Psalm today David is going through a major trial. His son Absalom has rebelled and is marching on Jerusalem. At this time David cries out to God and with confidence can say, "into your hands I commit my spirit." 

Paul reproves a person that commands others to do things but then fails to live up to that teaching.  This commonly called practicing what you preach.  At the end of chapter 2, Paul comes to the conclusion that God wants our hearts. 

In our reading today Paul takes up the difficult topic of how some Gentiles seem to have obeyed God's law more than the Jews even though they do not have the law. How do we deal with this idea of the "Law written on their hearts?" In today's podcast, we take up this difficult passage. 

Paul's main point in our reading for today is that God is impartial. God judges all people groups the same. Paul is leading the reader of this book to the point that we know that we must have Jesus to be saved. 

Paul switches gears in Romans 2. In chapter 1 he had addressed the Gentiles and their idolatry. In chapter 2 he addresses Jews that used hypocritical judgment against the Gentiles. Once Paul is done with his overview of the human condition we realize that without Christ we are hopeless.

David has a near-death experience due to illness and God rescues him from his distress. David gives praise to God for His mercy and rescue. David also reminds us that in times of our hubris we can be humbled and reminded of our total dependence on God.