Gods Judgement and our only hope.

Romans 2:1-16

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ² Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

⁵ But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”^[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. ⁸ But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. ⁹ There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; ¹⁰ but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. ¹¹ For God does not show favoritism.

¹² All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. ¹³ For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. ¹⁴ (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵ They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) ¹⁶ This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

A few of the things about Gods Judgement.

1. God’s Judgment Is Impartial (vv. 1–5)

“You therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else…” (v. 1)

The problem: We judge others while doing the same kinds of things in our hearts.

The danger: God’s judgment is based on truth (v. 2), not appearances or self-comparisons.

The warning: Every time we judge but don’t repent ourselves, we store up wrath for the day of God’s righteous judgment (v. 5)

2. God’s Judgment Is According to Works (vv. 6–11) “God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.’” (v. 6)

Some principles of God’s judgment: For those who persevere in doing good, seek to glorify and honour God —there will be eternal life (v. 7).

Those who are self-seeking and reject the jesus or deny the need for him in their lives — there will be wrath and anger (v. 8).

God's judgement shows no favoritism (v. 11). Whether Jew or Gentile, religious or irreligious, we all stand before the same holy Judge.

3. God’s Judgment Is According to the Light We’ve Been Given (vv. 12–16) > “All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law…” (v. 12)

We’re all accountable because God has given us enough knowledge to know He exists, and we’ve all violated our own conscience at some point.

Repentance is getting to the point of exasperated state, frustration at our weakness, disappointment at our hopelessness, of not being able to live our lives for Jesus perfectly, without judgment… that’s the point, we can't, we have no hope, but we have our only hope, Jesus. Because at the cross, God’s justice and mercy met. For those who trust Christ, judgment day has already happened — in Him in Jesus.

If you are trusting in your morality, hanging onto the hope of being good enough to get into heaven — give it up, repent and trust in Christ alone.

If you are hiding behind religion, a life of quoting scripture and attending church but knowing in your heart it’s a facade —give it up, repent and trust in Christ alone.

If you are ignoring God’s patience and think you can wait till later to start following Jesus fully — give it up, repent and trust in Christ alone

Let us flee from self-righteousness, cling to His mercy, and live lives that show we truly belong to Him, no longer hoping in ourselves, but in Jesus, the new hope, our only hope.