ROMANS 2

 Paul said that man has no excuse to judge others because however he judges, he too can be judged. But God's judgment is always right. Do not think you will escape His judgment. 

Paul asked if they (the church at Rome) thought so little of God's kindness, sufferance, and patience, which leads man to repentance? But because of man's hard heart, he is storing up punishment in the day of God's wrath. 

God will reward those (who do right) with eternal life, seeking glory, honor, and immortality; but God will punish those who are self-seeking, disobey truth with indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish. Only those who do what is right will be justified, for the Jew first and also the Greek. 

There is no partiality with God.

The Gentiles, who sin without the law will perish without the law; they do things by nature and are a law unto themselves, though the law was written on their hearts. However, the Jews have the law, boast in God, know His will, are a guide to others, and have knowledge and truth in the law. But they are hypocrites! They steal, commit adultery, and commit adultery. They dishonor God by breaking His law and mislead the Gentiles. 

Circumcision, if the law is honored, is worthy; but is nothing if the law is broken. If an uncircumcised men keeps the law, is he not counted as circumcised? And can he judge the circumsized? It is as if he were a Jew on the inside because circumcision is of the heart -- in the spirit, not the law -- whose praise comes from God.

COMMENTARY

In this chapter, overall, Paul is not referring to salvation, but how God will judge men accordingly because of their sins. 

First of all, rejection of Jesus is immediate judgment from God. Paul told the Jews that they may be religious and have the law, or you may be Greek and be a "good person," but without Christ, all will be lost. 

Now, when man judges others, he is acting as judge. Paul said that when man judges, he is using his own  standards. But God says that He has the right to judge man by His standards. And God's standards are right. Therefore, judgment using God's standards without Christ will be dreadful. 

God is good and His goodness should humble us. The wicked will face God's wrath. 

God will also judge believers according to their works. First, believers will receive the gift of eternal life, but then the works they do as a believer will be judged. "Men are not saved by the light they have; they are judged by the light they have." And Jews will be held to a higher standard because they had an advantage over the Gentiles.

Circumcision was part of the Mosaic system like baptism of the church. It is an outward expression, but it is useless if a person does not demonstrate evidence of belief or salvation. 

If man were judged by his own standards...