Romans 2:7-16
by:
Dan Hill, PhD
Pastor, Southwood Bible Church
7655 South Sheridan Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74113
E-Mail: hill918@aol.com
Romans 2:7
To those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and
immortality, eternal life.
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Paul distinguishes between two kinds of people. Those who do good and those
who do evil. These distinctives separate the believer from the unbeliever
not by way of works but by way of obedience. The believer is seen as one
who has obeyed God and the unbeliever one who has not.
The believer of verse 7 is a seeker. One who sought and found the truth
and ideally continues in the same work.
To preserver in doing good looks at the tenacity of the believer.
PERSEVERANCE or ENDURANCE is a mechanic in the Christian life. It is the
daily result of faith that allows us to press on to the goal of the glory
of God. It means that we keep ourselves focused on what God has for us in
time as well as in eternity.
And it is in that atmosphere that we have the production of GOOD WORKS.
The word GOOD is AGATHOS, which immediately separates it from KALOS, the
relative good that man can do. This word looks at GOOD that is of intrinsic
value, incomparable, Divine good.
We must look at GOOD WORKS not according to our own standards but according
to God's:
John 6:28-29, Some of the 5000 feed by Jesus who followed Him to Capernaum:
They said therefore to Him, What shall we do, that we may work the works
of God? Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you
believe in Him whom He has sent.
I Thessalonians 1:3, We are constantly bearing in mind your work of faith
and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in
the presence of our God and Father.
The believers WORK towards God is a work of FAITH, and the believers WORK
towards man is a work of LOVE.
There is not merit in either one, both are non-meritorious. We have faith
IN God and we can Love one another only because Christ first loved us and
we love others as he loved us.
So then, what distinguishes the believer in his work: His faith towards
God and His love towards other believers.
Romans 2:8-10
But to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but
obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
[There will be] tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does
evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,
But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that does good, to the Jew first
and also to the Gentile.
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In contrast to the believer who seeds the things of God and is obedient
in faith here the unbeliever seeks things of self and does not obey the
truth.
The words SELFISHLY AMBITIOUS contrast directly with the SEEKING of the
things of God in the prior verse.
Their obedience to unrighteousness, wrath (anger) and indignation.
Unrighteousness refers to the unrighteous acts against others, the judging
of others.
Wrath or anger is what they build up in their bitterness
Indignation is the passion that overcomes them as they pursue to fulfill
their own agenda and ambitions.
The description is of a life that is totally lived for self. Once man begins
to judge others this is the end result. Very soon no one will be good enough
for them.
WHAT AWAITS THE LIFE LIVED FOR SELF?
Tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew
first and also of the Greek,
Topic: EVIL
The fact that Paul mentions Jews and Greeks shows us that there is no birthright
to the Jew. They have tribulation and distress waiting for them just like
the Greek.
Consider what a blow this was to the Jew who considered himself so much
better than the Gentile.
Romans 2:11
There is no partiality with God.
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The word PARTIALITY is a compound from to receive and to face. It was a
legal term used when a convicted man faced the court for judgment and justice
is blind.
Romans 2:12-14
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;
For not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the
Law will be justified.
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of
the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,
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Paul recognizes that even Gentiles, without the OT Law, establish moral
principles that parallel the Law and by these they are condemned.
This is expanded in the next verses:
Romans 2:15
In that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their
conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else
defending them,
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This paralleling of the OT Law does not look at the laws of worship or sacrifice
but at the moral code.
Man's conscience is seen as a debating forum in which there is guilt and
exoneration, accusing and defending according to some moral standard which
may touch upon the OT Law in some or many respects.
Romans 2:16
On the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of
men through Christ Jesus.
The phrase "on the day", reaches back to end of verse 13. The
justice and righteousness of God will determine the deeds of man. Were they
works of faith? Or were they works of evil?
So this looks ahead to the Great White Throne of God.
End Lesson 9
Grace Notes
Warren Doud
1705 Aggie Lane, Austin, Texas 78757
Phone: 512-458-8923
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