There is only one way to be justified and made right with God and that is by faith, by believing Him. It was by faith, by believing God, that Abraham was justified as it says in Romans 4:3 “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness”. Each of us will stand personally before the Lord as it says in Romans 2:16 “on the day when God judges the secret things of people, according to my gospel, through Christ Jesus” and it won’t be about what others did or what we might have done, but only about our individual character. Have we accepted Jesus Christ and turned our hearts to live with love, joy, peace as he demonstrated? Because on that day, God, in Romans 2:6–8 “will reward each one according to his works: 7 to those who, by perseverance in good work, seek glory and honor and immortality, eternal life, 8 but to those who act from selfish ambition and who disobey the truth, but who obey unrighteousness, wrath and anger”.
Glory and Honor and Peace to Everyone Who Does Good
Romans 2:1–16
There are those that believe their religious beliefs will justify them before God and these very people are often those that “pass judgment on someone else” in Romans 2:1. As it says though, in
Romans 2:11 “For there is no partiality with God”.
It also says in
Romans 2:2 “Now we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who do such things”.
There is absolute truth here, that every person will stand before the Lord and give an account of their actions so Paul asks in
Romans 2:3 But do you think this, O man who passes judgment on those who do such things, and who does the same things, that you will escape the judgment of God?
There is no hiding place from the righteous judgment of God. There is, however, forgiveness and a new heart to live by the spirit and to produce fruit for God’s kingdom that we can have a clear conscience when we stand before him in
Romans 2:16 “on the day when God judges the secret things of people, according to my gospel, through Christ Jesus”.
Circumcision is of the Heart, by the Spirit
Romans 2:17–29
We all believe that what we think is right and that our behavior is acceptable. We judge ourselves by ourselves. So also do these religious Jews that in Romans 2:17 “boast in God”. These also claim to, in Romans 2:18 “know his will and approve the things that are superior, because you are instructed by the law”. But there is an indictment against these Jews in the middle of these verses, in
Romans 2:24 For just as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Those who have the Law are to be the example of righteous and holy living for all the world to see so how is it that, in Romans 2:24 “by the transgression of the law you dishonor God!”. It is because they claim to have, in Romans 2:20 “the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth in the law” but they are not doing what is in the law. They need to teach themselves in Romans 2:21-22. It is not circumcision that makes you a Jew, it is the thoughts and intentions of the heart in
Romans 2:29 But the Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter, whose praise is not from people but from God.
Entrusted With the Oracles of God
Romans 3:1–8
The Fear of God is not Before Their Eyes
Romans 3:9–20
The Righteousness of God Through Faith in Jesus Christ
Abraham Believed God
Romans 4:1–12
Paul uses Abraham as an example to draw a line between justification with God by works and justification by faith. If Abraham, or I, do the work then I have something to boast about as in
Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
There isn’t any work that I can do to justify myself with God. He is the one that “justifies the ungodly” in Romans 4:5. My part is simply to believe as Abraham did in
Romans 4:3 For what does the scripture say? “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.”
Just as Abraham received righteousness by faith, before he was circumcised, so in
Romans 4:11 “And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness by faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he could be the father of all who believe although they are uncircumcised, so that righteousness could be credited to them”.
It Is by Faith, in Order That It May be According to Grace
Romans 4:13–25
Study Verses
- Romans 2:1–10 Glory and Honor and Peace to Everyone Who Does Good
- Romans 2:17–29 Circumcision is of the Heart, by the Spirit
- Romans 4:1–12 Abraham Believed God
Today’s Reading
- Romans 2:1-29
- Romans 3:1-31
- Romans 4:1-25