One of the most difficult persons to share the wonderful news of the gospel is the moralist. The person who does not go out and do the gross sins. They are the ones our society dubs as good, decent folk. They may even go to church regularly and be active in a choir or Sunday school class, but they are not saved. They may even know about Jesus Christ and His death on the cross, but they are banking on their performance and their position as a church member or their understanding about Christianity to get them to heaven. You talk to them about the commandments of Scripture and they are quick to point out the town drunks, the swindlers, the big time executive who gets around the law and the hypocrite. Yet, they never see themselves as God see them–guilty and condemned to judgment. A man who does not admit that he is sick will never go to the doctor for help. The moralist or the religious man can see the sickness in other’s, but cannot or will not admit that he is sick.

The sad part about this subject is that every church has these kinds of people. So as we go through Romans 2:1-11 don’t look around saying, "Yeah, you’re right, the moralist is a do-gooder but not saved." Instead, examine your own life and heart to see if Paul is talking about you and not someone else.

The Judgment of God Is According to the Truth—Romans 2:1-5

"Therefore you are without excuse, every man of you who passes judgment, for in that you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. And do you suppose this O man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God."

We must remember that the theme of this letter is found in Romans 1:16-17: the righteousness of God which is imputed to us by faith. Yet, before man will seek this righteousness he must be convinced that he is unrighteous and condemned under the wrath of God. Therefore, in Romans 1:18-3:20 Paul begins a detail discussion about the total depravity of man. Like a skilled lawyer Paul builds his case. In chapter one verses 18-32 he masterfully lays down the proof that the Gentile or the heathen is without excuse: because the nature around him declares the attributes of God and he suppresses this truth in ungodly and unrighteous acts. No one, no matter where he is or how little he knows, will be able to stand before God and say, "I did not know." Paul says that nature which God has created will stand up and condemn that man. He is guilty and without excuse.

Now in Romans 2, Paul turns to the moralist. In Romans 2:17 he will turn specifically to his Jewish brethren. The Jewish man who assented to the moral laws of the Old Testament naturally applauds Paul as he expounds upon the guilt and condemnation of the Gentiles. But now Paul turns the tables and begins to build his case against the Jew and the moralist. Paul uses the old Stoic diatribe style of writing where he puts objections into the mouth of an imaginary critic and then answers him. Paul probably learned this method from the arguments in the market place. He knew the objections and thinking of the people as they would listen to his doctrine, so he anticipates them and writes the answer.

The particle "therefore" in verse one draws an inference from Romans 1:32, "and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." This verse not only applies to the Gentiles, it would apply with a greater degree to the moralist because he had the written revelation besides the revelation in nature. Paul is saying to the moralist, "You have pointed your finger and judged these Gentiles guilty and you are right." Paul does not chide them for this. He condemns them because they too have broken the law and are under condemnation. In other words, the standard by which the moralist judged the Gentile is the same standard that they break, so they are without excuse and stand under the judgment of God. This parallels Romans 1:18 and 20. The Gentiles "suppress the truth in unrighteousness," but the moralist, like the Jew who knows the standard of the truth, breaks it. In Romans 1:20 the Gentiles are without excuse because they reject the truth of God in nature, while the moralist breaks the truth of God in Scripture by not living up to its standards. Therefore, Paul declares the moralist without excuse.

Notice in Romans 1:21-23 how Paul shows that they broke God’s standard: "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures." I can hear the imaginary critic say, "Yes, Paul, but we don’t break God’s Law with the same degree as the Gentiles." This is true, but the moralist still breaks the standard. It is the breaking of the standard that is the issue more than the degree of breaking the standard. Today’s moralist still tries to use the same argument to justify his position.

Paul gives three principles which God uses to judge men in Romans 2:1-16. The first principle is found in verses 2-5. The judgment of God is always according to truth. What does Paul mean "by truth"? James Stifler, in his commentary says it this way, "When gold is assayed, the test considers only the metal that is under it; it does not ask whence it came, whose it is, but what it is. God’s judgment proceeds on just what the man or the deed before him is in itself, apart from birth or race or religious connection." The Epistle to the Romans, p. 29.) God judges according to facts justly discerned and not in partiality for He does not take into consideration man’s position. Paul says, "for there is no partiality with God" (verse 11).

This is not always true in our courts today. Sometimes the facts are not presented or they are masterfully twisted to acquit a person from an act of which he is guilty. Even if he is guilty of the crime, he might escape. He may escape because the offense was never found out. Or, he may escape from the bounds of the legal jurisdiction under which the crime was committed. Further, the case may be thrown out because of a breakdown in the legal system. Finally, even if he is declared guilty, he may escape the detention center and live out his life as a fugitive. Yet, there are no such possibilities in God’s law court. God knows all the facts and his judgment will be just. No one will escape His justice (Romans 2:2). The preceding statements needed to be said because the moralist in Romans 2 may think that his chosen position may bring some privileges before God’s judgment bench. So Paul states two rhetorical questions in verses 3-4.

In verse 3 Paul denounces the thinking of the moralist or the Jew who may rest on his position before God. The Jewish people of Paul’s day prided themselves with the privilege of being God’s chosen people. They often believed that if you are a Jew you automatically make it to heaven. Paul blasts this misconception in verse 3: "And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. And do you suppose this O man, when you pass judgment upon those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?" This is a rhetorical question, but Paul wants us to answer it with a resounding, NO. They will not escape God’s judgment just because they are moral or Jewish.

In verse 4 Paul hits the contemptuous action of man. Paul says, "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" Not only has the moralist presumed upon his position, he has willfully rejected the goodness, forbearance and patience of God. Notice what Luke 6:35 says, "But love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men." Every good thing anyone receives comes ultimately from the Lord. The air you breath, the shelter you have, the job, the family and the friends. Yet, even when men are not grateful, but do evil instead, God’s goodness is extended. God is forbearing toward sinners and He is patient for He delays punishment even after long periods of provocation by rebellious man.

God should have zapped us with a thunderbolt of His wrath the first time we sinned. That is what we deserve. But He will not. Why didn’t He execute His judgment on us? Because He uses His goodness, forbearance and patience to lead men toward repentance for salvation. Repentance is a change of mind about Christ and our sins and making a u-turn in life. You turn from your sins and you embrace Christ and His salvation.

My friend, do not think that because God does not immediately reveal His wrath on you that you will escape His wrath. If you think your moral life and your good works are the means by which you have escaped God’s wrath, you will be horribly mistaken. Romans 2:5 says that your stubborn and unrepentant heart in spurning the goodness of God’s promises in His Word concerning salvation causes the storing up of God’s wrath until the future day of His coming when He judges.