Romans 1:1
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus
The word Paul used was “doulos” meaning slave or bond-servant.
δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ
“Slave of Jesus Christ”
That heart to be Jesus’ bond-servant is incredibly evident in the first chapter with Paul sharing his love for the Roman people, saying that he's not ashamed of the gospel and in explaining the heart of God
in giving us free will to do what we want to do
even if that means we choose the very things that destroy us. It takes a humble and Godly leader to choose a posture of indentured servitude.
Condemning Hypocrisy
Romans 2:1
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.
He’s calling them out for their hypocrisy in judging people for doing things that THEY THEMSELVES do!
Romans 2:2
we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.
The Jews in the Roman church had a massive superiority complex. They thought that because they were the chosen race, that God looked more fondly on them than the rest of the world and their sin didn’t count like other’s sin.
Romans 2:3
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?
We shouldn't be hypocritical. We need to NOT be those people that are judging others for things that we ourselves openly do. But, that’s not really the core of what Paul is getting at here. Romans is MORE about unraveling the mysteries of God than it is about practical steps we need to take… it’s both, but the focus is God.
Romans 2:11
God does not show favoritism
It’s not about whether you are a Christian or you are lost… only God can judge us because we are all imperfect.
Stop Looking Down on People for their Sin
We need to stop looking down on people for their sin and start yearning for those people to find the same freedom that we have.
Romans 2:6-8
6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 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.
It can LOOK like Paul is saying that we earn our salvation through, "persistence in doing good”
if we “seek glory, honor and immortality.” …Paul STRONGLY refutes that idea later in this letter.
We know that salvation only comes from Jesus’s sacrifice:
Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood
When you say “yes” to Jesus, God is looking at your heart, and that “yes” is not as simple as saying it verbally, it’s a full heart change where you realize your brokenness, you realize that Jesus is the only way forward and you choose to let the Holy Spirit come into your heart
and comepletely clean house. You commit to: “by persistence in doing good”… “seek glory, honor and immortality.” So a part of salvation is having the posture in your heart to commit to living in a way that is HOLY.
God judges everyone equally for their holiness.
God judges everyone equally for their sin.
The only thing that makes Christians different from Non-Christians, is that our judgement is already paid for, but it’s the same judgement.
Romans 2:21-23
21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?
You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?
When we as Christians today look down on the world, we forget that we’re just as messed up.
Romans 2:1
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.
So stop looking at the world like it’s an Us VS Them thing! Because even people who don’t know much about God still have it engrained inside of them that they need to live Holy lives:
Romans 2:15
They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness
We shouldn’t judge those people! We shouldn’t look at them like they are the enemy. We should want to see them saved and set free with the same blood of Jesus that we also don't deserve.
