Romans 2:1-16

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Take a moment to read Romans 2:1-16 before reading the devotional below.

Yesterday we landed on the idea that it is not our place to judge the sin of others, but rather to look inward at our own sin. Paul builds on that idea as he continues his letter, saying rather boldly in verse 1: “When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.” Why would we accept God’s grace for our own sin while not extending that same grace to others? 

Paul then sets up a major point that he will deconstruct as we continue in the coming chapters. He has established that none of us are exempt from the clutches of sin, and here he is reminding us that if you want to live by a performance-based system you are going to be in pretty big trouble. God destroys the wicked. All of us are wicked. This is where we should begin to realize that there is no way we can save ourselves. The Jewish people were given God’s law, so they know what to do and ought to be doing the right thing. The Gentiles did not receive that law, but we all have a conscience. You don’t need to read the Old Testament to know when you are doing the wrong thing.

Here’s your freedom for today: you can give up trying to save yourself or the world. God is going to judge the world, through Jesus, peering into everyone’s secret life. What immediately pops into your mind when you hear that word: secret? The thoughts you’ve had, the things you’ve done that you plan to go to your grave with. It all gets unearthed. Perhaps by now the term “good news” is making more sense. Paul’s letter doesn’t end here, and that’s great news. We’ll see where he goes next, but for now, just know that any attempt to save yourself by being “good enough” will not work. You are off the savior-hook and the judge-the-world hook. Let God be God and we’ll find out soon just what that means for how to live your life.