Sharper Iron — The Righteousness of God for You: God’s Righteous Judgment

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Rev. Gaven Mize, pastor at Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Romans 2:1-11.

St. Paul’s “they” of Romans 1 becomes “you” in Romans 2. Those who have heard the proclamation of God’s wrath against the unrighteousness of man are left with no excuse. To pass judgment on “them” is to recognize the justice of judgment upon oneself. Comparison to another sinner will not justify anyone, nor will a presumption on the kindness and patience of God. God intends His kindness to lead us to repentance and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. If we misuse Christ as scapegoat as an excuse to keep sinning, we only store up God’s wrath. His judgment comes to us, not based on the judgments we have made of others, but based upon our own works as they stack up next to His standard of the Law. That is why eternal life will only come to those who have Christ through faith in the things of God; those who have sought only the things of man only have God’s wrath and fury. That is equally true for Jew and Gentile alike. God has no partiality, but seeks after all sinners in His Son.

“The Righteousness of God for You” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. Human righteousness cannot save, because all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Only the righteousness of God can bring life and forgiveness to sinners. This is the righteousness that He has fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the righteousness that is revealed in the Gospel, the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. This is the righteousness that is not earned, but is freely given by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Romans 2:1-11

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking[a] and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.

Footnotes:

Romans 2:8 Or contentious

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.