There is so much to learn! Where to start!?
Even though we've been through all of Paul's epistles we decided to dig deeper and then go to Acts. We're going through Romans and are wondering what your thoughts are about chapter 2, verses 6-10? We see it as Paul setting up a case for leveling the playing field between the Jews and Gentiles. Those particulars verses, however, sound like salvation is based on works. We would appreciate your input.
Romans 2
Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Yes, there is plenty to learn when it comes to the word of God rightly divided! It will come slowly, but you will grow as long as you are patient and let the Lord teach you thru those who know this truth.
Even so, as you learn the sound doctrine as given to our apostle Paul, you will be able to handle the "Sword of the Spirit" valiantly!
2 Timothy 2:2, 7
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Consider what I [Paul] say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Now, on to your question about Romans 2...
The entire book of Romans has for its theme: God is just to condemn both Gentile and Jew in his wrath for rejecting him and his word, but also, because he is very gracious, he extends mercy to those who will accepted it today thru the crosswork and shed blood of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!
The book breaks down this way:
Chapter 1—God is just to condemn the immoral, heathen Gentiles/Nations.
Chapter 2—(verses 1-16) God is just to condemn the "moral" Gentile; i.e., the one who does not have God's written word, but who listens to their conscience that has the "work of the law" (condemnation) written on it, and thinks that their good, charitable works are good enough to please God, and that they are better than those that don't do those same "good works" (Think "Oprah," trying to be spiritual but, without the God of the bible).
Chapter 2—(verses 17-29) God is just to condemn, those who actually have his written Word...the religious Jew.
Chapter 3—God offers salvation full and free today to both Jew and Gentile in Christ.
Chapter 4—That salvation is by God's grace thru our faith plus NOTHING...no works!
Chapter 5—Our salvation is eternally secure thru the second Adam--the Lord Jesus Christ--just like we were eternally condemned in the first Adam.
Chapter 6—We are dead to sin thru our spiritual baptism/identification with Christ.
Chapter 7—We are dead to the Law thru our spiritual baptism/identification with Christ.
Chapter 8—The ministry of God the Holy Ghost is introduced, and we operate, not by the principle of keeping the Law, but by being led of the Spirit; i.e., following the word of his GRACE given to us by Paul.
Chapter 9—Paul explains the Nation of Israel's past.
Chapter 10—Paul explains Israel's present state.
Chapter 11—Paul explains Israel's future.
Chapter 12—Paul exhorts the individual members of the Body of Christ to renew their minds and walk in love towards each other—using everything they have to bless one another.
Chapter 13—Paul teaches us to live quiet and peaceable lives towards those that are without (the lost), especially submitting ourselves to governmental/civil authority (within the will of God).
Chapter 14—Paul teaches us how to handle the small differences that come up with the freedom that we have under Grace; especially, when it comes to food/drink/observing days/etc. Paul says that in Grace, we have complete freedom within the Will of God and no one else can determine what is right or wrong for us to do but ourselves. We need to be "fully persuaded in our own mind," and not judge/condemn our brethren for what Paul calls "doubtful disputations" (i.e., things that are not CLEARLY spelled out in the Word or are not large doctrinal things.)
Chapter 15—Paul explains that the Lord Jesus Christ's earthly ministry was to the Nation of Israel, but that the Lord sent Paul to be his minister to us Gentiles.
Chapter 16—Paul's closing remarks/conclusion: avoid those who cause division by teaching doctrines contrary to Paul and that God will establish a man thru Paul's gospel (gospel of the GRACE of God, that Christ died for our sins...Acts 20:24, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)...and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the Mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest thru Paul. He also acknowledges those faithful saints who helped him minister.
So in Romans 2, Paul is telling us what the bible has already made clear in the Law; that is, that God, in his infinite holiness and justice, will give both glory/honour/immortality and eternal life to ANYBODY that has perfect righteousness (meaning, who has NEVER sinned against Him)!
Romans 2:6-10
Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good [continually], to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
He has also promised to all that have sinned against him his indignation and wrath! He will pour upon that soul his fury and it will be in eternal tribulation and anguish!
But any one, whether Jew or Gentile who can "worketh" ("eth" on the end of a word means continually/forever) good, without ever sinning once, will be just like him, and share his glory/honour/peace! Unfortunately…
Romans 3:10, 12
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
But if there was, according to these verses, he would give that man/woman eternal life!
What the bible makes clear is that there is not a righteous man/woman upon the earth—no one who has patiently continued to do well thru out their entire life! What we see in mankind, because of sin, is that man is contentious toward God, we do not obey his truth, but we by nature obey UNrigtheousness. Therefore we ALL deserve the wrath of God!
Romans 2:8
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
So in Romans 2:6-10, Paul is not teaching works-based salvation, but he is teaching works-based eternal life, because if a person never sinned against God, then they would have no need to be saved from his wrath!
God will give his eternal life if, and only if, a person never sins against him from their mother's womb and for the rest of their life! But we know that all have sinned, so God cannot give his eternal life to any human being! None of us can ever earn that eternal life based on our "good works!" Therefore, all we deserve is his wrath; and, therefore we need a Saviour! (Enter, “the Lord Jesus Christ!”)
By chapter 3 we see that ALL have sinned (both Jew and Gentile) and come short of the glory of God (i.e., his perfection). Therefore we all deserve to be cast away from his glory for all eternity in the Lake of Fire!
To summarize, we see in these verses that that "moral" gentile looks down on others who don't do the same so-called "good works" that he/she does, yet God knows that that "moral" gentile does the same sins in secret that the immoral one does out in the open. And one day, at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20), those gentiles who died without being covered by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ will stand before God and give account for every sin!
Revelation 20:11-15
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Hopefully this
helps...Maranatha!
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