ROMANS CHAPTER 2: GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS

Review of Romans 1
▪ Paul gives his introduction of the gospel in the first 17 verses.
▪ The last half of Romans 1 he starts his theological exposition of the book.
▪ He shows that the wrath of God is going to be poured out upon the wicked, specifically the
Gentiles.
▪ He lists some of the sins that the Gentiles were guilty of like idol worship, atheism,
homosexuality, fornication, covetousness, envy, murder, debate, deceit, disobedience to
parents, etc.
▪ Any Jew who would be reading the book of Romans would take comfort in knowing that
they were not guilty of committing those horrible sins Gentiles in Rome were committing.
▪ But then in Romans chapter 2 Paul brings the hammer down on the Jews by letting them
know that if they also break the law, they are on the same level as the Gentiles and therefore
will also receive the wrath of God.
Verse 1
Therefore, thou are inexcusable O man, whosoever thou art that judgeth; for where in thou judgest
thou condemnest thyself because thou that judgest doeth the same things.”
▪ After Paul shows that the wrath of God is going to be poured out on the wicked—those
who do not God is Creator, those who give up their bodies to live according to the lust of
the flesh, and several other sins, he then says:
▪ Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, if you’re committing the sins done by the Gentiles in
Romans 1 or you’re breaking God’s laws in other ways, it doesn’t matter because either
way breaking the law of God brings you into condemnation.
▪ If you judge those you consider yourself superior to for obvious sins but in your own life
commit sins in other ways, you’re condemning yourself.
▪ No one is excused or exonerated from the condemnation that comes as a result of breaking
God’s law, whether a Jew or a Gentile.

Verse 2
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such
things.
▪ Against the popular theology that states there is no judgment, this verse affirms that God
has a judgment work.
▪ God in His Infinite wisdom will definitely make the right judgment because He knows
everything—even the hidden man of the heart—He is Omniscient.
▪ God’s judgment is impartial i.e., “according to truth”
▪ Whether you’re a Gentile or a Jew, God’s judgment is impartial—it doesn’t matter which
tribe or race you belong.
Verse 3
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that
thou shalt escape the judgement of God?
▪ This text, just like verse 1, does not teach that we shouldn’t rebuke sine when we see it.
▪ Notice the emphasis—he “that judgest them which do such things AND DOEST THE
SAME—the focus is; if we are breaking God’s law, why should we feel comfortable
condemning another person like us who is breaking God’s law.
▪ No one will escape God’s judgment so long as he is breaking God’s law—sinning.

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 ▪ “You know what they’re doing is wrong, you’re judging them for it and you think just
because you are a Jew you will escape God’s judgment IF YOU ARE DOING THE SAME
THING that God is going to judge them for? The obvious answer is no.

Verse 4
Or despises thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that
the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.
▪ We see the concept of God’s grace.
▪ Right in the middle while talking abut the wrath of God being poured out on those who
break God’s law, Paul manages to bring in the concept of “the riches of the goodness and
forbearance of God.”
▪ Riches of God: What is it? ---Goodness, Forbearance and Longsuffering. These three
things three things together lead us to repentance.
▪ When we see God’s character which is full of riches—goodness, longsuffering and
forbearance—this leads us to repentance.
▪ We have sinned against God hence we need repentance.
▪ When we think of the fact that we are sinners deserving condemnation and God in His great
mercy sent Jesus to die for us, we can only vaguely begin to comprehend the riches of the
goodness of God.
▪ Paul contrasts these ideas in the next verse. We see the riches of the goodness of God in
verse 4 but in verse 5 we see the opposite.

Verse 5
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath
and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
▪ Who is Paul talking to here? The Jews; you discover this as you continue in this chapter.
▪ Before Stephen was stoned, he called the Jewish nation “stiff necked” which means
“stubborn, refusing guidance and correction.”
▪ Here Paul is saying “you have a hard heart—a heart of stone.”
▪ In Hebrews 3:8 he tells the Jews “Harden not your hearts” because your fathers in the
wilderness tempted and provoked God to anger despite His miracles for them 40 years.
Harden not your hearts as they did back then.
▪ You may think you’re a Seventh day Adventist. That doesn’t make you any better than
anyone else if you are out there breaking God’s law.
▪ When we have a “hard and impenitent heart” we are treasuring up to ourselves the “wrath
of God against the day of judgment.”
▪ So, there is a contrast—there is the riches of God which leads to repentance or there is
“hardness and impenitent heart” that leads to the wrath and judgment of God.

Verse 6
Who will render t every man according to his deeds.
▪ Every man—includes the Jews and the Gentiles.
▪ Render—a judge “renders” a verdict in a court, this is judgment language.
▪ Paul is laying the foundation to what righteousness by faith is all about.
▪ The judgment will be based upon every man’s deeds.
▪ Later on in verse 13 he says, “for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the
doers of the law shall be justified,” then in Romans 3:20 he says, “Therefore, by the deeds

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 of the law shall no flesh be justified.” So, Paul is not teaching working your way to heaven
(righteousness by works or legalism) but rather he saying that:
▪ By your own deeds (devoid of a heart change and indwelling Christ Romans 3:20) you are
not going to be justified but if you are not obedient you are not justified either Romans
2:6.
▪ Every man shall be judged according to his deeds.

Verse 7-9
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.
▪ The reward of for “patient continuance in well doing” is eternal life whereas if you “obey
not the truth, but obey unrighteousness,” you will receive the wrath of God, whether you
are a Jew or Gentile.
▪ “Patient Continuance”: Another reference to patience in reference to righteousness by faith
in the Bible are found in
-Rev. 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the Commandment
of God and have the faith of Jesus.”
-Hebrew 10 “you have need of patience that after you have done the will of God, you
might receive the promise.”
-Hebrews 12 “run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author
and the finisher of our faith.
▪ So, what is Paul’s biblical definition in Romans 2? It is “continuance in well doing;” to
continue to do what is right no matter what.
▪ That is not always easy but the question is, “how is that possible?” Now, Paul develops
that concept as the book of Romans goes on, however—It is righteousness by faith—being
justified by faith, being dead to sin—that is how we by patience will continue in well doing.
▪ Those who have patience and continue in well doing will receive glory, honour,
immortality, eternal life.
▪ This goes just after verse 6 where we are told God will render to every man according to
his deeds, it therefore means that God renders eternal life to those who according to their
deeds lived by doing good continually.
▪ Those who are “patient in well doing” will receive a reward in the judgment—eternal life.
And you say, “this sounds like we are working our way to salvation.” No. We are not.
▪ As we go through the book of Romans, what we are going to see is for this to happen, for
us to do right continually, we will have righteousness by faith—living a life of faith and
Christ’s obedience is produced in and through us but that obedience would be manifest in
the life of God’s people.
▪ The contrast is seen in the wicked—they are contentious, they do not obey the truth, they
are unrighteous. What they end up receiving is tribulation and anguish.
▪ So many times, the devil tries to deceive us into thinking that “it may be true that if you
live a righteous life you will go to heaven but it is so hard. It is easier doing it my way.”
But the truth is that, if you do it the devil’s way, what you are going to receive is tribulation
and anguish. By the way, it is a life of peace and rest to follow Jesus. So don’t listen to that
lie.

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Verse 9-10
In verse 9 we see that those who receive tribulation and anguish are those who do evil, either a
Jew or Gentile however, in verse 10, we see in contrast—glory, honour and peace to every man
that worketh good, the Jew first and also the Gentiles.

▪ At the beginning of the chapter the Jews gets levelled out. They think themselves better
than the Gentiles who are breaking God’s law, yet Paul comes back about half way through
the chapter and says that the good news is not for the Gentiles only but for the Jews also.

Verse 11
For there is no respect of persons with God.
▪ In the first 10 verses of chapter 2, Paul develops his argument so that he could get too verse
11 to prove his point. What is the point?
▪ The point that Paul is trying to make is that God does not have favourites—He is impartial
in His judgment.
▪ It doesn’t matter if you were born into a heathen home—there is no respect of persons with
God—if you break Gd’s law and you’re unrepentant, you will receive the wrath of God in
the judgement but if you are born into a family that know not God, and by patient
continuance you do right, and receive God’s grace—whether you are Jew or Gentile you
will receive God’s grace.
▪ God evaluates each case equitably and fairly because He doesn’t play favourites and this
is very encouraging to know when the judgment comes up.

Q. God will punish those sinners in the world, what about those in the Church (Jews)? What
about those who have the truth? Read Romans 2:1-11
▪ God does not respect persons (no partiality); He will punish Seventh-day Adventists who
hold the truth but practise sin. He will punish you even if you are world famous preacher,
who teach the correct process of salvation, can break down the prophecies in Daniel and
the book of Revelation but in your home life—you carry hatred, anger, bitterness,
resentment, impatience to your children or spouse, irritation, jealousy, and selfishness.
▪ God punishes all unrighteousness no matter the person who committed the sin, whether
Jew (Christians) or Gentiles (people in the world)—the same punishment

Verse 12
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law; and as many as haved
sinned in the law shall be judged by the law.
▪ Who are those who sinned without law? Gentile
▪ Who are those who sinned in the law? Jews
▪ The contrast is clear, Paul has been talking about Jews and Gentiles.
▪ What is common between these two groups? They sinned. They broke the law of God.
▪ Is sin imputed when there is no law? No.
▪ So, what is the main point of this verse? The law of God will judge anyone who sins—
whether they did not have the law (Gentiles) or they had the oracles of the law of God
(Jews)—God is no respecter of persons.

Verse 13
For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified

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 ▪ Before God who are the just? The doers of the law
▪ Who are those not just before God? Not doing the what the law demands (hearing but not
doing)
▪ Who shall be justified? The doers of the law shall be justified
▪ Connecting this verse with vs. 6 where it says God will “render to every man according to
his deeds,” and Romans 3:20 where they Bible teaches that, “Therefore, by the deeds of
the law shall no flesh be justified,” you have to put both verses together to gain the true
meaning.
▪ There is no contradiction between Romans 2:13 and Romans 3:20. The apparent
contradiction in the two verses is solved once you notice and understand the word that
starts Romans 3:20. That word is “therefore,” which means “based on the context of what
has been said in the first 19 verses no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the law.” This
refers to the deeds of those who have a degenerate heart, those who have not experienced
the New Covenant—all their deeds or attempt to keep the law brings no justification. We
shall dwell more on this as we study Romans chapter 3.
▪ However, those who according to verse 13 of Romans 2 keep the claims of the law of God,
by the help of Jesus living in them, are just before God. They shall be justified.
▪ You cannot say, “we know nobody is justified by the deeds of the law, so it doesn’t matter
what I do.” No. That is not true and we can tell because Paul just said in verse 13 that the
doers of the law shall be justified.
▪ But on the other hand, you cannot just say because the Bible says only “the doers of the
law shall be justified, we better start working our way to heaven.” That is not what Paul is
saying either. You have to put the two verses together, and as we continue to study it is
going to make more sense, why Paul would say both.
▪ Is it not fair that some people were born Jews and some were born Gentiles? Don’t the
Jews have a better chance to be saved?
▪ Looking at the history, how many Jews accepted Jesus as the Messiah? Few.
▪ And how many of the Gentiles accepted the message of the Apostles? Few also.
▪ So, that historical fact shows that God is no respecter of persons.
▪ In chapter 3 we are going to see that the Jews did have an advantage but the advantage was
to hold and use the truth of God and t share it with others—that advantage didn’t determine
whether or not they are saved. What determines that is choice.

In verse 14, Paul is going to point out the fact that, just because the Gentiles were born without a
knowledge of the law (so to speak), everybody has a conscience for good or evil. Therefore,
someone who is born but has never heard of God has a conscience through which God is telling
them that it is wrong to go and kill, steal, etc. That alone is a evidence that there is a Supernatural
Being outside of humanity. How can we have an internal mechanism telling us not to do evil when
our natural inclination is to do evil?

Verse 14
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these
not having the law, are a law unto themselves.
▪ Who are those who do not have the law? The Gentiles. There are people who have not the
law but hear God’s voice through the Holy Spirit speaking to them in their conscience, they
listen and obey. They do not break the law of God.

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Verse 15
Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and
their thoughts in the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.
▪ God speaks to the conscience through the Holy Spirit to those who have never even heard
of Him. He also does same for those who have heard of Him.
▪ This shows that God is no respecter of persons—whether we were born into a family that
has a knowledge of Him or not, He will speak to your conscience.

Verse 16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ by my Gospel
▪ There is a day when God shall judge men
▪ What will God judge? The secrets of men
▪ Who will judge? Jesus Christ
▪ From this point onwards, Paul makes a pitch to the Jews about the way they lived their
lives.
▪ He is trying again to show or prove to them that God is no respecter of persons.
▪ Some people say that what Paul is talking about from verse 16 onward is the ceremonial
law but if you pay careful attention to these verses (especially the ones that follow), you
will discover that it is more than that.

Q. What is the main point of Romans 2:14-16?

▪ The heathen who has not heard of Jesus Christ have a conscience through which the Holy
Spirit can work, it is possible they may be in heaven someday, if they obey the Holy Spirit
and do what is right as He prompts their conscience.

Verse 17-20
Behold, thou art a Jew and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God; And knowest His will,
and approves the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law. Band art confident
that thou art a guide to the blind, a light of them which are in darkness. An instructor of the foolish,
a teacher of babes, which have a form of knowledge and of the truth in the law?
▪ According to verse 7-20, who are the Jews or what are the privileges which the Jews had
or were supposed to appropriate?
▪ A Jew has the law or oracles of God
▪ A Jew boasts “we are wise and the law of the LORD is with us” (Jeremiah 8:8)
▪ A Jew knows the will of God
▪ A Jew is instructed out of the law.
▪ A Jew has confidence in himself that he is a guide to the blind.
▪ (Those who do not know the law are described as babes, in darkness or foolish”
▪ A Jew feels superior to those who do not know the law.
▪ A Jew is an instructor of those who do not know the law.
▪ “You think that because you have God’s law and you know Who God is, you’re confident
in yourselves that you’re leading people in the right direction, then in verse 21 he says

Q. How do we blaspheme God’s name according to Romans 3:17-20?

▪ We blaspheme (profane) the name of God by bearing God’s name as Christians to
ourselves but not living by the character of God revealed through the law and ultimately
through Christ.

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 ▪ Do we realize that we give God a bad name by our character?
▪ “Hey, you are a Seventh-day Adventist and you curse and swear and use that four letter
word. I don’t expect you to talk like that; I am not a Christian, but you claim to be a
judgment hour Christian and yet you struggle with your temper like I do? If your God
cannot help you, why do I need to become a Christian like you if I am going to continue
living just the way you are? I can keep having my fun and not worry about any judgment
hour message you have, which hasn’t done any good for you.”
▪ “You mean you are a Seventh-day Adventist, and you are a married man and you like to
hit on all the other women just like married men who are not Christians do? I thought you
are a man of virtue? You mean you are a Seventh-day Adventist and you dress like the
women dress up for the clubs and Hollywood movie shows? I thought you are a Christian
woman? And your mentality is that God won’t judge you if you dress this way? In other
words, it doesn’t matter any way I behave or dress. Then why do I need to become a
Christian woman like you? I can still be in the world and do the same!”
▪ So, God’s name is blasphemed!
▪ Three Hebrew boys: bend down and pretend to tie my shoe and pray to God to forgive me?

Verse 21-22
Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preaches a man should
not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit
adultery? Thou that abhorest idols doest thou commit sacrilege?
▪ Do you live by what you preach?
▪ It doesn’t matter if you are teaching people to do what is right if you do so and you are
breaking God’s law, that is not acceptable.
▪ Which law is Paul quoting in these verses? Is it the ceremonial law?
▪ “Do not steal,” “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not worship idols,” –This is the Ten
Commandments.

Verse 23-24
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the
name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
▪ By breaking the law of God, we dishonour God.
▪ By breaking God’s law God’s name is blasphemed, dishonoured.
▪ You could boast of having the law of God but if you are breaking it, you are dishonouring
His name.
▪ The commandment against blasphemy—this is the Third Commandment: Do not take
God’s name in vain.
▪ This commandment shows that God loves us so much that He has identified with us as
family—the family of God—and He has given us a family name. And just like earthly
parents who have children take on the facial resemblance and character, we need to uphold
the values of our family, to protect our family name, we need to uphold the law of God, we
need to love and live like our heavenly Father so that people will see indeed that we look
like our Father, that we are indeed the sons and daughter of God. When we fail to do this,
we give God a bad name. We blaspheme His name.
▪ If you look at the history of Seventh day Adventism, in the 1888 conference in Mineapolis,
the thing that God revealed to Ellen White about Seventh day Adventists is that they were
experts in preaching the law but Christ was lost sight of. So, in many ways SDAs up to

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 that point were very similar to the Jewish people in that they exalted the law of God but
then when God sent messengers that exalted Christ in the Law, they didn’t see the light in
it. So, what this means is that though they were making their boast in the law, they were
breaking the law by rejecting Christ and His Righteousness. If you reject the Message of
Christ and His Righteousness, then you don’t have His righteousness—without Christ’s
Righteousness, you are breaking the law.
▪ Are we doing the same thing?
▪ How is God’s name blasphemed by SDAs among the world we are commissioned to
reach? (Let the class list at least 10 ways we blaspheme the name of God among non-
SDAs and pray for repentance)
▪ The summary: Those who break God’s law dishonour God’s name. Those who obey the
law of God are actually giving glory to God’s name. The first angel’s message calls us to
“give glory to God” in the time of the judgment and not to be asking questions like, “is this
a salvational issue?”
▪ God wants a group of people that will give glory to His name rather than blaspheme His
name.
▪ Who are those who blaspheme His name? Those who dishonour God by breaking His law.
And God is no respecter of persons in the judgment. If you are a Seventh day Adventist or
somebody else, if you are breaking the law in the judgment, you will receive the wrath of
God. If however, you have repented and you have received God’s grace, His riches of
goodness and forbearance, you receive eternal life.

From this point onwards is where Paul, speaking to the Jews who He is trying to reach, tries to
make the point about what spirituality and conversion really is.

Verse 25-26
For circumcision verily profiteth; if thou keep the law but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy
circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore, if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of
the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
▪ Paul is making a comparison between Circumcision and Uncircumcision
▪ These are outward manifestations of the flesh that are supposed to represent an inward
spiritual experience.
▪ If you are circumcised but you break the law, you face the wrath of God—God is no
respecter of persons.
▪ If you are uncircumcised but you keep the righteousness of the law, you receive eternal
life—God is no respecter of person.
▪ From the two, what matters most to God is –keeping the law of God.
▪ Notice the phrase “counted for circumcision.” This word “counted” comes up again later
in the book of Romans 4. It is the phrase “counted as righteous,” that is word “justified.”
So, the first time this word shows up in the book of Romans, it is applied for someone who
is uncircumcised—a Gentile according to the flesh—but who is actually keeping God’s
law, and therefore their righteousness is counted for circumcision.
▪ Are the Uncircumcised Gentiles keeping the law all by themselves or based on an
inward experience that occurred? As you study the book of Romans and in the is chapter,
we would see this is describing an inward experience.

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 ▪ “The righteousness of the law”: Worthy of note is the fact that the Gentiles are keeping
the “righteousness of the law” and it is “counted” for circumcision. What we could see here
is that RIGHTEOUSNESS and CIRCUMCISION are spiritual equivalent.
▪ Notice that someone who is uncircumcised but keeps the righteousness of the law is
counted as circumcised. Circumcision and Righteousness is similar.

Verse 28-29
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the
flesh. But He is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit
and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
▪ It doesn’t matter if you were born a Jew or a Seventh day Adventist, if you are breaking
God’s law you are not spiritually circumcised.
▪ The true meaning of circumcision is not limited to an outward demonstration in the flesh
but an inward heart transformation.
▪ You could be a Jew outwardly, but if you do not have an inward experience you are not a
Jew.
▪ In the physical sense Jews are circumcised, Gentiles are uncircumcised.
▪ Spiritually speaking a spiritual Jew is spiritually circumcised, and “ a spiritual Gentile” is
one who is braking God’s law, is spiritually uncircumcised.
▪ Notice the definition of a true Jew in verse 29—a true Jew is one inwardly, that means
spiritual circumcision is meant to represent an inward experience.
▪ Notice also what Paul said in that earlier verse; that the Gentiles who were actually keeping
the law of God are counted for circumcision—that means if you are counted for
circumcision or counted for righteousness, you actually have an inward experience.
▪ This explanation is actually different from what a lot of Bible scholars say about
righteousness by faith. A lot of Bible scholars say that when you are counted righteous,
when you are justified, it is only the righteousness of Christ that covers you even though
inwardly you haven’t change.
▪ And yet Paul is saying that in order to be a Jew, you have to be one inwardly—your
circumcision is of the heart—a changed heart. That means in order to be counted righteous,
your heart has to be circumcised—a new heart, which is the New Covenant experience.
▪ People like Desmond Ford and Evangelicals say the gospel is fund in Romans 3, 4 and 5,
and so they ignore Romans 1 and 2; they ignore Romans 6,7, and 8. When it comes to
understanding justification you see the word “counted”, it is there and it is related to an
inward experience.
▪ So, Paul lays out that foundation so that when you get to Romans 3, and start talking about
being justified by faith you understand based on what he said in Romans 2

Q. When does circumcision become profitable? What was circumcision supposed to

represent? What is the main point of Romans 2:25-29?
▪ Vs.25: circumcision is only profitable if you keep God’s law
▪ Circumcision was supposed to be an outward action of the Jewish people to demonstrate
an inward heart change (Read Jer. 4:1-4; 6:10; 9:26) and it was a sign of righteousness of
faith when the heart was transformed.
▪ The main point of the verses is that your commandment keeping is only profitable if it is
done from the heart.
▪ It is your heart change that gives meaning and value to the outward sign.

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 ▪ Application: Ironically most Christians say that Paul was teaching that God declares people
righteous and covers them with His righteousness externally without any inward heart
change, however, this text shows that it is not true. Even when someone may quote Romans
4:25 to defend the idea that God, just as the text says, “justifies the ungodly,” however, the
proper context must be taken into consideration because, the ungodly are described in verse
6-8 of Romans 4 as those who have been forgiven. The ungodly here have repented. There
has been a transformation because of the goodness of God in forgiving them.

SUMMARY
Whether Jews or Gentiles, there is no respect of persons with God and the people who bring honour
to God’s name are those who have an inward experience—those who keep the Commandments of
God. You may take on the name Christian but if you haven’t received grace for a change of heart,
you can call yourself whatever you want but that is not how God sees it.

BIBLE BLOG—ROMANS 2
After announcing in chapter 1, the power of the gospel which is for everyone who believes, Paul
describes the utter depravity of the wicked. Those of us who have a knowledge of God might be
tempted to say, “God, I thank you that I am not like those wicked heathens.”
However, in chapter 2 of Romans, Paul describes the sinfulness of all who have a knowledge of
God. In verse 1, he shows that we are inexcusable because we who are judging the wickedness of
others are guilty of sinning as well. And in verse 3, just as the wicked will be judged, those who
know the truth but do some of those things will not escape the judgment of God.
We are reminded in verse 4, that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance and it is
evident that we all need to respond to His goodness. By the time we get to verses 10 and 11 of
chapter 2, we see that Paul is proving that God does not overlook the sins of any class of people.
Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, a Christian or a non-Christian, your profession is not what
will save you in the judgment.
Paul then proceeds to demonstrate in verses 17-24 that God’s name is dishonored among the
heathen by believers who preach and teach the law of God while breaking it at the same time. So
often we do not realize how as believers our disregard of God’s law leads to the dishonor of God’s
name among unbelievers.
In this chapter, he is showing that both professed believers and the wicked need the transforming
power of the gospel. Whether one is a homeless drug addict living on the streets of some city, or
an ordained minister of the Seventh-day Adventist church, all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God and are in need of the transforming power of Jesus Christ as given in the gospels.
Paul closes by telling us that righteousness from God is not merely a legal outward experience, but
an inward conversion, circumcision of the heart. That is what it means to be a true believer, a
spiritual Jew of the seed of Abraham. This will be made clearer in greater detail in Romans 4.
Norman McNulty,M.D.
Neurologist, Lawrenceburg, TN, USA

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Adapted from Norman McNulty, compiled by Elechi Emenike