ROMANS 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. – Romans 2:1-5
ROMANS 2 GOD’S KINDNESS LEADS TO REPENTANCE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
If we love the Lord our God with all our heart
We will take seriously all that he commands us
As a loving parent would do to care for their child
God’s kindness also will lead us to relate with him
Let us desire to know our just and righteous God
Let us not judge others when we ourselves are corrupt.
We humans are very quick to pass judgment on others without truly reflecting on our own weaknesses and transgressions. In Galatians 6:1, we who are spiritual need to correct our brothers or sisters who are transgressing but in a spirit of gentleness. James 4:12 says that there is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and destroy. In 1 Corinthians 5:12-13, we are not to judge those outside the church but only those who are in the church, God judges those outside. We are to purge the evil person from among the body. This is why there is a body of leaders and council who will address those who are continually disobeying the laws. They cannot continue to sin and claim that they are serving the Lord. They are obviously serving the desires of their flesh. Galatians 5:17 says that the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. We need to be accountable for our actions so we do not stray.
REFLECTION
- How does the laws of God show his kindness to his people?
