01.6.1. Guilt And Condemnation Of The Jews - Rom_2:1-29

Chapter 6i - GUILT AND CONDEMNATION OF THE JEWS - Romans 2:1-29
The non-Jews, whether civilized or uncivilized, were under the wrath of God which is being continually revealed from heaven (Romans 1:18-32). The religious hypocrites (Jews) judging the heathen were also under God’s wrath inasmuch as they could not defend their own evil practices (Romans 2:1-29). Unlike the irreligious heathen, the religious Jews were under greater condemnation because they had more than general revelation; they also had special revelation given to them in the law of Moses.

Paul’s expression, “O man,” in his address of Romans 2:1; Romans 3:1-31 is used generically. “Therefore [dio comes from the preposition dia and the pronoun ho; it means for this reason, on which account, or therefore] O man [ho is an interjection used in a direct address to express emotion, and anthrope, vocative case of address, is masculine singular of the noun anthropos, man], you are without excuse, everyone who is judging; for that in which you are judging another, you are passing judgment on yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.... And consider this, O man, the one judging those who practice such things and doing the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God?” (translation). The hypocrisy of one man represents every human being who is a Pharisee. Paul did not identify the man in his personal address until Romans 2:17 -“Since you call yourself a Jew and rest in the law and boast in God” (translation). Judgment by the religious Pharisee was blind and arrogant, because he supposed he was free from condemnation as a result of possessing the oracles of God and enjoying national privileges. He has his representatives among professing Christians who belong to denominational institutions, have Bibles in their homes, and occasionally attend religious services.

“O man” is a deathblow to the Woman’s Liberation Movement and all its religious sympathizers. Religious leaders and others are exchanging the masculine gender in the Bible for general terms which deny that man is the head of the woman (1 Corinthians 11:1-16; 1 Timothy 2:10-13). The only true judgment in this world is that permitted to those who uphold God’s revealed standard and faithfully describe sin. All other judgments are prejudicial, blind to the Divine standard, and arrogant because of unwarrantable claims to superior rights. Therefore, contrasts between God’s and man’s judgments must be considered.

God’s judgment is according to truth; man’s judgment apart from grace is hypocritical. God personified truth in Jesus Christ: “...I am the way, the truth, and the life...” (John 14:6). Christians are sanctified in the sphere of the truth (John 17:17). The truth men hear shall judge them in the last day (John 12:48). God’s judgment is according to truth (Romans 2:2). Conversely, man perverts truth (Galatians 1:6-9). Man’s judgment draws a veil over his own evil deeds while he condemns the same sins in others. The religious Jews said, “...We have a law, and according to our law He is obligated to die, because He claimed Himself Son of God” (John 19:7 -translation). They were blind but zealous to have Jesus Christ, the One in whom the law was fulfilled, put to death.

God’s judgment is certain; man’s judgment may be evaded. There is a future in every past; therefore, none can escape the judgment of God. An evil past futurizes itself in the righteous judgment of God. An evil past, which is common to all by nature, is canceled by redemption for the elect alone. No sinner can have a good future unless Jesus Christ became his substitute at Calvary. All who die outside of Jesus Christ will have their sinful past futurized in everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord (Acts 17:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9; Hebrews 9:27). Men often escape lawful human judgment in time by lying about their guilt and hiring lawyers to lie for them. Although they may escape lawful human judgment, they cannot escape God’s appointed judgment added to their present punishment being revealed from heaven. The following are principles of God’s judgment recorded in Romans 2:1-29; Romans 3:1-8.
(1) His judgment is according to truth (Romans 2:1-2).
(2) It is certain (Romans 2:3).
(3) It is righteous (Romans 2:4-5).
(4) It is according to works (Romans 2:6-10).
(5) It is without respect of persons (Romans 2:11-13).
(6) It unveils all secrets (Romans 2:14-16).
(7) God’s judgment is the just condemnation of hypocrisy (Romans 2:17-24), religious rites (Romans 2:25-29), and unbelief of the Jews (Romans 3:1-8).