there we go by the deeds of 3 But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will repay each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life; 8 but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of mankind who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek, 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.the law no one shall be justified. The everlasting gospel is the same one,
depends on the context for the term "justify".
In Romans 2 it is future "will be justified" and refers to the 2 Cor 5:10 judgment future to Paul's day. It is a future judgment the proceeds along the lines defined in Rom 2:4-16
- Rom 2:13-16
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law instinctively perform the requirements of the Law, these, though not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience testifying and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of mankind through Christ Jesus.
Now notice that in Romans 2 - Paul does not say "so everyone fails" rather he says some succeed and others do not.
Rom 2 is NOT an "everyone fails" chapter.
3 But do you suppose this, you foolish person who passes judgment on those who practice such things, and yet does them as well, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and restraint and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will repay each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life; 8 but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of mankind who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek, 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
notice how the chapter ends
25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a violator of the Law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator of the Law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.
1 Cor 7:19 "
what matters is KEEPING the Commandments of God"
1 John 5:3 "
This IS the LOVE of God that we KEEP His Commandments"
Where - Eph 6:2 "
The first commandment with a promise is - HONOR your father and mother" (the unit of Ten)
Rev 14:12 "The
saints KEEP the Commandments of God AND their faith in Jesus"
As John MacArthur reminds his listeners "we are saved by grace but judged by works"
The Romans 2 context is "future justification" when he says "WILL be justified" In Rom 2:13
Same in James 2:
21 Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
That is the
Matt 7 sort of justification where the good tree is known by its fruits. IT is not a case of a bad tree producing good fruit in order to become a good tree.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.
That Matt 7 principle is what we see in Romans 2: 5-16 described in detail. It is the process of the judgment described in detail. IT reveals what is a good tree and what is not a good tree. 2 Cor 5:10 is the summation for that sort of judgment based on deeds.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
That is the Romans 3 context for justification and it is not looking at good trees. Rather it is looking at ALL mankind being bad trees - IT makes the case that a bad tree does not become a good tree by bearing good fruit. This is perfectly consistent with the Matt 7 and Romans 2 statements about the difference between a born-again new-creation vs someone who has only the sinful nature and is not participating in the New Covenant at all.
In the "justification past" context of Rom 3 and Rom 5:1-3 - all are lost and the lost person can only be justified by faith apart from the works of the Law. The lost person only has "bad fruit". The lost person is condemned. The Gospel must be accepted by the lost person,.
Once that happens - the New Covenant takes over - with the LAW Written on the heart Jer 31:31-34, Heb 8:6-12
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus Galatians 3.26. We are not under a school master!
The school master of Gal 3 is the condemnation of the Law for the lost person. It is also in Rom 3:19-20. IT is what drives the bad tree to accept the Gospel, become born again - become a good tree. Romans 3 says everyone is under that school master as a lost person and Gal 3 says that the person is ONLY released from that state - "WHEN FAITH comes". It is only when the lost person embraces faith in Christ that they are released from condemnation, born again, and transfered to the NEW Covenant of Jer 31:31-34 with the LAW of God written on the heart
Eph 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Walking in those good works is the good fruit that reveals that the person is now "a good tree".
Looking at that tree in true Romans 2:5-16 fashion does not "change its state" .... it is still either a bad tree or a good one. Looking at the fruit changes nothing. That is the nature of future justification in the courtroom context of Dan 7.
The investigation into the Dan 7 books does not change a person's state. It merely "reveals it".
If a person is not a born-again new-covenant saint the fruit of the tree will reveal that fact.
If the person IS a born-again new-covenant saint - CHRIST says the fruit WILL reveal that fact.
Romans 2 relies on that being a fact.
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