You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3
So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realising that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
5
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.’a]'>[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger Rom 2:1-6
One participant on this thread has quoted verses 6&7 of the above. We need to read the word as a cohesive whole, not just randomly bring forth selective verses.
In the above we see Paul telling his readers if they pass judgement on another they are condemning themselves. For those who condemn others do they same things they condemn others for. I think we can assume this means law breaking. You don't have to break the4 same laws as you condemn others for, but by breaking the law yourself you condemn yourself by condemning others for doing that which you yourself do.
We then come to the verses placed so often on this thread. So what is Paul truly telling us? For he has already stated all men alike fail to do what they should do. If all men alike fail to act as they should, how can any man attain to what is written in verse 7? It isn't adding up is it? So Paul has given an overall picture of how men should live, but though they should live to that standard, they fail to do so.
Forward to chapter 3:10
What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?
Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are ALL under the power of sin
Now when did Paul make this charge? Obviously in the previous two chapters. So Paul has made the charge Jews and Gentiles alike are
all under sin. Now if they are all under sin they are not going to achieve what is written in a verse in a section showing people they are all under sin and in the flesh condemned are they(ch2:6). So what is the overall picture Paul has been showing his readers thus far in the book of romans?
As it is written:
‘
There is no one righteous, not even one;
11
there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.’b]'>[b]
13 ‘Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practise deceit.’c]'>[c]
‘The poison of vipers is on their lips.’d]'>[d]
14 ‘Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.’e]'>[e]
15 ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and misery mark their ways,
17 and the way of peace they do not know.’f]'>[f]
18 ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’g]'>[g] 10-19
Uncomfortable reading isn't it. Paul has been showing his readers the whole world stands hushed and guilty before God according to the law/being good enough/living a holy enough life for God. So what is the conclusion?
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law,
so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law(observing the law); rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. 19&20
So we see,
no one will be declared righteous in Gods sight by works of the law/observing the law. So no one is going to be declared righteous in God's sight by living a good enough life. For to live a good enough life would have to be by observing the law if you think about it. We only know of God's standards from the law.
Now if we progressed in romans, we would see that a righteousness apart from the law brings sin not to be our master. Unfortunately, no one in this thread wants to accept the Christian has a righteousness before God apart from observing the law, so there isn't much point in proceeding with Pauls message because most of you want to reject it, and thereby the solution to sin not being your master.
