JUDGMENT BASED ON TRUTH

Passage: Romans 2:1-5

Key verse: 2

NIV

God’s Righteous Judgment

2 You, therefore, have no excuse,(A) 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.(B) 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(C) of his kindness,(D) forbearance(E) and patience,(F) not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?(G)

5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath(H), when his righteous judgment(I) will be revealed.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

God's Righteous Judgment

2 Therefore you have (A)no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For (B)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 (C)the riches of his kindness and (D)forbearance and (E)patience, (F)not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are (G)storing up (H)wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. No excuse for judging others (1-3)

We are sinful human beings, and our view of people is clouded by our sinful nature. When we compare ourselves with others, we look at our own strong points and despise others' weaknesses; but if we are honest, we find in ourselves the same sinful desires that we condemn in others. Bible study should make us humble, not critical and self-righteous. We must be strict with ourselves and generous with others. God will surely judge the world on the day of his wrath. His judgment is right because it is based on truth.

2. To lead us to repentance (4,5)

God is patient. He does not mete out instant punishment for sinners. He is merciful and kind. But we must not fool ourselves. God's day of wrath will come. His righteous judgment will be revealed. His kindness and patience should not make us proud, but humble and repentant. The fool says there is no God. Unless we turn from our stubborn ways and repent, we will taste God's wrath.

Prayer: Lord, purge me of pride and stubbornness, and give me a repentant heart.

One Word: God wants us to repent