Interesting setup Paul creates today in the transition from Romans 1 to 2. In chapter one he talks about people depraved in sin, refusing to worship God and instead serving idols. Their godless life then leads them into all kinds of sexual immorality, greed, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, God-hating, insolence, arrogance, boasting, disobedience, senselessness, faithlessness, heartlessness, and ruthlessness. Not only are they themselves like this but they promote that kind of living in others.
And just as you think "how terrible" you are hit at the start of chapter two with, "You, therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things." Ouch. True. We are all sinners deserving of God's judgment. Let us not pretend like we do not sin and thereby deceive ourselves into believing that we can win God's approval by our own power.
Both attitudes above are examples of rejecting God. The first is outright rejection of God and his will; the second is rejecting God as the Savior while hiding under a facade of religiosity. Both ways "show contempt for the riches of [God's] kindness," which should lead us toward repentance (2:4).
No comments:
Post a Comment