Romans 2:4
By not exacting His divine penalty on sinful humanity immediately, God is displaying the riches of His kindness (chrēstotētos, “benevolence in action,” also used of God in Rom_11:22; Eph_2:7; Tit_3:4), tolerance, and patience (cf. Act_14:16; Act_17:30; Rom_3:25). God’s purpose is to lead people toward repentance — a return to Him — through His kindness. (This word for “kindness” is chrēstos, a synonym of chrēstotētos, also trans. “kindness,” used earlier in the verse.) Both words mean “what is suitable or fitting to a need.” Chrēstos is used of God in Luk_6:35 and 1Pe_2:3 and of people in Eph_4:32. “Despisest”: Meaning to despise or to think down on, thus to underestimate someone’s or something’s value, and even to treat with contempt.
“Goodness”: This refers to “common grace,” the benefits God bestows on all men.
“Forbearance”: This word, which means “to hold back,” was sometimes used of a truce between warring parties. Rather than destroying every person the moment he or she sins, God graciously holds back His judgment. He saves sinners in a physical and temporal way from what they deserve, to show them His saving character that they might come to Him and receive salvation that is spiritual and eternal.
“Longsuffering:” This word indicates the duration for which God demonstrates His goodness and forbearance, for long periods of time.
Together these three words speak of God’s common grace, the way He demonstrates His grace to all mankind.
“Repentance”: The act of turning from sin to Christ for forgiveness and salvation.
Not realizing (lit., “being ignorant of”) God’s purpose, people showed contempt for (kataphroneis, “you thought down on”) God’s attributes and actions (cf. “suppress the truth,” Rom_1:18). People knew of God’s Being through natural revelation (Rom_1:19-21, Rom_1:28), but did not know the purpose of His kindness.
Romans 2:5-6
Impartiality
Why are people ignorant of God’s intention to be kind? (Rom_2:4) And why do they despise it? It is because of their stubbornness (lit., “hardness”; sklērotēta, whence the Eng. “sclerosis”) and their unrepentant heart(s). So God’s wrath against people’s sins is being stored up like a great reservoir until the day when it will all be poured forth in His righteous judgment. On that day God will give to each person according to what He has done (quotation of Psa_62:12 and Pro_24:12). God’s judging will be based on the standard of truth (Rom_2:2) and it will be impartial (Rom_2:11). The English word “sclerosis” (as in arteriosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries) comes from the Greek word. But here the danger is not physical, but spiritual hardness.
“Impenitent heart”: A refusal to repent and accept God’s pardon of sin through Jesus and cling to one’s sin is to accumulate more of God’s wrath and earn a severer judgment.
“Day of wrath … judgment”: Refers to the final judgment of wicked men that comes at the Great White Throne at the end of the Millennium. Although Scripture everywhere teaches that salvation is not on the basis of works, it consistently teaches that God’s judgment is always on the basis of a man’s deeds.
Paul describes the deeds of two distinct groups: the redeemed in verses 7 and 10, and the unredeemed as shown in 8-9. The deeds of the redeemed are not the basis of their salvation but the evidence of it. They are not perfect and are prone to sin, but there is undeniable evidence of righteousness in their lives. We are all storing up things in heaven now. Some who walk in the Light of Jesus are storing up good treasures in heaven.
Matthew 6:19-21 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:" "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
If our deeds are evil, the wrath of God will be our just payment. If we are working for God, only a warm welcome awaits us, and the statement (well done thy good and faithful servant). In verse 7 we see the rewards awaiting the believer.
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Romans Chapter 2 - Part Two
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