Romans 2:6-16
Works: Basis or Evidence?
What Paul says in Romans 2:6-11 seems to be in contradiction with the idea that salvation is received and maintained through faith in Jesus (Romans 1:17).
At face value, it seems like the author of Romans is presenting a “faith plus works” gospel. Our comprehension of this passage will determine whether we see works as the basis for or evidence of our salvation.
Righteousness: Faith or Obedience?
The second part of the passage is even more troublesome. The Apostle to the Gentiles states that “it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous” (Romans 2:13). Righteousness is only by faith, right? Is obeying the law part of the life of faith?
Judgment: Good or Bad News?
The icing on the cake comes with the bad news given to us in verse 16, where we are told of a “day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ.” To make matters worse, Paul portrays Jesus as our judge alongside God the Father. We can safely say the “good news” sounds quite negative.
We need to remember that Paul is not contradicting himself but rather giving us the full picture of the gospel. Still, there are three questions that must be answered. “Are our works the basis for or the evidence of salvation?” “Does righteousness come by faith in Jesus or obedience to God’s law?” “Is being judged through Christ good or bad news?” Take time to struggle with all these questions to prepare for the sermon!
Reflection Questions
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Read Psalm 62 to better understand why Paul quotes it in Romans 2:6. In your opinion, what are the Apostle Paul and King David talking about?
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What are your thoughts on Romans 2:12-15? How can obeying the law be a part of believing in Jesus?
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What is your gut reaction towards the fact that God will judge us through Christ? In what way(s) is this fact good news?