1Wherefore,
you, O man, are inexcusable, everyone judging, for you condemn yourself in what
you are judging the other, for you, one judging, are practicing the same
[thing].
This has to me always been an amazing verse. I believe it is
patently obvious what the Lord is doing. His goal of course is to convince all
of us that we need Christ, that we are in fact sinners, that the only hope for
any of us will have to be a salvation by faith through His grace. Our deceptive
hearts tell us way down deep, under it all, really we’re okay because, in fact,
there are a lot of people out there way worse than us. We’re actually “the good
people.” Oh, yes, I’m a sinner, but I’m not that
bad a sinner!
So the Lord first gives us chapter 1. In the first chapter,
He shows us that we’re right --there are some really wicked people out there!
Why, they worship idols, and commit the worst of sexual sins, and invent ways
of doing evil and not only do all of these evil things, they also actually
approve of others who do!
I would suggest practically the whole world (if not all) can
read that first chapter and feel as if they are standing right beside the Lord
Himself. “That’s right, Lord! You’ve certainly got them pegged. Those people
are wicked and deserve judgment! If they’re to be forgiven, it’s going to take
some kind of miracle on Your part!”
As we stand there shaking our heads in righteous disgust, the
Lord actually has us right where He wants us. He turns to us and says, “Oh, so
you have a keen sense of right and wrong? You are capable of making moral judgments,
of deciding what is and is not sin?”
Then He lowers the boom on us. “Then you certainly have no
excuse when you sin. If anything you are doubly guilty – you not only sin
yourself, but you have just proven that you are a person who knows better.” So
it isn’t just the wicked people in chapter 1 who need a Savior. So do I! It may
be true that I don’t outright do many of the things they do, but I sin plenty
of my own part. If anything, the truth is my sins are the more culpable precisely because I do know right from wrong. “To whom much is given, much will also be
required!”
Anyone who would read these words and truly understand what
the Lord has just done should be at this point deeply humbled. That is
precisely why the verse amazes me. If I can use the words affectionately, I
would observe the Lord is very sneaky.
He knows how to trick us into seeing who we really are. And that is what He
just did for anyone who is willing to genuinely listen. In chapter 1, we like
David jump up and shout, “That’s wrong!” only to hear these words in 2:1, “You’re
the man.” As painful as that may be, it is an eternal kindness if it brings us,
like David, to repentance.
Incidentally, I think we should also observe that this
passage isn’t particularly condemning the judging itself. The Lord addresses
that subject in many other places, like James 2:4, where He called us “judges
with evil thoughts.” That is an entire subject in itself worthy of study.
However, here in Romans 2, His point is for us to see that the very fact we can judge only seals our doom. Rather
than standing beside the Lord issuing judgment, the fact is we stand beside the
“sinner” being judged. Does he or she need a Savior? So do I!
If that is where these words lead you and me, then we’re
hearing the Lord, and that is a good
place to be!
He Himself told us many times, even in the OT, that He is “gracious
and full of compassion, slow to anger and of great love.” The realization of
our sinfulness need not cause us to run and hide from Him, but rather to
run to Him, like toddlers to wrap our little arms around His big strong
leg, look up into His loving eyes, and trust that He will somehow do us good. Of
course He does. He has and He will. His name is Jesus. He came expressly “to
save His people from their sins.”
We all need the Lord – not just “those bad people out there,”
but also the bad guy who lives in here. Yup. People need the Lord!
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