Romans 2:4-11

In repentance we are covered in the riches of Christ. In Him we are rendered free from the burden of sin and guilt that so easily ensnares us. 

We seek to honor God with our life because we are thankful for the eternal life we have been granted in HIs goodness, mercy and love. We honor God by seeking His glory, our lives reflecting His honor and sharing the Good News of the gift of eternal life that He offers.

Our faith pleases God.

Our good works reflect His love to others. 

We forgive others because we have been forgiven so very much. God shows no partiality.

God's mercy is always undeserved. (Romans 5:8)

Today I am glad for any reminder that we are connected.
Today, I am glad for any reminder of the capacity to be fully human, tender, vulnerable and kindhearted.
Today, I am glad for any reminder that we are connected to something larger than our fear or anxiety or our ego.
There’s a good deal of conversation about what to believe or stand for, these days.
And yet. When discussion or debate turns into argument meant to divide, we miss the opportunity to be human with one another. Sabbath Moments 

Romans 2:4-11

4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. The New King James Version

Paul emphasizes that God is a fair and just judge. Those who do good will receive glory, honor, and eternal life. In contrast, those who do evil will receive wrath and affliction. This applies to both Jews and Gentiles (non-Jewish people), since God does not show partiality.

Good works refers to the collective sum of good deeds. These deeds are expressed especially in kindness toward others; therefore, they reflect God’s character and belief in him.

For Paul, immortality is an aspect of eternal life reserved for believers when God raises the dead to the resurrected life.  “Eternal” expresses not only the duration of life, but the quality of life.

Since Christ was raised from the dead, the life of the coming age has invaded the current age. Believers now share in God’s life through faith in Jesus Christ. They also have power to do good works and resist evil through the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Although believers have eternal life, it is not yet fully realized—they still die and struggle with sin. At the resurrection, the glorious nature of the eternal life will be fully realized.

Jews are “first” because God gave them priority in blessing and they were the first people group that He personally visited and called His own. But this also means that He will give them priority in judgment. God does not show partiality He judges both Jews and Gentiles on the same basis—according to works. Paul is attempting to convince some Jews that God will not overlook their sinful activity just because of their ethnicity. Faithlife Study Bible

Repentance literally means “to change one’s mind.” In this context, it means to reject one’s sinful habits and turn to God. This is the only occurrence of this word in Romans. Wrath as used here is different from the “wrath of God” in 1:18. There God’s wrath was His present anger; here the word refers to God’s future wrath. Most take this future wrath to refer to the Day of Judgment. Thus people who continue in their rebellion against God are accumulating wrath for themselves. 

According to this verse, it seems that eternal life can be gained by doing good. But Romans clearly teaches justification by faith. But Paul does not contradict himself. The subject of this verse is judgment, not justification. Believers who continue in good works will receive rewards in the life to come. Whenever the NT speaks of eternal life as a present possession, it is a gift received by faith but whenever it refers to eternal life as something to be received in the future by those who are already believers, it refers to eternal rewards. Rewards will be based on works accomplished here on earth. All believers doing good works will be rewarded. The NKJV Study Bible

Psalm 62:12 Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You render to each one according to his work.

1 Peter 1:7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,