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 Romans 2:1 - God’s Kindness


God wants every person to be right with Him.  That means we have a changed heart, changed by God’s Spirit.  We seek to please God, not people (2:29).

When Paul was in prison in Caesarea, he defended himself before Governor Felix and taught Felix and his wife, Drusilla, about faith in Christ.  Paul reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment.  Paul could do this because of his changed heart and desire to please God and speak the truth.

It is a treasure that we have Romans as it gives us the teaching Paul gave Felix and Drusilla in expanded detail.  Thank God for Scripture.

Paul asserts that God is just: He will punish anyone who does wicked things (2:6-7).  It is a sin to stubbornly refuse to understand the point of God’s kindness.  God intends to turn us from sin to His Way (1:31 and 2:4).  Paul declares God is wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient.  God wants all people to turn away from sin.  But He does not force us.  This is our life - each of us chooses daily what we will do and what we store up for eternity.  This is our opportunity to hear, listen, and make good decisions that will please God.

And yet we are incredibly stubborn.  Old habits die hard.  Some of us (me included) are slow learners.  We fall back to old habits and sin much too quickly.  We show our lack of fear of God and faith in God through what we do.  If we know God, we see the mercy he’s shown us and his fierce justice.  We know, too, His impartial Grace (2:11).  In this passage, Paul explains that there is a consequence to our rebellion and our stubborn sin - storing up terrible punishment from God, our Judge.

Lord Jesus, we know a terrible day of judgment and anger against sin is coming.  On Judgment Day, you will judge everyone’s secret life.  Lord God, help us explain your salvation, forgiveness, kindness, and love to others.  You require righteousness - offered only through Jesus Christ.  You empower us through the Holy Spirit to live a new self-controlled life with different thinking and behavior - a totally born-again life with changed hearts.  And you promise a day of Jesus’ judgment for every man and woman.  We trust your judgment, Lord God.

Oh Lord, help, guide, and show me your Way today.  Amen.


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