accusing the accuser

Good evening friends,
I hope you've gotten to enjoy this amazing day. In the first chapter of Romans Paul spells out how the gentiles have gone wrong by worshiping idols instead of God, even though their examination of the world should be enough to show them God. His focus on idolatry makes his Jewish readers feel a little self-congratulatory, but Paul then pivots to accuse them as well. He argues in today's reading that those who look down on sinners are usually sinning as well. He is building a case that we are all in need of God's grace because we are not righteous on our own. Fortunately, God's love is stronger than our sin.

God bless,
Sam

Romans 2:1-11

Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. ²You say, ‘We know that God’s judgement on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.’ ³Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgement of God? ⁴Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

⁵But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgement will be revealed. ⁶For he will repay according to each one’s deeds: ⁷to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honour and immortality, he will give eternal life; ⁸while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. ⁹There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, ¹⁰but glory and honour and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. ¹¹For God shows no partiality.