Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification (2)
[Romans 2:1-16]
Under the overarching theme of "Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification," I would like to continue reflecting on the first subtopic, "The Necessity of Justification." Romans 3:23 states, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." According to this word of God, since "all people" have sinned, they fall short of the glory of God, making it imperative for "all people" to absolutely need justification. Here, "all people" refers to every individual, starting from Adam, the first person in humanity, without exception. Apostle Paul in Romans has discussed these "all people" in four categories. Last Wednesday during our prayer meeting, we meditated on the first category, the Gentiles who committed sins, using Romans 1:18-32. Today, we want to focus on the second category, "those who judge others," and learn that even they absolutely need justification by meditating on Romans 2:1-16.
Look at Romans 2:1 - "Therefore, you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another, you condemn yourself because you, the judge, practice the very same things." An excellent example of someone judging others is found in Luke 18:9-14. In the parable spoken by Jesus about those "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt" (v. 9), the Pharisee and the tax collector went up to the temple to pray (v. 10). The Pharisee stood and prayed thus about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get" (vv. 11-12). This Pharisee sinned by judging the tax collector during his prayer time. The reason the Pharisee judged the tax collector was that he believed he was righteous for keeping the law (v. 10) and exalted himself (v. 14). Thus, he prayed, thanking God that he was not like the tax collector (v. 11), and not only that but also boasted to God, lifting himself up and proudly stating, "I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get" (v. 12, Modern Korean Bible).
Believing oneself to be righteous involves adhering to the instinctive selfishness of self-righteousness, ultimately leading to incessant self-glorification and self-idolatry. Such individuals, as described in Matthew 7:3-4 by Jesus, meticulously scrutinize the speck in their brother's eye while remaining oblivious to the plank in their own eye. They criticize and even condemn their brothers, saying, "Take the speck out of your eye," despite having a plank in their own eye. Perhaps we, too, may be judging and even condemning others while failing to consider removing the plank from our own eye. If so, Jesus admonishes us, ‘You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye’ (v. 5, Modern Korean Bible). We should refrain from committing the sin of causing emotional wounds by judging our brothers instead of praying and striving before God to remove the plank from our own eye.
In Romans 2:1-16, the Apostle Paul addresses three sins committed by "those who judge others":
First, those who judge others are guilty of committing the same sin themselves.
Look at Romans 2:1 - "Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another, you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things." An example of those who judge others and do the same things is found in Romans 2:21-22: "you then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?" For instance, if a pastor instructs the congregation not to commit adultery but engages in adultery themselves, they are disobedient to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:27-28: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." The scribes and Pharisees were hypocrites, merely professing but not practicing (Mt. 23:3). They were the ones teaching the law of Moses (v. 2), yet the problem was that while teaching the law of Moses, they did not observe it themselves. They even burdened others with extra requirements (v. 4). Their hypocrisy stemmed from their pride, but more specifically, they were hypocritical scribes and Pharisees because they taught others but did not practice what they were teaching (Rom. 2:21).
Second, those who judge others are guilty of the sin of disregarding God's rich kindness, forbearance, and patience.
Look at Romans 2:4 - "Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" Righteous God, who could judge those committing the sin of judging others, can take away their possessions and even their health. However, if they continue to judge others and, despite that, their material wealth increases and their health improves, they might mistakenly believe they are doing well. Nevertheless, God, in His abundant kindness, patience, and forbearance, awaits their repentance and turning away from sin. But the one judging others remains unrepentant (thinking they are doing well) and disregards God's rich kindness, patience, and forbearance (v. 4). Let's briefly reflect on God's forbearance. Look at Romans 3:25-26: "God presented Him as a propitiation through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint, God passed over the sins previously committed. He presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time so that He would be righteous and declare righteous the one who has faith in Jesus." Since all have sinned (v. 23), the righteous God had to judge these sins, and divine wrath required punishment. However, God, in His forbearance, overlooked the sins committed before Christ's sacrifice (v. 25). Jesus Christ bore all our sins on the cross, enduring the wrath and punishment of God, satisfying divine justice (Isa. 53:11). God, in His righteousness, declared Jesus Christ righteous and pronounced the believer in Jesus righteous (Rom. 3:26).
Third and last, those who judge others commit the sin of stubbornness and unrepentance.
Look at Romans 2:5 - "But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment is revealed." The person judging others, due to their stubbornness and refusal to repent even when given the opportunity by God, is accumulating the wrath that will be poured out on the day of God's righteous judgment. Therefore, they will face eternal punishment on the day of God's final judgment. The righteous God judges in truth (v. 2), and thus, God does not judge even a bit falsely (complete judgment). Therefore, those committing the sin of judging others have no way to escape God's judgment (although they might think they can escape in this world). Hence, on the day of God's righteous judgment (v. 5), the sins of judging others will be exposed, and they will face judgment for all their deeds. Therefore, even those who judge others desperately need God's righteousness.
Those who are judging others (Rom. 2:2) also absolutely need righteousness. The reason is that they are committing at least three sins: (1) the sin of engaging in the same deeds they judge others for (v. 2), (2) the sin of despising God's abundant kindness, patience, and forbearance (v. 4), and (3) the sin of stubbornness and unrepentance (v. 5). Therefore, those who judge others also urgently need God's justification!