Heritage Can't Save You

Romans 2:1-16

In the previous passage, Paul writes about the sinfulness of the pagans. In this passage, Paul turns to the Church, both Jewish and Gentile believers. These listeners would have been nodding along with Paul in his condemnation of the immoral pagans of chapter 1. But Paul tells them that their judgment of the pagans brings judgment on themselves, for they are also guilty of the same thing. Their heritage as moral gentiles or members of the jewish covenant family does not help them escape judgment because God's judgment is based on the truth of their violation of the law. When they have the law and then sin under the law, they're held accountable to the law. But what of the nations? Paul tells us that even those without the revealed law of Moses are guilty of breaking the moral law written on their hearts. The Gospel calls us to place our hope in the One who was able to persist in doing good and obey the law—our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.