Romans 2:6-11 NKJV – 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.
V6 …who “will render to each one according to his deeds…”
Each individual, if they have not called on the name of the Lord to be saved (prayed and believed), will be judged for their own personal sins. Compare Revelation 20:12, Daniel 7:10, Matthew 12:36, and Ezekiel 18:20.
V7 …eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality…
Do good works save? Seems like it, but no (Titus 3:5). In Acts 02:35, it seems to indicate that, but Cornelius and others would believe shortly (Acts 10:44). They fear God, which is a term indicating faith in God. Note, there were no special prayers or works. They had faith in God’s Son, Jesus, just like Abraham (Genesis 15:6 and Romans 4:1-5). The Mosaic Law provided salvation for keeping it, but no one could and needed to offer sacrifices which could not take away sin (Hebrews 10:4).
As Christ-followers, we need to live our lives doing good (Psalm 106:3, Isaiah 33:15, and 2 Thessalonians 3:13). Works do not save, but show that we are saved (James 2:14-26). Good is defined as God’s way of life, worldview, ruling His rules, and being servants to Him.
Our motivation should be to seek to glorify God in all we think and do (Matthew 5:16).
The principle taught here is consistency. See 1 Corinthians 16:13.
V8 …but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness–indignation and wrath…
We can seek to honor God or seek to honor ourselves. We must not be self-seeking, refusing to obey the truth, and obey what is evil. Obeying what is evil refers to seeking sinful pleasures (Galatians 5:19-21). Moses turned against seeking sinful pleasures (Hebrews 11:24-25).
Not obeying the truth has to do with the sin in our lives and acknowledging we cannot save ourselves. We must obey the truth that we are sinners and only Jesus provides salvation (Acts 4:12 and Romans 6:23). Compare Psalm 86:5 (salvation is the same principle in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament) and Acts 2:21.
The sin nature obeys unrighteousness in the sense of being addicted and slaves to sin (Romans 6:16-18).
The Greek words for indignation and wrath are mentioned, respectively (G2372) θυμός, thumós, which means (Word Study Dictionary) “violent motion or passion of the mind,” as in Revelation 12:12, and (G3709) ὀργή, orgḗ, which means (Word Study Dictionary) “desire with grief of God as utter abhorrence to sin but longing mixed with grief for those who live in it” as in Mark 3:5.
V9 …tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek…
The Greek words for tribulation and anguish are mentioned, respectively (G2347) θλίψις thlípsis, which means (Word Study Dictionary) “to crush, press, compress, squeeze, to break. tribulation, trouble, affliction,” compare John 16:21, and (G4730) στενοχωρία stenochōría, which means (Word Study Dictionary) “great distress.”
The difference being “Thlípsis refers to troubles pressing upon someone from without, such as persecution, affliction, or tribulation. Stenochōría has in view the distress which arises from within (usually caused by thlípsis), such as anguish or discomfort.”
It doesn’t matter if one is a Jew or a Gentile. These afflictions mentioned here concern the soul primarily, which lives forever. Hell is forever (Revelation 14:11, Matthew 25:41, and Jude 1:7).
V10 …but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
The blessings of salvation are to the Jew first, then the Gentile. We see this in Acts. Peter preached to Israel, then Samaria, then the first Gentile—Cornelius.
See Ephesians 1:3.
V11 For there is no partiality with God.
No matter what someone’s social, financial, mental, emotional, religious, skin color, etc. and etc. No one who is evil and refuses to believe in Jesus will have any different type of judgment. Compare Proverbs 24:23-24, Matthew 16:27, and Galatians 6:7-8.
We learn:
- Sin has serious present and eternal consequences.
- God has no partiality.
- God’s anger is severe.
- God’s blessings are wonderful.
Questions:
- Have you believed in Jesus alone for salvation?
- Are you seeking with God’s help to live a life pleasing to God?