MarkT wrote:
But also consider what Paul is discussing. He is discussing judgment in Romans 2, not justification. He already spoke about justification in Romans 1:16.
I do not believe this distinction really works. It is clear that "justification" is very much on Paul's mind in Romans 2 as well. Here is Romans 2:13
for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
Paul is leading up to what he is trying to say. If you look at Romans 3:19-25, he writes this about the law, - 'Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law (which means the whole world), so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For no human being will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift ... to be received by faith.'
So Romans 2:9-16 is about the law and judgment and how doers of the law will be justified when they do what the law requires. It's simply a statement of fact. But remember he is speaking to believers. We are not under the law but under grace. Romans 6:14
So he says, 'All who have sinned without the law (are we without the law? No. We uphold the law) will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.' And he says the doers of the law will be justified. I believe this is because they have done good.
I believe there are many who have done good and shown us kindness and I believe God will reward them. I know some who deny Christ who love the church. Go figure. I know their heart, and they serve God’s purpose though they do not know it. Perhaps it is because they secretly believe, though they can not admit it. You might say they have the law written on their hearts as Paul does.
It’s important to understand God weighs the spirit. As Paul said, ‘God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus’ Romans 2:16
So as they do it to us, they do it to Christ.
But many will say they did mighty works in the name of Jesus and Jesus will say, I never knew you.
So in principle it is the doers of the law who will be justified. In principle it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who are justified. And Paul says this to the Jew and the Gentile, but he is speaking to the Jew, the people who were entrusted with the law, when he says, `But if you call yourself a Jew and rely upon the law and boast of your relationship to God`. But we are all under the power of sin. And the law brings us knowledge of sin so that we know when we have sinned. And it even increases our trespass when we break the law.
he gets this, something you all have warring for months over.
