Part X
Paul begins Chapter 2 by asserting that anyone who judges others for wrongdoing must acknowledge his or her own guilt. This claim builds on Chapter 1’s declaration of humanity’s universal sinfulness, which Paul will summarize in 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Here in Chapter 2, Paul begins to emphasize that point more explicitly.
Paul logically concludes that if all are guilty, then God will judge everyone, and his judgment will be based on the works of his image bearers—whether good or evil. At the end of verse 5, Paul refers to this judgment as “the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” This connects back to Chapter 1, where Paul introduced the gospel as revealing God’s righteousness (1:16–17). Now, Paul explains that God’s final judgment will also reveal his righteousness.
God’s Righteousness and Judgment
As a reminder, righteousness means faithfulness to a covenant. In this context, Paul highlights God’s faithfulness to his Covenant of Operational Essence—the eternal agreement within the Trinity to always act in accordance with their shared essence of truth, goodness, and beauty (TGB). Faithfulness to this covenant requires that God judge between good and evil. When he does so, his judgment reveals his righteousness—his unwavering commitment to TGB.
In verse 6, Paul states that God “will repay each one according to his works.” (Remember that God’s judgment is not an act of violence. God judges by allowing the unrepentant to continue his or her course of alienation from God. God will not coerce; God will not force faith. The rejection of God, who is the source of truth, goodness, and beauty, by the self-focused results in the violence that occurs without God.) At this point, the Roman Christians might have nodded along, thinking Paul’s warning applied only to the imaginary audience of non-Christians he introduced earlier. Surely, they might reason, their faith in Christ exempts them from judgment based on works. However, Paul makes no such distinction here. The statement is universal: “God will repay each one according to his works.”
Old Testament Context for Judgment by Works
Paul’s assertion is grounded in the Old Testament. For example:
Proverbs 24:11–12: Solomon urges the reader to help those in danger of death, emphasizing that God knows the heart and “will repay each man according to his works.” Refusing to help when capable of doing so is an evil work, while extending help is a good work.
Psalm 62: David proclaims God as the rock and salvation, urging trust in him rather than in men or wealth. He concludes with the same idea: God will repay each person according to his or her works. The emphasis again is on universal judgment.
Paul elaborates on this principle in Romans 2:7–10, using a chiastic structure to tie the seeking of good with the doing of good and the seeking of evil with the doing of evil:
Verse 7: Those who seek glory, honor, and incorruption (the opposite of decay) will receive eternal life.
Verse 8: Those who are self-seeking and reject the truth will face wrath and indignation.
Verse 9: Those who do evil will face affliction and distress.
Verse 10: Those who do good will receive glory, honor, and peace.
Paul emphasizes the universality of judgment in verse 11: “For there is no favoritism with God.” Whether Jew or Gentile, all will be judged based on their works.
Reconciling Judgment by Works with Salvation by Faith
At this point, Paul’s Roman Christian audience—and we today—might feel uneasy. How can Paul assert so strongly that all will be judged by their works, knowing that salvation comes through faith in Jesus? To understand this, we must revisit the Trinitarian covenants:
The Covenant of Operational Essence commits God to act in perfect TGB, which requires separation from all that is not based on TGB.
The Covenant of Creative Purpose commits God to create image bearers for everlasting love relationship.
The Covenant of Redemption resolves the tension between these covenants, ensuring God can restore image bearers (through repentance and faith).
The Redemption Plan does not replace the Covenant of Operational Essence but upholds it. Because all humans have committed evil works, God’s righteous requirement would demand permanent separation from him. But God can forgive the sin of those who repent. Furthermore, God can redeem human essence (physical creation including the bodies of the image bearers). In the Covenant of Redemption, God took on human form in Jesus. As a man, Jesus perfectly fulfilled TGB, doing only good works. His death, not required because he was sinless, provided the basis for removing the curse for all who trust in him.
Faith, Works, and the Final Judgment
At the final judgment, all people will still be judged by their works (Romans 2:6). For believers, the forgiveness of God and redemption of Jesus resolves their evil works, leaving only the good works accomplished through faith in him. Ephesians 2:10 affirms this: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Thus, through forgiveness, believers’ evil works are erased, and their Spirit-led good works testify to their restored relationship with God, made sure by the redemption in Jesus.
This plan is not an exchange where Jesus takes on our sins, and we take his righteousness. Rather, God forgives the repentant and, by Jesus’s perfect life and undeserved death, empowers us to live redeemed in Jesus by living for TGB through the Holy Spirit. This restoration aligns us with God’s purposes and ensures that, even in “judgment,” God remains faithful to all his covenants.
The Gospel and God’s Faithfulness
Paul’s gospel is the proclamation of God’s righteousness in action. Through Jesus, God fulfills his Trinitarian covenants without compromising any. He judges sin in faithfulness to his Covenant of Operational Essence, redeems humanity in faithfulness to his Covenant of Redemption, and restores his image bearers in faithfulness to his Covenant of Creative Purpose. This holistic faithfulness is what excites Paul and fuels his message in Romans.