โWe are sure that the judgment of God is according to truthโฆโ
The first 15 verses of Romans 2 always make me think of our Lordโs dealings with the rich young ruler of Luke 18: 18,19. โGood Master,โ the ruler had said, โwhat shall I do to inherit eternal life?โ
The Lord answered in effect: โWhy do you call Me good? There is none good but God, so if I am good I must be God. But do you want to know what to do to inherit eternal life? Simply obey the Law, the Ten Commandments.โ
Our Lord, of course, was trying to show the young man that it was impossible to earn salvation by doing good. To keep the Law was impossible for any child of fallen Adam, and breaking the Law could only bring condemnation. Now this absolute justice is the basis for the believerโs confidence in God.
It is wonderful to know that God does not merely pity sinners and smuggle them into heaven if they are sorry. If He did, someone in heaven could point an accusing finger at this writer and say: โWhat, you here!โ Thank God, He has rather taken us before the bar of justice, pronouncing us guilty, but has stepped down, as it were, to pay the penalty for our sins Himself, then justly declaring us righteous! This is why salvation, in Scripture, is based upon Christโs payment of our just debt. This is why Rom.ย 3:24ย declares that believers are โjustified freely, by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.โ
โThat as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lordโ (Rom.ย 5:21). source
