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Timothy: Romans 2:1-11
God’s Righteous Judgment

1 Therefore, O man, you are without excuse, everyone who judges, for in that in which you judge the other, you condemn yourself; for you, those judging, practice the same things.

2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth on those that practice such things.

3 And, O man, the one judging those practicing such things, and doing them, do you think that you will escape the judgment of God?

4 Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, and the forbearance and the long-suffering, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

5 But according to your hardness and your impenitent heart, do you treasure up to yourself wrath in a day of wrath, and revelation of a righteous judgment of God?

6 He “will give to each according to his works:” LXX-Psa. 61:13; MT-Psa. 62:12

7 everlasting life truly to those who with patience in good work seeking glory and honor and incorruptibility;

8 but to the ones truly disobeying the truth out of self-interest, and obeying unrighteousness, will be anger and wrath,

9 trouble and pain on every soul of man that works out evil, both of Jew first, and of Greek.

10 But glory and honor and peace will be to everyone working out good, both to the Jew first, and to the Greek.

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

[Literal Translation of the Holy Bible]

Dear God, my Beloved Father. I am happy to be granted another day to live, to do the good deeds that You have prepared for me. Please help me always seek strength through Your Living Word. Grant me a heart like the psalmist in Psalm 119, who finds joy in Your Word like someone who has found great treasure.

Now, I meditate and record my understanding of the teaching of the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul, as recorded in Romans 2:1-11.

Dear Father, I understand that the Holy Spirit reminds me of the consequences of judging others while committing the same sin. This reminds me of the story of the Pharisees who brought a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, asking Him to condemn her. When Jesus said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” they all left, starting with the older ones. It is interesting that the older people were the first to realize and withdraw from the situation. I believe this is because the more experience we have in life, the more sins we tend to commit. It is like the clothes of someone who has been on a long journey. When they have just left the house, their clothes appear clean and it is difficult to tell if there is any dirt on them. However, if they have been on the road for many days without changing their clothes, then it becomes easy to see the dirt on their clothes and smell the constant stench from them. Unless they have become so used to it, then it becomes just a normal part of their life.

Dear Father, speaking out to judge someone who commits the same sin as oneself is perhaps the most disgusting hypocrisy. Many people live hypocritically, but they do not speak out to judge those who commit the same sin as themselves. Because they still have a sense of shame.

Dear Father, I understand that this teaching has nothing to do with the Church pointing out sin in the Church and judging, and cutting off the sinner who would not sincerely repent.

Verse 2 teaches me that all sins will be punished by God. That punishment is in accordance with the truth, that is, in accordance with the true nature of God and in accordance with the law of the ruler of all creatures.

Verse 3 teaches me that it is a serious warning from the Holy Spirit to those hypocrites who judge others for committing the same sin they do. Perhaps these hypocrites commit those sins secretly, thinking that no one knows, and yet they condemn others who have committed the same sin. However, God is the one who judges the heart and tests the mind, and He rewards each person according to their own deeds and results.

Verse 4 teaches me that even for those who are despicable hypocrites, God still treats them with loving kindness, patience, and forgiveness. Because He wants everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. This makes me think of the feelings of a parent when they see their wayward child heading down the path of crime and being ready to do everything to save their child.

Verse 5 and 6 teach me that anyone who hardens their heart, refuses to repent, and continues to live in sin, especially the sin of hypocrisy, will be justly judged by God. After judgment comes punishment that corresponds to their wrongdoing.

Verse 7 and 8 teach me that eternal life is granted to those who endure, suffer, and bear all injustice and oppression to do good works, which means living according to God’s word. They are the ones who seek glory, honor, and immortality and You grant them eternal life.

Dear Father, I understand that glory, honor, and eternal life refer to everything in the Kingdom of Heaven, and specifically to the characteristics and qualities of the physical body that is born from above of those who sincerely believe in Your Gospel of Salvation.

Dear Father, I understand that the suffering and hardship that people face as a result of their wrongdoing is a punishment in this life. The punishment that comes first is for those who have believed in You but have not lived according to Your Word. Then comes the punishment for those who do not believe in You and live in sin. The people of Israel represent those who believe in You, and the Greeks represent those who do not believe in You.

Dear Father, I understand that in the End Times, You will judge the people of Israel first and then the remaining nations of the world. Before the End Times, You will judge the Church first and then the world. You will judge the Church on the day when Christ comes to take the Church out of the world. Those who live according to Your Word will be resurrected or transformed, then taken up into the air to meet Christ and be taken into heaven by Him. Those who do not live according to Your Word will not be resurrected and the living will be left behind in the world to suffer punishment with the rest of the world. You will judge the world with the seven-year Tribulation of the End Times.

Dear Father, I understand that glory, honor, and peace are rewards for those who do good and believe in Your salvation and live according to Your Word. This reward first happens to a person when they truly repent of their sins and believe in the Gospel. At that time, glory, honor, and peace are directed towards the spirit. For in the flesh, Your people are despised, insulted, and persecuted. The people of Israel and Your Church are typical examples of those who are persecuted by the world. This reward happens for the second time to those who remain faithful until death or until they are taken out of the world by Christ. At that time, glory, honor, and peace are given to both the body and spirit.

Dear Father, I understand that whether it is punishment or reward, it always comes first to the people of Israel and then to other nations. For in your eternal plan and purpose, you have chosen the people of Israel as your firstborn. You have appointed them to be a model nation for other nations.

Dear Father, I understand that you do not show favoritism towards anyone. Whom you choose and whom you reject is entirely up to your absolute sovereignty, but you do not act unjustly towards anyone. The act of choosing one person and rejecting another, or giving more to one person and less to another, is not favoritism, as you are the One with the authority to act according to your will. However, to reward one person more than another for the same good work done with the same zeal; or to punish one person more than another for the same offense committed with the same deliberate intention is injustice. You reward or punish each person according to their own deeds, whether it is in this life or the next.

Dear God, my Beloved Father. I am joyful and grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the Word of God that You have given me today. Truly, contemplating the Word of God makes me more holy, wise, and firm in faith. I ask the Holy Spirit to urge my brothers and sisters in You to remain faithful in reading, pondering the Word of God day and night, and carefully following it until the day we meet with Christ in the air. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

In the Grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
03/08/2023