Is this not a hot topic or what? Let’s proceed with what the Scriptures teach.
Romans 2 comes out hitting hard. After Romans 1 where we see that God gave people over to their sinful desires, mainly homosexuality and idolatry, he now says, who are you to judge? God is absolutely right to judge them in their sins. And if they don’t repent, it will not be well with their soul. But how do you, a mere man, judge, and yet also remain in a state of not having repented?
These kinds of verses are loved today. And that’s a bit the problem. Because it is ripped out of context.
If someone calls something a sin, the response is, “You’re judging!”
This isn’t the teaching at all. The teaching is about hypocrisy. The persons passing judgment were also unrepentant, just in different ways.
The Gentiles were committing idolatry and homosexuality, but the Jews were also committing adultery, robbing temples, stealing, and more. Worse, they were using their Jewishness, as in the fact that they had the Law, as a sense of self righteous shielding from their behavior. But he called them to repent also:
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.
God is calling both to repent. He isn’t saying that calling something sin is not Godly. He is saying that all are sinful, there is no room for self-righteousness AND all need to repent or face God’s righteous judgment and wrath.
Paul is directly confronting them about their self-righteousness and unrepentat hearts. He says they are not different than the Gentiles. In fact, if the Gentiles are obeying the Law, even without the Law, then they are better because they show themselves to be consecrated in their heart and life.
The Jews know that they are a covenant people of God, and the sign of that covenant was circumcision. But they thought that all was fine because they were outwwardly circumcised. But God says it is so much more.
So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
The summation is this. Sin is sin, and to call it a sin is not wrong. But we must deal with our own sin first. If we are doing things that are not righteous before God and yet justifying our behavior, we have no right to judge someone else’s sin.
We all need to repent.
God shows his kindness, forebearance, and patience, leading us all to repentance. Repentance and restoration with him is the goal.
But we must A) Deal with our sin first, and B) remember to give grace as God does while all come to repentance.
Romans 2
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
The Jews and the Law
17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God; 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[b]
25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements, will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised? 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you who, even though you have the[c] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.
28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.