Equal Opportunity God

Read Romans 2:1
 
I was taught in Bible college that whenever you see the word “therefore” you should always ask, “what is it there for?”  In the case of Romans 2:1 The answer to the therefor is, “Since God has made himself known to all men (Jews and Gentiles) humanity has no excuse for sinful their actions. 

Paul now turns his attention from the unrighteous Gentiles to the religious moralizing Jews (These were people who were very religious and imposed morals on others all the while living contrary to what they preached and pushed onto others).  They believed since they were God’s chosen race they would not face God’s condemnation or judgment simply because they were Jews. The moralizers actually believed that they were free to sin as much and as often as they liked because they were exempt from God’s wrath.

There was a common tradition for the Jews to put Abraham at the gates of Hell so he could keep Jews out, regardless of their deeds.  A Jewish man once allegedly said, “They who are the seed of Abraham according to the flesh shall in any case, even if they are sinners and unbelieving and disobedient towards God, share in the eternal Kingdom of God.”[1]  Paul sets the record straight. All sin will be judged, no matter who you are.
 
Romans 2:1 – 16 can be summed up as, “God does not discriminate. He is an equal opportunity God.  He will judge and punish all sin equally.”  Contrary to Jewish thought and tradition there are no “free rides” in God’s eyes. I believe there are many Christians who have taken on this same mindset.  I know that not all Christians think this way, but if we are honest we may sometimes think God is going to judge us a little less harsher than He is an ungodly sinner. 

Christians can sometimes be very self righteous.  I know of some who seem a little anxious to know that God is going to send the ungodly to a place of eternal torment.  We may think of this as justice and sinners getting what they deserve.  Let us be aware that followers of Christ are not exempt from judgment.  God will judge all sin without discrimination and He will be harsh in His judgment.  God doesn’t care who you are or how long you have been a Christian.  He doesn’t care if you were baptized as a baby or as an adult, it does not matter to him that you are a member of a church or not, if you were confirmed or unconfirmed, or a daily or occasional Bible reader.  You will be judged for your actions here on earth.  Thankfully, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ you will not be condemned in the same manner.

[1] Barclay, William, The Letter to the Romans (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1957, p. 35