“A saving faith”

Romans 2:1-11

¹ You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. ² And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. ³ Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? ⁴ Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

⁵ But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶ He will judge everyone according to what they have done. ⁷ He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. ⁸ But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. ⁹ There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. ¹⁰ But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. ¹¹ For God does not show favoritism.

I live a life of faith everyday- faith in something. It could be in the person driving the bus I take to the station, in the pay coming into my account, even that the food I buy is not going to be toxic to my body.

In this passage, the apostle Paul is concerned about what I am trusting in for my salvation. There are traps we need to be aware of.

Paul reminds me of a crucial and common one right here- living a good moral life. I am not made righteous by living a good moral life. I am no better than those listed in Rom 1 who lead a blatantly immoral life. I sin against God too, I fall short of his holiness and truth. Romans 3:23. My only chance of salvation is by believing in the salvation God offers me through the death of Jesus.

A second trap for my faith is thinking that, because I live a “good” life, I deserve God’s kindness. His kindness is his free gift to us, which cost the price of Jesus’ life. The purpose of his kindness is to allow for repentance. God always holds out the opportunity for each person to repent, to be saved. He shows mercy and patience with us even though he knows everything we have done wrong, past, present and future. He shows mercy to allow us to realise we can never meet the standard of God by ourselves. His Holy Spirit works in our hearts and convicts us of this truth.

Do I abuse God’s kindness and put off repenting?

Dear Lord Jesus, You are the only true way for me to be saved. I am sorry for trusting in my “good” life. I trust in you Lord to save me. I am sorry for my sin such as pride, impatience, judging others and ignoring you Lord. You know my sin Lord. I ask your forgiveness today.

Amen

Written by Claire Moore