When defending wayward Christians we often quote Romans 8:1. It says, there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Does that mean that condemnation of wicked people is permissible? No, wicked people will experience God’s Justice.
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. Romans 2:1
Paul said, “you may think you can condemn such people.” What people? The wicked ones who suppress the truth by their wickedness. Also, people who once knew God.
Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Romans 1:21
Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. Romans 1:22-23
Paul continued by saying, they thought it foolish to acknowledge God. Therefore, He abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things they should never do. Including the following.
- Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.
- They are backstabbers, haters of God,
- insolent, proud, and boastful..
- They invent new ways of sinning,
- and they disobey their parents.
- They refuse to understand, break their promises,
- are heartless, and have no mercy. Romans 1:29-31
They Influenced Others
And they not only committed these wicked acts themselves, but they influenced others to join them, as well.
They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. Romans 1:32
As Paul began chapter 2 he addressed a vital point. For us, it focuses on this fact. Many feel they have the right to condemn and judge these types of people.
Before we go any further with that, let’s understand God’s position here. Verse 18 says “God showed His anger.” That doesn’t mean He was so upset that He shook the earth to teach them a lesson. No, here’s what He did.
Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Romans 1:18
Wicked People Are Subject to God’s Justice
He never stopped loving and caring about them. He never condemned them either. Instead, He allowed them through the choices they made to condemn themselves. You see, God has already declared to us what His judgment consists of.
Therefore, if we cast judgment on others, according to our verse for today, we condemn ourselves. Thus it makes us just as deserving of punishment as those guilty of wickedness.
The Psalmist talked about the fate of the wicked in Psalm 37. I wrote this related post called Being Wicked is not a Good Idea.
How many times have you considered yourself justified when you compared your actions with someone else’s? We have no excuse for casting judgment. Instead, we must line our lives up with God’s forgiveness.
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? Romans 2:4
When we think about God’s compassion towards us, shouldn’t we show that same compassion to everyone else?
The only one who has the liberty to cast judgment at all is the Lord. But his first choice is to offer grace and forgiveness to those who turn back to Him.
If a person won’t receive those two gifts then they become subject to God’s justice.
Check out this other related post called God Takes No Pleasure In The Life Of The Wicked.
Lord, forgive us for acting as judges at times. If we are guilty of anything, let it be for having too much compassion.
Check out the entire chapter of Romans 2.
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