Romans 2:1-4

God, through the Apostle Paul, is making the case that all men are sinners and deserving of His wrath (1:18-3:20).  In Ch. 1:18-32 men are without excuse (v20) because they reject the God Who can be clearly seen in creation.  Paul uses the phrase without excuse in our passage (v1).  To be without excuse is to have no defense.  We make a lot of excuses but he says none stand up in God’s courtroom.

In Rom. 2:1-13 we are given five standards of this judgment.  By these standards we will see that we have no excuse.

Man is inexcusable when judged by his own standard, v1.

One of our excuses is to say, “I may be a sinner, but I’m not as bad as that person over there.”  By comparison we make ourselves out to be better than others.  We then reason that we should not be condemned along with them.  It is against this moralist that Paul again says, you are inexcusable.

It may seem strange that God begins by telling us we will be judged according to our own standard.  Let us be sure we understand.  God is not saying that man can set his own standards, but that man always fails to oive up to what he knows of god’s standard.  This argument will be made against Gentiles (those who did not have access to the written Law of God, 2:14-16) and Jews (those who did have that written Law, 2:17-3:8).  The Gentiles engage in a kind of philosophical comparison while the Jews engage in a religious comparison.  But in either situation the universal truth is that no one lives up to the morality they use to exalt themselves above others.

Man is inexcusable when judged by God’s truth, v2.

God created us so it follows that He has the right to be the judge of how we live up to His purpose for us.  In v2 these expectations are called truth.  Later they are called law (v12).  The specifics of that truth are not identified here; rather we are simply made aware that God will set the standards.

Often this is referred to as absolute truth.  But we should understand that this is redundant.  The truth of the Creator is by definition absolute.  Again, He created mankind.  Thus He defines what is expected.  As intelligent creatures we are bound to seek out His expectations that we might live to please our Maker.

Man is inexcusable when judged by God’s goodness, v3-4.

The previous point may seem at first harsh, though in fact it is only common sense.  In these verses we see another standard that is just as logical.  The Creator has provided for our good in His creation.  “He gives to all life, breath and all things” (Acts 17:25).  “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).  Truly He is good.

He is also forbearing and long-suffering.  History is replete with evidence of the cruelty of mankind.  And, as noted in v1, each person is aware that he has not lived up to their own standard.  And yet, the Creator continues to provide day by day.  It is this goodness in creation that ought to lead intelligent creatures to bow in worship before their Creator, giving Him glory and thanks (Rom. 1:21).