A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 13 Chapter 2:7 – 11

1. Introduction.
1. The judgment of God will be in truth. The righteous will be judged on those things related to truth, The Lost will be judged by their works. No works can save but the law shows their sins. Romans 2:6 “Who will render to every man according to his deeds:”
2. Galatians 3:23 - 24 “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. (24.) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
3. Man may have a zeal for God (in sort) but not according God (that is in Christ), Romans 10:2 - 4 “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3.) For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (4.) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

2. Verse 7 “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:”
1. “To them who by patient continuance in well doing…” This is those who are saved, not that they were saved by good works but the good works they did were because of their salvation. As James said James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
2. Some will say Paul and James differed in that Paul taught faith and James taught works, however as we see here they were in lockstep.
3. “patient continuance in well doing” means – patience in hope. The true character of the Christian is growing and progressing in Christ.
4. “seek for” means – Seeking to worship God. The greatest thing a Christian can do on earth is to seek to worship God in truth. This will be our judgment.
5. “seek for glory and honour and immortality” Three words here:

a. “seek for glory” – means honour, praise, worship. Not that a Christian seeks these things for himself, but for God. Not that a Christian needs worldly glory, but as being patient we will receive that from God in due time.

b. “seek for honour” – means valuables, money paid. We do not seek honor because God will honor us in due time, this is also where patience is good.

c. “seek for immortality – means incorruptibility or That which is not corruptible, or subject to decay. The resurrection of the body will be incorruptible, also the crowns of righteousness will be incorruptible. John Gill said: “The manner in which these things are sought is, "by patient continuance in well doing"; by doing good works, and by doing these good works well, from a principle of faith and love, and with a view to the glory of God; and by patiently enduring reproaches and sufferings for well doing, and by persevering therein.”

6. “eternal life” – meaning That is not that we receive eternal life for these but that this is the cause of us doing them. Eternal life is not bought or earned but rather given. John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” - And John 6:28-29 “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? (29.) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
2. Verse 8-9 “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, (9.) Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;”
1. “But unto them that are contentious” means – Are those who contend for victory, and not truth. This is the opposite of the patient continuance person they do not “do not obey the truth.” Deuteronomy 21:20 “And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.”
2. Rather than truth they obey “unrighteousness” They would rather yield themselves to iniquity. This is because they are not servants of God but rather servants of sin. Romans 6:13 “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Romans 6:16-17 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (17.) But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”
3. “indignation and wrath” will be theirs, and it means the fierceness (it also denotes breathing hard) and wrath means vengeance. This shows the anger of God at them.
4. Verse 9 “Tribulation and anguish” is speaking of their eternal life in hell, Luke 16:24 “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” - Mark 9:44 “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.”
5. “upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;” All lost sinners will suffer eternal damnation, it does not matter what nationality you are. Verse 11 “For there is no respect of persons with God.”