The Epistle of Paul The Book of Romans series: Learning to be rooted and established in The Cross of Christ
Accountability Before God: The Weight of Our Actions
Romans 2:3-6 (KJV)
3) And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4) Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5) But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Romans 2:3 "And do you think this, O man, who judges those who practice such things, and do the same things, that you will escape the judgment of God?"
Paul’s words here are direct and aimed at those who judge others while practicing the same sins. The Greek word logizomai ("to reckon, compute, or calculate") points to a deliberate process of reasoning, reminding us that no one escapes God's judgment simply by pointing out others' faults.
Wuest states in his commentary that this rhetorical question emphasizes that Jews, who were privileged with the Law, should be the least likely to think that they are exempt from God’s justice. This is a constant reminder for today—privilege, knowledge, or religious background does not shield anyone from accountability before God.
Many Jews of Paul’s time, as noted in Matthew 3:8-9, believed their heritage alone secured their place in God’s Kingdom. But this is a dangerous assumption, one that should resonate with us now. It's a reminder that our spiritual "privileges"—whether church affiliation or knowledge of scripture—are not substitutes for a personal, repentant relationship with God. We must ask ourselves: are we relying on external factors to escape judgment, or are we living in genuine repentance?
Romans 2:4 "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"
Paul's challenge intensifies. The word kataphroneō ("to look down upon") reveals that many despised God's patience and mercy, seeing them as signs of weakness rather than kindness. Wuest adds that ignoring God's goodness amounts to contempt for His grace. Paul reminds his audience that God’s grace—His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering—is designed to lead them to repentance. Yet many misunderstand or even disdain these gifts.
The same danger exists today. God's blessings—His patience with our failings and His continued provision in our lives—are often misinterpreted as approval of our behavior. But as Wuest points out, God's goodness isn't meant to endorse our sin; it’s meant to bring us to a place of genuine repentance. We must constantly remember that God's grace is not a license to sin but a call to transformation. Are we responding to His kindness with repentance, or are we mistaking it for permission to continue in sin?
Romans 2:5 "But according to your hardness and your impenitent heart you are storing up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God."
Paul turns to a stark warning: those who harden their hearts against God's call to repentance are storing up wrath for themselves. The Greek term thēsaurizō ("to store up or heap up") shows that unrepentant actions accumulate judgment. Wuest notes that this stubborn resistance will ultimately lead to the revelation of God's righteous judgment. This is not only a future event for the Jews, as judgment fell in A.D. 70, as Jimmy Swaggart points out in his Expositor's Study Bible, but it is also a sobering reminder for us today.
The hardening of one’s heart is not just a rejection of God’s grace, but it’s an active accumulation of judgment. Each moment of resistance builds up consequences that will ultimately come to light. Today, this truth remains just as relevant. Are we harboring stubbornness, refusing to repent? Every moment of resistance stores up consequences that, in God's timing, will be revealed. Our daily choices either align us with God’s mercy or contribute to the wrath being stored against us.
As we reflect on these verses from Romans 2:3-6, the message is clear: the weight of our actions carries eternal significance. We are accountable before God, and no external privilege or religious identity can shield us from His righteous judgment. God's kindness and patience are extended not to excuse sin but to lead us to repentance. The challenge for us today is to ensure that we do not mistake God’s grace for indifference to our actions. Instead, may we be moved by His goodness to live in true repentance, recognizing that the choices we make each day matter both now and in eternity.
