If you’re following along in the through-the-Bible reading plan I am, you’ve read Romans 2 recently and been confused about such paragraphs as this one, which sounds a lot like you can earn your salvation through good works:

He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality. (Romans 2.6 – 11, ESV)

But it can’t mean we can earn our salvation because just a few paragraphs later, Paul is clear:

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3.20 – 24, ESV)

So what is Romans 2 about? It’s Paul talking to religious people and explaining that their religion is not enough. Specifically:

• Knowledge without action is not enough. (verses 12 – 16)

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. (Romans 2.13, ESV)

• Teaching without lifestyle is not enough. (verses 17 – 24)

You who teach others, do you not teach yourself? (Romans 2.21, ESV)

• Ceremony without heart change is not enough. (verses 25 – 29)

For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. (Romans 2.25, ESV)

• Heritage without obedience is not enough. (Romans 3.1 – 8)

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? (Romans 3.1 – 3, ESV)

I think these four points are worth a deeper look so we’ll spend time exploring over the next few days.

Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors. But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done. (Romans 2.1, 2, MSG)