Practicing What We Preach – Romans 2:1-5
Bethel Baptist Church, David Rising
Romans 2:1-5; May 3, 2026 Sunday AM
Practicing What We Preach
The message from last week was a difficult one because it was a list of sins that illustrate the depraved mind.
That list of sins was deep and wide, ranging from murder to pride, from sexual perversion to lack of forgiveness.
We tend to rank sins by their degree of severity, but at the end of the day they are all sin and a great offense to our God that earns condemnation and judgment.
All sin is a big deal, and sin qualifies us all for the death penalty.
This is where Paul’s argument is headed, but the marvelous truth will be that Someone Else took that death penalty and offers us forgiveness and freedom.
This is the glorious gospel message that we believe and preach.
The text we cover today addresses the person who condemns bad behavior in someone else while at the same time overlooking their own sin.
Paul will pull no punches as he uses the 2nd person pronoun “you” throughout.
May God’s word sink into our hearts and minds and may the Holy Spirit apply the text in our lives where needed. Pray.
1. Guilty Judge (2:1)
2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
As we begin this chapter, we see Paul turn his attention from those who are obviously in sin to those who think they are doing great but are not.
These are the moralists, as some bible teachers note. They are the people who observe their own life and can’t see the faults but are quick to condemn everyone else.
Some bible teachers say that the focus of 1:18-32 was the Gentiles, while the focus now in chapter 2:1-29 is primarily the Jews.
This could be, but starting in verse 17 it clearly will be the Jew in focus. And also we should not be quick to dismiss the teaching of verses 1-16 as if not applicable to us. They certainly are!
Recall at the outset of our study in Romans is the tension between Jews and Gentiles which forms some of the backdrop of this chapter.
Notice that Paul paints a wide stroke in verse 1 by stating that the pronoun “you” is “whoever you are.” In other words, if the shoe fits, wear it.
Schreiner makes the point that the shift from Gentile to Jew is similar to what Amos does in chapters 1-2. The Jews could be excited to hear God condemn the Gentiles, but then when the address shifts to self it can be another story.
He also notes that this is similar to Nathan’s confrontation of David in that the story gave David great anger, but then when he discovered it was about him, he had nowhere to hide.
This is the power of God’s Word if we let it confront us and bring about change.
And so if the shoe fits, let us ask ourselves the question: do we ever find ourselves condemning others for their sin when in fact we may be guilty of the same sin?
We may quietly rejoice in our own righteousness because we don’t see ourselves participating in the gravest sins noted in chapter 1, but there are certainly sins noted there that continue to plague us all.
It has been my experience both personally and as I have observed that when we condemn others for their bad behavior, it is sometimes because we don’t like that same behavior in our own lives.
Often when people have little grace for others, they have much grace for themselves. They don’t have a realistic view of themselves.
When we understand the grace of God in our lives and His patience toward us every day, we should have more grace toward others.
We can so quickly jump to incorrect conclusions about others, but we usually give ourselves plenty of grace.
I speak from personal experience!
Paul does not mention specifics, but he has in mind some examples about people who condemn others while they themselves still practice the same things.
Jesus met this resistance during His earthly ministry as he encountered the Jewish leaders.
The way Paul writes here is a method we will see throughout Romans. It is sometimes called diatribe where one argues with an imaginary opponent, anticipating the response with an answer. It’s like the FAQ page we see at times – a list of anticipated questions and answers.
Notice now in verse 2 that perfect judgment is coming because there will be a …
2. Perfect Judge (2:2)
2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
God will ultimately judge someone because they are a sinner. His judgment is according to the truth and it is against those who practice sin.
And for me is that word ‘practice’ (πράσσοντας<πράσσω). KJV has ‘commit.’ This is a present active participle describing the ongoing performance of this sin. This is the normal life of the unbeliever who sins and does not believe it is wrong.
When a believer sins, there is remorse and a desire to change.
Those who practice sins are unbelievers who are guilty and have not have their sins pardoned by the blood of Jesus.
At the final judgment, those who are not covered by the blood of Christ will stand before God and give account of their lives and be condemned to an eternity apart from God’s presence.
Romans 1:32 says that those who practice these sins are deserving of death.
That is harsh, but it is the truth.
One day, all wrongs will be made right because the Judge will be God, not some flawed individual who might be partial and unfair.
The Perfect Judge is coming.
Judgment will be according to truth, so the judgment rendered will be according to the crime. God will perfectly know and will perfectly render judgment.
Paul continues in verse 3 his argument with “oh man, whoever you are”:
3. No Exceptions (2:3)
3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?
Paul’s person-for-the-sake-of-the-argument is so arrogant they think they are the exception to the rule. They condemn another person for their sin, but think they will evade God’s righteous judgment. Good for thee, but not for me.
This is the lie we believe when we condemn others while giving ourselves a pass.
Be not deceived, God is not mocked.
Paul is probing here the inner thought process. This person thinks (λογίζῃ) in their heart and mind they are the exception to the rule and God will somehow give a pass.
Paul is saying that is not the right thought!
An analogy that might help us to think about this is children who grow up in a Christian home. We do not believe that the bible teaches household salvation. That is, if Dad and Mom are believers, it does not automatically mean that the children are also believers.
Sure, there is a great benefit and advantage for children who grown up in this environment, but ultimately each child has to come to his or her own faith in Christ. A child cannot think that since they are safe in the home that their own behavior is somehow hidden before God and they will somehow get a pass. Not the case.
If this supposed person is a Jew, then as we will see later, this Jew cannot rely upon the facts of their privileges as an excuse, as a reason they will not be evaluated by God in the final days.
In the end, it will not be about ethnicity or privilege. It will all be based upon the call of God, the faith of the individual, and the fruit of their lives as a testament to who they are before God.
Paul now in verse 4 probes the thinking of this moralist who thinks he or she is an exception:
4. Despising God’s Goodness (2:4)
4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
This is a great insight into the heart of this person who condemns but practices the same sins.
In their heart they are despising God’s character and taking advantage of a perceived exception to God’s righteous rule.
When we sin we are despising God and His law. This is precisely what the LORD told David after he had sinned with Bathsheba and killed Uriah. God told David that he not only despised His commandments (2 Samuel 12:9) but He also despised Him (10).
We prefer not to think of it like that, but it is the truth. Paul says that three things were taken for granted with this mindset:
(1) the riches of God’s goodness (χρηστότητος). The riches of His goodness, the wealth of His goodness, kindness, generosity.
This action is taking advantage of the privileges of a good and kind God. It is as if someone is stealing from someone who has extreme wealth. God is so good to us, and the one who takes advantage of it is actually living in rebellion.
(2) The riches of God’s forbearance (BAGD – ἀνοχή, ῆς, ἡ (X.+)—1. holding back, delay, pause). God is keeping back the judgment He could extend now. NASB has ‘tolerance’; God puts up with a whole lot more than we do, which is the point of this passage.
(3) The riches of God’s longsuffering (BAGD – μακροθυμία, ας, ἡ (Menand.+; Strabo 5, 4, 10; LXX)—1. patience, steadfastness, endurance). These words all go together and seem to be progressive.
All of God’s riches are there to point the sinner toward repentance. Instead this person is misusing God’s lack of response and misreading it to think they are exempt.
How easy is it for us to think we are exempt from God’s righteous standard? We are not, and so let us never take advantage of God’s goodness, forbearance, and patience.
This is the one who drives through a red light once, twice, and then begins to think they are immune to the law on this matter.
This verse emphasizes an important point about conversion, about a true faith in Christ. Repentance is a fruit of conversion and is closely tied to faith. God’s grace extended toward sinners leads some to repentance, while others to more rebellion.
Repentance is acknowledging we are wrong, being sorry for it, and committing to walk along the path of righteousness.
5. Perfect Judgment Certain (2:5)
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
God’s perfect judgment is certain.
Notice that God’s wrath is tied to one’s hard and impenitent heart.
Paul first points out this person is hard (σκληρότητά, noun), stubborn. Refuses to change. Every know someone like that? Ever been like that?
This could be a good quality if changing is wrong, but when God calls us to change and we don’t, we are hard and subjecting ourselves to His wrath.
Paul next mentions an impenitent heart (ἀμετανόητον καρδίαν). An impenitent heart is an unrepentant heart. This is someone who is confronted with the truth and refuses to turn away from sin to the Lord.
Notice that Paul says that THIS PERSON is the one storing up God’s wrath for that future judgment.
God’s judgment one day will be according to one’s sin.
This is the opposite of what one might think.
This self-righteous person, who condemns others, is guilty of doing those same things.
God’s wrath one day will be revealed when He issues forth His righteous judgments.
Remember how Paul ended his sermon on Mars hill?
Acts 17:30–31 (NKJV) 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
The Psalms spoke of this coming judgment:
Psalm 9:8 (NKJV) 8 He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.
Psalm 96:13 (NKJV) 13 For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.
Psalm 98:9 (NKJV) 9 For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.
Jesus Himself speaks about the coming judgment:
John 5:22–27 (NKJV) 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 25 Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.
Acts 10:42 (NKJV) 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.
That was Peter speaking to Cornelius, the Italian gentile who was a devout and God-fearing man but didn’t know the full story of Jesus.
This coming judgment is tied to the gospel message and an important part of it.
When will this judgement take place? Verse 5 speaks of it generally, but we could pinpoint to Revelation 20 and the Great White Throne judgment.
Paul’s argument continues in the verses that follow, but we’ll bookmark our study here for now.
Let me close with three points of application:
Application
1. “It’s Me O Lord.” As we think about sin, let us first look in the mirror and recognize our own shortcomings. When we do this, we are less prone to look at the others and condemn them. We may not think we are condemning them, but in our criticism of others so often it is a veiled attempt to prop up ourselves while tearing down others.
2. Condemnation is God’s Business. Remember, God will one day sort things out properly. We can get all worked up in our day to make sure everyone else is right, but in the end God will make it right. He judges according to truth and not our twisted understanding of reality.
Yes, we must evaluate and discern and make good decisions, but ultimately it will be the Righteous Judge who will condemn.
3. Thank God for His patience. Think of how often God could have struck us down for our blatant sins, but He extended to us again His kindness so that we would repent of our sin and come to Him. Extend that to others even while we pray for them and encourage them to turn from their sin and to turn to Christ.