“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, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:5-11).
Since God cannot be tempted to sin (James 1:13), He will never, under any circumstance, compromise His holiness and righteousness. This is one significant reason why the Law of Moses had to be replaced (Romans 3:21-26).
Not even in His final judgment of all humanity will God compromise His righteousness. The impenitent will not get a pass; they will get what they deserve.
In this passage, Paul states three reasons why God’s judgment is righteous. These are:
It is appropriate. It will be rendered “to each one according to his deeds” (v. 6) and will be according to the covenant under which the Jew lived and the covenant under which the Gentile lived prior to the inauguration of the new covenant given to all humanity (v. 12).
It is discerning. Those who respond to the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering with penitence and then with patient continuance in doing good will be blessed with eternal life. Those who respond to the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering with impenitence and are self-seeking—not obeying the truth but obeying unrighteousness—they will receiv God’s indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish.
It is impartial. Though the Jews and Gentiles had lived under different covenants with different requirements prior to the cross of Christ, God expected each to live up to the standards He had given. Neither will be exempt from God’s judgment. Each will be judged according to the requirements of the covenant they had, for there is no partiality with God.
