Romans 2:1-4 (KJV)

1. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
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?

A number of years ago Jimmy Swaggert was asked to give his opinion concerning what as happening to Jim Bakker and his PTL Empire. He called Jim Bakker a "cancer" in the body of Christ. During this time, Swaggert himself was visiting prostitutes. In our text Paul has just finished describing reprobate sinners and turns now to those with blind eyes.

2. Even moral people will receive the disapproval of God (v.1).
   A reprobate is one who is "disapproved by God." Paul addresses those who think there is no way they could ever be a reprobate -- people who think they are better!
   1. Some believe Paul is referring to moral Gentiles.
      Seneca, a Roman philosopher and contemporary of Paul, considered himself a "moral guide" to Rome and deplored evil, yet he is to be considered guilty.
   2. Some believe Paul is referring to the Jews.
      Many of the Jews of Paul's day believed "the seed of Abraham according to the flesh, even if they be sinners, unbelieving and disobedient towards God, shall share in the eternal kingdom simply because we are Jews" Dialogue with Trypho by Justin Martyr. This attitude is seen in many religious people today.
   3. Some, like I, believe Paul is referring to both.
      In essence, Paul is saying to that person who sees himself by comparison as better than others -- "You, my friend, are in the same boat as the reprobate."
3. God is righteous in condemning moral, ungodly people (v.2-3).
   "This does not really seem fair," someone shouts! I don't deserve condemnation!
   1. Moral people are guilty of the same sins as reprobates.
      "You that condemn others do the same things" (Romans 2:1b). Don't gloss this. Seneca rationalized with Nero over the murder of the Emperor's mother-in-law. The judgmental person is doing those things that he condemns, but he is good at hiding what he does, or he dresses the outside up and is corrupt on the inside.
   2. Moral people think that they will escape God's judgment.
      The word "think" (suppose NIV) is the Greek word logizomai (logic). Moralists reason or calculate that they are not as bad as others, and hence God will wink! "Do you really figure that you have doped out an angle that will let you go up against God and get away with it? You don't have a chance" Don Barnhouse.
      "But if God is so angry with me, why in the world doesn't He show it?"
4. That judgment has yet to come is a sign of His goodness (v.4).
   "Despisest thou the riches of his goodness . . . which leads to repentance" (v.4). The moralist "underestimates the true value" of God's goodness. It is not given as an affirmation that God delights in you, but as an opportunity to repent of sin. "There is in any willful sin a contempt for the goodness of God" Matthew Henry.
   The purpose of the kindness of God is not to excuse men, but to convict them.