January 10 , 2001
Reading
“But we know that the
judgment of God is according to truth” (2)
Pilate once asked Jesus, “What is truth?” but he did not wait for an answer. The statement of Jesus that brought about this question was, “I am come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice” John 18: 37,38.
When speaking of the judgment of God, Paul says, “But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth” Rom: 2:2. This sets the ground rules for all discussion concerning the judgment of God. Jesus came into the world to bear witness of the truth; the truth of God regarding the condition of man, salvation, God’s love and His judgment.
God’s truth is the standard by which all else is compared. Herein lies a great similarity between the Old and New Covenants: obey the truth and receive God’s blessing, disobey and bear His wrath, “but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness – indignation and wrath” (8).
Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” To avoid the retribution and judgment of God we must obey His Son. If we do this we are promised eternal life, if we do not, we will face His wrath. This is the plain and simple gospel.
The judgment of God is fair, for He will “render to each one according to his deeds” (6). The unrighteousness of man will be judged by the righteous judgment of God, that same righteous judgment by which His Son was judged when He bore our sins in His body on the cross. There is no partiality with God (11) even though it was His Dearly Beloved Son who hung on the cross. Our Divine Sin-Bearer suffered God’s wrath and judgment on my sin so I, His chosen one, may have eternal life. Oh glorious Savior! What incredible love!
Here Paul also brings into focus the most difficult aspect of the gospel for the Jews to accept, that Jew and Greek (gentiles) are now treated as one in the eyes of God. God’s judgment is against the Jews and the gentiles just as are His blessings. To the Jew first (they were His chosen people), and then to the gentile. It was not enough just to hear and know the law, God required obedience to it.
The lengthy parenthesis (13-15)
explains how the gentiles, without the law, by conscience, have it written in
their hearts, will accept it based on whether it accuses or excuses them. But
those who know the law cannot hide one thing from God who will judge “the
secrets of men by Jesus Christ” (16). This He will do by “my gospel”, that very
same gospel of which Paul said he was “separated to”
(1:1), and of which he was “not ashamed” (
We have a great problem understanding what truth really is because we have never experienced it! As Godly as we like to think we are, there are times every day when we either passively or aggressively impart untruths. God is guilty of neither. It is just as impossible for us to understand God’s truth as it is His Holiness and righteousness.
The truth and God’s righteousness are one in the same. This is the standard by which all ungodly persons will be judged. Jesus was the truth of God Personified – walk in His steps.