Read Romans 2:1—3:20

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and
immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are selfseeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be
wrath and anger.

Romans 2:7–8
God had given Israel great material and spiritual riches: a wonderful
land, a righteous law, a temple and priesthood, God’s providential
care, and many more blessings. God had patiently endured Israel’s
many sins and rebellions, and had even sent them His Son to be their
Messiah. Even after Israel crucified Christ, God gave the nation nearly
forty more years of grace and withheld His judgment. It is not the
judgment of God that leads people to repentance, but the goodness of
God; but Israel did not repent.
In Romans 2:6–11, Paul was explaining a basic principle of God’s
judgment: God judges according to deeds, just as He judges according
to truth. Paul was dealing here with the consistent actions of people’s
lives, the total impact of their character and conduct.
True saving faith results in obedience and godly living, even
though there may be occasional falls. When God measured the deeds
of the Jews, He found them to be as wicked as those of the Gentiles.
Something to Ponder
Is it possible for people to grow to have consistently good (not perfect)
character and conduct? If so, how? How does this fit with Paul’s claim
that no one is righteous apart from Christ’s sacrifice (Rom. 3:9–10)