Romans Chapter 2

If this is your first time receiving Covered in His Dust, welcome.

I’d love to hear where you’re reading from. Just reply and let me know.

Before diving into my notes, I encourage you to read Chapter 2 first.

I include all the Scripture below, but there’s something about sitting with the whole chapter first — giving yourself room to be curious.

What catches you off guard?
What doesn't make sense?
Where is that?
Who's that?
Why?

Those questions will make the notes hit deeper.

"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."

May you be covered in His dust.

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Peace to you, brothers and sisters.

It took us twelve weeks to get through the first chapter of Romans.

I've never read Scripture like this.

This slowly.
This intentionally.

For most of my life, I could have given you a general idea of what Romans was about. I knew the themes. I knew the reputation. I knew the famous verses.

But looking back now, I realize how little I actually knew.

As I've gone back and reread chapter one, my eyes feel opened in a way they weren't before. Not because the text changed, but because I did. I see how I've rushed the Bible. How impatient I've been with words meant to be weighed, not skimmed.

At this pace, it may take a few years to walk through this letter. And honestly, I'm at peace with that.

Here's what I'm learning: When you slow down and sit with Paul's words, something changes. Not just learning. Not just clarity. Transformation. The kind that’s deep and steady.

We'll see Paul differently.
The cross differently.
And Christ Himself more clearly.

Romans isn't in a hurry. And we shouldn’t be either.

Here's what I mean.

Paul spends three full chapters before he ever gets to the rescue. That’s not an accident.

Why three chapters?
And I need you to hear this.

Because most of us are willing to admit a little sin.
Just not enough to feel desperate.

"I'm not perfect… but I'm a pretty good guy."

“I don't lie. Much”
“I'm forgiving. Usually.”
“I help the poor. Sometimes.”

The problem with that kind of honesty is that it never produces desperation.
It keeps us safe.

We suppress what's harder to face.
Selfishness.
Arrogance.
Greed.
Pride.

And because we don't steal or murder, or cheat on our wives, we assume we're fine.

Paul calls that what it is: a lie.

He takes three chapters to bring us face to face with the cancer.
He lets us touch the tumor.
Watch the surgery.
Sit through the chemo.

Because people who don't feel sick never run to the Doctor.

And just when we're tempted to think chapter one was about them, Paul turns, looks straight at us, and says, "You too."

That's where Romans 2 begins.

That word "therefore" is a hinge.

It connects what Paul just said in chapter one to what he's about to say now.

In Romans 1, Paul described people who suppress the truth about God. Who reject Him. Who spiral into unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, envy, murder, strife, deceit.

And if you're like most people reading that list, you probably felt relieved.

"Thank God I'm not like them."

But Paul doesn't give you that option.

"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges."

Wait.
What?
Me?

Yes. You.

The one who thinks, "At least I'm not THAT bad."

Paul says you have no excuse.

You judge others for what you do.

Here's what Paul's saying:

The very act of judging someone else reveals you know right from wrong.

You know murder is wrong.
You know greed is wrong.
You know pride is wrong.

So when you point your finger at someone else and say, "Look at them," you're admitting you understand God's standard.

Then Paul cuts deeper:

"You, the judge, practice the very same things."

You might be thinking, "I don't murder. I don't hate God. I don't invent evil schemes."

And you're right. You probably don't.

But do you remember that list from Romans 1?

Let's take a look at a few:

Greed.
Always wanting more. Never satisfied.
Have you ever scrolled through Amazon looking for something you don't need?

Envy.
Resenting what others have.

Gossip.
Tearing people down in secret.

Unloving.
Cold. Indifferent.

Unmerciful.
Refusing compassion.

Paul's not saying you commit every sin on the list.

He's saying you only need one.

James puts it this way: "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it" (James 2:10).

One is enough. And the moment you judge someone else for their sin, you're admitting you know God's standard, which means you have no excuse when you break it yourself.

"Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?"

Paul's not asking for information.

He's asking if you've lost your mind.

Do you really think God's going to judge everyone else but give you a pass?

Do you think because you go to church, you're safe?
Do you think because you read your Bible, you're exempt?
Do you think because you're not as bad as others, God will overlook your sin?

Paul's saying: No. You won't escape.

The same judgment that falls on "them" falls on you.

Because the issue isn't whether you're better than someone else.

The issue is whether you're right before God.

And you're not.
None of us are.

You're Misreading God's Kindness

Now Paul shifts.

Here's what's happening.

God has been kind to you.

He's been patient.
He's been forbearing.

You've sinned. And nothing happened.
You've been selfish. And life kept going.
You've been proud. And the sky didn't fall.

And somewhere along the way, you started thinking that meant approval.

"I must be okay. God hasn't judged me yet."

But Paul says you've misread the situation.

God's kindness isn't a stamp of approval.
It's a timer.

God is giving you time.
Time to see your sin.
Time to feel the weight of it.
Time to turn.

His patience isn't proof that you're fine.

It's proof that He's merciful.

This is where it gets terrifying.

Paul uses a financial term here.

"Storing up."

Like a bank account.

Every day you refuse to repent, the balance grows.
Every time you justify your sin, another deposit is made.
Every moment you harden your heart, the debt increases.

You’re storing up wrath.

And one day, the bill comes due.

This isn't God randomly deciding to be angry.

This is you, building your own judgment.

Brick by brick.
Day by day.
Sin by sin.

Paul's not trying to scare you for fun.

He's trying to wake you up before it's too late.

But wait. I thought Paul was talking about unbelievers?

Paul's writing to the church in Rome. Saints. And yes, he's writing about unbelievers.

But Paul's saying Romans 2:1-5 cuts just as deep for Christians as it does for anyone else.

Here's why.

Believers still judge

We might not be living in open rebellion like Romans 1 describes, but we absolutely fall into the trap of judging others while excusing ourselves.

"At least I'm not like them."
"Thank God I don't struggle with that."
"How could they do something so stupid?"

Paul's saying: The moment you judge, you reveal you know God's standard. And if you know it and break it, even in smaller ways, you're guilty too.

Believers can misread God’s kindness

This is huge.

We can start thinking that because we're saved, God's patience with our ongoing sin means approval. We get comfortable. We stop feeling the weight of sin. We think, "I'm covered by grace, so it's fine."

But Paul says: God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.

Not complacency.
Not comfort in sin.
Repentance.

Believers can have hard hearts

Verse 5 talks about a "hard and impenitent heart."

That's not just unbelievers.
Believers can harden their hearts too.

Every time we justify sin instead of confessing it.
Every time we compare ourselves to others instead of God's standard.
Every time we refuse to repent because "it's not that bad."

We're hardening.

So what does this mean for us?

This passage is a gut check.

Paul's asking:

Are you still soft toward conviction?
Do you even see your sin?
Do you still run to repentance when the Spirit convicts you?

If yes, that's evidence of grace at work.

If no, if you're defensive, if you're comparing yourself to others, if you're thinking "I'm fine", Paul's saying you're in danger.

Not danger of losing your salvation (that's a different theological discussion).

But danger of storing up wrath by refusing to deal with sin God is trying to expose.

If you're sitting here feeling the weight of this, that's not condemnation.

That's conviction.

And conviction is proof the Spirit is still at work in you.

The difference between a believer and an unbeliever isn't that believers don't sin.

It's that believers hate their sin.

The world defends it.
The believer confesses it.

The world calls it freedom.
The believer calls it slavery.

The world hardens.
The believer repents.

If your heart is soft right now, if you're grieving over your judgmental spirit, your pride, your coldness, that's grace.

God hasn't given you over.
He's drawing you back.

His kindness is still extended.

Today.

Right now.

Repent. And run to the only One who can make you right.

Next week, Paul raises the bar so high that no one can reach it.

And that's the point.

I love you,

George
Uncovering Scripture

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George Sisneros is a full-time missionary in Guatemala and the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.

He’s been married to his wife, Vonda, for 27 years. He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.

In 2024, George and his wife expanded to Cuba, joining forces with nine pastors committed to transforming lives through the gospel.

You can get George’s newest digital book, Uncovering Scripture: The Gospel of Luke HERE.