In the book of Roman’s chapter 2, where Apostle Paul writes about why Christians may go to hell/or may not go to heaven. As a result of among other factors, the concept of their good works, not saving them, since their “so called good works” are not measured using the standard of another man’s good works, but against the standard of God’s good works.
The apostle Paul shares with us the seven factors of judgment that Jesus will use when he opens the Books of Works at the Great White Throne Judgment. From these books Jesus will prove why good people are not fit for Heaven.
Romans 2 does not show folks how to be saved. This passage shows folks why they are lost! These are not the principles of salvation. These are the principles of evaluation. God will evaluate according to deeds. Romans 2:6-10. This is the deal breaker, this is why even Apostle Paul with everything that he did for the spreading of the Gospel, was told in 2 Cor.12:9 “My Grace is sufficient”. Standing before God now is the person who says, “Look, God, judge me according to my deeds. I’ve lived a good life. Take my good works and put them beside my bad ones and certainly the good will outweigh the bad!”
But the problem with the moral man is that he thought that his good deeds will be weighed against his bad deeds or at least be compared against the deeds of others.
That will not be the case. God will take the best works of the moral man or woman and compare them with Jesus’ deeds. Jesus raises the lame, gives sight to the blind, and heals the sick. He takes on the sins of the entire world and by his death and sacrifice brings salvation to those who commit to him as Saviour and Lord.
No person in his or her right mind wants to be judged on works. He or she wants mercy.
Therefore whenever we think of ourselves in the dynamics of our relationship with God, or whenever we lay the emphasis or focus on ourselves, regarding the dynamics of the relationship between God and man, let us consider the definition of Pride: a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired. For example: “he takes great pride in his appearance”. Let us analyse these 2 statements:
- I have confessed my sins, and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and saviour.
- God saved man from sin through crucifixion and resurrection.
In the first statement man is the subject and focus of the concept being expressed and indicates self-achievement “pride” while in the second statement, God is the subject and remains the focus of the same concept expressed in statement 1. Man has the tendency to forget that he is the receiver, just the object and not the giver or subject or the performer of the action of the gift of salvation.
In Hebrews 5:5; In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”
Furthermore, in Hebrews 5:7-10; During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
