Romans 2: Larry King interviews the Apostle Paul

Romans 2 

Paul, you have let the Gentiles have it. You have condemned them all under sin’s power and sway by your words and declared them to be under the wrath of God. Now, I am Jewish by birth, though not a practicing Orthodox or Hasidic Jew. Be honest with me. What do you really think about the Jews? Do you agree that we will be found righteous when God judges the world?

Larry, the answer is no. They will not be found righteous.

You have got to be kidding! Paul, how are you defining the judgment of God? What is it like?

Well, Larry, God hates hypocrisy. He has principles of judgment that apply to all men, but I will admit, especially to the Jews.

God’s judgment is according to the truth. This differs greatly from human judgment.

Paul, your Bible says Christians are never to judge. Sounds like you are judging the Jews to me.

Conversely, Larry. The New Testament forbids judging the sins we are practicing in secret in other people, but actually requires Christians and churches to judge sin.

Your God sounds mean to me.

No, God’s long-suffering with sinning people is clear all around us. This gives them a motive and an opportunity to repent. Instead, they are hoarders of wrath.

So, God is going to judge all the Jews together?

No, He will judge them as individuals. And he will judge them by their works.

Now, Paul, you are always saying: grace, grace, grace. Now you are joining all the world religions and cults and admitting salvation is by works?

No, salvation is by grace received through faith, repentance, and surrender. Judgment is by works.

But we are the chosen race. Does that not count for anything, Paul?

Yes, it results in greater responsibility. But God does not show favoritism toward any race. He looks at your heart, your deeds, and your relationship with Him.

What are you saying, Paul?

The judgment of God will fall on both Gentiles and Jews who have not received imputed righteousness from Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Son of God. Having more truth, more light, will make the Jews’ judgment more severe than that of those who did not have access to the Scriptures.

Matthew Henry: “One is not a Christian, that is only one outwardly, nor is baptism valid if it is only outward of the flesh; but he is a Christian, that is one inwardly, and baptism is that of the heart, by the Holy Spirit, and not merely following the written requirement of the ritual. This person’s praise is not of men, but of God because he/she is a genuine believer and a sincere repenter.”