“Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 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? Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.” (Romans 2:1–11, ESV)

In Paul’s writing we often find ourselves in a courtroom. Some of his language lends itself to that imagery and this is a great example. In this courtroom, where we’re sitting really matters. Things can go terribly wrong for us if we take the wrong seat. No where is this more true than when we think we belong behind the Judge’s bench. When we judge someone else, we always end up condemning ourselves. Why? Because our assigned seat is at the defendants table. When we presume to sit as judge, we nevertheless remain the defendant in the courtroom. Our judgement and condemnation of another applies to us because we are guilty. We did it.

We might not be guilty of exactly what the other person stands accused, but we are guilty all the same. Maybe we haven’t done what they’ve done, but we’ve done something on Paul’s list from Romans 1. It may not be a comprehensive and exhaustive lists of possible infractions, but there’s bound to be at least one thing on this list that should land each of us before the Judge.

“They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” (Romans 1:29–32, ESV)

When I render my judgement from the Judge’s bench toward the defendants table, I cannot avoid pronouncing that Judgement against myself, for I am the defendant. The Judge’s seat belongs to another. It is not mine. I must never sit there.

As scary as it might seem, the defendants table is the only place where I can hope for mercy. For if I leave the Judge’s seat for the One to whom it rightly belongs, I can receive mercy, for God is a merciful Judge. At first glance, it may appear that Paul himself has lost sight of what a merciful Judge God really is. There’s all this talk about God’s righteous judgement, stored up wrath, fury, tribulation, and distress whereby he renders to each person precisely what they deserve based on their wicked choices. But don’t miss Paul’s point.

Who are the defendants who must face God’s wrath?

1. Those who judge others.
2. Those with a hard and impenitent heart who will not repent in response to God’s kindness.
3. Those who presume upon the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience.

This group of people will have to face God’s judgement. This judgement will be based upon works. If there are any defendants who are part of the group above who have done what’s right, then they will be declared guiltless. But if they are guilty, then the decree will be just and the sentence severe. As Paul’s letter to the Roman’s unfolds, I expect we will discover that this hypothetical group of people who judge others, refuse to repent, and continue with hardened hearts who will be found righteous when their own works are judged is a non-existent group of people. Everyone, when their own works are measured, will be found guilty.

But the underlying assumption of this passage is that God is merciful. Facing his judgment on the basis of the evaluation of our merit is unnecessary. It’s only necessary if we harden our hearts, refusing to repent. If, rather than presuming upon his kindness, we were to surrender to his kindness with soft and repentant hearts, we could escape his wrath. He has made this possible through the sacrifice of Jesus, which will be the major theme of this letter.