What Does Being Judged by Our Work Mean?
6God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”
Romans 2:6 (NIV)
Yesterday we looked at 3 characterises of how God would judge us. But the apostle Paul makes a surprising statement in Romans 2:6, he writes that “God ‘will give to each person according to what he has done.'” At first glance, this might seem to contradict Paul’s earlier statement in Romans 1:16-17, where he asserts that righteousness comes from God and is received through faith, not earned by works.
However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that Paul is not contradicting himself. In Romans 2:6, he is quoting the last line of Psalm 62:1-12, which contrasts two groups of people: those who plot against God’s chosen king and those who find rest and salvation in God alone. The latter group is rewarded by God according to what they have done, which is to seek refuge in Him and make Him the center of their lives.
Paul is not suggesting that works are the basis for salvation, but rather that they serve as evidence of genuine faith. Just as the apples on an apple tree prove that the tree is alive, good works demonstrate that a person has saving faith. Faith in Christ alone provides new life, but a changed life of righteousness proves that faith is real and heartfelt.
It is important not to misinterpret Paul’s words as implying that works need to be added to faith in order to stand before God on the day of judgment. However, it is equally crucial not to diminish the challenge presented in this passage. If our professed faith does not result in a transformation of our actions and deeds, it is valid to question the sincerity and depth of that faith.
In conclusion, while religious people may mistakenly believe that they can be saved by works, Paul’s message in Romans 2:6 is not about earning salvation through good deeds. Instead, he emphasizes that genuine faith in God will naturally lead to a changed life, with works serving as evidence of that faith. Salvation comes through faith alone, but true faith will inevitably be accompanied by righteous living.
Have you ever found yourself relying on good works to earn God’s favor? How does what you read today challenge that notion?
[The ideas for this week’s materials on Romans 2:1-16 were drawn from Tim Keller’s book “Romans 1-7 for You“]
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I remember Tim Keller shared his experience of waking up one morning feeling weak and upset because he didn’t like the sermon he had prepared. As he was jogging, he reflected on Romans 1:17, which states, “He who through faith is righteous shall live.”
Suddenly, Keller had a realization: “He who through preaching is righteous shall die. He who through approval is righteous shall die. He who through performance is righteous shall die.” This insight highlights the danger of relying on one’s own performance, communication skills, or the approval of others as a source of righteousness, particularly for pastors like me.
When a pastor seeks righteousness through their own preaching performance or the approval of their congregation, they are essentially relying on their own works rather than resting in God. This mindset can lead to feelings of “death” when their performance falls short or fails to meet expectations. So, a pastor must find his righteousness through faith in what God has done for him, rather than relying on his own efforts.
By acknowledging our own limitations and dependence on God’s grace, we can find true freedom from the pressure to perform or impress others.
I have in times past found myself relying on good works to earn God’s favor. For me, the way in which this typically manifests is in seeking the approval of others. I have done good works, assuring that others either saw it or else knew about it, as if that would somehow validate my claim to be a “real Christian.” Today’s reading reminds me that “salvation comes through faith alone,” and good works and righteous living are a natural product of real saving faith. As James tells us, “faith without works is dead.” Our good deeds are not the basis of our salvation, but rather the evidence of it. I like the illustration given in our reading today: “Just as the apples on an apple tree prove that the tree is alive, good works demonstrate that a person has saving faith.” This reminds me of Jesus’ discourse in John 15, where He tells us that He is the vine and we are the branches. A branch does not work to produce fruit- it merely abides in the vine! And furthermore, apart from the vine, the branch will most certainly wither and die. As we abide in Christ, we will inevitably bear the fruit of righteous living, not as a means to earning God’s favor, but as evidence of real, saving faith😊
I was not raised Christian so in fact my whole life is about self reliance and the belief that I would be rewarded for being a good person. Even after I accepted Christ, I had a hard time getting away from that way of thought. I tried to do better, to prove myself worthy not so much in the eyes of the Lord but in the eyes of others to show how much I learn or to show how I’ve grown. I remember several moments when I got too full of myself and God shown me my arrogance in such a clear way that I am so shamed afterward. He tested me and He wanted to see if I can grow from it or if I would pull away from Him. Those are the choices I feel He gave us. That’s free will. The choices we have are – learn from what He teaches and grow closer to Him or deny His revelations about our nature and in refusing to recognize our nature, we choose to pull away from Him.
I know Father that You never give up on me. I know You are only trying to teach me to let me understand my own nature and in recognizing my weakness, I would become more dependent on You and hold on tighter to You. I thank You that You show me love and kindness and allow me to recognize Your grace and not pull away from You when faced with these hard lessons. Even my choices depend on You because without You I would never be able to make the right choice.