[Editor’s Note: This is part of a devotional series through the book of Romans.]
Romans 2:6–11:
He will render to each one according to his works: [7] to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; [8] but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. [9] There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, [10] but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. [11] For God shows no partiality.
What will happen on the day of God’s wrath? What will take place on that fateful day when God’s righteous judgment is revealed? Paul answers by describing a “rendering” (‘providing’ or ‘giving’) to each person “according to his works” (v. 6).
We may immediately balk at the idea of a judgment “according to works.” How does this square with the gospel? In other words, haven’t we as Protestants learned the great “solas” of the Reformation: justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone? And, yet, here is the apostle introducing works into the equation.
Travelers and Destinations
To understand the profound message of this passage, it is helpful to highlight the structure of vv. 6–11. Paul first asserts in v. 6 the principle of a judgment according to works. Then, in vv. 7–10, he demonstrates the principle by describing the two types of people in the world. Finally, in v. 11, we see the reason why this is the case: the impartiality of God.1
The first group of people Paul highlights are “those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality” (v. 7). These are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ—those who, by grace, “do good” (v. 10). And the outcome of their striving is the gift of “eternal life” or “glory and honor and peace” (vv. 7, 10).
The second group of people Paul describes are “self-seekers” and “evil-doers.” These are the finally wicked--those people who have spurned the offer of salvation in the gospel. And the outcome of their way of life is only “wrath and fury”; “tribulation and distress” (vv. 8–9). A most sobering assessment.2
The Shepherd’s Focus
It is good for a pastor to keep these two vivid paths before him for it crystalizes (and simplifies) our approach to the members of our church. Shepherding is always an effort to help people be on the path that leads to life. And we are motivated to work for this not only because the reward is so great (“eternal life”), but because the only other possible path is one that leads to wrath and fury—the holy opposition of God to sinners.
The Athanasian Creed (fourth century), as it closes with an eye to the second coming of Christ, summarizes it this way:
At his coming all people will arise bodily
and give an accounting of their own deeds.
Those who have done good will enter eternal life,
and those who have done evil will enter eternal fire.This is the catholic faith:
one cannot be saved without believing it firmly and faithfully.
Two kinds of people with radically different destinations. For the glory of God and the eternal good of our churches, may we keep the end ever before us.
As commentators have noted, the principle of v. 6 and the explanation of v. 11 are bookends to a vivid chiasm (ABBA) in vv. 7–10.
For another picture of this teaching that sees all of humanity separated in the final judgment into two types of people with two distinct destinations, see Jesus’ use of the metaphor of sheep and goats in Matthew 25:31–46. (Matthew 25:31–32 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”)