The terms Jews and Gentiles can seem a bit archaic in our times. However, there are principles related to how we think about our religion and ethnicity – whatever they might be – that Paul brings out when he uses these terms.

In Romans 2 Paul talks about those who point the finger at others and asks them to have a good look at their own actions and hearts before they do so.

Many Jews in Paul’s time thought they had the very embodiment of knowledge and truth in the law that defined their religion (Romans 2:20). Many Christians today also think the same about their religion. Paul doesn’t say they were wrong about that and I also believe that most of the Pentecostal evangelic and charismatic expressions of the Christian faith today are also correct at least in the essentials. Not that my opinion on that subject matters. It is God who judges.

But to discuss about who is right is not my purpose in this blog nor was it Paul’s purpose in Romans 2. His aim is to point out that we need to be consistent with our beliefs, walk the talk, otherwise we are no better that someone without any faith.

In fact he points out that someone who does the right thing but doesn’t share in your religion will judge you who have all the forms, knowledge of the law and ceremonies but don’t practice what they believe (Romans 2:25-27). As James says, “Faith without works is dead” (see James 2:14-26). Paul says everyone will be judged according to their works (Romans 2:6) and the Scripture overall is quite consistent on this point.

Of course, salvation by works is not what we are talking about here. Salvation by faith will be dealt with extensively in the rest of Paul’s letter to the Romans.

A consolation that I receive from Romans 2 is that God will not be unjust towards those who don’t share our beliefs or have never heard about Christ. If anyone lives a life of love and proves the universality of the knowledge of what is right by what is written on their hearts (Romans 2:15) they won’t lose their reward.

We shall see…