5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
5 But
When we see a “but,” we know that what follows stands in contrast to what preceded. In contrast to repentance, we find hardness of heart.
in accordance with your hardness
The words “accordance with” in the Greek mean according to the standard of. The standard is accumulation of God’s judicial wrath.
People reject revelation of God’s mercy because of a heart problem. The Greek word “hardness” is a word from which we get the English medical term “sclerosis.” We say that person has “sclerosis of heart.” We mean by that there is a hardening of something related to the physical heart. The idea here is a stubborn or hard heart toward God, an obstinate attitude toward God and especially toward His mercy. This is spiritual sclerosis.
and your impenitent heart
An “impenitent heart” is an unrepentant heart. There is a proclivity of a hard heart to turn into an unrepentant heart.
you are treasuring up [storing up] for yourself wrath
God’s wrath is in the process of being stored up by individuals as in a great reservoir until the day when He pours His judgment on hardened people. Those who have hardened and unrepentant hearts are making their judgment even greater.
in the day of wrath
This is the final day of God’s wrath. All God’s wrath that people accumulate will break out on the fixed and final day of wrath. This is the Great White Throne Judgment for non-Christians. Wrath is a proper aspect of God’s character.
and revelation of the righteous [just] judgment of God,
That day will be not only a day of God’s wrath but it will be a day of “revelation.” God will make known why His very own righteousness is the reason for His wrath. That day people will finally “get it.” It will be clear without doubt that it is a “righteous or just judgment.” God will base His judgment on truth (2:2) and it will be impartial (2:11).
PRINCIPLE:
Truth resisted hardens the heart.
APPLICATION:
The wrath of God against man is deserved because God clearly manifested Himself to man. Man chose willful ignorance in the face of clear revelation. Mankind rejected God on two bases: (1) His revelation in creation and (2) God’s attributes of compassion (chapter 2).
Those who know but resist truth do not go away in neutral condition but go away with a hardened heart. The next time they encounter truth, it is harder to accept. There are consequences to negative volition.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I noticed in this writing you say that only non-believers will be present at the white throne judgement. How is it that no believers will be present?
If your answer is “they will have be sucked up into the rapture”, please disregard this question.
many blessings,
kevin
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I noticed in this writing you say that only non-believers will be present at the white throne judgement. How is it that no believers will be present?
If your answer is “they will have be sucked up into the rapture”, please disregard this question.
many blessings,
kevin
Kevin, there are a number of different judgments in the Bible. The two basic ones are 1) the Great White Throne Judgment for non-believers, and 2) the Judgment Seat of Christ for believers 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10.
Thanks Grant; that's what i've been taught.
I’m confused..isn’t Romans 2:5 written to Christians? I mean that is who the whole letter is written to right? How then is there wrath?
Ruth, begin with my studies from Romans 2:1 here: https://versebyversecommentary.com/2011/02/02/romans-21/
Hi Grant, I was interested in Ruth’s question so I clicked your link- but I don’t see anything addressing her question on any of your posts between Romans 2:1-6
Dj, the argument of the first part of Romans 2 is God’s judgment on the non-Christian, self-righteous moralist who thinks he can stand on his own righteousness rather than on the righteousness of God.
Hi Dj and Ruth, there is wrath for anyone who does not have a Saviour. I thank God I have a Saviour today. “Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we use persuasion to man…” 2 Cor 5:11. Paul wants to get as many people as possible saved by writing about the wrath of God. God will judge man for what he is in God’s sight. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Rom 3:23. If we could see ourselves as God sees us, we would see that we are obnoxious. We are not fit for heaven. We all need a Saviour, and we have One in Christ Jesus. We all need to accept Jesus as our own personal Saviour. He died for the sins of the world. John 3:16. That means He died for my sin and your sin. The Gospel is in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. “…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised the third day according to Scriptures,…”. If you believe that, you’re saved and you have a personal Saviour. If you don’t believe that, you’re trying to work for own salvation and you will be subject to God’s wrath. The hurdle to meet the demands of God are the same for all people, because we are all sinners. There are no exceptions. You might be more moral than your neighbour, but it doesn’t matter. We are all sinners in God’s sight. The hurdle to escape the wrath of God is to believe the Gospel. This chapter that Paul wrote is talking about sin and the basis God will judge men who do not have a Saviour. To reject the Son of God brings a guilty verdict upon a person. The folk that do not have Christ are lost. You may be a good person, you may be a religious person, but without Christ, you are lost and subject to the wrath of God. I hope this helps. “Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.” John 6:28-29. God bless you