8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
but [on the other hand]
This “but” is a contrastive “but”. There is a contrast between those with positive volition toward God and those with negative volition toward Him; the latter group shows no evidence of coming to a personal relationship with God.
Paul did not discuss in verses seven and eight how a person becomes a Christian, but rather what a person with positive volition toward God looks like (v. 7) and what a person without such volition looks like (v. 8).
to those who are self-seeking
The second group consists of non-believers with a propensity not to believe. Their orientation is entirely different from that of believers of the previous verse.
With this verse, Paul turned to those who do not seek God or are not inclined toward Him. The reason for this is that they are self-centered. The “self-seeking” person prioritizes their own aspirations over the desire to know God. Self-gratification is more important to him than the domain of God.
Ro 3:11, There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
The word “self-seeking” means a hireling. The idea is a mercenary who does what he does for money. This person is non-principled; they do everything for self-interest.
and do not obey the truth,
The idea of not obeying the truth is to reject the truth. In this case, “the truth” is not the gospel message of justification by faith but the basic principle of wanting to know God. The self-centeredness of this person causes him to distort and twist the truth for his own vested interests. This orientation is spiritual rebellion, the ultimate of negative volition. This person will not allow himself to be persuaded.
but obey unrighteousness
This group rebels against the revelation of God. Their orientation is away from God’s viewpoint.
—indignation and wrath,
God will execute “indignation” and “wrath” on people with negative volition. He will also issue “tribulation” and “anguish” in the next verse to those who insist on being negative toward Him. God does not toy with this kind of rebellion.
“Indignation” is God’s vehement anger agitated by His unchanging standards. God will explode against this kind of individual. “Wrath” means tribulation, affliction, anguish, or persecution. This word conveys the idea of a rapid or explosive wrath. Negative volition is the object of God’s wrath. An attitude of opposition to God produces disobedience to truth.
PRINCIPLE:
There are only two alternatives when it comes to a heart for God: either a negative or a positive volition to know Him.
APPLICATION:
God will respond to those who want to know Him. Once an individual seeks to know Him, He will show them how to be saved. He will reveal how He saves by believing in Christ’s work. He will grant eternal life to those who measure up to His absolute righteousness, but no one can do that on their own. They can be right with God by Christ, not by themselves.
Ro 3:10, As it is written: “There is none righteous [in reference to God’s absolute righteousness], no, not one. . .”
Ro 3:20, Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight [man cannot measure up to the standard of who God is], for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Works cannot justify anyone because no one can live up to the absolute nature of who God is.
