Seek the Glory of God

Romans 2:6 Seek the Glory of God

Romans 2:6 makes it clear that on the judgment day every man will be rewarded according to his deeds. Only the good will be saved; and only the bad will be lost. (2 Cor 5:10). Man's salvation is "not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph 2:8,9), "not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves" (Titus 3:5), and "therefore, by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Rom 3:20). Seven classes of works are distinguished in the New Testament: (1) Works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21), the same being principally the indulgence of lusts, passions, etc. (2) The works of Satan, specifically, lying and murder (John 8:44), all sins being in one sense works of Satan, but these being specifically so-called by Christ himself. (3) The works of men, including all human achievements 4) The works of the law of Moses (Rom 3:20). (5) The works of moral goodness. The moralist follows a path of behavior parallel in many places to the Christian life; but between the two ways there is a river wide and deep, the river of the blood of Christ. Both Cornelius and the rich young ruler are New Testament examples of morally upright persons who were unsaved. (6) The works of human righteousness (Rom 10:3) are those religious activities of people which derive their authority from people alone and not from God, being the ceremonies and doctrines people themselves devised and having not the Creator as their author. Such are the traditions, precepts, and commandments of men denounced by Christ himself (Matt 15:9). (7) the "work of faith" (1 Thess 1:3). This work may be defined as any action whatever undertaken or discharged by man in obedience to Christ’s command. Where Paul stated that people are not justified by works (Rom 3:20), let it be determined which works he meant; and where James wrote that a man is justified by works (James 2:18-26), let it be determined what kind of works he meant. Paul, in his repeated affirmations that men are not saved by works, never had reference to the work of faith; and James never had in mind anything except the work of faith. Thus Paul's teaching was directed against any notion that keeping the works of the law of Moses could save, or any personal morality apart from Christianity could justify. James gave examples of how certain persons were justified by works; and in every case, the "work" was an obedient act to a divine command, as when Abraham offered Isaac, etc. Paul also accepted the principle stated by James that justification is due to such actions of obedient faith (Rom 2:6,1:5,16:26. Romans 2:6 is absolutely equivalent to saying that man is justified by works, not the other kinds, but the works of faith. Romans 2:6 harmonizes absolutely with James 2:24

Entrance into Salvation 7 for those

The apostles is not considering the question of justification at all, nor is he considering the way of salvation, He has made that clear, “the righteous shall live by faith” (1:16-17). In 1:18-3:20 the question is not raise of how we are justified, nor how we are saved; but what is it that which condemns us. (Lloyd Jones). Christians will be saved on account of the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, his life and works not ours. (Titus 3:5, Eph 2:8-10). My justification is built on the death of Christ not my deeds.

(Piper). We are justified, set right with God, and eternally secured not on the basis of our deeds, but on the basis of God's own righteousness imputed to us through our faith in Christ alone. Faith is the bond that unites a person to Christ, who is himself the foundation of justification. (Rom 3:28). Faith functions to unite us to Christ before we have the good deeds of godliness, and this faith is treated as if it were our righteousness because it unites us to God's righteousness. (Rom 4:5). Justification - getting right with God - is through faith, not deeds. No one is going to be able to override the judgment of God in declaring his elect ones acquitted on the basis of Christ's death for them (Rom 8:33-34). God does indeed give eternal life to those who persevere in obedience not because this obedience is perfect or because it is the basis or the merit of eternal life, but because saving faith always changes our lives in the power of the Holy Spirit so that true believers persevere in doing good. (Piper) The entrance into the kingdom of God is thorough repentance. It's because unbelievers have unrepentant hard hearts that they are storing up wrath in the judgment (2 Cor 12:21). So if they had repentant hearts, they would not store up wrath at the judgment day. . . . God is kind and merciful and willing to forgive people for their sins if they will repent and turn to him for mercy. (Rom 2:5). You're not justified on the basis of your works but exclusively on the basis of another's work on the basis of the finished work Jesus Christ (Ferguson). The ground on which the gift of life is given, is the meritorious work done by Christ in our behalf--a righteousness that is made ours by faith, and that comes up to all that the holy law of God can require of us (G. Hutchison)

Evidence of Salvation 6 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 . . . 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness

Justified is by the life and death of Christ, verification is by our life and deeds for Christ (Piper). Works show whether we are saved or not (Lloyd Jones) The wicked will be punished on account of their works, and according to their works; the righteous will be rewarded, not on account of, but according to their works. Good works are to them the evidence of their belonging Christ's. (Charles Hodge). Who have you been (Ps 62, Prov 24:1), what we have been, and what we have done divides all individuals into two categories: those who seek for God’s Glory and those who are self-seeking, their own glory. Those that seek for God’s glory are characterized by a lifestyle of “patience in well-doing’. Gk –hupomone –literally hupo under and meno- to abide. It is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. Those who seek glory are described by their well-doing, by their continuance in well-doing, by their patient continuance in well-doing; they are not weary in well-doing, they can undergo sufferings for the sake of well-doing, and they can patiently wait for the reward of well-doing till hereafter while others seek their reward here: They seek for glory, honor, and immortality; that is, they seek for a portion of glory and immortality in the world to come; they leave the world to the men of the world, and while they are scrambling for earth, they are making sure of heaven (Burkitt). The new life in us will show itself, there will be a patient continuance in well doing. The man who is born again is a man, however feebly, is nevertheless seeking for glory and honor and immortality. In his folly he may backslide at times, he may allow the world to entice him for a moment, but the bent of his life is this seeking after glory and honor and immortality (Lloyd Jones). Righteousness is by faith, for the whole point of God coming to men with His righteousness is that they, having received His righteousness, will begin to be righteous. The point is that no man can be clothed in God’s righteousness without it deeply affecting him. In the end what we become is thus proof of what we really believe. (Pett). Are you living for God's glory? that's why he saved you. (Ferguson). Those that are self- seeking are characterized by a life style of obeying unrighteousness rather than the truth (Rom 1:18, 21-23). The wicked are contentious, Gk ertheia – those who seek only their own, selfishness and self-willed. They don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness; that is, they contend with God, and resist the light of his revealed truth; they refuse the offers of his grace, and kick against his word. They disobey offers of his grace, disobey the gospel of truth, but obey unrighteousness. The tragedy is that the unbeliever is in a serious condition because they don't have Christ to appeal to at the judgement. A changed life of obedience to God's truth (v 8) is not the basis of eternal life, but the evidence of authentic faith which unites us to Christ who is the basis of eternal life. There will be deeds that "accord with" this saving faith. So while eternal life will be awarded only to believers, it will be awarded "according to" - there will be an accord with -their deeds. There will be a way of life that God can put on display to demonstrate to the world that this person's faith was real. (Rom 6: 22, Rom 8:12-13) (Piper) It is judgment according to works not based on the works. (Ferguson)

Effect of Service 6 He will render to each one according to his works: . . . he will give eternal life; . . . , 8 there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil . . . 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good

Justification by faith alone applies to the time of entrance into salvation through the free pardon of sin, but not to the time of judgment. When God of free grace receives the sinner at the time of his conversion, He asks nothing of him except faith; but from that moment the believer enters on a wholly new responsibility; God demands from him, as the recipient of grace, the fruits of grace. The Lord commits His gifts to His servants freely; but from the moment when that extraordinary grace has been shown, He expects something from their labor (Luke. Faith is the means of overcoming sin and acting holily, and if in this life fruit is not produced it is dead, and will be declared vain (Matt 3:10; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 6:7). (Godet.) The Apostle here lays down with unmistakable definiteness and precision the doctrine that works, what a man has done, the moral tenor of his life, will be the standard by which he will be judged at the last day. There can be no question that this is the consistent doctrine of Scripture. (Matt 16:27; 25:31; 2 Cor 5:10; Gal 6:7; Eph 6:8; Col 3:24; Rev 2:23; 20:12; 22:12. (Ellicott). God, as the sovereign judge of men, receives from them their good and evil actions. These He takes from their hands, so to speak, such as they are, and places them to their account, whether they are to His glory or dishonor. (Haldane). The two different lifestyles lead to two different destinies based on what one has done for the Glory of God. (Matt16:27, 25) The only thing that God is interested in in our life that we should seek glory. It is very questionable whether we have been born again if we do not seek God's glory. God will assess every human being's life on the basis of what they have been and what they have done. (Ferguson). Those that seek for the Glory of God will receive eternal life and glory and honor and peace (v 7, 10). Those that are self-seeking will receive wrath and fury (Rom 1:18, 2:5, John 3:36), and tribulation and distress (v 8-9)

Eternal life is not earned by or merited by or based on good deeds. . . . the final verdict of eternal life will accord with good deeds. They go together. And the reason they go together is not that works has replaced faith or that merit has replaced grace, but because the gospel of justification by faith is the power of God unto salvation. The gospel does not come into a life and leave it under the dominion of sin. It comes in the power of the Holy Spirit. And where it is believed, trusted and cherished, it produces what Paul calls "the obedience of faith" (Rom 1:5; 16:26). Eternal life cannot, in any strict sense, be said to be the reward of any well-doing or merit of our own. For who is there that can look for anything at the hands of God, or even hope to stand in peace before Him, on the simple ground of his own character? Even the best parts of the very holiest of lives in this world cannot bear His rule of retribution. It is only of infinite grace that anyone, even when he has done his utmost, can enter into the joy of the Lord. Eternal life is not wages, it is the gift of God through Jesus Christ.

It is not true that God will treat people according to their external conduct: but the whole language of the Bible implies that he will judge people according to the whole of their conduct, including their thoughts, and principles, and motives; that is, as they deserve. Proverbs 24:12; Matthew 16:27; Revelation 20:12; Jeremiah 32:19. It is to be observed here that the apostle does not say that people will be rewarded for their deeds, (compare Luke 17:10,) but according to Gk kata their deeds. Christians will be saved on account of the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, Titus 3:5, but still the rewards of heaven will be according to their works; that is, they who have labored most, and been most faithful, shall receive the highest reward, or their fidelity in their Master‘s service shall be the measure or rule according to which the rewards of heaven shall be distributed, (Matthew 25:14-29). Thus, the ground or reason why they are saved shall be the merits of the Lord Jesus. The measure of their happiness shall be according to their character and deeds. (Barnes)

Have I sought for his glory. What we are there is intricately related to what we are here. (Luke 19). Ask the servants to give account. The reward is related to the way he has lived. Are you living for God's glory? That's the question.

As a believer you begin to seek for glory honor and immortality that is your delight. The things that didn't matter before become glorious to you. You cannot think of anything less attractive to you than the glory of God before you were a Christian. But when you come to Christ, you can't think of anything more attractive than worshiping and praising the glorious savior who brought you redemption. Because we have trusted Christ seek for glory honor and immortality, that's what people who really trust in Christ do. They seek his glory because that's the change that has occurred in their heart. God treats your life far more seriously than you even treat your life. He is saying your life has eternal significance both to you and to him. So live your life in the light of eternity. What does it mean to be to live in the light of eternity for the glory of God as a student, as a friend, as an RA, as an athlete, or as an employee?

(Ferguson).