This passage is all about hypocrisy and what you really should be focusing your attention on. Even as believers, there are many areas of our lives that we will fall short of, and God does not give up on us. Why would He want us to point out the sin of everyone around us when we are too prideful to admit our own? Does our denial help anyone? Do our accusations help anyone?

“Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” — Romans 2:4 NLT

This passage is heavy, ya’ll!

And, boy, does it speak to today- in more ways than one.

This passage may be a harder one for some to work through. You may feel like you are being called out. You may be surprised that it says what it says so plainly. You may wonder why you have never heard or read this before. Possibly, pastors don’t want to be so direct in front of a whole congregation. In this passage, Paul is talking about what sin can do when we turn from Him, our minds become dark and confused. He is setting up the rest of the book of Romans to prepare you to understand salvation.

Why Read Romans? Because it is my jam! Actually, because many consider this to be the greatest literary works of all time. It lays out the Gospel, salvation, and God’s love to ALL people who come to Him. It helped me tremendously as I tend to want to be an overachiever, depend on works for worth, and have a past of believing that is how you gain God’s favor. But Romans says otherwise. Our salvation comes from what He has already done for us, not what we will ever do. We must die in the flesh, accept His gift of Grace and be reborn in the spirit of Jesus Christ. That is Romans and it is amazing.

Growing up under the rules of man-made religion, what are the struggles that you deal with when you break these chains and find freedom in Jesus? Getting out of our own way to accept Grace is pivotal. This is what we are talking about in today’s post.

When you grow up believing that breaking the man-made rules means that you are rotten, the love that is grace is hard to accept. But, the peace of accepting Grace and letting it go, knowing that you are enough in Him, is life-changing.

We have to know this is not works-based. This can be hard for us to overcome coming from works-based, man-made religions, but His grace overcomes all.