Persistence - Romans 2:6-11

Seek God Together

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Today we will read a lengthier and challenging passage. Romans 2:6-11 says, “He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth but are obeying unrighteousness; affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. There is no favoritism with God.”

It’s okay for scripture to bother us. If it never did, then scripture is as imperfect as we are. That or we’re perfect already. So it’s actually a good thing to be bothered by scripture. Why do certain passages bother us? This one is bothersome because the typical evangelical mantra is that for those who put their faith in Jesus, regardless of ongoing conduct, receive eternal life. And I’m certainly not here to call that into question. But if true, it must live alongside this passage as well. Here Paul is putting onus on each of us to attain glory, honor, and immortality.

Of course this passage lives within Paul’s larger argument for Christianity. If time permits, we’ll explore the glory and mystery of God’s plan as revealed in Romans. But for now we have these few verses.

You and I are not puppets. We’re not inanimate objects blowing in the winds of fate. We are real beings participating with God. And He will reward each one according to his or her works. This is simply summed up by the phrase “doing good.” But the good Paul refers to is seeking glory, honor, and immortality. Good is anything from God, and it is metaphysically greater than anything we can experience on earth. Those who persistently seek this good - as you are right now - will be rewarded with that which you seek.

But there is a flip side. There are those who do not seek God. What do they seek? Themselves. Imagine having the source of all at your disposal and instead of seeking Him, you opt to shrink ever inward into yourself. And along the way these self-seekers disobey truth and obey unrighteousness. It is interesting to note that everyone must obey something. It’s your choice.

The good news is that there is no favoritism with God. Your background with all its baggage, race, gender, abilities, resources or lack of resources simply do not factor into how He feels about you. You have just as much opportunity to seek God now as anyone. And while not in this passage overtly, the thrust of Romans on the whole is that Jesus has Himself made it so that God stands at the ready to receive you as a lover the moment you seek Him. But just as all true loves go, it’s your choice.

“God I choose to seek You. And I’ll keep seeking You.”