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Romans 2:6–11
“[God] will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury” (vv. 6–8).
Historians have noted the unprecedented optimism that characterized much of Western intellectual life at the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth. Much of academia at the time said that society progresses without fail toward universal peace and justice. Great hope was put in science and in the class of “experts” who would allegedly rid the world of the war, disease, and ignorance that have held humanity back from reaching its fullest potential.
Two world wars, in which the nations witnessed death and destruction on a scale that earlier generations could never have imagined, shattered this optimism. Western society abandoned its Christian foundations instead of seeing that the biblical doctrine of sin alone could explain how the world had descended into such terror and that the biblical doctrine of redemption alone can remedy our suffering. To this day, many people proclaim that there is no ultimate meaning in the world and that it would be absurd to try to find any lasting significance to this life. The culture, it seems, believes that there will not be a final judgment, and the consequences include widespread despair, the unashamed destruction of babies in the womb, addiction, sexual licentiousness, and the dissolution of the family.
Nevertheless, humanity lives inconsistently with the professed belief that everything is meaningless. Men and women continue to search for a purpose to their lives, and they continue to make moral judgments. Yet these things make sense only if we know that right now counts forever, as Dr. R.C. Sproul said. If all wrongs will not one day be righted and if people will never be held accountable for their actions, then nothing in this world matters beyond today.
People live as if there is meaning to this life because their consciences tell them that on the final day of judgment, God will set all things right, rewarding those who do good and punishing those who do evil (Rom. 2:6–11). Of course, this does not mean that we are redeemed by our works; we are saved only by the merit of Christ imputed to us—that is, put on our records (Rom. 4; 2 Cor. 5:21). Yet on the final day of judgment, God will reward our obedience. He will test our works by fire, and those whose obedience passes the test will receive a greater reward than those whose obedience does not pass (1 Cor. 3:10–15). Those who have not trusted in Christ will be handed over to eternal, conscious punishment for their sins (Rev. 20:11–15).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
If there is no final judgment, then this life is ultimately meaningless. Nothing we do, good or evil, will be remembered long past our deaths. Evil people who get away with their crimes in the present will never be held accountable. Thus, working for justice in the present would be ultimately pointless. Yet we do know that a final judgment is coming, and we must warn people that they must repent and trust Christ or they will face the just wrath of God.
For further study
- Ezekiel 30:1–3
- Obadiah 15–18
- John 5:19–29
- John 9:35–41
The bible in a year
- Jeremiah 14–16
- 1 Timothy 5:1–6:2a