DOES GOD GRADE ON THE CURVE?

Read Romans 2.

I loved teachers who would grade on the curve.  My IQ was high, but my study habits were not. I preferred hobbies to homework and sports to study. I thought school was for socializing instead of scholarship.  However, when the teacher graded on the curve, I could pass the class with little effort.  I wasn’t graded on the objective truths of the textbook, but the subjective comparison to other students. I would get A’s and B’s while breezing through the course.

Some people think God grades on the curve.  They will admit they aren’t perfect, but compared to many, they don’t look too sinful.  I mean they aren’t serial killers or bank robbers.  In fact, some people are very moral outwardly, and seem religious enough.

But, not to God.  God does not grade on the curve.  Paul is dealing with that argument in Romans 2.  He has pointed out the sinfulness of the heathen in chapter 1.  He knew a lot of folks would say, “Sure, they deserve the judgment of God!  Look at how bad they are! But, I’m a good person.”  So, now the Apostle will move to the guilt of the hypocrite—who says more than he does—who is comparison to unholy people seems good enough, but compared to Holy God cannot measure up.  If we read the text—the Bible—objectively, we flunk.

In chapter 1, Paul appeals to the witness of creation to God’s existence and power—a witness outside us, and now He points in chapter 2 to the witness of conscience to God’s existence and purity.  If we will get beneath the surface level, where we may not appear that bad compared to others, and consider the guilt we carry inside us, then we must admit our need of a Savior—and the good news is that we have One—Jesus Christ.

NO EXCUSE!

“Therefore you are inexcusable…”  (Romans 2:1a)

Satan is as content to get people to go to Hell from a church pew as from a barroom or brothel.  In fact, those who live a wicked life often are easier to reach than the self-righteous.  Thus, Jesus warned the self-righteous, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.”  (Matt.21:31).  If I have obvious symptoms of sickness, I am more likely to go to the doctor.  One of the things that makes cancer such a killer, is that we may think we are healthy while a malignancy is growing within—and self-righteousness is a lethal spiritual cancer.

Paul, as a prosecuting attorney, is laying out the evidence for the judgment of the human race.  By the time he finishes, the facts demand the verdict, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom.3:23).  The declaration of the bad news is preparatory to the proclamation of the good news.  In chapter one, the Apostle presents the obvious sins of the scandalous, but moves on in chapter two, to the obscure sins of the self-righteous.  It is not only the depraved of chapter one, but the decent of chapter two who need a Savior.  The rebellious and perverse and the religious and pious are sinners of a different kind, but sinners nonetheless.  The reality is that Romans 1 tells us that none are so bad that they cannot be saved, and Romans 2 indicates that none are so good that they need not be saved.

We want to know what will become of the lost who have not heard the Gospel.  In Romans 1:18-25, the Apostle establishes that they are responsible for their sin.  They have the light of creation that they see and conscience that they sense—yet, they love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19).  There is no excuse that can be made for sin when a heathen stands before God on Judgment Day.

But, those who read these words are not likely heathen—you may be hypocrites.  You have heard the Gospel over and over, but if you have tried to hide your sinful heart with a veneer of religion, then you are as lost as the pagan—and Paul says in Romans 2:1 that such are also without excuse.

The self-righteous man or woman will look down their sanctimonious nose and point a condemning finger at others while not realizing they are condemning themselves in the process.  Religious folk get riled up when you preach against homosexuality, pornography and apostasy—even shouting, “Amen!”  Yet, they can grow strangely quiet when the sermon is about hypocrisy, hard-heartedness and a holier-than-thou attitude!  But, the Gospel preacher cannot show partiality, because God doesn’t (2:11). The grossly immoral will certainly be sentenced based on their obvious crimes against God.  But, the skeletons in the closet of the religionist will come parading out to testify against them, also, in “the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” (Rom.2:16).  All that matters is our response to the Gospel.  Have we believed it and received it?  All of us must, or we will surely be condemned for rejecting it!