THE PEACE OF CHRIST IS INCLUSIVE, NOT EXCLUSIVE
There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil,
first for the Jew, then for the Greek;
but gloryG1391, honorG5902, and peaceG1515 for everyone who does good,
first for the Jew, then for the Greek.
For God does not show favoritism.
Romans 2:9-11
The Believer’s Bible Commentary had a great note on this passage:
2:10 The verdict will be glory, honor, and peace to everyone, Jew or Gentile, who works what is good. And let us not forget that no one can work good, as far as God is concerned, unless he has first placed his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The expression to the Jew first, and also to the Greek cannot indicate favoritism, because the next verse points out that God’s judgment is impartial. So the expression must indicate the historical order in which the gospel went out, as in 1:16. It was proclaimed first to Jews, and the first believers were Jews. (59)
These verses emphasize that Jesus does not exclude people from being eligible to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus taught mostly in Jewish gatherings, but do not forget that He also shared the Good News with the Samaritan woman who then evangelized her entire town who came out to listen to this man called Jesus in person. He ministered among them for two days.
John 4:39-41 Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe.
This inclusiveness extends not only to Jew and Gentile but to all kinds of people—rich or poor, male or female, genius or “slow,” able-bodied or “bed-found”.
Galatians 3:28 (NASB) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
As the Believer’s Bible Commentary pointed out above. There is reward for anyone who “does good,” but we must understand that in order to do what pleases God, we must believe, trust, rely on Jesus for salvation. Those who are “in Christ” will do the good works God has planned for them:
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Therefore, those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus, will be rewarded with glory, honor, and peace. We have defined peace previously as a state of wholeness and reconciliation with God. We can relax peacefully when we have peace with God. We asked each other what exactly was meant by “glory” and “honor”. We have included the portion of the definition of each that applies in this instance which we found in The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament:
G1391 dóxa (D) Of that exalted state of blissful perfection which is the portion of those who dwell with God in heaven. As spoken of Christ and including the idea of His royal majesty as Messiah (Luke 24:26; John 17:5, 22, 24; 2 Thess. 2:14; 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:11); of glorified saints, i.e., salvation, eternal life (Rom. 2:7, 10; 8:18; 1 Cor. 2:7; 2 Cor. 4:17; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Tim. 2:10; Heb. 2:10; 1 Pet. 5:1). (60)
G5902 timḗ, tee-may’; Of a state or condition of honor, rank, dignity, joined with dóxa (1391), glory (Heb. 2:7 quoted from Ps. 8:6); as conferred in reward (Rom. 2:7, 10; Heb. 2:9; 1 Pet. 1:7; 2:7). An office of honor (Heb. 5:4); glory and honor (Rev. 21:24, 26). (61)
When we join the Lord either by death or when He comes again, our bodies will be glorified, and we will be perfect. Here on earth, we bring glory to God by obedience and exhibiting the Fruit of the Spirit but cannot reach sinless perfection until we see Jesus face to face. God sees us as we will be because to Him it is already a reality. He sees glory in us through the Holy Spirit within us. “Honor” is not something we have earned by doing more good deeds than our neighbor. Honor is conferred on us by God because we are His children. These gifts of glory, honor, and peace are freely given to all who recognize Jesus as the Son of God and trust that His sacrifice on the cross was the only way we could be made right with God.
In the contrast described in Romans 2:9-11, which type of person are you? Are you the non-believer who does evil and will justly receive trouble and distress or are you trusting in Jesus who enables you to do good? If you are not sure whether you have a right relationship with Holy, Almighty God, let us help you nail that down right now. You can go to “Jewels of Salvation” in the back of this book to see what Scripture says about trusting Jesus. Or you could talk to a Bible teaching pastor or Sunday school teacher or reach out to us on our website www.preciousjewelsministries.com. We would love to show you how you can receive glory, honor, and peace through Jesus!
Father, our prayer is that all who read these devotional books will be drawn closer to You, either for the first time to become a new believer (brother or sister in Christ) or to become closer to You through daily exploring Your word, the Bible.
Worship opportunity: “In Christ, There is No East or West”: