No Excuse, No Escape
Opening Up Romans—14
Exploring the riches of God’s grace, one passage at a time.
You nod along as Paul lists the world’s evils at the end of Romans 1. “Yes, those people are truly wicked.” But before you can finish your amen, Paul turns the mirror: “You are the man! You are the woman!” (cf. 2 Sam. 12:7). That’s Romans 2—a divine ambush aimed at hypocrisy.
“You have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” (Rom. 2:1) In chapter 1, Paul exposed open rebellion—idolatry, immorality, and suppression of the truth. But in chapter 2, he shifts from the rebellious to the respectable, from the obvious sinner to the self-righteous one. In chapter 1 he said, “Look at them.” Now he says, “Let’s talk about you.”
Because God’s judgment is impartial and based on truth, none of us—not even the moral and religious—can escape condemnation apart from repentance and faith in Christ.
No Excuse (v. 1)
Paul begins bluntly: “You have no excuse.” He’s not just talking to pagans. He’s addressing moral Gentiles, religious Jews, and yes—even church folks who judge others while committing the same sins.
We all know the pattern: “She’s a gossip; I just share prayer requests.” “He’s immoral; I just struggle with temptation.” “They’re dishonest; I just bend the truth when I need to.” That’s hypocrisy—using a moral standard to condemn others while excusing ourselves.
Jesus confronted the same spirit: “First take the log out of your own eye” (Matt 7:5). Paul reminds us that the mask of hypocrisy may fool people, but never God. As John Stott observed, “We are often as harsh in our judgment of others as we are lenient toward ourselves.”
We’re quick to “amen” God’s wrath on the world while ignoring sin in our own hearts. The hypocrite’s favorite hiding place is in church, thinking, “This sermon is for someone else.” But when we condemn others for sins we secretly commit, we pronounce our own sentence.
So, what should we do? Don’t deny. Repent. Examine your heart before God instead of measuring yourself against others. The goal isn’t to leave you in shame but to drive you to mercy. Humility replaces hypocrisy when we pray, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
No Escape (vv. 2–3)
Someone might protest, “Sure, I’m not perfect—but God won’t really judge me.” Paul disagrees. “We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things.” (v. 2)
God’s judgment is perfectly true and impartial. He doesn’t grade on a curve or judge by appearances. He sees the heart—the sin behind the mask. No exceptions, no loopholes, no “but I grew up in church.” Hebrews 4:13 says, “All are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
We can’t escape by comparison, reputation, or religion. The Pharisees who dragged a woman caught in adultery learned that when Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” One by one, they walked away.
So, what’s your plan to escape God’s judgment? Your background, morality, or decency can’t save you. God’s patience isn’t permission—it’s mercy meant to lead you to repentance (v. 4). Every day you breathe is another opportunity to flee to Christ before it’s too late.
Like those who ignore evacuation warnings in fire season—“I’ve lived here safely for 30 years”—many presume upon God’s patience. But his kindness is a call to flee to safety in the cross of Christ.
Flee to Christ
Romans 2 isn’t written to destroy hope but to direct it. The Judge who sees all is also the Savior who forgives all who come. The God who says “no escape” from judgment offers full escape in Jesus.
There’s only one safe place from God’s wrath—in God himself, in the wounded side of Christ. Nathan didn’t expose David to ruin him but to restore him. Paul’s warning works the same way: God loves you enough to shatter your false security so you’ll find true security in his Son.
So come down off the judge’s bench. Bow before the Judge of all. Take hold of the pardon he offers in Jesus. That—not morality or heritage—is your only hope.
No excuse.
No escape.
So: flee to Christ.