there will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the jew first and also the greek – [romans 2:9]
tribulation and distress
there is a popular but incorrect theology that teaches God will not allow us to suffer eternally, because God is love. it suggests that God will overlook or choose to ignore sin because He loves us and has a wonderful plan for us.
but two things can be true at the same time.
God is indeed love. He is the fullness and perfection of what love truly is. Jesus is a perfect representation of God’s love, and the scripture confirms this repeatedly.
so how can this loving God allow us to suffer tribulation and distress?
the jew first and also the greek
this phrase has been used before in this letter in romans 1:16, where paul says that the gospel will save “everyone who believes, to the jew first and also to the greek”.
so here paul connects that salvation is for the jew first, but so is tribulation and distress. God revealed Himself first to the jewish people, through abraham, isaac, jacob, and every prophet through the centuries. Jesus Himself came to the jewish people, and therefore they were to first to receive the offer of salvation.
as they say, with great priviledge comes great responsibility.
Jesus then sent His disciples to the rest of the earth, and that’s where the gentiles come in. we now also have the same priviledge, responsibility and accountability.
the overarching point is that all of us have the offer of salvation from sin, yet all of us are equally liable for the evil deeds that we commit. each of us, individually, are accountable to God for our deeds, good and evil, regardless of heritage or background,
the good news of the gospel stands in contrast to the bad news of our sin. and while our sin is indeed wretchedly, eternal punishment level ‘bad’, the good news of salvation is gloriously, eternal life and peace with Jesus level ‘good’.
we don’t deserve anything. we are sinners, guilty of evil, deserving of God’s wrath, and outside of Christ we have a future path of tribulation and distress.
not good.
Let us be aware of how deeply we need salvation, and remember that salvation is not to be taken for granted we are saved from well-deserved tribulation and distress.
~ jason soroski