Paul, in Romans 2, doesn’t hold back. He’s addressing a pretty sticky situation with the Jews of his time who were pretty confident in their own righteousness. They were leaning heavily into their religious practices and the law, thinking this made them better or somehow more acceptable to God than others. But Paul throws a curveball, saying, “Hey, you’re missing the point. You’ve got this inner sense of what’s right and wrong, plus God’s law on top of that. So, if anything, you’ve got even more responsibility. “He hits home with Romans 2:4, emphasizing that it’s the kindness of God that leads us to change our ways, not the fear of getting smacked by His wrath. It’s like, God’s patience and goodness are what really make us stop and want to do better.

Proverbs 16:6 backs this up, pointing out that while fear of God might make someone think twice about doing wrong, it’s really mercy and truth that cleanse a person from their sins. This brings us to the big “GUILTY!” sign Paul flashes in Romans 2. He’s telling the Jews that by looking down on others for not following religious rituals and laws, they’re actually condemning themselves. They’ve got this double dose of knowledge—both innate and from the law—showing them how far short they fall from God’s standards. It’s like Paul is saying, “You think you’re closer to God because of your religion, but really, you’re just making yourself more accountable and, honestly, more guilty.”

By the time Paul rolls into Romans 3, he lays it all out: it doesn’t matter if you’re religious or not, everyone’s in the same boat—guilty before God. No one can claim they’re righteous on their own; not one person can truly say they understand or seek God purely (Romans 3:10-11). The point is crystal clear: being religious, knowing the law, or following rituals doesn’t give anyone a leg up with God. Both the religious and the non-religious are equally unable to meet God’s perfect standards on their own.

Paul’s message isn’t meant to discourage us but to level the playing field. It shows us that our relationship with God isn’t about how well we follow rules or how religious we are. It’s about recognizing our need for His grace and mercy. We all fall short, but God’s goodness and patience invite us to turn back to Him, not out of fear, but out of a genuine desire for change. This is the heart of the Gospel—a call to embrace God’s grace, knowing we can’t make it on our own, and to live in the freedom and joy that His forgiveness brings.