Romans 2

Paul opens with the need to withhold judgment because we are guilty of the same things ourselves. If you don't, God judges you with the same severity. Better to take God up on his mercy and repent (change your ways.) Most will not change and, instead, go on judging others and, therefore, themselves. It takes effort to change. Few do, but it is worth it.

 

If we expect others to follow our own "laws" or God's Law, why to we not also do them ourselves? Paul uses circumcision to illustrate that outward appearances do not make us holy (Jews keeping part but not all of the Law.) Rather, as in the case of some Gentiles who adhere to the expectations of God, our hearts are more important than outward appearances. In other words, we can look like we are doing right by keeping rules but our hearts may not be in it. Better to have a heart devoted to God than a person who outwardly appears holy but is not.

 

Law should change hearts.