God Will Judge the Secrets of Men by Jesus Christ
Thinking about Romans 2:16.
In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. (Romans 2:16)
Paul has been discussing judgment quite a bit in Romans 2. He has shown God to be the righteous, impartial Judge who will judge everyone according to the truth.
As Paul gets ready to confront the Jews about their need for the gospel and that they will also stand in judgment before God, Paul says, “God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.”
God knows everything there is to know - so He will rightly judge everyone.
What are the “secrets of men?”
According to Renn’s Expository Dictionary, the Greek word for “secrets” means “something hidden.”
The things people do and think no one sees or knows - the sins they commit in “secret” are really not so secret. God knows - and He will judge even what humanity thinks is “secret.”
Some crimes have been committed in this world that will never see the light of day in a courtroom because of influential people covering up the truth. For example, what happened to the list of all those influential people associated with Jeffery Epstein?
Who knows? It will likely never be brought forward into court because the people on that list are powerful enough to keep it “secret.”
Even if they manage to keep their sins “secret” here in this world - God knows, and God will judge all the secret things.
When I realize God will judge the “secret” things, I’m reminded that examining myself (2 Corinthians 13:5) is something I should continue to do.
It’s easy to think about the “secret” things others may or may not have been involved in - but what about us? Do you have sins in your life that you are trying to keep “secret?” Maybe you’ve even been successful in keeping that sin a secret from everyone you know.
But God knows - your secret has not been kept secret from Him.
What will you do? Will you pretend as if God doesn't know and go stand before Him in judgment?
Or will you repent and turn even those “secret” things in your life over to Jesus - your Lord and Savior?