Romans 2:8

Romans 2:8 says, But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,  Paul continues in this verse to speak of the reasons why God will judge our actions.  We continue to be contentious and reject God's truth, that we can only be justified through Christ.  I have heard people say that when they start behaving or living better, they might turn to God for salvation, but right now they just aren't worthy of forgiveness.  We never will be worthy, and we are definitely contentious when we take this attitude.  I have also heard people express the opposite attitude, that they are having to much fun now to give everything up for God, but maybe someday they will.  This is definitely being contentious.  In both cases they are denying the truth of God, and that is that though we are unworthy, only when we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord does life truly become worth living.  Verse nine adds, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;   We may not experience that tribulation and wrath in this world, but if we reject the truth of God, then that is all we can expect in the world to come.  Being a Jew, one of God's chosen people, did not exempt people from this tribulation and wrath of the soul if they chose evil over God's will.  The greatest evil we can do is rejecting salvation, because until we accept Christ as Savior and Lord, we will be ruled by evil.  Being born into a family that follows God's will does not make us right in the eyes of God any more than being born a Jew did in Paul's day and especially now.  The same is true for all others, the Gentiles, or anyone who isn't a Jew.  Verse ten continues, But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:  I don't believe that Paul was stating that this was what the world would give to every person who worked for good, but what God would give to those who worked for good through Christ in the world to come. Paul certainly did not have these things in his life here on earth, but he has them today.  Verse eleven concludes, For there is no respect of persons with God.  We as followers of Christ must never forget this truth.  Paul spoke of Jews and Gentiles which included everyone from the Jewish perspective.  We in America today may feel that God loves us and should bless us more than the rest of the world, but this simply is not true.  God loves everyone the same, no matter their nationality.  We are called to that same type of love.