“Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.” – Romans 2:1
Romans 2:1 opens with a word that invites reflection: “Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge…” It’s a sober reminder that as we wade deeper into the truths of Scripture, we must not remain in the shallow waters of self-righteousness. The Book of Romans is a deep pool of doctrine—preeminent in theology and saturated with grace. But instead of swimming freely, some sit at the edge and judge others who are still learning to swim. Paul warns that judging others while excusing our own faults is like criticizing a drowning man from the high dive. Grace must first transform us before we become vessels of truth to others.
Studying Scripture isn’t just about collecting facts or winning theological debates—it’s about transformation. Like learning to swim, we don’t master the waters by theory alone; we must enter in. Justification, our entrance into the pool of salvation, is only the beginning. The more we dive into God’s Word, the more we discover layers of grace that embolden us to overcome guilt, doubt, and spiritual complacency. Remember Thomas? Though he doubted, Jesus didn’t reject him—He invited him to touch, to see, to believe. That’s what happens when we leave shallow understanding behind and tread deeper in faith.
So let’s not settle for academic Christianity. Let’s seek revelation, not just information. The Word of God is fixed—like the design of a pool—but our depth in it can grow. Dig like those searching for deep-sea mysteries or hidden treasure (Proverbs 2). Don’t just add Jesus to your life—immerse your whole life into His truth. When we dive into the depths of His grace, we rise with boldness, joy, and victory. That’s the journey of Romans—from judgment, through grace, toward glory. And in that discovery, we don’t just know—we’re transformed.
“He is not a Christian which is one outwardly, he is a Christian who is one inwardly.” – C.H. Spurgeon
surrendered devotions 