Romans 2:6

Will render. Paul is quoting Prov. 24:12 or Ps. 62:12. That men will be judged according to what they have done is the uniform teaching of the Scriptures (see Jer. 17:10; Matt. 16:27; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 2:23; 20:12; 22:12). Everyone, including the privileged Jew, will be rewarded or condemned according to his actual life and true character.

Some have found a problem in reconciling this passage with the doctrine that “man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28). However, Paul is not drawing here a contrast between faith and works but rather between what a man really is and what he might profess to be. Paul maintains that God judges a man according to real deeds of righteousness or unrighteousness. Later in the epistle Paul explains that mere works of law, as contrasted with works of faith (see 1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:11), are not real deeds of righteousness (Rom. 9:31, 32). Works are recognized in the final judgment as evidence of faith. Faith in God’s grace is not a substitute for right conduct and holy living. Faith can prove its reality and sincerity only by such evidence (James 2:18). God will render to every man according to this evidence.