interested in anyones thoughts on these verses ,especially verse 7 ? on the surface it sounds like we can achieve eternal life through doing good ect ? but we know Paul goes on to take the legs out from under that option ?
Correct! Jesus Christ did ALL the WORKS needed for our Salvation. The works we do now are either according to our flesh or the Spirit. Our works will be judged by God to determine eternal rewards in heaven but, have NOTHING to do with Salvation.
Romans 2:6-10 (NKJV)
6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
This verse is a continuation of verse 5 and Paul is stressing the point that the righteous judgment of God is that God will give to everyone according to their deeds - meaning what we sow, we will reap - even as believers. Our deeds as believers can be deeds done in our flesh or deeds done by the Spirit.
We have to choose to walk by the Spirit so we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. As believers, we have power over our flesh and can deny it but, we have to choose to do so.
7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
Deeds done by the Spirit are eternal, meaning they have eternal reward. We are to store up our treasures in heaven, not on this Earth. Good works that believers do are NOT to maintain salvation or get salvation but, believers do good works because they are choosing to walk by the Spirit which brings glory and honor and their works are incorruptible stored up in heaven.
8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
Believers that are choosing to walk according to their flesh are doing works that are self-seeking and not in obedience to the truth. The works of our flesh are unrighteous and every work we do in our flesh will be judged by God and will be consumed in the Fire of His Wrath - there will be no reward in heaven for that work but, they will not lose their salvation.
9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Gentile;
Our souls are suppose to be in the process of being restored by the renewing of our minds with the Word and Spirit of God but, if a believer keeps choosing to walk in their flesh and not seeking to learn how to walk by the Spirit, then their soul is experiencing God's judgment and is in anguish because they are believers and are in turmoil - a struggle inside them between their flesh and the Spirit.
Judgment always begins at the House of God which is the Jew, then God judges the Gentile. Paul is telling us that no one escapes God's judgment - everyone's works will pass through the Fire of God and all works will be judged beginning with the Jew, then the Gentile.
10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.
God's goodness (glory) and God's honor and God's peace will be given to every believer that learns to choose to walk by the Spirit in total harmony with God by denying their flesh and renewing their mind with the Word and Spirit of God so that they can know and do the perfect will of God.
The blessing of God's goodness, honor and peace will be given to the Jew first and then the Gentile because the Jew passes through God's judgment first, then the Gentile.