Paul continues his argument in this section that no one is in any position to judge others, because each group, Jews and Gentiles, is indicted according to its own group's accountability before God. He masterfully focuses here on the Jew's special, primary status, in being judged by God to receive distress for doing evil and also in receiving God's honor and peace for doing good. Though the groups in Rome may be in tension with each other, under God they have unity in that each is under God's judgment. Paul in effect is dissolving barriers between them in arguing down accusations against each other, in effect setting up the need each group has for the gospel of Christ. Diverse as they may be, they have something in common.
             It is striking to look at Paul's description of the nature of God. God will judge, but first God gives the "riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience." God is a God of justice and the connotation of that attribute sometimes suggest to me a stern, legalistic God. Paul paints a picture of a loving, patience, and generous God who abundantly gives to us what we need, bears with us, and bears us in the hope of our returning to God. This is a God who longs for us to enjoy God.
             This God so loves us that justice for all is God's priority. Paul equates those who are self-seeking with those who obey injustice (v. 8). The ones who do justice will be justified (v.13). Paul is not focusing on intellectual assent or even on belief or faith in God, but on doing justice:
             "When the Gentiles ... do instinctively what the law requires..." (v.14),
             "He will repay according to each one's deeds (v.6),
             "the doers of the law will be justified (v.13),
             "glory...for everyone who does good" (v. 10).
             This is good news for those who are on the receiving end of injustice. It does not matter what those in power say they do or do...