It's Either Christ or Self
Romans 2:6-11
“He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.” -Romans 2:6–11
With Paul’s chiasmus in mind, we can note that he continues to divide the two classes of individuals being judged.
First, there are “those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality” (i.e., “everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek”). To theses he promises to give “glory and honor and peace… eternal life.”
“but,” second, “for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek.”
In the first group, it is important to recognize—to not confuse the language as saying something it is not saying given the context—that Paul is not speaking of law works, or works righteousness. The first group is not “earning” their salvation by being “patience in well-doing” and “seek[ing] for glory and honor and immortality.” This is not suggesting merit equals reward.
Those who patiently persevere are seeking that which is glorious, honorable, and eternal (immortality)—Christ (Colossians 3:1), by which they are demonstrating their real walk with God in Christ (cf. Matt. 24:13; Heb. 3:14). These can be assured of their reward.
The second group are those who seek the very opposite—self—for which their reward will be equally fitting: “wrath and fury…tribulation and distress.”
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