2You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.G1352G1488G379G5599G444G3956G2919G1063G1722G3739G2919G2087G2632G4572G1063G2919G4238G8462And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.G1161G1492G3754G2917G2316G2076G2596G225G1909G4238G51083Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things?G1161G3049G5124G5599G444G2919G4238G5108G2532G4160G846G3754G4771G1628G2917G23164Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?G2228G2706G4149G846G5544G2532G463G2532G3115G50G3754G5543G2316G71G4571G1519G33415But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.G1161G2596G4675G4643G2532G279G2588G2343G4572G3709G1722G2250G3709G2532G602G1341G23166He will judge everyone according to what they have done.G3739G591G1538G2596G846G20417He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.G3303G2596G5281G18G2041G2212G1391G2532G5092G2532G861G166G22228But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.G1161G1537G2052G2532G544G3303G225G1161G3982G93G2372G2532G37099There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.G2347G2532G4730G1909G3956G5590G444G2716G2556G2453G4412G5037G2532G167210But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.G1161G2532G1391G5092G2532G1515G3956G2038G18G2453G4412G5037G2532G167211For God does not show favoritism.G1063G2076G3756G4382G3844G231612When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God's written law. And the Jews, who do have God's law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.G1063G3745G264G460G622G2532G622G460G2532G3745G264G1722G3551G2919G1223G355113For merely listening to the law doesn't make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight.G1063G3756G202G3551G1342G3844G2316G235G4163G3551G134414Even Gentiles, who do not have God's written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it.G1063G3752G1484G3588G2192G3361G3551G4160G5449G3588G3551G3778G2192G3361G3551G1526G3551G143815They demonstrate that God's law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.G3748G1731G2041G3551G1123G1722G846G2588G846G4893G4828G2532G3053G2723G2228G2532G626G3342G24016And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone's secret life.G1722G2250G3753G2316G2919G2927G444G1223G2424G5547G2596G3450G2098
The Jews and the Law
17You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God's law, and you boast about your special relationship with him.G2396G4771G2028G2453G2532G1879G3551G2532G2744G1722G231618You know what he wants; you know what is right because you have been taught his law.G2532G1097G2307G2532G1381G1308G2727G1537G355119You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost in darkness.G5037G3982G4572G1511G3595G5185G5457G1722G465520You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God. For you are certain that God's law gives you complete knowledge and truth.G3810G878G1320G3516G2192G3446G1108G2532G225G1722G355121Well then, if you teach others, why don't you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal, but do you steal?G3767G3588G1321G2087G1321G3756G4572G2784G2813G3361G2813G281322You say it is wrong to commit adultery, but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry, but do you use items stolen from pagan temples?G3004G3431G3361G3431G3431G948G1497G241623You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.G3739G2744G1722G3551G1223G3847G3551G818G231624No wonder the Scriptures say, "The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you."G1063G3686G2316G987G1722G1484G1223G5209G2531G112525The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God's law. But if you don't obey God's law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile.G1063G4061G3303G5623G1437G4238G3551G1161G1437G5600G3848G3551G4675G4061G1096G20326And if the Gentiles obey God's law, won't God declare them to be his own people?G3767G1437G203G5442G1345G3551G3049G3780G846G203G3049G1519G406127In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God's law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God's law but don't obey it.G2532G2919G203G1537G5449G5055G3551G2919G4571G1223G1121G2532G4061G3848G355128For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.G1063G2076G3756G2453G1722G5318G3761G4061G1722G5318G1722G456129No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.G235G2453G1722G2927G2532G4061G2588G1722G4151G3756G1121G3739G1868G3756G1537G444G235G1537G2316
Dublin, OH
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