1Some of you accuse others of doing wrong. But there is no excuse for what you do. When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things. 2We know that God is right to judge everyone who behaves in this way. 3Do you really think God won't punish you, when you behave exactly like the people you accuse? 4You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?
5But you are stubborn and refuse to turn to God. So you are making things even worse for yourselves on that day when he will show how angry he is and will judge the world with fairness. 6God will reward each of us for what we have done. 7He will give eternal life to everyone who has patiently done what is good in the hope of receiving glory, honor, and life that lasts forever. 8But he will show how angry and furious he can be with every selfish person who rejects the truth and wants to do evil. 9All who are wicked will be punished with trouble and suffering. It doesn't matter if they are Jews or Gentiles. 10But all who do right will be rewarded with glory, honor, and peace, whether they are Jews or Gentiles. 11God doesn't have any favorites!
12Those people who don't know about God's Law will still be punished for what they do wrong. And the Law will be used to judge everyone who knows what it says. 13God accepts those who obey his Law, but not those who simply hear it.
14Some people naturally obey the Law's commands, even though they don't have the Law. 15This proves that the conscience is like a law written in the human heart. And it will show whether we are forgiven or condemned, 16when God appoints Jesus Christ to judge everyone's secret thoughts, just as my message says.
We are the ones who make comparative judgments about righteousness...not God. We say "I'm not as bad as that person!" while God says When you judge others, you condemn yourselves, because you are guilty of doing the very same things.
In fact, God doesn't have any favorites! Wait! Me...and Osama Bin Laden? Surely God can pick a favorite here!
Nope...
This doesn't mean Osama isn't all that bad...it means I am.
The logical extension of making these comparisons is simple. God accepts those who obey his Law, but not those who simply hear it. Our problem is simple...God only accepts those who obey His law...and we don't qualify. I know it by heart. I've heard it since I was a child. Unfortunately, that's not the standard.
There are occasions when I'm obedient. Yet, rather than serving to redeem me, those occasions only serve to demonstrate that I have fallen far short. But in the end, Paul tells us it is Jesus who will judge, not any of us.
Or...do we have a Pharisee in the audience?
Live boldly out there today...
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