Well today's journey begins in Chapter 2... and it's basically a continuation of our last chapter.
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
Romans 2
God’s Righteous Judgment
1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” [a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.
WOW! How many times a day can we catch ourselves in judgement against others... it goes along with the verses found in Matthew 7. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." God is the only true righteous judge. For He is the only perfect one, that can be compared to. We need to gain our righteousness through Him, and Him alone, not through things we do. In some cases we are doing the same thing (which makes us hypocritical), or we are sinning in other ways, making it look/seem like our sin is less than theirs.
Verse 6, which I have underlined above, is the 'kicker'... the answer to those questions we hear, and even ask ourselves. What about the 'bad' people who get off, who aren't getting charged or blamed? Why do the 'bad' seem to prosper? etc... "God will give to each person according to what he has done.” God is in charge, and He will see that we are judged fairly as to what we have done. If we have unrepented sin in our lives, He knows that already! We don't need to 'tattle-tale'. :)
...to be continued!! :)
GOD BLESS YOU!
check out this video from one of the songs on JESUS CULTURE Awakening...
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