GodÃs Righteous Judgment
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Continuing from yesterday, no one is excusable before God. Everyone has God’s law written in their hearts (we call this the conscience – meaning “with knowledge”) and we have all of creation before us as a testament to God’s power, intelligence, creativity, and natures. The next condemnation that Paul brings is toward those who speak against others for what they do when they are guilty of those same sins. Like a man who openly condemns pornography or homosexual education, but sees no problem with sex scenes in movies. We, who have been saved by God, should first seek to do what is right before God. Not as a means of salvation (because our salvation has already been paid for and secured) but as a Christians (literally: “Little Christ”) and we reflect the image and nature of Christ to an unbelieving world. For the unbeliever who is impenitent (unrepentant), they are storing up wrath from God who is, as mentioned before, justified in His anger toward them. More than that, their complaint in the day of judgment (Rev. 20:11-15) that they didn’t know or that they never were given the chance to act in faith toward God through repentance is of no effect. God has given them their whole lives to investigate the facts and He has, especially in these times, provided people who preach the Gospel and His written word in the Bible for all to see, read, and hear. They will, therefore, be judged according to their own deeds. Remember, those in Christ Jesus have had their deeds (past, present, and future) paid for by Christ so they are not judged on their own deeds but by the deeds of Jesus. Those who are found to be in the Book of Life (Phil. 4:3; Rev 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12; 20:15; 21:27; 22:19) – those who have repented of their sins and turned control of their lives over to Jesus – will be granted entrance into heaven where we will be able to live with and worship God forever. Those who did not believe on the words of God and who acted in rebellion to God’s commands will be turned over to tribulation and wrath in Hell for eternity, regardless of your religious affiliation. Jew, Gentile, Catholic, Muslim, Hindu, Mormon, “non-denom” Christian, Jehovah’s Witness, Baptist, Buddhist, Lutheran, Atheist, Agnostic, etc. If you profess to believe in any one of those religions but do not turn your life over to God for Him to own and control, then you are doomed to Hell as well. Even if you’ve never even heard about the law of God (the ten commandments) you are still under it. Just as those who have never heard of the law of gravity are still under it’s influence. All are guilty before God, but some will be saved by God by His grace and mercy.