God’s Judgment of Sin
1 You 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. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’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?
5 But 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. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But 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. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.[a] 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
12 When 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. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even 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. 15 They 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. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
5 comments:
Ummm, I pick eternal life and would like to avoid the anger bit please. Reminds me of Romans 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. I always find myself visualizing this as an exit interview from a job. Anyway, I prefer to avoid wrath.
I'm glad that this passage is part of a bigger text - because I would not be able to stand if I was judged by how well I keep the law, instead of how well Jesus kept the law!
It's the great balance that is such a mystery. The fact that we must do good (we will give an account), but that we have been accepted by God at the same time - regardless of our good works (by grace we are saved).
Here's to grace!
DSD, even after all these years of being a christian I lose my 'balance'. The balance is very similar to the idea of priviledge and responsibility in my mind.
It was explained to me that God extended His Grace to me in adopting me as His son. I'm Royalty without earning it 'cause I cant. However, it's up to me to be a good steward of the inheritance and resources that come with being a Prince in the kingdom. I shouldn't be living according to my previous identity as a pig-food eating prodigal.
The balance for me in living everday is being motivated by extreme gratitude instead of fear of being judged.
Wow, I am way too stubborn for my own good. Judging my secret life…ouch! I cannot grasp the mystery of His grace….just ecstatic that I have it through Christ. I think if I ever owned a race horse or boat that would be the name: the mystery of grace...not that either one is happening soon
reminds me of something i heard preached recently... "to understand Grace we must understand where we came from"
according to Eph 2:3, we are objects of God's wrath:
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
"unless i am gripped by the reality of eternal hell, i cannot be gripped by the Grace of God"
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