Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 193
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to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do
them, too.
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. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things,
why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same
things? 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?
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. He will judge everyone
according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who
keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality
that God offers. 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. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps
on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 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. For God does not show favoritism.
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. 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. 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. 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. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when
God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.
You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast
about your special relationship with him. You know what he wants; you
know what is right because you have been taught his law. You are convinced that you are a guide for the blind and a light for people who are lost
in darkness. You 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.
Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell
others not to steal, but do you steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery,
