Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
God’s Righteous Judgment
2 Therefore, every one of you[a](A) who judges is without excuse.(B) For when you judge another,(C) you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. 3 Do you think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness,(D) restraint,(E) and patience,(F) not recognizing[b] that God’s kindness(G) is intended to lead you to repentance? 5 Because of your hardened and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath(H) for yourself in the day of wrath,(I) when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. 6 He will repay each one according to his works:[c](J) 7 eternal life(K) to those who by persistence in doing good(L) seek glory, honor,(M) and immortality;(N) 8 but wrath and anger to those who are self-seeking(O) and disobey the truth(P) while obeying unrighteousness. 9 There will be affliction and distress(Q) for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek;(R) 10 but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no favoritism with God.(S)
12 For all who sin without the law(T) will also perish without the law, and all who sin under[d] the law will be judged by the law. 13 For the hearers of the law(U) are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be justified.[e] 14 So, when Gentiles, who do not by nature have the law,(V) do[f] what the law demands, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law[g] is written on their hearts.(W) Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts either accuse or even excuse them[h] 16 on the day when God judges(X) what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.(Y)
Jewish Violation of the Law
17 Now if[i] you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law,(Z) and boast in God, 18 and know his will, and approve the things that are superior,(AA) being instructed from the law, 19 and if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 an instructor of the ignorant, a teacher of the immature, having the embodiment of knowledge and truth(AB) in the law— 21 you then, who teach another,(AC) don’t you teach yourself? You who preach, “You must not steal”—do you steal? 22 You who say, “You must not commit adultery”—do you commit adultery? You who detest idols, do you rob temples?(AD) 23 You who boast in the law,(AE) do you dishonor God by breaking the law?[j] 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.[k](AF)
Circumcision of the Heart
25 Circumcision benefits you if you observe the law, but if you are a lawbreaker, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.(AG) 26 So if an uncircumcised(AH) man keeps the law’s requirements,(AI) will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 A man who is physically uncircumcised, but who keeps the law, will judge you(AJ) who are a lawbreaker in spite of having the letter of the law and circumcision. 28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly,(AK) and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. 29 On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly,(AL) and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter.[l](AM) That person’s praise is not from people but from God.(AN)
Paul Answers an Objection
3 So what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? 2 Considerable in every way. First, they were entrusted(AO) with the very words of God.(AP) 3 What then? If some were unfaithful,(AQ) will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Absolutely not!(AR) Let God be true, even though everyone is a liar,(AS) as it is written:
5 But if our unrighteousness highlights[n] God’s righteousness,(AU) what are we to say?(AV) I am using a human argument:[o](AW) Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath? 6 Absolutely not! Otherwise, how will God judge the world?(AX) 7 But if by my lie God’s truth abounds to his glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner?(AY) 8 And why not say, just as some people slanderously claim we say, “Let us do what is evil so that good may come”?(AZ) Their condemnation is deserved!
The Whole World Guilty before God
9 What then? Are we any better off?[p] Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews(BA) and Greeks(BB) are all under sin,[q](BC) 10 as it is written:
There is no one righteous, not even one.
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.[r](BD)
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.[s](BE)
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.[t](BF)
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.[u](BG)
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.[v](BH)
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.[w](BI)
19 Now we know that whatever the law says,(BJ) it speaks to those who are subject to the law,[x](BK) so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.[y](BL) 20 For no one will be justified[z] in his sight by the works of the law,(BM) because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.(BN)
The Righteousness of God through Faith
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed,(BO) attested by the Law and the Prophets.[aa](BP) 22 The righteousness of God is through faith(BQ) in Jesus Christ[ab](BR) to all who believe,(BS) since there is no distinction.(BT) 23 For all have sinned(BU) and fall short of the[ac] glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace(BV) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.(BW) 25 God presented him as the mercy seat[ad](BX) by his blood,(BY) through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God(BZ) passed over the sins previously committed.(CA) 26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Boasting Excluded
27 Where, then, is boasting?(CB) It is excluded. By what kind of law?[ae](CC) By one of works? No, on the contrary, by a law[af] of faith. 28 For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.(CD) 29 Or is God the God of Jews only?(CE) Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is one God(CF) who will justify the circumcised by faith(CG) and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not!(CH) On the contrary, we uphold the law.(CI)
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