156 Righteous or Self-righteous?

Romans 2:1–3:31, TBC Book Two, Chapter 156
At the time Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, most of the people he addressed were Gentiles, although Jews were gradually returning to Rome. Jewish believers, now in the minority in Roman churches, took pride in their religious heritage, and some looked down on Gentile believers, who did not have their knowledge of the Scriptures and whose lives were often steeped in immorality. For that reason, Paul’s letter also carried a pointed message for all self-righteous believers. . . .

Be careful, those of you who are judging others, especially since you are doing the same things. You, too, are without excuse. God in his kindness has been patient with you, giving you time to repent, but judgment is coming.

Because of your stubbornness and refusal to repent, you are heaping up more wrath against yourself on the day of God’s judgment. For God will judge each one according to how he has conducted his life. To those who have persistently aimed to do good, seeking God’s glory and honor, God will reward them with eternal life. But for those who have proven themselves self-seeking, rejecting God’s truth and doing evil, God will pour out his wrath and anger.

Trouble and distress will come to everyone who commits evil, for the Jew first, and also for the Gentile. But glory, honor, and peace is reserved for all who do good, for the Jew first, then for the Gentile. God does not play favorites. It is not those who hear God’s law who are righteous; rather, those who obey are deemed righteous. (Those who obey God’s requirements without even knowing the law have the law written on their hearts, and their conscience defends them.) God’s judgment will take place the day when all humans’ secrets are laid bare. . . .

(See THE BIBLE CLICKS, Book Two, Chapter 156, for the full story.)
​​Available in book, e-book, and audiobook formats, sold by Amazon and your favorite bookstores/vendors.​

---

Today’s Takeaways
     A proverb to guide you: Many who have not known God’s law have obeyed God’s law: It was written on their hearts by a clean conscience.
     A promise to cling to: “(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. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ. . . .” Romans 2:14-16 NIV
     A praise to fill you: Don’t Let Your Heart Be Hardened  Petra     [Can skip ad after first 5 seconds]

​