God's Righteous Judgment

(Genesis 4:1-7; Jude 1:3-16)

1Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are that judge: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things. 2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3And think you this, O man, that judge them which do such things, and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God? 4Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5But after your hardness and impenitent heart treasure up to yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: 8But to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9Tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11For there is no respect of persons with God.

12For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law to themselves: 15Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

The Jews and the Law

17Behold, you are called a Jew, and rest in the law, and make your boast of God, 18And know his will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19And are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, 20An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. 21You therefore which teach another, teach you not yourself? you that preach a man should not steal, do you steal? 22You that say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? you that abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege? 23You that make your boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonor you God? 24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

25For circumcision truly profits, if you keep the law: but if you be a breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision. 26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge you, who by the letter and circumcision do transgress the law? 28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.