Overall: This chapter is about exposing and invalidating people's excuses, one by one. He lays a foundation by telling us that we all need to turn away from our own sins. If we do not, we will be judged.
Verses 1-11
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Verses 1-3. Do not focus on criticizing other people's sins, thinking that they are worse than yours. Think about your own sins.
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Verses 4-10. God is patient with us now, but if we do not repent, we will be judged, and we will be judged for our own actions.
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Like everyone else, if we do not change our actions, we will have to suffer punishment and God's wrath.
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Remember that turning away from sin and obeying God are necessary for salvation.
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*Now Paul addresses three types of people and debunks their excuses/arguments they try to use against God, to claim that they shouldn't be judged. Use the points below to better understand how to speak to people who use these excuses to try to justify themselves for their sin.
Verses 12-16 – Excuse #1 – People who plead ignorance - “But I didn't get a chance to know what the Bible said!”
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People cannot use the excuse that they didn't get a chance to know the Bible.
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Even without scripture, everyone has a conscience that helps to guide them in what is right and wrong. When we sin, our conscience tells us one or two ways. We know that an action is sinful because:
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(1) We will feel accused/guilty, or
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(2) We will try to makes excuses to justify our actions.
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- However, when you're doing what is right, you don't need to make excuses for anything. Righteousness is always just so it doesn't need to be justified. Therefore, in every thought, word or action, if you feel guilt or if you feel yourself trying to justify something, you can know you're in sin. Do what is right!
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So, even people without much knowledge are guilty. We will still be judged if we did not change our actions, to obey what we knew.
Verses 17-24 – Excuse #2 – People who plead knowledge - “But I know God because I know the Bible really well! I taught the Bible to people!
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Knowledge of the Word and teaching the Word don't make you any more right with God if you do not obey it.
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It's obedience to the Word that matters. We will still be judged, no matter how much knowledge we had, if we did not change our actions.
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In fact, the more of that Bible that you know, the worse your punishment will be, if you do not obey (Luke 12:47).
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Verses 25-29 – Excuse #3 – People who plead religious background - “But I was circumcised (baptized, confirmed, went to church, etc.)! Doesn't that make me one of God's people?”
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It doesn't matter if you were born into a religious family, if you were circumcised as a Jew, or if you were baptized, confirmed, or sprinkled as a Christian.
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You are only one of God's people if you do what the Word says from your heart.
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Again, we will still be judged if we did not change our actions.
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