Study Desk

They know God has said that anyone who acts this way deserves to die. But they keep on doing evil things, and they even encourage others to do them.

We know that God is right to judge everyone who behaves in this way.

Do you really think God won't punish you, when you behave exactly like the people you accuse?

You surely don't think much of God's wonderful goodness or of his patience and willingness to put up with you. Don't you know that the reason God is good to you is because he wants you to turn to him?

But you are stubborn and refuse to turn to God. So you are making things even worse for yourselves on that day when he will show how angry he is and will judge the world with fairness.

God will reward each of us for what we have done.

God doesn't have any favorites!

God accepts those who obey his Law, but not those who simply hear it.

when God appoints Jesus Christ to judge everyone's secret thoughts, just as my message says.

Some of you call yourselves Jews. You trust in the Law and take pride in God.

By reading the Scriptures you learn how God wants you to behave, and you discover what is right.

You take pride in the Law, but you disobey the Law and bring shame to God.

It is just as the Scriptures tell us, "You have made foreigners say insulting things about God."

To be a real Jew you must obey the Law. True circumcision is something that happens deep in your heart, not something done to your body. And besides, you should want praise from God and not from humans.

It is true that some of them did not believe the message. But does this mean that God cannot be trusted, just because they did not have faith?

No, indeed! God tells the truth, even if everyone else is a liar. The Scriptures say about God, "Your words will be proven true, and in court you will win your case."

If our evil deeds show how right God is, then what can we say? Is it wrong for God to become angry and punish us? What a foolish thing to ask.

But the answer is, "No." Otherwise, how could God judge the world?

Since your lies bring great honor to God by showing how truthful he is, you may ask why God still says you are a sinner.

You might as well say, "Let's do something evil, so that something good will come of it!" Some people even claim that we are saying this. But God is fair and will judge them as well.