Study Desk

and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images that looked like mortal human beings, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.Deuteronomy 4:16; Psalm 106:20; Isaiah 40:18,26; Jeremiah 2:11; Ezekiel 8:10; Acts 17:29;">[xr]

For this reason, God gave them over to impurity to follow the luststo impurity in the lusts">[fn] of their hearts and to dishonor their bodies with one another.Leviticus 18:22; Psalm 81:12; Acts 7:42; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 4:18-19; 1 Thessalonians 4:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12; 1 Peter 4:3;">[xr]

For this reason, God gave them over to degrading passions. Even their females exchanged their natural sexual function for one that is unnatural.Leviticus 18:22-23; Ephesians 5:12; Jude 1:10;">[xr]

Furthermore, because they did not think it worthwhile to retain the full knowledge of God, God gave them over to degraded minds to perform acts that should not be done.Ephesians 5:4;">[xr]

slanderers, God-haters, haughty, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to their parents,

For God does not show partiality.Deuteronomy 10:17; 2 Chronicles 19:7; Job 1:34:19; Acts 10:34; Galatians 2:6; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17;">[xr]

on that day when God, through Jesus Christ, will judge people's secrets according to my gospel.Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 25:31; John 5:22; 12:48; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Romans 3:6; 16:25; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Timothy 1:11; 2 Timothy 2:8; 1 Peter 4:5; Revelation 20:12;">[xr]

Now if you call yourself a Jew, and rely on the law, and boast about God,Isaiah 45:25; 48:2; Micah 3:11; Matthew 3:9; John 8:33,41; Romans 9:4,6-7; 2 Corinthians 11:22;">[xr]

As you boast about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?Romans 2:17;">[xr]

No, a person is a Jew inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by a written law.what is written">[fn] That person's praise will come from God, not from people.Romans 7:6; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 10:18; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 1 Peter 3:4;">[xr]

Of course not! God is true, even if everyone else is a liar. As it is written,Job 1:40:8; Psalm 51:4; 62:9; 116:11; John 3:33;">[xr] "You are right when you speak,are justified in your words">[fn] and win your case when you go into court."Psalm 51:4">[fn]

But if our unrighteousness serves to confirm God's righteousness, what can we say? God is not unrighteous when he vents his wrath on us, is he? (I am talking in human terms.)Romans 6:19; Galatians 3:15;">[xr]

Of course not! Otherwise, how could God judge the world?Genesis 18:25; Job 1:8:3; 34:17;">[xr]

No one understands. No one searches for God.

There is no fear ofreverence for">[fn] God before their eyes."Psalm 36:1">[fn]Psalm 36:1;">[xr]

whom God offered as a place where atonement by Christ'shis">[fn] blood could occur through faith. He did thisHe did this">[fn] to demonstrate his righteousness, because he had waited patiently to deal with sins committed in the past.Leviticus 16:15; Acts 13:38-39; 17:30; Colossians 1:20; 1 Timothy 1:15; Hebrews 9:15; 1 John 2:2; 4:10;">[xr]

Is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles, too? Yes, of the Gentiles, too,

since there is only one God who will justify the circumcised on the basis of faith and the uncircumcised by that same faith.Romans 10:12-13; Galatians 3:8,20, 28;">[xr]

For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."Genesis 15:6">[fn]Genesis 15:6; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23;">[xr]

Likewise, David also speaks of the blessedness of the person whom God regards as righteous apart from works: