on my heart

i just need to get this out of my system, bc i feel like i need to share it. i was listening to summin, and the speaker mentioned romans 2. now when people mention scripture, i always go and read it. and this certain chapter was very interestin to me, especially since ive had quite a few conversations lately about this. so im just gonna post a lot of the chapter here and share my thoughts. [the links are to give you background or more extensive/clear information, so please check those out as well if you really want to understand].

btw, i am not including some verses, not bc im hiding anything, but bc paul is rather redundant, he likes to say the same thing in more than one verse. if you dont believe me, go read the entire chapter yourself.

Romans 2
God’s Judgment of Sin

1-11 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism. [that all speaks for itself...dont hold one sin higher than another. you who gossip will be judged the same as the ho, excuse my mandarin. and its gonna be a ripe day of judgment if you dont repent, which means not only regret but turn away from, your sins...of course we are sinful beings, but read on to see what i believe about this conundrum]

 ^13-16 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. [even the demons agree that God is God, but that doesnt mean they follow Him. merely believing in God does not make you a follower. also, i think it is interesting that paul says even if you dont know God, you know His law...bc your conscience convicts you]

¹⁷ You who call yourselves Jews are relying on God’s law, and you boast about your special relationship with him. ^25-29 The Jewish ceremony of circumcision has value only if you obey God’s law. But if you don’t obey God’s law, you are no better off than an uncircumcised Gentile. And if the Gentiles obey God’s law, won’t God declare them to be his own people? In fact, uncircumcised Gentiles who keep God’s law will condemn you Jews who are circumcised and possess God’s law but don’t obey it.

For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people.

[i believe that you dont go to hell bc of your sins, but bc of your sin. the sin of not accepting Christ and of not saying yes to His will, continuously seeking out His individual, personalized plan for your life and developing a relationship with Him. Jesus is everyone's Savior, but is He your Lord?]