[continued from previous message]   
      
   [13] (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of   
   the law shall be justified.   
   [14] For 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 unto themselves:   
   [15] Which shew 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;)   
   [16] In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ   
   according to my gospel.   
      
   The Jews and the Law   
      
   17 (Mic 3:11; Ro 2:23) Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest in the law,   
   and make your boast in God.   
   18 (Php 1:10) You know His will and approve the things that are more   
   excellent, because you are instructed in the law.   
   19 (Mt 15:14; Jn 9:40-41) You are confident that you are a guide   
   to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,   
   20 (2Ti 1:13; 3:5) an instructor of the foolish, and a teacher of babes,   
   who have the full content of knowledge and truth in the law:   
   21 (Ps 50:16-21) You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach   
   yourself? You who preach not to steal, do you steal?   
   22 (Mal 3:8; Ac 19:37) You who say not to commit adultery,   
   do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?   
   23 (Ro 2:17; Jn 5:45) You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God   
   through breaking the law?   
   24 (Isa 52:5; 2Sa 12:14) As it is written, "The name of God   
   is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."(Isa 52:5; Eze 36:22.)   
   25 (Jer 4:4) Circumcision indeed has merit, if you keep the law,   
   but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision becomes   
   uncircumcision.   
   26 (Ro 8:4) Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteousness   
   of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?   
   27 (Mt 12:41-42; Ro 2:29) Will the uncircumcised one who is righteous   
   by nature, if he fulfills the law, not judge you who,   
   by the letter of the law and circumcision, violate the law?   
   28 (Gal 6:15; Mt 3:9) He is not a Jew who is one outwardly,   
   nor is circumcision that which is external in the flesh.   
   29 (1Pe 3:4; Php 3:3; 2Co 10:18) But he is a Jew who is one inwardly.   
   And circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, and not by the letter.   
   His praise is not from men, but from God.   
      
   [17] Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy   
   boast of God,   
   [18] And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent,   
   being instructed out of the law;   
   [19] And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light   
   of them which are in darkness,   
   [20] An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form   
   of knowledge and of the truth in the law.   
   [21] Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou   
   that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?   
   [22] Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit   
   adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?   
   [23] Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law   
   dishonourest thou God?   
   [24] For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it   
   is written.   
   [25] For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be   
   a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.   
   [26] Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law,   
   shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?   
   [27] And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law,   
   judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?   
   [28] For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that   
   circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:   
   [29] But 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.   
      
   Romans 3   
      
   1 What advantage then does the Jew have?   
   Or what profit is there in circumcision?   
   2 (Ac 7:38; Ps 147:19-20) Much in every way!   
   Chiefly because the oracles of God were entrusted to them.   
   3 (Heb 4:2; Ro 10:16) What if some did not believe?   
   Would their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?   
   4 (Ps 51:4; 116:11) God forbid! Let God be true, and every man a liar.   
   As it is written:   
   "That You may be justified in Your words,   
   and may prevail in Your judging."(Ps 51:4.)   
   5 (Ro 6:19; Gal 3:15) But if our unrighteousness demonstrates   
   the righteousness of God, what shall we say?   
   Is God unrighteous in taking vengeance? (I am speaking in human terms.)   
   6 (Ge 18:25; Job 8:3) God forbid! For then how could God judge the world?   
   7 If through my lie the truth of God has abounded more to His glory,   
   why am I still being judged as a sinner?   
   8 (Ro 6:1; 6:15) Why not rather say, "Let us do evil that good may come,"   
   as we are slanderously accused and as some claim that we say?   
   Their condemnation is just.   
      
   [1] What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of   
   circumcision?   
   [2] Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the   
   oracles of God.   
   [3] For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of   
   God without effect?   
   [4] God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is   
   written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest   
   overcome when thou art judged.   
   [5] But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall   
   we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)   
   [6] God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?   
   [7] For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his   
   glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?   
   [8] And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that   
   we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.   
      
   There Is None Righteous   
      
   9 (Gal 3:22; Ro 3:19) What then? Are we better than they? No, not at all.   
   For we have already charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin.   
   10 (Ps 14:1-3; 53:1-3) As it is written:   
   "There is none righteous, no, not one; (Ps 14:1; 53:1.)   
   11 there is no one who understands;   
   there is no one who seeks after God.(Ps 14:2; 53:2.)   
   12 (Ps 14:3) They have all turned aside;   
   together they have become worthless;   
   there is no one who does good,   
   no, not one."(Ps 14:3; 53:3.)   
   13 (Ps 5:9; 140:3; Jer 5:16) "Their throats are an open grave;   
   with their tongues they have used deceit";   
   "the poison of vipers is under their lips";(Ps 5:9; 140:3.)   
   14 (Ps 10:7) "their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."(Ps 10:7.)   
   15 (Pr 1:16; Isa 59:7-8) "Their feet are swift to shed blood;   
   (Pr 1:16; Isa 59:7.)   
   16 destruction and misery are in their paths;(Isa 59:7.)   
   17 (Lk 1:79) and they do not know the way of peace."(Isa 59:8.)   
   18 (Ps 36:1) "There is no fear of God before their eyes."(Ps 36:1.)   
   19 (Ro 3:9; Job 5:16) Now we know that whatever the law says,   
   it says to those who are under the law,   
   so that every mouth may be silenced,   
   and all the world may become accountable to God.   
   20 (Ac 13:39; Gal 2:16) Therefore by the works of the law NO flesh   
   will be justified in His sight, for through the law comes   
   the knowledge of sin.   
      
   [9] What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before   
   proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;   
   [10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:   
   [11] There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.   
   [12] They are all gone out of the way, they are together become   
      
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)