Romans 2:12-20

¹²Those who sin even though they don't have the written law are still lost, while those who sin that do have the written law will be condemned by that law.

¹³Just listening to what the law says doesn't make you right in God's sight. It's those who do what the law says who are made right.

¹⁴The foreigners don't have the written law, but when they instinctively do what it says, they are following the law even without having the written law.

¹⁵In this way they show how the law works that's written in their minds. As they think about what they're doing, their conscience either accuses them for doing wrong or defends them for doing what is good and right.

¹⁶The good news I share is that a day is coming when God will judge, through Jesus Christ, everyone's secret thoughts.

¹⁷What about you who call yourself a Jew? You rely on the written law and boast about having a special relationship to God.

¹⁸You know what he wants; you do what's right because you've been taught from the law.

¹⁹You're absolutely sure that you can guide the blind, and that you are a light to those in the dark.

²⁰You think you can set ignorant people straight, a teacher of “children,” because you know from the law all the truth there is to know.