Romans 2: 11-16
For there is no partiality with God.
The ground is level at the foot of the Cross, we are all sinners, born with the damaged DNA we inherited from Adam. That's why we all make the wrong choices, and commit sins.
That's why Jesus is our Lamb of God, to take upon Himself the wrath of God that each of us has earned, in our place individually. No matter who we are.
For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the law;
This is fair. Those without the Law will be judged on the Moral law, rather than the Mosaic Law. But those who have the Mosaic Law will be judged according to all the stipulations of that Law.
for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
How we live our lives is what will count, not just what we know.
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law unto themselves,
in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness
The human race all know the difference between good and evil generally, the Moral Law has been written in our hearts, giving us a conscience.
and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,
People all live by their own standards, and when they know they've done what they consider is wrong, then they have a guilty conscience, or if they try to do right, they become defensive.
on the day when, according to my Gospel, God will judge the secrets of Men through Christ Jesus.
When Jesus returns to this Earth, through the whole process of the Day of the Lord, everyone will be required to give account, and no one will have any excuse for anything they knew was wrong, whether they're going by the Moral Law or the Mosaic Law.
Dante's "Inferno" is not Scripture, but he did have the right idea about varying levels of suffering, however that suffering will pan out.
And we know that the Lord will award varying rewards to those who are His family. So whether we're Christians or not, how we live our lives will have a bearing on the degree of reward or suffering in the next realm.
O my Father, You are so wise, so clever and so smart about everything, so much more that my puny intelligence can understand or express. Any words I can use, no matter how extreme and superlative, they all just fall so far short of the reality of who You are!
You are totally fair and just, You have made everything that exists to all work together. Everything is connected to everything else, and has consequences. Father, it's like "there's a string running through it all," as my late husband used to say, when he couldn't do this until he'd done that, but he couldn't do that until something else was done first. You work everything together, weaving Your magnificent Grand Tapestry of Time, each one of us another colorful tiny thread, woven in with all the other threads.
And how we live our lives matters. It matters to You, Father, so it matters for us, too. While we live here, in this World on this Earth, we are building our eternal futures, so everything we do here will either add to or subtract from what we will enjoy forever with You, or suffer away from You.
Father, I pray for all Your children. Comfort those who are being persecuted; prepare those who are not yet persecuted for what is coming, and encourage those who have fallen into some kind of discouragement.
And find all those who are still lost and floundering, seeking You, whether they know it's You they're seeking or not. Send out Your workers, Father, to find them all, and draw them, or carry them, or drag them kicking and screaming into the safety and fellowship of Your One Fold with One Shepherd.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ Messiah, our Lord God Almighty, sovereign King of the Universe, to the eternal glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
