Paragraph 15.1
Chapter 15: Of the Righteous and the Wicked
That there is a radical and essential difference between the righteous and the wicked;a that such only as through faith are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and sanctified by the Spirit of our God, are truly righteous in his esteem;b while all such as continue in impenitence and unbelief are in his sight wicked, and under the curse;c and this distinction holds among men both in and after death.d*1
a. Malachi 3:18; Isaiah 5:20; Genesis 18:23; Jeremiah 15:19; Acts 10:34–35; Romans 6:16
Malachi 3:18
3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
3:18 So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not."
Isaiah 5:20
5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.
Genesis 18:23
18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
18:23 Abraham stepped forward and said, "Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Jeremiah 15:19
15:19 Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.
15:19 Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you return, I will restore you; you will stand in My presence. And if you speak words that are noble instead of worthless, you will be My spokesman. It is they who must turn to you, but you must not turn to them.
Acts 10:34–35
10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
10:34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, 10:35 but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.
Romans 6:16
6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
6:16 Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?
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b. Romans 1:17; 7:6; 1 John 2:29; 3:7; Romans 6:18, 22; 1 Corinthians 11:32; Proverbs 11:31; 1 Peter 4:17–18
Romans 1:17
1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
1:17 For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Romans 7:6
7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
7:6 But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
1 John 2:29
2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of Him.
1 John 3:7
3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
Romans 6:18; Romans 6:22
6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
6:18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
1 Corinthians 11:32
11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
11:32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
Proverbs 11:31
11:31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
11:31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
1 Peter 4:17–18
4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 4:18 And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
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c. 1 John 5:19; Galatians 3:10; John 3:36; Isaiah 57:21; Psalm 10:4; Isaiah 55:6–7
1 John 5:19
5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
Galatians 3:10
3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
3:10 All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."
John 3:36
3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him."
Isaiah 57:21
57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
57:21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
Psalm 10:4
10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
10:4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God.
Isaiah 55:6–7
55:6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. 55:7 Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
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d. Proverbs 14:32; Luke 16:25; John 8:21–24; Proverbs 10:24; Luke 12:4–5; 9:23–26; John 12:25–26; Ecclesiastes 3:17; Matthew 7:13–14
Proverbs 14:32
14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
14:32 The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin, but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.
Luke 16:25
16:25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
16:25 But Abraham answered, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.
John 8:21–24
8:21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 8:22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
8:21 Again He said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." 8:22 So the Jews began to ask, "Will He kill Himself, since He says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?" 8:23 Then He told them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 8:24 That is why I told you that you would die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
Proverbs 10:24
10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
10:24 What the wicked man dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
Luke 12:4–5
12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
12:4 I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 12:5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!
Luke 9:23–26
9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 9:24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 9:25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 9:26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.
9:23 Then Jesus said to all of them, "If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 9:24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 9:25 What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self? 9:26 If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
John 12:25–26
12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
12:25 Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 12:26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
Ecclesiastes 3:17
3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
3:17 I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed."
Matthew 7:13–14
7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
7:13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 7:14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
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- *1 The printing sets “See also the example of the rich man and Lazarus.” before Luke 16:25.