VERSE 1.  (Romans 3:20)

   "Therefore by the deeds of the LAW there shall no

     flesh be JUSTIFIED in His sight."

VERSE 2.  (Romans 2:13)

    "For not the hearers of the LAW are just before

     God, but the doers of the LAW shall be

     JUSTIFIED."

The question is "How can both of these verses be

true?"  The answer is that:

Verse #1 refers to HOW WE ARE JUSTIFIED,
       while

Verse #2 refers to WHO IS JUSTIFIED.

VERSE 1.   HOW JUSTIFIED:

No one can be JUSTIFIED (forgiven) by keeping

the law for even though we keep every

commandment from this day forward, someone

must pay for the sins we have already committed.

We are justified by faith in Christ.

VERSE 2.  WHO JUSTIFIED:

 On the other hand, only the "DOERS OF THE LAW

will be justified before God."  Therefore it must

follow that only the doers of the law have a

genuine faith in Christ.

That is why John wrote:

 Here is a call for the endurance of the Saints,
  Those who KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD,
    and the FAITH OF JESUS CHRIST."
                  Rev 14:12

One cannot be good enough to merit justification,

however once Justified one must be good enough

to not merit the destruction reserved for

rebellious Christians  ...

Donna Kupp

"And the dragon was wroth with the woman,
     and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,
            WHICH KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD,
     AND HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST."  Rev 12:17 (KJV)