What the Bible says about Judged by the Things Written in the Books
(From Forerunner Commentary)
God will judge us by the things written in the "books," that is, His Word. The Bible contains God's laws, the standard of righteousness by which everyone is judged.
We cannot be justified before God except through faith in the sacrifice of God's Son, Jesus Christ, and then God gives us grace. This does not excuse us from keeping the law because He says those who keep the law will be justified; therefore, keeping the law cannot justify. It cannot save a person, but those who keep the law will be justified and saved—not because they are keeping the law in order to be saved but because they are faithful in showing God that they are preparing their lives for His Kingdom, where everybody will live the same godly life, according to the same rules. That is what God's law outlines—His way of life.
This section, up to verse 16, shows that both those with a formal ignorance of God's law (say, the Gentiles) and those with knowledge of the law (in this case, the Jews, or in our context now, Christians) will be judged by the law. Why? Because the law defines sin! Sin brings God's judgment.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Sixteen)Related Topics: Faith and Works | God's Judgment | God's Justice | God's Law | Jesus Christ's Sacrifice | Judged by the Law | Judged by the Things Written in the Books | Justification by Faith | Justification by Grace through Faith | Justification by Works | Law "Done Away" | Law Defines Sin | Law Keeping | Law of God