It is impossible to understand Romans if you don't understand this foundational chapter and a half towards the beginning. Paul *emphasizes* that death is the reward for disobeying God and eternal life is the reward for doing good. Romans 1:32 and 2:5-7 are key passages in this section. Also important is Romans 2:13-15, where Paul concludes that it is not the Law of Moses that matters, but the doing of the will of God, whether by conscience or by law. I also ask of hearers that they memorize 1 John 3:7 so they know as they read Romans that right standing with God is inseparable from righteous living and that imputed and imparted righteous go hand in hand. There is no need to distinguish justification from righteousness because they are the same word in Greek. This is Romans in Paul's plain words, which agrees with the ancient teachings of the churches, rather than modern tradition.