CHAPTER TWO OUTLINE

 

The topic of chapter two is the Judgment of God. We learn that the Judgment of God is without regard to race. Though such is the guilt of the Gentile, there is no one to judge him, for he would take upon himself to judge and does the very same things himself. The justice of God has only one standard by which all mankind is judged - Truth. Does man think that he will escape or that God will take his sin lightly? Does man take for granted the longsuffering and forbearance of God? The purpose of God's goodness and patience is to lead him to repentance (2:4).

Unfortunately man is hardhearted and impenitent, and therefore all that is in store for him is not pardon, but wrath. The judgment of God will be according to the strictest laws of justice. God will reward those that are righteous and punish the wicked. The Gentile cannot plead freedom from the law, for he has a Law written on his heart; the Jew cannot plead the protection and blessing of the Law for he has broken it.

The discussion from chapter one continues into the second chapter.

Here we see seven fundamental principles of God's judgment:

[1]. God's judgment is according to truth. (2:2)
[2]. God's judgment is according to accumulated guilt. (2:5)
[3]. God's judgment is according to works. (2:6)
[4]. God's judgment is without respect to persons. (2:11)
[5]. God's judgment is according to performance, not knowledge. (2:13)
[6]. God's judgment reaches the secrets of the heart. (2:16)
[7]. God's judgment is according to regeneration of the heart and not outward ceremony or appearance. (2:28,29)

Outline: 2:1-3:8

I. The Sinfully Moral (2:1-13)

A. Those who pass judgment on others, (1-5)

[1]. Condemn themselves, (1)

(a). They know wrong from right
(b). They do the same things

[2]. Deceive themselves, (2-4)

(a). God will overlook their sin
(b). God will forget their sin

[3]. Store up wrath for themselves, (4,5)

(a). God's goodness leads to repentance
(b). God's goodness rejected leads to wrath

B. God's principles of judgment, (6-11)

[1]. Patiently waits till works appear

(a). Positive response -eternal life
(b). Negative response - wrath

[2]. Disregards all national and racial advantages, (9-11)

(a). Tribulation
(b). Honor/glory

 

II. The Unenlightened Pagans (2:14-16)

A. Have a law written on their hearts, (14,15)

[1]. moral deeds prove this
[2]. Conscience judges them

B. Will be revealed in the day of judgment, (16)

 

III. The Religious Moralist (2:17-3:8)

A. Has advantages

[1]. Possesses the law
[2]. Has a relationship with God
[3]. Knows the will of God
[4]. Approves what is excellent
[5]. Instructed by the law

B. Performs significant activities, (19,20)

[1]. Guide to the blind
[2]. Light to the darkened
[3]. Instructor of the foolish
[4]. Teacher of babes

C. But guilty of blasphemous hypocrisy, (20-24)

[1]. Stealing
[2]. Adultery
[3]. Idolatry
[4]. Blasphemy
[5]. Any lawbreaking

D. Relies on outward ritual, (25-29)

[1]. Circumcision without obedience - rejected
[2]. Uncircumcision with obedience - received
[3]. Righteousness without rite better than rite without righteousness
[4]. Jewishness is matter of faith not fanaticism

E. Jewish objections answered, (3:1-8)

[1]. Will you eliminate the advantages God?

(a) . No
(b). But if not used - worthless

[2]. If some fail, will all be lost? (3,4)

(a). No - man fails, God does not
(b). David - example

[3]. If sin gives God opportunity, how can he condemn? (5-8)

(a). On that basis, no one is judged, (6)
(b). Paul's personal example, (7,8)

(1). Eliminates difference between good and evil
(2). Expects good out of evil

 

Verse:

2:1 In this chapter, although it is not explicitly written down, it is obvious that the Jews are being addressed. The conclusion of this chapter and beginning of chapter three make that very clear. This verse is addressed to any man, lost or saved. The fact that we judge others is proof that we know right from wrong. Job was judged by his three friends long before the Bible was written. The judgment we pass on others only condemns ourselves.

Personal judgments: (1 Cor. 6:1-4; 2:15; 5:3,12,13, 4:5; Matt. 7:1; Lk. 6:37; Dan. 7:22; Rom. 14:13; Jn. 7:24; Job 9:20; Rom. 1:20)

2:2 "we are sure" - (2 Peter 1:17-21) "Truth" - (Jn. 17:17)

2:3 (Heb. 2:3)

2:4 "The riches" - (Rom. 9:23; 11:33; Eph. 1:7,18; 2:7; 3:8,16; Col. 1:27; 2:2)

"The goodness of God..." - (Lk. 6:35; Ja. 1:17)

2:5 "Impenitent" - One who is not repentant; failure to confess and repent of sin. The suggestion is that you are building up a bank account and one of these days you will get "what's coming to you." (Eze. 18:24)

2:6 Paul continues his summation of the history of man spiritually. What follows is one of the greatest proof texts in the Bible to prove salvation by works. Just about every "kingdom builder" will sooner or later camp out on this text. Without understanding dispensational truth, this passage on Old Testament salvation becomes confusing.

[1]. There is a judgment of works (verse 6). (Rev. 20:12,13; 2:23; 22:12; Ps. 62:12; Eccl. 12:14). This judgment is to be distinguished from the believers judgment at the Judgment Seat of Christ; (2 Cor. 5:10; Rom. 14:10; 1 Cor. 3:11-16)
[2]. The Old Testament Gentile was not subject to the Jewish law, and the blood atonement of Christ was not complete. The word faith does not appear in a "salvation by faith" context in the Old Testament. Cornelius is an example of a man outside of Judaism who sought the truth of God.
[3]. Justification is by works! (See Ja. 2:24 and Rom. 4:1-5. Also, Gal. 2:16-21). There is an apparent contradiction when it comes to the issue of justification.

2:7 (See 1 Jn. 5:11)

2:8 "Obey the truth" - (Rom. 1:25,28,20; 1 Pet. 4:17)

2:9 (Rev. 11:18; 20:12; Jn. 5:29; Acts 24:15)

The Gentile here is under "conscience", if the Gentile will follow his conscience, it would lead him to righteousness and eternal life. Today it would lead him to Jesus Christ.

The Jew was under the Law in the Old Testament, if he would follow it, it would lead him to eternal life or to Christ (Gal. 3).

2:11 "No respect of persons with God" - with regards to an individual's salvation. (Deut. 10:17; Acts 10:34; 2 Chron. 19:7; Col. 3:25; Ja. 2:1; 2 Sam. 14:14; 1 Pet. 1:17; Eph. 6:9)

2:12 When Adam and Eve fell, they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The emphasis is usually given to the evil nature that we inherited, and we forget that they also gained the knowledge of good. The Bible tells us that the law is written on every man's heart. (Gen. 2:17; 3:22)

In (Gen. 20:1-7), how is it that Abimelech knew that adultery was wrong? (Note Gen. 20:5): "the integrity of my heart." This man is a "heathen". There is no law and no gospel, yet he knows right from wrong, how can we account for this? (Look at Gen. 20:11), Abraham miscalculates the morality of the people.

2:13 (Verses 13,14 and 15) are a parenthesis between (12 and 16).

"The doers of the law" - (Ja. 1:22; 2:22)

"Justified" - (Ja. 2:24; Rom. 4:1-5; Gal. 2:16)

These three verses state that when the Gentile keeps the law, he places himself under the same condemnation as the Jew.

2:15 What is called "progress" or "broad-mindedness" in the 20th Century is really the result of man squelching his conscience to the point where he will enjoy and/or tolerate any sin without any qualms. This accounts for the sick minds of our age. "You've come a long way baby."

Three things accuse a man: Law, conscience, thoughts.

"The mean while accusing or else excusing" - (2 Cor. 10:12)

Seven alibis for sin better known as the rudiments of the world:

1. "We always have done it."	5. "We know when to quit."
2. "Everybody else does it."	6. "You gotta get married."
3. "Depends on how you look at it.	7. "You gotta make a living."
4. "A little bit doesn't hurt."

These are the principles that should guide our lives:

[1]. Is it right?
[2]. Will it glorify God?
[3]. Is it edifying?
[4]. Can I ask God to bless it and thank him for it?
[5]. Would I like the Lord to find me doing it when he returns?

2:16 (Rom. 2:2; 3:23; Acts 17:31; Jn. 5:22; 12:48)

2:17 Paul zeroes in on the Jews. This begins a section that ends at Chapter (3:8).

2:18 See outline.

2:19 "The blind" - Gentiles

2:20 Romans 10:2; 11 Timothy 3:4,5

2:21 "Practice what you preach."

2:22 Idol worship is called "sacrilege." (Ex. 20:4-6)

2:23 "Breaking the law" - any violation

2:24 (Isa. 52:5)

2:25 Circumcision is only profitable if the Jew keeps the Law. If the Law is broken, the external sign becomes worthless and void. Religion does not profit if the laws of the religion are not kept. If the law is kept by the uncircumcised, it becomes circumcision unto him. In other words it is not the outward appearance, but the inward appearance that is important.

2:27 The point of the verse is the Gentile who keeps the Law will stand in judgment of the Jew who does not. Matthew 12:41.

2:28 These two verses are used by almost every one of the cults

2:29 and some major denominations to prove that the Old Testament promises to the Jew now are for the Christian and God has forsaken Israel.

(Read 3:1), There are spiritual Jews and there are physical Jews. Context! A spiritual Jew is a person who keeps the law, Jew or Gentile. A physical Jew is from the house of Israel. The issue: The spiritual seed of Abraham and the physical seed of Jacob.

In (3:1) the oracles of God weren't given to the spiritual Jews but the physical Jews. Further proof: (1 Cor. 10:32) names three types of people alive in the world: "Jew, Gentile, the Church." Spiritual Circumcision - (Col. 2:12; Phil. 3:3; Deut. 6:5; 10:16; 30:6)

"Whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Acts 5:29,44; Jn. 12:43; 1 Sam. 15:24)