If, however, I want the builder to do something for me, then I need to have faith in him. The same applies to God: "Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
1:27 Homosexuality. Despite claims to the contrary, no scientific evidence has been found that homosexuals are "born that way."
In fact, God's Word is clear that sexual activity is to be only within the bounds of marriage, between one man and one woman.
Homosexuality goes against God's created order and expressed will. If a homosexual claims to be born that way, gently explain that all people are born with a sin nature, but that our nature makes us children of wrath. (See
Jude 7 comment.) See also 1 Timothy 1:8–10 comment.
CHAPTER 2 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever you are that judge: for wherein you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you that judge do the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And do you think this, O man, that judge them which do such things, and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
5 But after your hardness and impenitent heart you treasure up to yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:
QUESTIONS & OBJECTIONS 2:12 "Will people who have never heard the gospel all go to hell because they haven't heard about Jesus Christ?"
No one will go to hell because they haven't heard of Jesus Christ. The heathen will go to hell for murder, rape, adultery, lust, theft, lying, etc. Sin is not failing to hear the gospel.
Rather, "sin is the transgression of the Law"
(1 John 3:4). If we really care about the lost, we will become missionaries and take the good news of God's forgiveness in Christ to them. See John 16:9 comment.
8 But to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law to themselves:
15 Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
17 Behold, you are called a Jew, and rest in the law, and make your boast of God, 18 And know his will, and approve the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; 19 And are confident that you yourself are a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, USING THE LAW IN EVANGELISM 2:21 Here Paul uses the Law to bring "the knowledge of sin."
Dr. J Gresham Machen said, "A new and more powerful proclamation of [the] Law is perhaps the most pressing need of the hour; men would have little difficulty with the gospel if they had only learned the lesson of the Law." See James 2:8 comment.
20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
21 You therefore which teach another, do you not teach yourself? you that preach a man should not steal, do you steal?
22 You that say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? you that abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege?
23 You that make your boast of the law, through breaking the law do you dishonor 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
25 For circumcision verily profits, if you keep the law: but if you be a breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision.
26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?
27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge you, who by the letter and circumcision do transgress the law?
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
*** How did the apostles die? See Acts 7:55.
*** 2:4 This verse is sandwiched between statements of God's judgment and wrath. If Paul was saying that we should speak only of God's goodness to sinners, he wasn't practicing what he preached.
"I never knew but one person in the whole course of my ministry who acknowledged that the first motions of religion in his own heart arose from a sense of the goodness of God,
'What shall I render to the Lord, who has dealt so bountifully with me?' But I think all besides who have come within my notice have rather been first awakened to fly from the wrath to come by the passion of fear."
Isaac Watts 2:15 "Conscience is the internal perception of God's moral Law." Oswald Chambers 2:15 The sinner's conscience. God has given light to every man. The word "conscience" means "with knowledge." The conscience is the headline warning of sin; the Scriptures give the fine print. No man can say he doesn't know that it's wrong to murder or commit adultery. That knowledge is written in bold print on his heart. However, in the Scriptures we see the true nature of sin: that God requires truth even in the inward parts
(Psalm 51:6). The fine print reveals that lust is adultery of the heart, hatred is murder of the heart, etc.
2:15,16 There are two witnesses to our crimes: Our conscience and God Himself accuse us. See 1 Corinthians 6:9,10 comment.
2:16 Judgment Day: For verses that warn of its reality, see Romans 14:10.