not have Gods revelation in the law? and bring dishonor on His name by living
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and honour and immortality he will give eternal life. 8 But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but yield to unrighteousness, he will show anger and wrath. 9 Tribulation and anguish will come on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 but glory, honour, and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. 11 For there is no favoritism with God. 12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law. 13 (For not those who hear the Law are righteous in Gods sight, but those who obey the Law will be declared righteous. 14 For when the Gentiles, who do not have the Law, do by nature the things contained in the Law, they are a law for themselves, though they do not have the Law. 15 They show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing or else defending them.) 16 Thus it will be on the day when God judges the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
will, and approve the things that are superior because you are instructed out of the Law. 19 And you are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, who have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the Law. 21 You, therefore, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the Law, through breaking the Law do you dishonour God? 24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
25 For circumcision indeed has its value, if you keep the Law. But if you are a breaker of the Law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 Therefore if one who is uncircumcised follows the righteousness of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27 And will not one who is uncircumcised by nature, if he fulfils the Law, judge you who with the written Law and circumcision transgress the Law?
17 Look, you are called a Jew, and rely on the Law, and make your boast in God, 18 and know his
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly,
(John 3:36; 5:24). This is not a reward for doing good and seeking God. It is a result of the work God has done in them. Those who say they have believed in Christ but do not do what this verse says are selfdeceived, and have not experienced Gods salvation. See notes at Matt 5:1; 7:24-27; Jam 2:14-19,26. 2:8 Self-seeking there are two and only two classes of people: those who follow the truth and seek what the true God alone can give (Matt 6:33), and those who refuse the truth and whose seeking is all selfishness for what self desires, for family, for name, for money, for power, for popularity, etc. This second class of people will suffer Gods anger v 18; John 3:36; Eph 5:6; 2 Thess 1:5-10. 2:9,10 This is true first for the Jew because the Jews first had Gods Word and Christs gospel 1:16. 2:11 God will not spare a person because he is a Jew or a Christian and says he is one of Gods people. In fact, such a person has had more opportunity to know the truth, and his judgment will be worse if he does not obey it. 2:12 By the law he means the law God gave through Moses. See Exodus chapter 20. Why should people perish if they did not have Gods revelation in the law? Because they are willful sinners, and they have Gods revelation in nature, and reject the light God gave them 1:18-20,28. 2:13 It is not enough for a person to hear what Gods law says he must live according to it completely, if he is to be counted righteous by his works. And except the Lord
Jesus no person has ever done so 3:9,19,23; Jam 2:10; Ex 19:21-25. 2:14,15 Even those who never heard of Gods law given by Moses have knowledge of right and wrong. It is something God has placed in their inner being.
Conscience note at Acts 23:1. 2:16 Acts 17:31. 2:17 The religious and self-righteous Jew was a prime example of those who judged others v 1; Luke 18:9-12. They thought they could be saved by keeping the law of Moses (John 5:39,45), and boasted they alone were the people of God John 8:41. 2:18-23 Because they had Gods law the Jews thought they were the ones to teach others the truth. However, while teaching others they neglected to teach themselves and broke the very law they taught. The same can be said of many Christians today who have the teachings of the Lord Jesus and give them to others but do not obey them themselves. Observe that all sin (breaking the law) dishonors God. Compare Ps 51:4. 2:24 Paul proves his accusation by referring to the Old Testament which reveals the failure of the Jews Isa 52:5; Ezek 36:22. Far better not to profess to know God (or Christ) than to call oneself one of His people and bring dishonor on His name by living an evil life. 2:25-29 Circumcision was the seal of Gods covenant with the Jews. See note at Gen 17:9-14. Many Jews thought they were Gods people merely because of this physical mark, even if they disobeyed the law. Paul is saying that keeping the law, and the inward