ROMANS
CHAPTER 2
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
OBSERVATION
STAGE
The purpose of
the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the
normative rules of language, context and logic 
which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Romans.
This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more
importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective
comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.
Remember that
something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in
view.
Notice that 2:1
begins with 'You, therefore' as a continuation of what has come before. So
we will begin at a strategic point in chapter one so as not to miss the
context that chapter two continues and is a part of:
[Excerpt from
chapter one below - or skip to verse 2:1 
]:
****** EXCERPT
FROM CHAPTER ONE *******
THE
PHRASE "IS REVEALED" IN V. 18 HAS IN VIEW MAKING THE WRATH OF
GOD FROM HEAVEN OBSERVABLE BY MANKIND IN TEMPORAL TIME. THIS
CORROBORATES THE INTERPRETATION OF THE SAME PHRASE "IS REVEALED"
IN V. 17 WHICH REFERS TO MAKING A RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD EVIDENT TO
MANKIND SO AS TO BE OBSERVABLE IN A BELIEVER BY MEN IN TEMPORAL TIME
WHEN THAT BELIEVER IS FAITHFUL TO HIS BELIEF IN THE GOSPEL
GODLESSNESS
= THAT WHICH IS REBELLIOUS TOWARD GOD, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS &
SOVEREIGNTY - NOT WORSHIPPING HIM, UNBELIEF
WICKEDNESS
= THAT WHICH IS SINFUL, EVIL - MORE SPECIFICALLY IN THIS VERSE, THAT
EVIL WHICH SUPPRESSES THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD: THAT HE EXISTS, IS RIGHTEOUS
AND SOVEREIGN, AND REQUIRES MAN TO BE RIGHTEOUS. IMMORAL UNBELIEVERS ARE
IN VIEW
IMMORAL
UNBELIEVERS WHO NEITHER WORSHIP NOR ACKNOWLEDGE GOD ARE IN VIEW, WHO BY
THEIR GODLESSNESS AND WICKEDNESS SUPPRESS THE TRUTH THAT GOD EXISTS, IS
SOVEREIGN, RIGHTEOUS AND EXPECTS MAN TO BE RIGHTEOUS
JUST
AS AN ABSOLUTELY PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD IS IMPUTED TO
INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL AND IS REVEALED TO MANKIND
AS PRESENT WITHIN THOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR THOSE MOMENTS WHEN THEY ARE
FAITHFUL TO THEIR BELIEF IN THE GOSPEL; SO THE TEMPORAL WRATH OF GOD IS
REVEALED TO MANKIND FROM HEAVEN IN SOME MANNER AGAINST ALL THE
GODLESSNESS AND WICKEDNESS OF MEN WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD BY
THEIR WICKEDNESS
THE
WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED TO MEN AGAINST ALL THE GODLESSNESS AND
WICKEDNESS FROM HEAVEN, POINTING TO THE FACT THAT GOD IS
ACTIVELY RESPONDING TO MAN'S GODLESSNESS AND WICKEDNESS ON THE EARTH
FROM MOMENT TO MOMENT FROM HEAVEN
ONE
MUST HAVE THE TRUTH PLAINLY SET BEFORE THEM IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE ABLE
TO SUPPRESS IT BY THEIR WICKED, GODLESS BEHAVIOR
1)
[Compare Ro 1:19]:
THE
KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD IS PLAIN TO MEN WHO SUPPRESS THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD,
WHICH KNOWLEDGE DECLARES THAT HE EXISTS, IS THE SOVEREIGN CREATOR, IS
RIGHTEOUS AND REQUIRES MAN TO BE RIGHTEOUS
THE
PHRASE "GOD HAS MADE IT PLAIN TO THEM" IMPLIES THAT GOD HAS
PROVIDED INFORMATION TO MAN ABOUT HIMSELF IN A MANNER WHICH IS READILY
DISCERNIBLE, I.E., NATURAL REVELATION
FOR
SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD GOD'S INVISIBLE QUALITIES - HIS ETERNAL
POWER AND DIVINE NATURE - HAVE BEEN CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD FROM
WHAT HAS BEEN MADE, SO THAT ALL MANKIND OF ALL AGES ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE -
INCLUDING THOSE WHO DO NOT WORSHIP GOD AT ALL
GOD'S
ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE AND WHAT CAN BE KNOWN ABOUT HIM HAS BEEN
MADE PLAIN AND CAN CLEARLY BE SEEN IN CREATION
IF
ONE SUPPRESSES THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD BY WICKEDNESS WHICH INCLUDES NEITHER
GLORIFYING GOD NOR GIVING THANKS TO HIM, ONE DETERIORATES INTO FUTILE
THINKING WHEREIN ONES FOOLISH HEART (MIND) BECOMES DARKENED (EVIL) -
IMMORAL UNBELIEVERS ARE IN VIEW
THE
WICKED, UNGODLY BEHAVIOR OF IMMORAL UNBELIEVERS SUPPRESSES TRUTH ABOUT
AND EXCHANGES THE GLORY OF THE IMMORTAL GOD FOR IMAGES MADE TO LOOK LIKE
MORTAL MAN, BIRDS, ANIMALS AND REPTILES
SEXUAL
IMPURITY IS AN EXPECTED OUTGROWTH OF GODLESS AND WICKED BEHAVIOR WHEREIN
GOD GIVES THE IMMORAL UNBELIEVER OVER TO SUCH DESIRES. THIS IS ONE WAY
IN WHICH THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED TO MEN THRU OBSERVING THE
UNRESTRAINED LIFESTYLE OF IMMORAL BELIEVERS
GOD
ACTS AS A RESTRAINER OF THE SINFUL DESIRES WITHIN MAN
TO
KNOW GOD WHICH KNOWLEDGE IS MADE PLAIN TO ALL MEN, YET BE GODLESS AND
WICKED IS TO SUPPRESS THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT GOD, TO BECOME FUTILE AND
FOOLISH IN ONES THINKING UNTO A DARKENED MIND, AND TO EXCHANGE THE TRUTH
OF GOD FOR A LIE AND WORSHIP AND SERVE CREATED THINGS RATHER THAN THE
CREATOR
REGARDLESS
OF WHETHER OR NOT MEN WORSHIP GOD, HE IS DECLARED AS BEING FOREVER
PRAISED
FOR
MEN TO KNOW GOD WHICH KNOWLEDGE IS MADE PLAIN TO ALL MEN, YET BE GODLESS
AND WICKED IS TO SUPPRESS THE PLAIN TRUTH ABOUT GOD, TO BECOME A FUTILE,
IMMORAL UNBELIEVER, FOOLISH IN HIS THINKING UNTO A DARKENED MIND, WHO
EXCHANGES THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR A LIE AND WORSHIPS AND SERVES CREATED
THINGS RATHER THAN THE CREATOR. BECAUSE OF THIS GOD GIVES THE IMMORAL
UNBELIEVER OVER AS AN EXPRESSION OF HIS WRATH TO THE UNBELIEVER'S SINFUL
DESIRES, EVEN SHAMEFUL HOMOSEXUAL LUSTS
HOMOSEXUALITY
IS STIPULATED AS A SHAMEFUL, UNNATURAL, INDECENT, PERVERSE LUST THAT
BECOMES PREVALENT IN WOMEN AND MEN DUE TO THEIR GODLESSNESS AND
WICKEDNESS
SEXUAL
RELATIONS BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN ARE NATURAL, I.E., ORDAINED BY GOD
AS HIS NATURAL ORDER. ALL SAME SEX SEXUAL ACTIVITY IS CONDEMNED AS
WICKED AND GODLESS
THE
WORD "FURTHERMORE" IN V. 28 CONTINUES TO PORTRAY THE DOWNSLIDE
OF HUMAN DEPRAVITY IN IMMORAL UNBELIEVERS RESULTING FROM NOT THINKING IT
WORTHWHILE TO RETAIN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND GOD'S WRATH TURNING THEM
OVER TO THEIR OWN CHOICE OF EVERY INCREASING SELF-DESTRUCTIVE SIN
LEADING TO PREMATURE PHYSICAL DEATH
SO
A DELIBERATELY GODLESS AND WICKED LIFESTYLE PATTERN IS THUS FILLED UP
WITH EVERY KIND OF WICKEDNESS, EVIL, GREED AND DEPRAVITY. ONE BECOMES
FULL OF ENVY, MURDER, STRIFE, DECEIT AND MALICE. SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE
GOSSIPS, SLANDERERS, GOD-HATERS, INSOLENT, ARROGANT, BOASTFUL,
DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, SENSELESS, FAITHLESS, HEARTLESS, RUTHLESS
GOD
IS CONCERNED FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS. HE RESTRAINS SINFUL BEHAVIOR IN THEM
FOR THEIR BENEFIT; FOR SIN IS ALWAYS HARMFUL. HE DOES THIS UNTIL THEY
REJECT HIS EFFORTS BY THEIR GODLESSNESS AND WICKEDNESS, (UNBELIEF
AND IMMORALITY)
ALL
MEN ARE PROVIDED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUS DECREE THAT
ALL WHO DO SUCH THINGS AS LISTED IN VV. 29-31 DESERVE DEATH, PREMATURE
PHYSICAL DEATH AS A RESULT OF BEING TURNED OVER BY GOD TO THE DEADLY
DESTRUCTIVE RESULTS OF EVER INCREASING SIN
NOT
ONLY DO MEN DO SUCH THINGS AS IN VV. 30-31 WHICH DESERVES PHYSICAL DEATH
AS A RESULT OF UNRESTRAINED EVIL, BUT THEY APPROVE OF THOSE WHO PRACTICE
SUCH EVIL THINGS, JUSTIFYING THEIR CONDEMNATION ALL THE MORE
**** END OF
EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER ONE ****
I)
[Ro 2:1]:
A)
SELF-RIGHTEOUS MORAL UNBELIEVERS ARE IN VIEW WHO PASS CONDEMNATORY
JUDGMENT ON IMMORAL UNBELIEVERS YET DO THE SAME THINGS. THEIR RELATIVELY
MORAL BEHAVIOR IS NOT AN INDICATOR OF ESCAPING GOD'S ETERNAL
CONDEMNATION
B)
GOD RESTRAINS SELF-DESTRUCTIVE SINFUL BEHAVIOR IN THOSE WHO LEAD
RELATIVELY MORAL LIFESTYLES - PRESERVING THE QUALITY AND DURATION OF
THEIR TEMPORAL LIVES; BUT THIS DOES NOT RULE OUT ETERNAL CONDEMNATION
FOR THEM
C)
SINCE ALL MEN BEGIN LIFE AS UNBELIEVERS; AND SINCE ALL UNBELIEVERS, EVEN
THOSE WHO LEAD RELATIVELY MORAL LIVES, DO THE SAME THINGS AS GODLESS MEN
DO, THEN THERE IS NO ONE RIGHTEOUS ENOUGH TO ESCAPE GOD'S JUDGMENT /
CONDEMNATION WHO HAS NOT TRUSTED ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE FOR THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
1)
[Compare Ro 3:10-12]:
II)
[Ro 2:2-3]:
A)
GOD'S JUDGMENT IS BASED ON TRUTH, I.E., FACTS AND REALITY; MAN'S
JUDGMENT APART FROM GOD IS BASED ON HYPOCRISY AND SELF-DECEPTION. HENCE
GOD'S JUDGMENT IS VALID, MAN'S INVALID
B)
THE MORAL UNBELIEVER'S CONDEMNATORY JUDGMENT OF OTHERS FOR THINGS THEY
DO THEMSELVES IMPLIES THAT THEY THINK THAT THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY
GOD - BUT SUCH WILL NOT BE THE CASE
III)
[Ro 2:4]:
A)
MORAL UNBELIEVERS WHO BY VIRTUE OF THEIR MORAL LIFESTYLE DO NOT
EXPERIENCE GOD'S TEMPORAL WRATH OF UNRESTRAINED SELF-DESTRUCTIVE SIN,
CONDEMN IMMORAL UNBELIEVERS FOR THEIR GODLESSNESS AND WICKEDNESS. THEY
EVIDENCE CONTEMPT FOR THE RICHES OF GOD'S KINDNESS WHICH LEADS THEM
TOWARD REPENTANCE FROM THEIR OWN GODLESSNESS AND WICKEDNESS TOWARD
UNBELIEF IN GOD AND THE GOSPEL
IV)
[Ro 2:5]:
A)
SO LONG AS MORAL UNBELIEVERS REMAIN STUBBORN AND UNREPENTANT RELATIVE TO
ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR SINS AND UNBELIEF IN GOD AND THE GOSPEL, THEY ARE
STORING UP WRATH AGAINST THEMSELVES FOR THE DAY OF GOD'S WRATH, WHEN HIS
RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT TOWARD THEM WILL BE REVEALED
V)
[Ro 2:6]:
A)
IN THE LIGHT OF THE KEY THEME OF ROMANS WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN
PRESENTED: A RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD UNTO ETERNAL LIFE COMES AS A FREE
GIFT THROUGH A MOMENT OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE, THOSE INDIVIDUALS
WHO HAVE OPTED NOT TO ACCEPT IT THROUGH FAITH MUST FACE GOD'S FUTURE
JUDGMENT IN WHICH GOD WILL GIVE EACH ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE
VI)
[Ro 2:7]:
A)
THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER CHOSEN TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST TO RECEIVE A
RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD UNTO ETERNAL LIFE, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BY HUMAN
DOING - BY PERSISTENCE IN DOING GOOD, SEEKING GLORY, HONOR AND
IMMORTALITY TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE - A PERSISTENT GODLY LIFESTYLE
WHEREIN SIN IS ABSENT, BUT THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH MAN
1)
[Compare Ro 2:1]:
2)
[Compare Ro 3:10-12, 20]:
B)
ONE WHO PERSISTENTLY SEEKS GOD'S GLORY, HONOR AND IMMORTALITY, A
LIFESTYLE WITHOUT SIN - GOD WILL GIVE ETERNAL LIFE. BUT THIS IS NOT
ATTAINABLE BY MAN EXCEPT BY FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE, THE GOSPEL
VII)
[Ro 2:8]:
A)
GOD'S WRATH AND ANGER IN THIS LIFE AND IN ETERNITY IS DUE TO THOSE WHO
ARE SELF-SEEKING AND WHO REJECT THE TRUTH AND FOLLOW EVIL WHICH IS ALL
MEN. ON THE OTHER HAND, GOD'S STANDARD OF DOING GOOD - SINLESSNESS - AS
OPPOSED TO MAN'S IS AFFIRMED AS TO WHAT IS NEEDED TO RECEIVE ETERNAL
LIFE - WHICH IS UNATTAINABLE BY MAN
VIII)
[Ro 2:9]:
A)
GOD'S WRATH WILL BE UPON EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO COMMITS ANY ACT OF EVIL
WHICH INCLUDES ALL INDIVIDUALS. HENCE THIS RULES OUT ANY INDIVIDUAL
EARNING ETERNAL LIFE BY PERSISTENCE IN DOING GOOD
B)
GOD'S WRATH AND ANGER IN THE FORM OF TROUBLE AND DISTRESS WILL BESET ALL
INDIVIDUALS, FOR ALL ARE SELF-SEEKING, REJECT THE TRUTH AND FOLLOW EVIL,
THE JEW FIRST, THEN THE GENTILE. THIS IMPLIES THAT THE JEW IS HELD MORE
ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN GIVEN SPECIAL ATTENTION BY GOD TOWARD
THE END OF PERSISTENCE IN DOING GOOD WHICH LATER VERSES INDICATE AMONG
OTHER THINGS: THE MOSAIC LAW
IX)
[Ro 2:10]:
A)
ETERNAL LIFE'S GLORY, HONOR AND PEACE IS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE LED A
PERFECT GODLY LIFESTYLE - BUT THIS IS ONLY ATTAINABLE BY FAITH ALONE IN
CHRIST ALONE, THE GOSPEL AND NOT BY MAN'S OWN EFFORTS -
X)
[Ro 2:11-13]:
A)
THE LAW IS A RULE OF LIFE WHICH STANDARD IS GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE
WHEN ONE OBSERVES IT ONE IS DECLARED RIGHTEOUS BY GOD. HENCE THE LAW
EMBODIES THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
B)
THERE IS NEITHER FAVORITISM GIVEN TO THOSE UNDER THE LAW NOR TO THOSE
APART FROM THE LAW. EACH INDIVIDUAL WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE
RULE OF LIFE GOD HAS PLACED HIM UNDER WHICH POINTS TOWARD GOD'S ABSOLUTE
RIGHTEOUSNESS REQUIRED FOR ETERNAL LIFE RESULTING IN MAKING MEN AWARE OF
SIN AND THEIR INABILITY TO ATTAIN THAT GOAL BY THEIR DEEDS
C)
SINCE NO ONE CAN CLAIM TO BE WITHOUT SIN, ALL WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE
FOR ONES SINS AND WILL PERISH IN A FUTURE DAY OF JUDGMENT IF THOSE SINS
ARE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR
1)
[Compare Ro 2:16]:
D)
RELATIVE TO HUMAN DOING, ONLY THROUGH PERFECT OBEDIENCE TO THE PRECEPTS
OF THE LAW, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR MAN, CAN ONE BE DECLARED RIGHTEOUS
IN GOD'S SIGHT, OTHERWISE A RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD CAN ONLY BE RECEIVED
BY FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE - THE GOSPEL
E)
A MOMENT
OF FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE - THE GOSPEL - IS TANTAMOUNT TO MEETING
THE PERFECT STANDARD OF UNFAULTING PERSISTENCE IN DOING GOOD, SEEKING
GLORY, HONOR AND IMMORTALITY VIA OBEDIENCE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
LAW REQUIRED TO RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE
F)
OBEYING THE LAW PERFECTLY, NOT JUST POSSESSING IT OR HEARING IT AS JEWS
HAVE FALSELY CLAIMED, RESULTS IN BEING DECLARED RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S
SIGHT, IMPLYING A PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS
XI)
[Ro 2:14-15]:
A)
ALTHOUGH GENTILES DO NOT HAVE THE LAW - EVIDENTLY THE LAW BEING
EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE JEWS, THEY DO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO BY NATURE,
I.E., OUT OF THEIR CONSCIENCES, THINGS REQUIRED BY THE LAW
B)
ONES CONSCIENCE HAS THE CAPACITY TO BEAR WITNESS TO ONES ACTIONS
ACCUSING WHEN ONE IS NOT RIGHTEOUS AND DEFENDING WHEN ONE IS
XII)
[Ro 2:16]:
A)
A DAY OR PERIOD OF TIME DEDICATED TO JUDGMENT OF ALL MEN BY GOD IN THE
FUTURE IS IN VIEW
B)
THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL ARE JUDGED AS HAVING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS
FROM GOD. THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE THEIR SINS JUDGED, FALL SHORT OF GOD'S
RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ARE DUE GOD'S ETERNAL WRATH
XIII)
[Ro 2:17-24]:
A)
JEWS ARE IN VIEW WHO HAVE AND ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INSTRUCTED IN THE LAW,
A SUPERIOR INSTRUCTION. THEY HAVE A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS HIS
CHOSEN PEOPLE TO REPRESENT HIM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THE WORLD
B)
THE LAW IS THE EMBODIMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH IN THE SENSE THAT IT IS
THE SOURCE UPON WHICH KNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH IS MADE CONCRETE AND
PERCEPTIBLE. HENCE THE LAW IS ALSO THE EMBODIMENT OF GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS
C)
THE LAW WAS GIVEN FOR THE JEW TO BE PART OF HIS SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD; TO PROVIDE THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S WILL; TO BE A SUPERIOR WAY
OF LIFE; AND IT IS NOT THOSE WHO HEAR THE LAW BUT IT IS THOSE WHO OBEY
THE LAW WHO WILL BE DECLARED RIGHTEOUS; TO BE A GUIDE FOR THE BLIND AND
A LIGHT FOR THOSE IN THE DARK; TO BE AN INSTRUCTOR OF THE FOOLISH AND A
TEACHER OF INFANTS
D)
THE JEWS WERE GIVEN THE LAW BY GOD IN ORDER TO REPRESENT GOD AND HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THE WORLD. THEY FALSELY CLAIMED TO RELY ON IT AND
CONSTANTLY VIOLATED IT CAUSING GOD'S NAME TO BE BLASPHEMED AMONG THE
GENTILES
E)
GOD'S NAME IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE THE JEWS DISHONOR
GOD BY CONSTANTLY BREAKING THE LAW YET HOLD THEMSELVES UP AS SUPERIOR TO
THE GENTILES. THEY HAVE A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS HIS CHOSEN
PEOPLE TO REPRESENT GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THE WORLD THROUGH
OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW, THEIR UNIQUE POSSESSION. THEY CLAIM THEY RELY ON
IT FAITHFULLY
F)
JEWS HAVE A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT GOD AND HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO THE LAW
WHICH WAS GIVEN TO THEM AS GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE WHICH THEY HAVE LARGELY
FAILED TO LIVE UP TO
XIV)
[Ro 2:25]:
A)
THE CIRCUMCISION IN VIEW IN THIS PASSAGE HISTORICALLY BEGAN AFTER
ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD'S PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE AND GOD ACCOUNTED IT TO
HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
1)
God Promises That Abram Will Be Father Of A Great Nation Leading To
Blessings To Abram And All People Through Abram And His Seed, Who Is
Christ
a)
[Compare Gen 12:1-7]:
i)
The Seed Is Christ
[Compare
Gal 3:16]:
ii)
God Promises Eternal Life To Abram
[Compare
Gen 12:3]:
[Compare
John 8:56]:
2)
God Repeats His Promise To Abram
a)
[Compare Gen 13:14-15]:
3)
Abram Believes In God's Promise And God Credits It To Abram As
Righteousness Unto Eternal Life
a)
[Compare Gen 15:1-6]:
B)
AFTER ABRAHAM BELIEVED IN GOD'S COVENANT FOR ABRAHAM AND HIS SEED OF
ETERNAL LIFE AND TEMPORAL BLESSINGS, GOD COMMANDED CIRCUMCISION OF
ABRAHAM AND ALL IN HIS HOUSEHOLD TO AFFIRM THIS EVERLASTING COVENANT
WHICH SYMBOLLICALY REPRESENTS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD RECKONED TO
ABRAHAM AND ALL WHO BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL AS ABRAHAM DID
1)
[Compare Gen 17:1-14]:
2)
[Compare Ro 2:29]:
C)
ABRAHAM'S CIRCUMCISION WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE MOSAIC LAW AS A RULE OF
LIFE FOR JEWS TO RECEIVE TEMPORAL BLESSINGS - ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO
EXERCISED THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM; AND IT WAS A DEMONSTRATION TO THE WORLD
OF AN ISRAELITE WHO WAS TO REPRESENT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD THROUGH
FAITH IN GOD'S PROMISE TO ABRAHAM, THE GOSPEL, UNTO ETERNAL LIFE
1)
[Compare Lev 12:2-3]:
2)
[Compare Ro 2:29]:
D)
CIRCUMCISION IS CONNECTED WITH OBSERVING THE LAW WHICH THE LAW EMBODIES
AND REPRESENTS GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS
E)
CIRCUMCISION HAS CERTAIN TEMPORAL VALUE AS A TESTIMONY TO THE WORLD OF
WHAT IT SYMBOLICALLY REPRESENTS WHILE A JEW OBSERVES THE LAW WHICH THE
LAW EMBODIES GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS. WHILE A JEW IS NOT OBEYING THE LAW HE
IS UNRIGHTEOUS AND DURING THAT TIME IT IS AS IF HE HAD NOT BEEN
CIRCUMCISED
XV)
[Ro 2:26-27]:
A)
DURING THOSE TIMES UNCIRCUMSIZED GENTILES ARE KEEPING THE RIGHTEOUS
REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW, THEY ARE A LAW FOR THEMSELVES AND ARE REGARDED
AS BEING CIRCUMCISED IN THE SENSE THAT THEY REPRESENT GOD AND HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS EMBODIED IN THE LAW
B)
DURING THOSE TIMES UNCIRCUMSIZED GENTILES ARE KEEPING THE RIGHTEOUS
REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW THEY WILL CONDEMN BEFORE GOD THE JEW WHILE HE IS
A LAWBREAKER WHO CLAIMS SUPERIORITY HAVING THE WRITTEN CODE AND PHYSICAL
CIRCUMCISION BUT ACTING AS IF HE HAS NOT BEEN CIRCUMCISED
XVI)
[Ro 2:28-29]:
A)
AN OUTWARD, (PHYSICAL), JEW MUST BE A JEW IN ANOTHER SENSE: AN INWARD
ONE VIA CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART BY THE SPIRIT - BY FAITH IN THE
GOSPEL, NOT BY THE LAW, IN ORDER TO BE DECLARED A JEW IN GOD'S SIGHT.
GENTILES AND CHRISTIANS ARE NOT IN VIEW IN THIS VERSE
B)
CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART (MIND) BY THE SPIRIT IS A SPIRITUAL OPERATION,
A REMOVAL OF ONES ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SINS AT THE POINT OF A MOMENT OF
FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE - THE GOSPEL - UNTO THE IMPUTATION OF A
RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD
C)
SUCH A MAN'S PRAISE OF ANOTHER FOR BEING A GODLY JEW, WHICH IMPLIES
HAVING AN IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD, COMES NOT AS A RESULT OF HUMAN
DOING BUT AS A RESULT OF THE WORK OF GOD
Continue
to Romans chapter 3
