The Need for the Gospel Explained (Romans 1:18 - 3:20)

(Class Notes)

• The Rejection of God by the Nations (1:18-23)
  • The Wrath of God (1:18)
    • The WRATH of God REVEALED FROM HEAVEN:
      • In the PAST
        • The Flood (Genesis 7:11; 8:2)
        • Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24)
      • In the FUTURE
        • The Return of Christ (II Thessalonians 1:7-8)
      • NOT NOW - under GRACE, i.e. "the Day of Salvation" (II Corinthians 6:1-2)
        • "the Ministry of Reconciliation", i.e. sharing "the Word of Reconciliation" (II Corinthians 5:18-19)
        • "Ambassadors of Christ" (II Corinthians 5:20) bearing "the Gospel of Peace" (Ephesians 6:15 cf. II Corinthians 5:21)
    • The WRATH of God is AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS, i.e. a WILLFUL IGNORANCE of the truth (suppression of the truth IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS) by WILLFUL SCOFFERS of the Word of God (Psalms 1:1-6 cf. II Peter 2:5-6; 3:3-7)
  • The Witness of God (1:19-20)
    • The "INVISIBLE THINGS of God have been revealed by the "THINGS THAT ARE MADE":
      • The "INVISIBLE THINGS", i.e. "His ETERNAL POWER and GODHEAD"
      • The "THINGS THAT ARE MADE", i.e. "the HEAVENS" (Psalms 19:1)
      • The Greek word ("POYEEMA") translated via the phrase ("THAT ARE MADE") is literally rendered by the English word ("POEM")
      • Thus, "the HEAVENS" (Psalms 19:1) and their "SPEECH" (Psalms 19:2-3) - are literally a Divine "POEM"
    • God's CELESTIAL handiwork (Psalms 19:1-6) VISUALLY "SHEWED unto them" the REVELATION that is LITERALLY EXPRESSED by His WRITTEN WORD (Psalms 19:7-11)
    • The CELESTIAL REVELATION (Psalms 19:1-6):
      • God created the HEAVENLY LIGHTS for "SIGNS, seasons, days, and years" (Genesis 1:14-16)
      • "SIGNS", i.e. STAR CONSTELLATIONS (Isaiah 13:10) were "MANIFESTED" by drawn LINES - which were VISIBLE to all the earth, i.e. "their LINE is gone out through all the earth" (Romans 10:18 cf. Psalms 19:4)
      • God numbered and named the HEAVENLY LIGHTS according to His power (Isaiah 40:26 cf. Psalms 147:4)
        • "Canst thou bind the sweet INFLUENCES (CLUSTERS) of the PLEIADES and loose the BANDS of ORION?" (Job 38:31)
          • ORION (Hebrew, "KESIL), i.e. "a strong one" or "the coming prince"
        • "Canst thou bring forth MAZZAROTH in his season? or canst thou guide ARCTURUS WITH HIS SONS?" (Job 38:32)
          • MAZARROTH = the "TWELVE SIGNS" (Psalms 19:4) of the Zodiac, i.e. the PATH of the SUN through "the HEAVENS" (Psalms 19:1)
            • Bullinger's Companion Bible (Appendix 12)
          • ARCTURUS (Hebrew, "ayish"), i.e. "the greater sheepfold" or now known as "the great bear"
        • "Seek Him that maketh THE SEVEN STARS (THE PLEIADES) and ORION" (Amos 5:8)
      • According to Josephus - the astronomy of the "TWELVE SIGNS" was "invented" by Adam, Seth, and Enoch
        • Hebrew ("MAZZAROTH"), i.e. "SIGNS" (Job 38:32)
        • Hebrew ("MAZZALOTH"), i.e. "STATIONS", NOT "PLANETS" (II Kings 23:5)
      • The "SIGNS" are arranged in a CIRCLE and in EACH ONE God has "set a TABERNACLE for the SUN" (Psalms 19:4)
      • Bullinger (in his Companion Bible) suggests that the ancient riddle of the SPHINX gives the solution as to WHERE this CIRCLE BEGINS & ENDS
        • Greek (SPHINGO) - to loosely JOIN
        • SPHINX - the HEAD of a WOMAN (VIRGO) JOINED to the BODY of a LION (LEO)
      • The CELESTIAL REVELATION concerns the MOVEMENT of the SUN through these HEAVENLY "SIGNS" in a "CIRCUIT" (Psalms 19:6)
        • The REVELATION BEGINS with God's Son as "the SEED of the WOMAN" (Genesis 3:14-15), i.e. the SUN'S "HOUSE" in the "SIGN" of VIRGO
        • The REVELATION ENDS with God's Son as "the LION of the Tribe of JUDAH" (Revelation 5:5), i.e. the SUN'S "HOUSE" in the "SIGN" of LEO
    • The WRITTEN REVELATION (Psalms 19:7-11):
      • Within the SCRIPTURES is REVEALED "THY SERVANT" (Psalms 19:11)
      • "THY SERVANT", unqualified, is the One Who God designates BOTH as "MY RIGHTEOUS SERVANT" (Isaiah 53:11) and as "MY SON" (Psalms 2:7)
      • The WRITTEN SCRIPTURES give the SAME REVELATION of God's Son (Proverbs 30:4) as did the VISUAL CELESTIAL REVELATION
        • He is God's anointed DIVINE RULER (Psalms 2:2,6-7)
        • He is God's provided DIVINE REDEEMER (Isaiah 48:16-17; 53:6,8,10)
    • The CONSTRUCTION of the TOWER of BABEL (Genesis 11:1-4) was an "INEXCUSABLE" DENIAL of the "KNOWLEDGE" communicated via God's VISUAL CELESTIAL REVELATION (Psalms 19:1-3):
      • What the Lord saw when He "LOOKED DOWN from heaven" (Psalms 14:2-3; 53:2-3) - caused Him to "GO DOWN, and there and CONFOUND their LANGUAGE" (Genesis 11:7)
      • ISRAEL'S PRESENT UNBELIEF in God's WRITTEN SCRIPTURES is LIKENED to the GENTILES' PAST UNBELIEF in God's VISUAL CELESTIAL REVELATION (Romans 10:14-21)
  • The Rejection of God (1:21-23)
    • There were TWO TIMES in human history WHEN it could be said that "they knew God" (1:21):
      • AT THE CREATION of Adam and Eve (Genesis 1:26-28)
      • AFTER THE FLOOD - God's covenant with Noah and his sons (Genesis 9:8-17)
    • They "glorified Him NOT as God" (1:21):
      • Instead of GLORIFYING GOD by DECLARING HIS WORKS (I Chronicles 16:23-29) - they SOUGHT a NAME for themselves (Genesis 11:4) and CHANGED the GLORY of God ... INTO an IMAGE (LIKENESS)" (1:23)
        • The LAW identifies the WORSHIP of "GRAVEN IMAGES" as the IDOLATROUS WORSHIP of FALSE GODS (Exodus 20:3-5)
      • NIMROD, "a MIGHTY HUNTER" (Genesis 10:8-9) - was the FIRST TYPE of ANTICHRIST (I John 2:18), i.e. the CLIMAX IDOL known as the IMAGE of the BEAST (Revelation 13:13-15)
        • BABYLON, "the land of SHINAR", was the BEGINNING of NIMROD'S KINGDOM
          (Genesis 10:10 cf. Daniel 1:1-2)
        • BABYLON, a nation of ASTROLOGERS or STARGAZERS (Isaiah 47:1,13) - was the BIRTHPLACE of the IDOLATROUS WORSHIP of the STARRY HEAVENS (Revelation 17:5 cf. II Kings 23:13)
        • The LAW warned ISRAEL against the use of GRAVEN IMAGES to WORSHIP "the HOST of HEAVEN" (Deuteronomy 4:15-19), but she nevertheless engaged in that IDOLATROUS WORSHIP - both IN THE WILDERNESS (II Kings 17:16 cf. Acts 7:40-42) and IN THE LAND (II Kings 21:1-5; 23:1-5)
    • They "neither were thankful" (1:21):
      • Instead of being thankful and humbled by God's revelation (Psalms 8:3-4), they became VAIN (EMPTY) in their "IMAGINATIONS", i.e. in their "REASONINGS" (1:21)
        • BEFORE the FLOOD (Genesis 6:5)
        • AFTER the FLOOD (Genesis 11:6)
    • In "professing themselves to be wise" (1:22), i.e. apart from God (Psalms 14:1; Psalms 53:1) - "they became fools" (1:22) in His sight (I Corinthians 3:18-21):
      • "FOOL" (Greek, "MORAINO"), i.e. (English, "MORON")
      • BLIND IGNORANCE results in a DARKENED UNDERSTANDING (Ephesians 4:17-18)
      • By way of contrast - the entrance of the LORD'S WORDS gives LIGHT and UNDERSTANDING to the simple (Psalms 119:130)
    • By their "WISDOM" (1:22) - "they CHANGED the GLORY of the UNCORRUPTIBLE GOD INTO an IMAGE made LIKE to CORRUPTIBLE MAN" (1:23), i.e. NOT LIKE GOD (Genesis 5:3):
      • BEFORE the FALL, MANKIND was in the "LIKENESS" of GOD (Genesis 1:27; Genesis 5:1-2), i.e. "NAKED" and "NOT ASHAMED" (Genesis 2:25) - having the "LIGHT" of GOD as a COVERING "GARMENT" (Psalms 104:1-2)
      • AFTER the FALL, MANKIND was "NAKED" and "AFRAID" (Genesis 3:9-10) - they "SEWED FIG LEAVES together, and made themselves APRONS" (Genesis 3:7) and "HID themselves FROM the PRESENCE OF THE LORD GOD" (Genesis 3:8)
      • BEFORE the FALL, MANKIND was "BONE" and "FLESH" (Genesis 2:23) - IN "THE KINGDOM OF GOD", i.e. IN "INCORRUPTION" (I Corinthians 15:50)
      • AFTER the FALL, MANKIND was "FLESH and BLOOD", i.e. "CORRUPTION" - OUTSIDE "THE KINGDOM OF GOD" (I Corinthians 15:50)
        • "the Lord God SENT HIM FORTH FROM ... So He DROVE OUT THE MAN" (Genesis 3:23-24)
      • AFTER the FALL, the ANIMAL CREATION itself was ALSO "MADE SUBJECT TO ... the BONDAGE of CORRUPTION" (Romans 8:20-21)
      • The DOWNWARD path of the "IMAGE" of that which is "CORRUPTIBLE" (1:23):
        • The "BIRDS" which FLY ABOVE, e.g. the expression, "FREE AS A BIRD"
        • The "FOURFOOTED BEASTS" which WALK and can be "MUZZLED" (Deuteronomy 25:4)
        • The "CREEPING THINGS" which CRAWL, e.g. the expression, "CRUSHED LIKE A BUG"

• The Abandonment of the Nations by God (1:24-32)
  • God "gave them up" (1:24-25)
    • God GAVE UP the nations "TO UNCLEANNESS" of their LUSTFUL HEARTS (1:24):
      • WHY? - they "CHANGED the GLORY of the "UNCORRUPTIBLE GOD INTO an IMAGE made LIKE to "CORRUPTIBLE MAN" (1:23)
    • This resulted in the DISHONORING of "their OWN BODIES between themselves" (1:24 cf. Leviticus 18:22):
      • This BEGAN WITHIN Noah's own family (Genesis 9:22-26)
    • This also resulted in the FALSE WORSHIP of the CREATION in place of the TRUE WORSHIP of the CREATOR (1:25):
      • "THE TRUTH OF GOD" (1:25 cf. John 8:32,36) centers around THE SEED OF THE WOMAN (Genesis 3:15) as contrasted with "THE LIE" (1:25 cf. John 8:44-45) as represented by THE SEED OF THE SERPENT (Genesis 3:14)
      • "THE LIE" (1:25 cf. II Thessalonians 2:8-11) will be perfected in "THE MAN OF SIN ... THE SON OF PERDITION" (II Thessalonians 2:3-4), i.e. "THE ANTICHRIST" (I John 2:18,22)
    • According to history, NINUS (NIMROD), the KING OF ASSYRIA warred with his neighbors (Genesis 10:8-11):
      • NINUS, the SON OF "BEL" (the "CONFOUNDER"), had a WIFE name SEMIRAMIS, who was worshipped as the GODDESS MOTHER
      • SEMIRAMIS had a SON named TAMMUZ (Ezekiel 8:14), who was also known as BACCHUS (the GOD OF WINE)
      • BACCHUS is also known as BAR-CUSH (the SON OF CUSH) and, thus, CUSH AND BEL are identified as ONE AND THE SAME person
      • Heathen mythology is replete with IDOLATROUS GODDESS MOTHER & SON perversions
        • Egypt - Isis and Osiris ("HUSBAND OF THE MOTHER")
        • India - Isi and Iswara ("HUSBAND AND INFANT")
        • Asia - Cybele and Derius
        • Rome - Fortuna and the boy Jupiter
        • Greece - Ceres and babe
        • China - Shing Moo ("MOTHER WITH HER CHILD")
      • The Scriptures bear witness as to CUSH (BEL) being the ORIGINAL "PROPHET" ("NEBO") OF IDOLATRY (Isaiah 46:1)
      • The Saxon name for the DEVIL is "ZER-NEBO-GUS", I.e. the SEED OF the PROPHET CUSH
      • NIMROD, the SON OF CUSH (Genesis 10:8) is, thus, literally seen as the FIRST ANTICHRIST
        • Like the INITIAL ANTICHRIST whose native land was ASSYRIA (Micah 5:6 cf. Genesis 10:8-11) - so also is the FINAL ANTICHRIST called "the ASSYRIAN" II Thessalonians 2:8 cf. Isaiah 14:25-27; Isaiah 30:30-31,33)
    • God "SCATTERED" (Hebrew, "HEPHAITSAM") the nations by having CONFOUNDED their language (Genesis 11:9) because of their IDOLATRY (Genesis 11:4):
      • VULCAN (Greek, "HEPHAISTOS") and his HAMMER was none other than CUSH (CHAOS) - the SCATTERER or CONFOUNDER of the earth
  • God "gave them up" (1:26-27)
    • God GAVE UP the nations "UNTO VILE AFFECTIONS" (1:26):
      • WHY? - they "CHANGED THE TRUTH of God INTO THE LIE", i.e. the WORSHIPPING of the CREATION ABOVE the CREATOR (1:25)
    • In scattering the nations for their IDOLATRY (1:25), He gave them over to their "VILE AFFECTIONS" (1:26):
      • Note the LIKENESS of the SIN of the ANGELS to the FORNICATION of SODOM (Jude 6-7 cf. Genesis 6:1-2)
        • The ANGELS were also known by the title, "SONS OF GOD" (Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:7), i.e. they were the DIRECT CREATIONS of God's own hand as was ADAM, "the SON OF GOD" (Luke 3:38 cf. Genesis 2:7)
      • The OFFSPRING of the ANGELS were the NEPHILIM ("FALLEN ONES") or "GIANTS", i.e. "MIGHTY men ... men of RENOWN" who existed BEFORE AND AFTER the Flood (Genesis 6:4) - whose LIKENESS was that of the PERVERSE "HEROES" of myth and legend
        • BEFORE the Flood, ONLY NOAH'S PEDIGREE was UNTAINTED (Genesis 6:5-9) - BY "the SEED OF the SERPENT" (Genesis 3:14-15)
        • AFTER the Flood, "the SEED OF the SERPENT" (Genesis 3:14-15) TARGETED the nation of ISRAEL (Numbers 13:33)
        • The races of the NEPHILIM are enumerated in reference to their occupation of Abraham's inheritance (Genesis 15:18-21) - among which were the REPHAIM who were associated with SODOM (Genesis 14:5-9), a land of "EXCEEDINGLY" WICKED sinners (Genesis 13:13)
        • The "GIANTS" (Genesis 6:4) were of NOTORIOUS reputation
          • the "EMMIMS", i.e. the "TERRIBLE ONES" (Deuteronomy 2:10-11)
          • the "ZAMZUMMIMS", i.e. the "NOISY ONES" (Deuteronomy 2:20-21)
        • The "GIANTS" (Hebrew, "REPHAIM") were known as GREAT CITY BUILDERS; e.g. Og, king of Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:11,13)
          • the SAME DESCRIPTION is given of CAIN'S DESCENDANTS before the Flood (Genesis 4:17-22)
  • God "gave them over" (1:28-32)
    • God GAVE the nations OVER to a "REPROBATE MIND", i.e. to a "DISAPPROVED MIND" (1:28):
      • WHY? - they DID NOT LIKE to "RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE", i.e. to "ACKNOWLEDGE GOD" (1:28 cf. Psalms 14:1; Psalms 53:1)
    • The IDOLATRY of man BEFORE AND AFTER the Flood (Genesis 4:26; Genesis 11:4) resulted in God giving man over to his "REPROBATE MIND" (1:28 cf. Genesis 6:5; Genesis 13:13):
      • The USURPING of the NAME of the Lord - "then began men to CALL UPON the NAME of the Lord", i.e. to CALL (themselves) BY the NAME of the Lord" (Genesis 4:26)
        • Cain's line - MehujaEL & MethusaEL (Genesis 4:18)
        • Seth's line - MahalaeEL (Genesis 5:12-13)
      • "Let us BUILD US A CITY ... LEST WE BE SCATTERED" (Genesis 11:4)
        • DIRECT VIOLATION of the DIVINE COMMAND to "REPLENISH THE EARTH" (Genesis 9:1)
      • "Let us MAKE US A NAME" (Genesis 11:4)
        • NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of DIVINE AUTHORITY" (1:28 cf. Psalms 14:1; Psalms 53:1) - they have "ALL GONE ASIDE" (Psalms 14:3) and "EVERY ONE of them IS GONE BACK" (Psalms 53:3)
    • The MANIFESTATION of the REPROBATE MIND (1:29-31) - will be MANIFESTED AGAIN (II Timothy 3:2-4) in "the PERILOUS TIMES" of "the LAST DAYS" (II Timothy 3:1) of the GENTILE DISPENSATION of GRACE (Ephesians 3:1-2) - by the PROFESSING CHURCH "HAVING A FORM of godliness, BUT DENYING THE POWER thereof" (II Timothy 3:5):
      • In "the LATTER TIMES" (I Timothy 4:1) - the CHURCH is described as "the HOUSE OF GOD ... the PILLAR AND GROUND of the truth" (I Timothy 3:15)
      • In "the LAST DAYS" (II Timothy 3:1) - the CHURCH is described as "a GREAT HOUSE" (II Timothy 2:20), which will be in GREAT NEED OF PURGING (II Timothy 2:21)
    • The nations KNEW BOTH the JUDGMENT OF GOD (1:32) and the POWER OF GOD (1:19-20):
      • The JUDGMENT OF GOD (1:32), i.e. the FLOOD (Genesis 6:12-13; Genesis 7:10-13)
      • The POWER OF GOD (1:19-20), i.e. the CELESTIAL REVELATION (Psalms 19:1-6)

• The Inexcusability of Man and the Forbearance of God (2:1-4)
  • The Judgment of Man (2:1)
    • MAN'S JUDGMENT of his fellow man's actions is INEXCUSABLE for two reasons:
      • HE KNOWS THE PENALTY (i.e. DEATH) for those actions (1:32)
        • The "WRATH OF GOD ... REVEALED ... AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS" (1:18)
          • The Flood (II Peter 2:5 cf. Genesis 7:11-12)
          • Sodom and Gomorrah (II Peter 2:6 cf. Genesis 19:24-25)
      • HE DOES THE SAME THINGS and has pleasure in those that do these things and, THEREBY, HE CONDEMNS HIMSELF
        • ISRAEL is LIKENED TO the "RULERS OF SODOM" and the "PEOPLE OF GOMORRAH" (Isaiah 1:4,10)
        • Israel's SIN was OPEN AND NOT HID as was the case with Sodom (Isaiah 3:8-9)
        • Israel's SIN was the SAME AND GREATER than that of Samaria (her sister), who (in context) is IDENTIFIED WITH SODOM (Ezekiel 16:1-2,45-46,48-49)
  • The Judgment of God (2:2-3)
    • GOD'S JUDGMENT is ACCORDING TO TRUTH, because unlike MAN who LOOKS ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE (John 7:24), GOD LOOKS ON THE HEART (I Samuel 16:7):
      • The PHARISEES BROUGHT to Jesus a WOMAN CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF ADULTERY (John 8:3-4)
      • The PHARISEES CLAIMED that "SUCH" SHOULD BE STONED ACCORDING TO THE LAW and, thus, wanted to know His verdict on the woman (John 8:5-6)
      • He CONVICTED them of the SAME SIN (John 8:7-9 cf. Jeremiah 17:13) and of their DECEITFUL USE OF THE LAW BY CONDEMNING ONLY THE WOMAN AND NOT ALSO HER GUILTY MALE PARTNER (Deuteronomy 22:23-24)
      • JESUS KNEW the life of this woman (John 8:10-11), JUST LIKE HE KNEW the life of the woman at the well (John 4:16-19,28-29)
    • NONE SHALL ESCAPE GOD'S JUDGMENT for his actions - ALL IS OPEN BEFORE HIS EYES (Psalms 11:4-5 cf. Hebrews 4:12-13)
      • ISRAEL'S PROPHETS - LIKENED TO SODOM AND GOMORRAH (Jeremiah 23:14)
      • ISRAEL'S PUNISHMENT - GREATER THAN THAT OF SODOM (Lamentations 4:6)
  • The Goodness and Forbearance of God (2:4)
    • God allowed man in TIME PAST to walk in his own IDOLATROUS WAYS (Acts 14:11-13), but did not leave Himself without WITNESS of the LIVING GOD (Acts 14:15-17):
      • The IDOLATROUS BEFLIEF of the ancients involved their GODS VISITING them AS MEN
        • Ovid's Metamorphosis:
          • "Here Jove and Hermes came, but in DISGUISE OF MORTAL MEN CONCEALED THEIR DEITIES (Acts 14:11-13)
        • JOVE and HERMES are the corresponding Greek names for the Roman names of JUPITER and MERCURY (Acts 14:11-13)
      • God's WITNESS concerning Himself as the INVISIBLE LIVING GOD involved TANGIBLE EVIDENCE of His GOODNESS
        • He causes the SUN to RISE both ON the EVIL and the GOOD (Matthew 5:45)
        • He SENDS the RAIN both ON the EVIL and the GOOD (Matthew 5:45)
    • God FORBEARED man's IGNORANCE in TIME PAST, BUT NOW has COMMANDED man's REPENTANCE (Acts 17:30):
      • ATHENS, the city of PHILOSOPHY (Acts 17:18), was also the city of IDOLATRY (Acts 17:16)
      • DESPITE their WISDOM (Acts 17:28), they STILL were in IGNORANCE of God (Acts 17:23)
        • The astronomer, Eudoxus of Onidus (403 - 350 B.C.), authored a work on astronomy (Greek, "PHAINOMENA"), i.e. "APPEARANCES"
        • The king of Macedonia, Antigonus Gonatas (273 - 239 B.C.), commissioned the poet Aratus to set the "PHAINOMENA" to poetry, which he did around 270 B.C.
        • The poet Aratus, a native of TARSUS, is quoted from his poem ("THE DIVINE SIGNS") - by the Apostle Paul, also a native of TARSUS (Acts 21:39), in his Mars Hill address to the "men of ATHENS" (Acts 17:28)
      • God desired that His GOODNESS to man would be an INCENTIVE for man's REPENTANCE, a TURNING FROM "DUMB IDOLS" TO SERVING the LIVING GOD (Jeremiah 10:6-16 cf. I Corinthians 12:2; I Thessalonians 1:9)
        • God's MERCY to Israel, as compared to Sodom, STILL left Israel UNREPENTANT (Amos 4:11)

• The Jews and Gentiles in the Day of Wrath (2:5-10)
  • Man treasuring up wrath unto himself according to his hard heart (2:5)
    • The FULLNESS OF God's WRATH awaits the FULLNESS OF man's SIN:
      • TIME PAST (the Pharisees)
        • The JEWS and the FULLNESS OF their SIN (Matthew 23:32,35)
      • TIME PAST (the Amorites)
        • The GENTILES and the FULLNESS OF their SIN (Genesis 15:16)
    • The DAY OF WRATH is a DAY OF VENGEANCE (Revelation 6:17 cf. Isaiah 61:2) as well as a DAY OF BLOOD (Revelation 19:13-15 cf. Isaiah 63:3-4)
    • BABYLON, the FOUNTAINHEAD OF ALL IDOLATRY (Revelation 17:5 cf. Revelation 14:8) - will be particularly remembered in the DAY OF WRATH (Revelation 16:19):
      • NIMROD, the world's FIRST TYPE OF ANTICHRIST (I Chronicles 1:10 cf. Genesis 10:8-9), was the FOUNDER OF BABYLON (Genesis 10:10 cf. Daniel 8:25)
      • The ANTICHRIST, also called the ASSYRIAN (Isaiah 30:31 cf. Daniel 1:1-2) - his land is identified as the LAND OF NIMROD (Micah 5:6 cf. Genesis 10:11)
    • The ANTICHRIST, who is called the "IDOL SHEPHERD" (Zechariah 11:16-17), will be the CONSUMMATE LIE (II Thessalonians 2:11) - NIMROD being its FIRST PROTOTYPE (Romans 1:25):
      • The Gentile IDOLATROUS IMAGE (Daniel 2:31-33), which bears rule until God's kingdom is permanently established (Daniel 2:44-45) - has NEBUCHADNEZZAR (the king of Babylon) as its HEAD (Daniel 2:37-38)
      • The BEAST (ANTICHRIST), who is worshipped as God (II Thessalonians 2:4 cf. Revelation 13:8) - will be the FULL EMBODIMENT of the Gentile IDOLATROUS IMAGE (Revelation 13:1-2,14-15 cf. Daniel 7:3-7)
    • It is upon the WORSHIPPERS OF the BEAST (ANTICHRIST), i.e. the FULLNESS OF Gentile IDOLATRY - that the FULLNESS OF God's WRATH will be poured out (Revelation 14:6-7; Revelation 15:1; Revelation 16:1):
      • CHRIST is ALONE IN the DISPENSING OF God's WRATH (Revelation 15:5-8 cf. Isaiah 63:3-4), just as HE was ALONE IN the BEARING OF God's WRATH (Matthew 27:46 cf. Psalms 22:1)
      • It is CHRIST ALONE Who VOICES the COMPLETION IN EACH CASE (Revelation 16:17 cf. John 19:30)
  • God rendering to man according to his deeds (2:6):
    • In the FUTURE "DAY OF THE LORD" (Revelation 1:10 cf. I Thessalonians 5:2) - "I JOHN ... YOUR BROTHER ... COMPANION IN TRIBULATION" (Revelation 1:9) - wrote SEVEN LETTERS (Revelation 1:11) to "the SEVEN CHURCHES" (Revelation 1:4)
      • These are JEWISH CHURCHES (Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9)
      • SALVATION in that Day is to the OVERCOMERS OF "the ACCUSER OF our BRETHREN" (Revelation 12:10-11), i.e. to those who "had GOTTEN the VICTORY OVER the BEAST" (Revelation 15:2)
      • The ADMONITION TO these SEVEN CHURCHES is "I KNOW THY WORKS" and the BLESSINGS are TO "HIM THAT OVERCOMETH"
        • Church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:2,7)
        • Church at Smyrna (Revelation 2:9,11)
        • Church at Pergamos (Revelation 2:13,17)
        • Church at Thyatira (Revelation 2:19,26)
        • Church at Sardis (Revelation 3:1,5)
        • Church at Philadelphia (Revelation 3:8,12)
        • Church at Laodicea (Revelation 3:15,21)
    • This stands in CONTRAST to the GENTILE "DISPENSATION OF the GRACE of God" (Ephesians 3:1-2) - where SALVATION is "the GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS" (Ephesians 2:8-9):
      • PAUL, "the APOSTLE OF the GENTILES" (Romans 11:13) who are "UNDER GRACE" (Romans 6:14) - "But to him that WORKETH NOT, BUT BELIEVETH ... his FAITH is COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Romans 4:5)
      • JAMES, "TO the TWELVE TRIBLES ... SCATTERED ABROAD" (James 1:1), i.e. TO "the TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL" (Matthew 19:28)
        • Their WORKS (James 2:14,17) will DETERMINE whether they receive MERCY OR JUDGMENT (James 2:13) from "the JUDGE" WHO "STANDETH BEFORE THE DOOR" (James 5:9 cf. Revelation 3:20)
        • The "WORKS" (James 2:15-16) are specific comcerning the TIME (Revelation 13:15-17) and the PEOPLE (John 16:1-2 cf. Isaiah 66:3-5)
  • The righteous and their reward (2:7,10)
    • The PATIENCE of the SAINTS (Revelation 13:10; Revelation 14:12-13)
    • To him that OVERCOMETH (GLORY, HONOR, LIFE):
      • Partaking of the tree of LIFE (Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:2,14)
      • Partaking of the hidden MANNA and a having new NAME (Revelation 2:17; Revelation 3:12; Revelation 12:6,14)
      • Sharing of the THRONE of Christ (Revelation 3:21; Revelation 20:4,6) - ON EARTH - RULING the NATIONS "with a ROD OF IRON" (Revelation 2:26-27 cf. Psalms 2:6-9)
    • To OVERCOME the DRAGON (Revelation 12:9-11) is to gain the VICTORY OVER the BEAST (Revelation 15:2):
      • BY the BLOOD of the Lamb (Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:9)
      • BY the WORD of their Testimony (Revelation 1:9; Revelation 6:9)
      • They loved not their lives UNTO the DEATH (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 13:15)
    • The PROMISES are to the JEW FIRST, because they will be GOD'S SERVANTS in that Day (Revelation 1:1,10; Revelation 7:3-4,13-15) as were the PROPHETS OF OLD (Revelation 10:7 cf. Daniel 2:17-19,22,27-30; Amos 3:7; II Peter 1:19-21):
      • The PROMISES of the TRIBULATION EPISTLES (Revelation 1:9,11) are to the JEWS (Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9)
      • Therefore, the GLORY OF the NATIONS will be SUBJECT TO the GLORY OF ISRAEL (Revelation 21:10-12,23-26)
  • The unrighteous and their reward (2:8-9)
    • The REWARD for those who "OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL" (II Thessalonians 1:8):
      • "INDIGNATION" and "WRATH" - "poured out WITHOUT MIXTURE" (Revelation 14:9-10)
      • "EVERLASTING DESTRUCTION" (II Thessalonians 1:9)
    • ISRAEL as GOD'S SPIRITUAL HOUSE (I Peter 2:4-5 cf. Isaiah 28:16):
      • Will be JUDGED FIRST (I Peter 4:17-18)
      • They will be JUDGED as GOD'S SERVANTS (Matthew 24:45-51 cf. Isaiah 43:10-15)
      • The APOSTATE JEWS who sided WITH the FALSE MESSIAH (Isaiah 28:15,18) AGAINST their FAITHFUL BRETHREN (Mark 13:9; Luke 21:12; John 16:2 cf. Daniel 8:11-12; Daniel 11:31-32) will be JUDGED BY the TRUE MESSIAH at His Return (Isaiah 66:3-5)
    • The JUDGMENT of the NATIONS (Matthew 25:31-46) will FOLLOW the JUDGMENT of the NATION (Matthew 24:45-51):
      • The CRITERIA will be their TREATMENT of Messiah's FAITHFUL "BRETHREN" (Matthew 25:38-40,44-45 cf. Psalms 22:22-23; Hebrews 2:10-12)
      • In that Day, the FAITHFUL GENTILES (Luke 10:30-37; Luke 17:11-19) will be RECEIVED INTO Messiah's Kingdom and the FAITHLESS JEWS who despised them (John 8:48-49) will be SHUT OUT OF Messiah's Kingdom (Matthew 8:8-13)

• The Jews and Gentiles in the Day of Judgment (2:11-16)
  • Jew and Gentile both to be judged (2:11-12)
    • GOD is NO RESPECTER of persons when it comes to His judgment and when it comes to His faith - HIS SAINTS should show NO PARTIALITY EITHER (James 2:1):
      • The JUDGMENT SEAT of CHRIST - for the SAINTS (Romans 14:10-12 cf. Isaiah 45:23-25)
        • JUDGMENT of MASTERS (Ephesians 6:8-9; Colossians 4:1)
        • JUDGMENT of SERVANTS (Ephesians 6:5-7; Colossians 3:23-25)
      • The GREAT WHITE THRONE (Revelation 20:11) - "for the REST OF THE DEAD" (Revelation 20:5) and NOT for the BLESSED DEAD (Revelation 20:6)
        • The DEAD - BOTH the SMALL and the GREAT (Revelation 20:12)
    • BOTH Jew and Gentile are UNDER SIN (3:9) and, THEREFORE, having sinned they BOTH FALL SHORT of the glory of God - there is NO DIFFERENCE (3:22-23):
      • The FAILURE of the GENTILES (1:24,26,28 cf. Psalms 14:1-3; Psalms 53:1-3; Genesis 11:1-9)
      • The FAILURE of the JEWS (2:23-24 cf. Ezekiel 36:20-28)
  • The Jew judged by the Law (2:13)
    • The Law justifies its DOERS and NOT its HEARERS (10:5 cf. Leviticus 18:5):
      • The Law - TWO great commandments upon which "hang ALL the Law" (Matthew 22:36-40 cf. Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18), i.e. "TEN commandments" written upon "TWO tables of stone" (Romans 13:8-10 cf. Exodus 20:3-17; Deuteronomy 4:13)
    • The PERSONAL WORKS of righteousness demanded by the Law (Deuteronomy 6:25) failed to be produced by all who were bound to it and left them clothed in the FILTHY RAGS of their transgressions (Isaiah 64:6)
    • The Law as "the ministration of CONDEMNATION" (II Corinthians 3:9) served as a WITNESS AGAINST Israel (Deuteronomy 31:26)
    • The Law as "the ministration of DEATH" (II Corinthians 3:7) was placed in the "ARK" (Deuteronomy 31:26), i.e. "COFFIN" (Genesis 50:26):
      • The Hebrew word ("ARON") rendered "ARK" (Deuteronomy 31:26) is related to the Hebrew word ("AWRONE") rendered "COFFIN" (Genesis 50:26)
    • TYPICAL GRACE came by Moses (the LAW GIVER), but the TRUE GRACE came by Jesus Christ (John 1:16-17):
      • God met Israel upon "the MERCY SEAT" (Hebrew, "KAPPORETH"), i.e. upon the "COVERING" of the "ARK" (Exodus 25:21-22) where the blood of the bullock was sprinkled (Leviticus 16:15-17)
      • This was the TYPICAL GRACE of the Law (John 1:16-17), which ONLY COVERED Israel's sins (each year for the past year) and so there was NO PURGING of the conscience with respect to sin (Hebrews 10:1-4 cf. Leviticus 16:29-30,34)
      • Christ as the TRUE "LAMB of God ... TAKETH AWAY the sin of the world" (John 1:29 cf. Isaiah 53:7,10)
      • CHRIST'S SACRIFICE (Hebrews 9:14), i.e. the TRUE GRACE (John 1:16-17), brings "ETERNAL REDEMPTION" (Hebrews 9:12) which results in a PURGED CONSCIENCE from sin (Hebrews 9:14)
      • The blood of the NEW COVENANT is for "the REMISSION of SINS" (Matthew 26:28) - God in His NEW COVENANT with Israel declares that He will "REMEMBER their sin NO MORE" (Jeremiah 31:31,34)
      • Israel FAILED UNDER the OLD COVENANT of WORKS (Hebrews 8:7-9 cf. Jeremiah 31:31-32), BUT WILL SUCCEED UNDER the NEW COVENANT of GRACE (Hebrews 8:10-12 cf. Jeremiah 31:31,33-34)
  • The Gentile judged without the Law (2:14-15)
    • Doing the things contained in the Law involved doing that which was FORBIDDEN by the Law ("THOU SHALT NOT"), which was a VIOLATION of love - the working of ill to one's neighbor (13:8-10):
      • "THOU SHALT NOT commit adultery" (13:9; 2:22 cf. Exodus 20:14)
      • "THOU SHALT NOT kill (murder)" (13:9 cf. Exodus 20:13)
      • "THOU SHALT NOT steal" (13:9; 2:21 cf. Exodus 20:15)
      • "THOU SHALT NOT bear false witness" (13:9 cf. Exodus 20:16)
      • "THOU SHALT NOT covet" (13:9; 2:22 cf. Exodus 20:17)
        • "COVETOUSNESS which is IDOLATRY" (Colossians 3:5 cf. Luke 12:15)
        • "THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME" (2:22 cf. Exodus 20:3,5)
    • The WORK of the Law is the IMPUTATION of sin to the sinner (5:13), which incurs the WRATH of God (DEATH) against its transgressor (4:15):
      • GOD COMMANDED (Matthew 15:4)
      • MOSES SAID (Mark 7:10)
      • Note the ZEAL of Phinehas in the SLAYING of the idolaters and, thereby, TURNING AWAY the WRATH of the Lord against Israel (Numbers 25:1-13)
    • It is the WORK of the Law, i.e. the CONDEMNATION of the sinner (II Corinthians 3:9 cf. Deuteronomy 31:26), and NOT the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the Law (7:12 cf. Deuteronomy 4:8) - that is inscribed on the HEARTS of the Gentiles, because (apart from the Law) they are still the offspring of SINFUL Adam (5:12,14 cf. Hosea 6:7; Genesis 2:16-17):
      • CONDEMNATION which results in a GUILTY conscience
        • Either ACCUSES, i.e. SHIFTS blame to another (Genesis 3:12)
        • Or else EXCUSES, i.e. DISMISSES blame of self (Genesis 3:13)
      • CONCLUSION - "Therefore THOU ART INEXCUSABLE ... for THOU ... DOEST THE SAME" (2:1)
  • The Judge and His Judgment (2:16)
    • GOD, the SEARCHER and DISCERNER of sinful hearts, will judge the SECRETS of sinful hearts (Jeremiah 17:10):
      • He, Who as "the WORD of God", is the REVEALER of God in the FLESH (John 1:1,14,18) - is that SAME WORD Who is also the EXPOSER of sinful hearts (Hebrews 4:12-13)
      • "The BOOKS" will be OPENED for JUDGMENT (Revelation 20:12 cf. Daniel 7:10)
      • God keeps RECORDS (IN STONE) of His own WORDS (Joshua 24:25-27) as well as the WORDS of others (Luke 19:37-40)
    • GOD will judge the SECRETS of others by the SON of GOD (John 5:21-22) - because He is ALSO "the SON of MAN" (John 5:26-27):
      • As the "MAN CHRIST JESUS" - He is ALSO the "MEDIATOR BETWEEN" God and Man (I Timothy 2:5) - "Who GAVE HIMSELF a RANSOM FOR ALL, to be TESTIFIED IN DUE TIME" (I Timothy 2:6)
      • PAUL is GOD'S "FIRST" APPOINTED TESTIFIER of this GOOD NEWS (I Timothy 1:15-16 cf. Acts 26:12-19)
    • GOD will judge the SECRETS of people by CHRIST JESUS, according to PAUL'S GOSPEL (2:16):
      • It is PAUL'S GOSPEL that REVEALS the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD (1:16-17)
      • It is PAUL'S GOSPEL that REVEALS GOD'S RIGHTEOUS PAYMENT FOR SIN (3:21-26 cf. Acts 13:38-39)
      • The OTHER APOSTLES were SHOWN this truth BY PAUL (Galatians 2:1-9 cf. Acts 15:1-12) and, thus, THEIR TESTIMONY of the BLOOD OF CHRIST occurs AFTER THE PAULINE EPISTLES (I Peter 1:18-19; I John 1:7; Revelation 1:5)
      • It is the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST APPLIED TO THE SINNER (II Corinthians 5:20-21 cf. Isaiah 45:23-25) that SECURES the SINNER'S NAME IN the "BOOK OF LIFE" (Philippians 4:3) - NOTHING ELSE DOES (Revelation 20:12,15)
      • It is the RESURRECTION OF CHRIST that ASSURES the BELIEVER that JUDGMENT IS PAST (I Thessalonians 4:14; Hebrews 9:28) and WARNS the UNBELIEVER that JUDGMENT IS YET TO COME (Acts 17:31; Acts 24:25; Hebrews 9:27)

• The Boasting of Israel over the Nations (2:17-29)
  • Israel's Boast: The Law (2:17-24)
    • The term "Jew" (2:17) ORIGINALLY referred to the inhabitants of the SOUTHERN KINGDOM of Judah (Jeremiah 40:11-15), but EVENTUALLY became inclusive of ALL ISRAEL (Acts 2:5,22,36):
      • MANY of the inhabitants of the NORTHERN KINGDOM of ISRAEL who escaped the Assyrian conquest - MIGRATED DOWN to the SOUTHERN KINGDOM of JUDAH for the Passover celebration at the invitation of King Hezekiah (II Chronicles 30:1-13)
      • MANY of the inhabitants of the NORTHERN KINGDOM of ISRAEL who remained in the land after the Assyrian conquest - REJOINED their brethren in the SOUTHERN KINGDOM of JUDAH in response to the spiritual cleansing of Judah and Israel by King Josiah (II Chronicles 34:1-10)
      • The returning Babylonian captives (priests and Levites) "dwelt in their cities. and ALL ISRAEL in their cities" (Ezra 2:70)
      • There are NO LOST TRIBES with God - He has reserved unto Himself a SEALED NUMBER out of EACH TRIBE (Revelation 7:1-8)
    • The LAW given to ISRAEL allowed her to BOAST concerning the things of God - "thou RESTEST in the LAW" (2:17):
      • "The LAW of the Lord" (Psalms 19:7) TAUGHT "the FEAR of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 28:58)
        • via its "STATUTES" and "JUDGMENTS" (Psalms 19:8-9)
      • "KNOWEST His WILL" being "INSTRUCTED out of the LAW" (2:18)
        • "TAUGHT you STATUTES and JUDGMENTS" (Deuteronomy 4:1,5)
      • "A LIGHT of them which are in DARKNESS" (2:19)
        • "surely this GREAT NATION is a WISE and UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE" (Deuteronomy 4:6-8)
        • will be fulfilled when Israel's "LIGHT (MESSIAH) is come" and "risen upon" her (Isaiah 60:1-3) at His Return (Isaiah 59:20-21)
      • "A TEACHER of BABES" having "the FORM of KNOWLEDGE and of the TRUTH" (2:20)
        • "ye shall TEACH your CHILDREN diligently" (Deuteronomy 4:9-10; Deuteronomy 6:7; Deuteronomy 11:19)
        • "having the FORM of GODLINESS, but DENYING the POWER thereof" (II Timothy 3:5)
          • e.g. the covetous Pharisees Matthew 23:14,27)
          • e.g. Demas, "having loved this present world (age)" (II Timothy 4:10), i.e. having walked contrary to his heavenly citizenship (Philippians 3:17-20)
    • The term "LAW" as used by Paul (2:20) is specifically that LAW called "THE WORDS OF THE COVENANT" which God made with Israel and personally ENGRAVED IN STONE, i.e. "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS" (Exodus 34:28):
      • Both Christ and Paul quoted from THE TEN COMMANDMENTS when making reference to THE LAW (Matthew 19:17-19) & (2:21-22)
      • Both Christ and Paul referred to THE TWO "LOVE" COMMANDMENTS - towards God (Deuteronomy 6:5) and towards Brother & Stranger (Leviticus 19:18,34) - as THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW (Matthew 22:36-40) & (13:8-10)
    • Israel TRANSGRESSED THE LAW COVENANT right from its beginning:
      • The FIRST GIVING of THE LAW (Exodus 31:18)
      • The FIRST TABLES of STONE BROKEN (Exodus 32:19)
      • The SECOND GIVING of THE LAW (Exodus 34:1,4)
      • The SECOND TABLES of STONE RECORDED (Exodus 34:28-29)
    • Two of Israel's MOST SPIRITUAL KINGS were BLATANT LAW TRANSGRESSORS (2:21-22)
      • DAVID (I Samuel 13:14; II Samuel 7:15-16) on account of his ADULTERY (II Samuel 12:7-14)
      • HEZEKIAH (II Kings 18:3-7) on account of his SACRILEGE (II Kings 18:28 - 19:3 cf. II Kings 18:13-16)
    • ISRAEL (IN CAPTIVITY) CAUSED THE GENTILES TO BLASPHEME ISRAEL'S GOD BY THEIR ACTIONS (2:23-24):
      • Thus, HER RESTORATION WILL "SANCTIFY" the "GREAT NAME" of the "LORD GOD" (Ezekiel 36:21-24), i.e. of the "DELIVERER" Who shall "TURN AWAY UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB" (Romans 11:26-27 cf. Isaiah 59:20-21) - AFTER the GENTILE "DISPENSATION of the GRACE of God" (Ephesians 3:1-2 cf. Romans 11:25)
  • Israel's Boast: Circumcision (2:25-29)
    • CIRCUMCISION was SIGN of God's COVENANT with Abraham concerning his seed (Genesis 17:7-14), which was given over 400 years BEFORE the LAW (Galatians 3:17-19 cf. Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 15:12-18)
    • CIRCUMCISION was ALSO an ORDINANCE of the LAW (Leviticus 12:1-3), which ISRAEL'S LAW GIVER NEGLECTED TO PERFORM for his own son, Eliezer (Exodus 4:24-26 cf. Exodus 2:21-22; Exodus 18:2-4)
    • CIRCUMCISION and the LAW are INSEPARABLE, obedience to BOTH is REQUIRED (2:25 cf. Galatians 5:3; James 2:10)
    • IF an UNCIRCUMCISED GENTILE has KEPT ALL the COMMANDMENTS of the LAW (Deuteronomy 6:25) - THEN that person has FULFILLED ALL the RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS of the LAW - of which CIRCUMCISION is ONLY A PART (2:26):
      • Note the RIGHTEOUS REQUIREMENTS of the LAW as stated by both CHRIST and THE PROPHETS
        • CHRIST (Matthew 23:23)
        • THE PROPHETS (Deuteronomy 10:12; Micah 6:8)
      • The ISRAEL of CHRIST'S DAY was FAR MORE WICKED THAN the ISRAEL In the DAYS OF THE PROPHETS (Matthew 23:29-36 cf. Matthew 12:38-45)
    • IF a NATURALLY UNCIRCUMCISED GENTILE has FULFILLED the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the LAW - THEN that person is ABLE TO JUDGE a LEGALLY CIRCUMCISED JEW who is a LAW BREAKER (2:27):
      • Note the REBUKE of John the Baptist TO the SELF RIGHTEOUS JEWS (Matthew 3:8-10; Luke 3:8-9) and the TESTIMONY concerning the FAITH OF ABRAHAM as an UNCIRCUMCISED GENTILE (4:6-12)
    • TRUE CIRCUMCISION is NOT that of the OUTWARD FLESH, BUT is that of the INWARD SPIRIT (2:28):
      • God demanded a CIRCUMCISED HEART from Israel (Deuteronomy 10:16; Jeremiah 4:4)
      • CIRCUMCISED ISRAEL (UNCIRCUMCISED IN HEART) is to be PUNISHED WITH the UNCIRCUMCISED NATIONS (Jeremiah 9:25-26)
      • ISRAEL will be CIRCUMCISED IN HEART by the Lord AT the LORD'S RETURN when He establishes His NEW COVENANT WITH ISRAEL (Jeremiah 31:31-34) and GOD REMOVES her STONY HEART and GIVES her a HEART OF FLESH (Ezekiel 36:25-27)
    • TRUE CIRCUMCISION boasts its OPERATION as being that OF GOD and NOT that OF MAN (2:29 cf. Colossians 2:11):
      • Such is the praise of the LORD'S PEOPLE who are the "CIRCUMCISION" - "IN THE SPIRIT" (2:29 cf. Philippians 3:3)

• The Advantage of Israel over the Nations (3:1-8)
  • Does the Jew have any real advantage over the Gentile? (3:1-2)
    • The ADVANTAGE of the JEW over the Gentile is that God committed His "ORACLES" (live "UTTERANCES") to him (Acts 7:38 cf. Deuteronomy 4:10-13):
      • God spoke AUDIBLY the Ten Commandments within ALL of ISRAEL'S HEARING (Exodus 20:1-22)
    • HOW was the WORD of God (the LAW) an ADVANTAGE to the JEWS - IF they BROKE the LAW and caused the nations to BLASPHEME the NAME of God? (2:23-24)
    • The WORD of God to Israel was MORE THAN the LAW - it ALSO CONTAINED the PROMISES of God to her (9:4-5):
      • The "TRIBULATION" JEWS (Revelation 2:9) are encouraged to SPEAK as "the ORACLES of God" (I Peter 4:11) concerning His "PROPHESIED ... GRACE" to them (I Peter 1:10; I Peter 4:10)
    • God's "PRECIOUS PROMISES" to Israel (II Peter 1:4):
      • Israel to be a ROYAL PRIESTLY HOLY NATION (I Peter 2:9)
        • NOT BY HER OBEDIENCE (Exodus 19:5-6; Jeremiah 31:31-32)
        • BUT BY HIS GRACE (Isaiah 59:20-21; Isaiah 61:6)
      • Israel to be "CALLED" by God "OUT OF DARKNESS" and "INTO His marvellous LIGHT" (I Peter 2:9 cf. Isaiah 60:1-3)
      • Israel to yet be GOD'S PEOPLE AGAIN (I Peter 2:10 cf. Hosea 1:10)
        • NOT because of HER FAITHFULNESS to God (Hosea 1:2,6,8-9)
        • BUT because of GOD'S MERCY to her (Hosea 2:19-20,23)
    • God's GREATEST PROMISE to Israel is that the OLD COVENANT in STONE (Deuteronomy 9:9,11) is to be REPLACED by the NEW COVENANT in her "INWARD PARTS" (Jeremiah 31:31-33):
      • The OLD COVENANT in STONE reflected ISRAEL'S STONY HEART (Ezekiel 36:25-27)
      • The OLD COVENANT of the "LETTER" unto "DEATH" is to be REPLACED by the NEW COVENANT of the "SPIRIT" unto "LIFE" (II Corinthians 3:6)
      • The OLD COVENANT which MINISTERED MAN'S "CONDEMNATION" (II Corinthians 3:9 cf. Deuteronomy 31:26) is to be REPLACED by the NEW COVENANT which MINISTERS GOD'S "RIGHTEOUSNESS" (II Corinthians 3:9 cf. Isaiah 45:25; Jeremiah 31:31-33)
  • Does Man's unbelief nullify God's faithfulness? (3:3-4)
    • The UNBELIEF of some has NO EFFECT UPON God's FAITHFULNESS TO fulfill His PROMISES:
      • They are "NOT ALL ISRAEL" who are "OF ISRAEL" (9:6)
      • ISAAC, the PROMISED son (9:7-9 cf. Genesis 17:19; Genesis 18:14)
      • JACOB, the CHOSEN son, i.e. the CALLED son (9:10-13 cf. Genesis 25:21-26; Malachi 1:1-3)
    • Those who have the FAITH of Abraham are those who BELIEVE that WHAT God has PROMISED, He is ALSO ABLE TO PERFORM and, THUS, they are the RECIPIENTS OF the PROMISES (4:16-21):
      • ABRAHAM, the BELIEVER (Genesis 15:1-6)
      • GOD, the PERFORMER (Genesis 21:1-3)
    • God's PROMISES are NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL (11:29) and unlike man He does NOT BREAK THEM (Numbers 23:19):
      • God's PROMISES TO ISRAEL will be FULFILLED AFTER the "TIMES OF THE GENTILES" (11:28 cf. 11:25-27), i.e. AFTER the GENTILE "DISPENSATION OF the GRACE of God" (Ephesians 3:1-2)
    • It is MAN who is THE LIAR and it is GOD Who is his RIGHTEOUS JUDGE (Psalms 51:3-4):
      • It is MAN who is CONCEIVED IN SIN (5:12 cf. Psalms 51:5)
      • It is the GOD MAN (John 1:1,14) Who is the SIN PURGER (Psalms 51:6-7,9-10)
        • The SIN BEARER (Hebrews 1:3 cf. Isaiah 53:8-10)
        • The SIN CONQUEROR (Hebrews 1:3 cf. Psalms 110:1)
      • Therefore, it is the GOD THE SON Who is MAN'S RIGHTFUL JUDGE (John 5:21-22,26-27)
  • Does Man's unrighteousness establish God's righteousness? (3:5-6)
    • It does not take MAN'SUNRIGHTEOUSNESS to reveal GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS, but rather it is GOD'S LAW that REVEALS MAN to be A TRANSGRESSOR (Deuteronomy 31:26)
    • It is GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS that DEMANDS He pour out His WRATH UPON MAN'S UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (1:18; 2:5):
      • Under the Gentile "DISPENSATION of the GRACE of God" (Ephesians 3:1-2) - it is MAN'S "JUDGMENT" (I Corinthians 4:3), i.e. MAN'S "DAY" (Greek, "HEMERA")
      • MAN'S UNRIGHTEOUSNESS will be VISITED WITH GOD'S WRATH (Ephesians 5:5-6; Colossians 3:5-6 cf. Revelation 6:15-17) - in the DAY OF THE LORD when the LORD REIGNS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (Revelation 11:15; Revelation 19:6 cf. Jeremiah 23:5-6)
      • GOD is "the JUDGE of all THE EARTH" (Genesis 18:25) and He is coming to JUDGE THE EARTH (I Samuel 2:10; I Chronicles 16:33; Psalms 96:13; Psalms 98:9) - and when He does, it will be to AVENGE THE BLOOD OF HIS SAINTS (Revelation 6:9-10)
  • Does Man's lie glorify God's truth? (3:7-8)
    • God does NOT need the TESTIMONY of LIARS to proclaim the TRUTH of GOD'S WORD (Mark 3:11-12)
    • God does NOT use EVIL MEANS to bring about a GOOD END (Genesis 6:5-6; Jeremiah 7:31; Jeremiah 32:35):
      • The Lord (as Man) - demonstrated that He CANNOT BE TEMPTED WITH EVIL and, therefore, He WOULD NOT TEMPT any man WITH EVIL (James 1:13 cf. Matthew 4:5-7; Luke 4:9-12)

• The Conclusion - The Universality of Sin and Guilt (3:9-20)
  • Both Jew & Gentile under Sin (3:9-18)
    • The slandered are NO BETTER than their slanderers (3:8) - for BOTH Jews & Gentiles have already been proven to be UNDER SIN (3:9):
      • GENTILES UNDER SIN
        • CHANGED THE GLORY OF GOD - wherefore God also gave them up (1:23-24), i.e. the SIN of the BUILDING of the TOWER of Babel (Genesis 11:1-4)
        • CHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD - wherefore God also gave them up (1:25-26), i.e. the SIN of BELIEVING "THE LIE" (I:25; I Thessalonians 2:11) - NIMROD (Genesis 10:8-9), the FIRST type of ANTICHRIST (Daniel 11:36-37)
        • DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE - God gave them over (1:28), i.e. GOD "LOOKED DOWN" (Psalms 14:1-3) and GOD "CAME DOWN" (Genesis 11:5-7) and GOD "SCATTERED THEM ABROAD" (Genesis 11:8-9)
      • JEWS UNDER SIN
        • Their BOAST of God - RESTING in the Law (2:17)
        • Their DISHONORING of God - BREAKING of the Law (2:21-23), e.g. the THEFT and SACRILEGE of Hezekiah (II Kings 18:13-16; Isaiah 39); the ADULTERY of David (II Samuel 12:1-14)
        • Their BLASPHEMY of the NAME of God among the Gentiles (2:24 cf. Ezekiel 36:16-21)
    • ALL have said in their HEART, NO, TO GOD and have GONE THEIR OWN WAY and have reaped the SORRY RESULT (3:10-12); note the SOURCE OF DEFILEMENT as stated by the Lord (Matthew 15:18-19 cf. Jeremiah 17:9):
      • The Lord LOOKED DOWN FROM HEAVEN and SAW that ALL ON THE EARTH have rejected Him (Psalms 14:1-3 cf. Genesis 11:5-7)
      • GOD CALLED ABRAHAM - OUT OF BABYLON (Acts 7:2-4), i.e. OUT oF the LAND OF the CHALDEANS (Daniel 1:1-4) - and PROMISED TO BLESS the NATIONS OF the EARTH - THROUGH HIM (Genesis 12:1-3)
        • ABRAHAM'S FINAL SEED will also be CALLED OUT OF BABYLON (Revelation 18:2-4)
        • BABYLON AND ASSYRIA were both FOUNDED BY NIMROD (Genesis 10:8-11), the FIRST ANTICHRIST (Genesis 10:8-9)
        • The LAST ANTICHRIST is called THE ASSYRIAN (Isaiah 30:30-31,33 cf. II Thessalonians 2:8-9)
        • BABYLON is called "THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Revelation 17:5)
        • "ABOMINATIONS" is the OT term for "IDOLS" (I Kings 11:1-8) - the "IMAGE" of the BEAST being the CLIMAX IDOL (Revelation 13:13-15 cf. Matthew 24:15; Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11)
        • In "the TIME of JACOB'S TROUBLE" (Jeremiah 30:7) - IDOLATROUS ISRAEL (Isaiah 28:15,18) is IDENTIEFIED WITH her ancient IDOLATROUS OPPRESSORS, "BABYLON" and "EGYPT" (Revelation 17:4-6,18 cf. Revelation 11:7-8)
        • IN TIME PAST - ISRAEL was DIVINELY DELIVERED FROM BOTH IDOLATROUS OPPRESSORS (Genesis 15:13-14; Exodus 14:13-14,30-31; Jeremiah 29:10; Daniel 9:2)
        • IN TIME FUTURE - FAITHFUL ISRAEL (Revelation 12:1,6,14 cf. Genesis 37:9-10) will be DIVINELY DELIVERED FROM IDOLATROUS ISRAEL (Revelation 17:4-6; Revelation 18:24; Revelation 19:1-2 cf. Matthew 23:37-39)
      • MANKIND has BELIEVED THE LIE ever SINCE THE FALL (Romans 1:25 cf. Genesis 3:5) - having NOT GLORIFIED THE CREATOR (Romans 1:21-22; Revelation 14:6-7)
    • ALL have a THROAT like a GRAVE, which harbors a TONGUE of DECEIT with POISONOUS LIPS, which enclose a MOUTH full of CURSING, which inevitably results in FEET SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD (3:13-15):
      • THROAT (Psalms 5:9)
        • The Lord likened the scribes and Pharisees to "WHITENED SEPULCHRES" (Matthew 23:27)
      • TONGUE (Psalms 78:36)
      • LIPS (Psalms 140:3)
      • MOUTH (Psalms 10:7)
      • FEET (Isaiah 59:7)
    • THEIR WAYS of DESTRUCTION and MISERY are NOT the WAY of PEACE - there is NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES (3:16-18); "the FEAR OF THE LORD is the BEGINNING OF WISDOM" (Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10):
      • THEIR WAYS (Isaiah 59:7)
      • THE WAY (Isaiah 59:8)
        • He that is "the TRUE and LIVING WAY" (John 14:6) is He that GIVES PEACE (John 14:27 cf. Isaiah 26:3)
      • HIS EYES, i.e. the EYES of the WICKED (Psalms 36:1)
        • Only He that was "TEMPTED LIKE" US AND "YET WITHOUT SIN" (Hebrews 4:15) could say, "WHICH OF YOU CONVICTETH ME OF SIN?" (John 8:46)
  • Both Jew & Gentile found Guilty (3:19-20)
    • The LAW given to Israel ESTABLISHES the GUILT of the whole world and LEAVES ALL DEFENSELESS (3:19):
      • The RIGHTEOUSNESS of the LAW is based upon a MAN'S WORKS (MAN'S DOING), according to Moses (10:5 cf. Leviticus 18:5)
      • As many as are UNDER the WORKS of the LAW are UNDER its CURSE (Galatians 3:10 cf. Deuteronomy 27:26), i.e. UNDER its CONDEMNATION (Deuteronomy 31:26)
      • The WORKS of the NATIONS prior to Israel's progenitor (Abraham) were the SAME AS those of ABRAHAM'S NATION (Psalms 14:3; Isaiah 64:6)
    • NO FLESH will be JUSTIFIED BY the WORKS OF the LAW, because BY the LAW is the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN (3:20):
      • The KNOWLEDGE (Greek, EPIGNOSIS) is a FULL ACCURATE RECOGNITION of the POWER OF SIN (7:7-8 cf. I Corinthians 15:55-56)
      • "SIN BY THE COMMANDMENT BECAME EXCEEDINGLY SINFUL" and was in TOTAL CONTROL, i.e. "SOLD OUT" to it (7:13-14)
      • "FLESH and BLOOD" (I Corinthians 15:50), i.e. "BONDAGE of CORRUPTION" (8:21)
        • "The LIFE of the FLESH" (Leviticus 17:11), i.e. the LIFE of "SINFUL FLESH" (8:3)
        • "The LAW of SIN ... in MY MEMBERS" (7:23)
        • "The BODY of this DEATH" (7:24)
      • "FLESH and BONES", i.e. NO BLOOD
        • ADAM BEFORE FALL (Genesis 2:23)
        • CHRIST BEFORE CROSS (I John 5:6 cf. John 1:13; John 19:28-35; Hebrews 2:14)
        • CHRIST AFTER RESURRECTION (Luke 24:39)
          • "the CHURCH, which is HIS BODY" (Ephesians 1:22-23) - "MEMBERS of HIS BODY, of HIS FLESH, and of HIS BONES" (Ephesians 5:30), i.e. TRANSFORMED BODIES (FROM HUMILIATION TO GLORY); (Philippians 3:21)

Study Outline

Rejection of God (1:18-23)

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Abandonment of the Nations (1:24-32)

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Inexcusability & Forbearance (2:1-4)

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Jews & Gentiles -- Day of Wrath (2:5-10)

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Jews & Gentiles -- Day of Judgment (2:11-16)

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Israel's Boast -- The Law & Circumcision (2:17-29)

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Israel's Advantage -- over the Nations (3:1-8)

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The Conclusion - The Universality of Sin and Guilt (3:9-20)

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