Romans Chapter 2

2:1 Therefore
> Because of what I just taught you concerning their actions, in light of them having already been informed as to right and wrong.
you are without excuse,
> You are already guilty and therefore any defense that you try to use will be rejected by God. Because God does not entertain your arguments as valid when you already have been informed as to moral judgements. Your conditions are not any more special that you are able to ignore Gods law just because of your situation. You are not innocent of the law, once you have been informed by the law.
whoever you are,
> It is irrelevant as to who you are or your status among men, that will be of no value to you. Because when you try to make comparison between other men and yourself, God will tell you that your argument is out of context. Because you will still stand alone before God as one of no rank, any promotion or honor you had in life will be stripped away and meaningless before God, and therefore has no merit before man as a cause and effect for you as a basis to judge with.
when you judge
> So if you elevate yourself in life as having the capacity in you to consider the merits of others, and setting the status that they deserve in life based on your moral capacity, as being more capable to render judgement, as a basic attribute that you posses. As to the good and evil to which exist in them, know that you are yourself, able to be judged also, if the condition exist that you can judge, because you are opening yourself up to examination, when you say, I am worthy to judge, you must prove your worthiness. Even God is accused of the devil and willing to demonstrate his worthiness to judge thru Christ, Jesus is worthy because he was examined and proved righteous in judgment and deed. But man is fouled in deed and therefore, detestable and found abhorrent in judgement
someone else.
> So when you bring condemnation on those who are around you, to take them to task for their actions. It is incumbent upon you to be innocent of all that you condemn them of yourself, because a thief has no right to judge another a thief, when he himself is discredited. If a dishonest man stands accused of another dishonest man, there is no honor in either their acquittal or verdict of one another. Because both are condemned of the others guilt and both are worthy of punishment.
For
> What we have here, is the idea that it is improper for the guilty to judge the guilty, and even in the act being judicial in justice, it is an act of injustice on them who judge. Because what occurs is that the foundation of truth itself has been lost in the shuffling of the moral plays of life, and you begin to judge by degrees of guilt by comparing one another, rather than absolute right or wrong.
on whatever grounds
> So you say you have a basis for you argument against another, and you claim to have all sorts of evidence to back you up. But on what grounds are you innocent enough to accuse another, where you are not in violation yourself. It does not matter the issue you bring up for accusation against another, that’s not the point that I am making here. Everyone feels just in the details of their issue, but are you any less guilty on some other point of the law, that you cannot be in your action condemned of some crime along with them.
you judge another,
> Regardless as to your motive, for whatever reason seems just in your own eyes, and no matter the basis or evidence against them, you are passing judgement from your point of view and without respect to your own past on such issues. You are merely fending off and deflecting the blame to them, when it could just as easily be you on the hot seat. The very same mercy you would be seeking for based on the circumstance in life, you are denying them as a consequence of your own guilt in the matter of sin.
you condemn yourself,
> So you only find your own self guilty by pronouncing judgment on them, your accusation against them is like photographing yourself in the mirror, all you see is your own reflection as proof of the sin. Which is what you are doing to them, it is merely a reflection of yourself on trial, because the basis of there guilt, is also the basis for your guilt.
because you who judge
> As you made yourself the ultimate example of what is acceptable before you, you set yourself above the standards and exempt your own actions. Because everyone sees that the things you accuse others of, you are also subject to yourself, even though you try to exclude yourself and make excuses for your own actions. You are still like them, whether in identical sin or by sin nature.
practice the same things.
> As you perform in the same manner, those sins that you accuse others being guilty of, you have set yourself up to be condemned by how you treat others. You are trying to tell others, do as I say, not as I do, but they will reject that argument as baseless, just as you have rejected it concerning the sins of others. But God is telling us, do not judge others guilty of sin, as though you are innocent of sin. Judicial actions should be a shame and remorseful among us, not a source of zeal that emboldens us in accusations and finger pointing, as we race in to bring others the justice, as though we are innocent victim.

2:2 Now
> So that is how man judges things, now lets look at God in action and see how God approaches those who sin against him and what are his standards.
we know that God’s judgment
> It is not a secret to us that God is preparing to proceed with the execution of his righteousness, and when this occurs, all that is in acceptance of evil, will be destroyed as a result of his righteousness. Which when in effect, will have the affect of an all consuming fire, that pierces evil to everlasting abandonment, which God is now restraining, else it would produce immediate judgment against us. In our way of thinking, what God is doing is this in comparable thinking. It is as though you were holding your breath, take a deep breath and hold it… still… don’t let go… You can’t hold it for very long, but that is what God is doing with his righteous judgment to save some of mankind. If he did not restrain his glory, all evil would evaporate, which we are, evil can not exist in the unrestrained righteousness of God. It is only his desire to save us that judgment does not consume us in his wrath.
is in accordance
> God does not have two sets of standards, one with which he judges others, and another set of standards for himself. God views all things according to one standard, not many changing conclusions based on the circumstances.
with truth
> So God renders all things as pertaining to that which is true, so that no one can fabricate some other underlying foundation to base their defense on. In which they could establish another source of relevance, as a base for their outcome to a differing result. All things must be established from the same source and be cued to that point of truth, or be consider as a false point of reference. If a false point of reference is allowed, an entire people could build its moral code on a lie that will not sustain them, but God is established in absolute line with truth and does not deviate from it, no matter the cost.
against those
> So when God comes against those are doing evil, he is not treating them differently based on different codes of ethics, he does have differing degrees of mercy, but that is not to be confused with the basic code of ethics that he has, which is a constant with God.
who practice
> Now these people have not accidentally fallen into a pit of sin and are crying out for help. They have made it their desire to be proficient and exercised in them to a point of professionalism. Gods mercy knows the difference between an error in discernment and those who set out to both teach and learn the ways of a lifestyle dedicated to sinfulness, by expanding on the desires of the flesh.
such things.
> Those who chose such dedication to this sinful lifestyle, shall mount inexcusable evidence to which they shall not be able to speak, for their own voice shall be silenced against them due to self incrimination. Because the very nature of that which they do is false, because they did not approve it first with the truth from Gods decree that they were given.

2:3 And do you think,
> Due to this, where is your sanity of mind in these matters, just use some common sense, are we to believe that your conscience will not convict you along with your judgments. Will not God demand an answer from you also concerning that which you have accused others, and will your voice not then hide alone in a speechless void, as to give an answer.
whoever you are,
> It is irrelevant as to who you are or your status among men when you are before God, that will be of no value to you because when you make comparison between men, you still stand alone before God as one of no rank. Any promotion or honor you had in life will be stripped away and meaningless before God, and therefore before man your position is meaningless to demand honor from God.
when you judge
> It is the false idea that from this status with man, that you actually believe that it empowers you to a greater form of creature than others around you. So that you are superior not only in your comparisons with others, but with respect to God viewing you as something more than what you are or that you see yourself as being better than others. And therefore worthy to pass judgment and expect honor and praise when doing so.
someone else.
> In the act of despairing the actions of others, so that you call into question their motivations, as though they were beneath your own standards. You are actually condemning yourself with your own voice, because what you use as your base argument for what others are judged by, you shall be judged by. And having acknowledged that particular grievance as sin in them, that in the process of judging others, you cannot claim ignorance. If a thief is robbed, he does not claim that he was in no way wronged, but rather condemns the actions of the robber, and then condemns himself in that judgment, because he condemns thievery.
when you judge
> In that act of lancing out against these others in private or public, as to these moral attributes that are violated, for which you call them into question. You have unknowingly made the case against you that sin exist in your life and that you were aware of the laws that you yourself violated, by accusing others of the same while thinking yourself exempt from them.
those who practice
> Because in pointing out their failures, you argued they very case, and produced what is the evidence and proof, in that you are consciously objecting to when others break the rules. But that some how you felt yourself above the law that others were entitled to follow.
such things
> And in so doing, in setting those people apart, making them an object of revealing and putting the focus on them, so that what they have done wrong is made known. You try to move the spotlight off yourself and unto them, in an attempt to be righteous by comparison, in the act of the uncovering of their unrighteousness, you think to cover your own, therefore trying to make yourself look good, by making others look bad. But with God, it is only when you uncover your own unrighteousness, that he is able to cover it for you himself, so that it is of no consequence. So long as we attempt to hide our guilt from God, it remains ours to defend against, but the moment we reveal our guilt to him and the sorrow of it. He takes up our defense and covers it away forever and it is no longer our responsibility to contend with.
and yet
> And for some reason, even with the knowledge of this, you have been able in some way of thinking, which is outside the norm of any common sense, to convince yourself that it is alright for you to act and live in this manner, and that it will be acceptable to God, for you to have done so.
do them yourself,
> So in your procedure of doing this, it is also your objective that it should be a distraction away from your own association in these very same sins. By taking the focus off yourself, you think God will be diverted away from you and chase after those that you have condemned. And that will somehow set you free and make him forget what you have done in the same vain of things. That is such a childish thought, in that, that is the blame game little children practice all the time, but adults should no better and have outgrown this kind of childish behavior.
that you will escape
> Do you actually think that God will then overlook that you have done the very thing that you indite others of having done, will then set you free from it, that their guilt makes you not-guilty. That because you have publicly accused others of sin, that you will be given an out on your own guilt in these matters. It is pure nonsense to think that way, and it will never happen.
God’s judgment?
> Will you then pretend that the God of all justice, would let this accusation of others, be to you as an escape of your own penalty to sin. That he could be so distracted to let you conceal your own guilt in the act to bring an indictment against another. God is not fooled with such diversionary tactics, but will add them to your weight of evidence that is coming against you. That you not only have violated their sin yourself, but practiced more deceit within yourself, in the process of righting the wrongs that others commit.

2:4 Or do you have contempt
> Knowing this, what are your judgments like? Are you filled with scorn and disdain in your hearts, when you face these truths about your own actions, as pertaining to these deeds that have been committed, is it humility (as it should be) or pride rising within you to cause denial, from being exposed to the truth of all men having sins in common and then you pretending its not you also that are sinful.
for the wealth
> Now, you might try to see Gods shear abundance of forgiveness as a weakness to be exploited, a way for you to get ahead of the curve or get out of something, but that would be not only foolish of you, but mostly a pity that you just don’t get it. It is that abundance that sets us free our sin and theirs, it is not that God has so much of it that he losses count and therefore has no program of accountability. He has a full count of his mercy and spends each amount for a positive return. So do not expect a free ride due to God being inept of his own ability to oversee his kingdom. Because nothing slips by him without being accounted for, and you will not slip in unnoticed due to his joy and goodness towards greeting others who have received his invitation, God has no Achilles heel.
of his kindness,
> So from this revealing, of the glory of his mercy and of his riches towards us is made known and visible to those who bear witness to them, for they declare his righteousness. That fact that he is willing to forgive and forget, with so much having been done against him, only shows us the evidence of his good nature, that otherwise would have escaped our perception.
forbearance,
> His restraint is identified in actions towards us, that though he is right to bring mankind into judgement, he has delayed his sentence of mankind, that he might be merciful to some who will receive his righteousness with gladness. So God is holding his anger, rather then executing judgment, so we and our offspring might be saved.
and patience,
> That fact that he has determined in himself not to rush this process along, that he is able withhold himself to a point of sustained frustration, yet having complete control of his facilities. It is that which is able to give mankind ample opportunity to take into consideration, all the attributes of his Godhead, that validates his righteousness. We get time to figure it out thru his guiding us patiently to himself. Now, history tells us that God waits for no man, and sooner or later all will die, with or without him, but God is willing to allow ample time to reason it out with him, just not an endless amount of time. He will only stand the temple door of your heart and knock for so long with you refusing to answer till he determines there is no room in there for him.
and yet do not know
> And after all of this, you are unaware, and remain ignorant in your ability to resolve the purpose of what he is trying to reveal to you. It is only thru shear stubbornness of the heart that man shuts out God from their life and refuses to ponder the glory of who God is.
that God’s kindness
> That thru these actions, it is now possible as a result of his generosity, that we were given time to have his righteousness revealed to us. Without that time frame of mercy that God grants us to look into that which he has done to glorify himself to us, so that we could perceive his glory thru our dimness of sight and understanding, that we are able to understand all that he has done.
leads you to repentance?
> This then in turn, will bring us before his throne that we may abandon our past life without him, in that we can no longer afford to live in state a of poverty absent his glory, as he must be God over all in our life, or in effect, he is not God at all in our life. And so we are transformed into a life for him, that only he is able to afford in us, at his own cost and provisions, as we discover that our morality is bankrupt and worthless in value to him.

2:5 But
> At the same time that God is making it possible for some to come to Christ and find Gods mercy in their life. There is also another process taking place at the same time. Where the first goal in this is to save some of mankind thru glorifying Gods righteousness before man. The second process going on here, is the case building against those who were never willing to acknowledge the glory of our God, but instead chose to be obstinate to him and their state of sin.
because
> It was this attitude that they had concerning themselves in light of Gods glory, in that they did not honor or respect him as God of creation. That has caused God to mount a case against them and hold them accountable for what they have done.
of your stubbornness
> So due to the fact that you are persistent in being obstinate, that is those who reject he gospel, that you would not yield in your desire to rule over your own hearts, and sought to continue to do what ever was right in your own eyes. You built yourself up in your eyes, while tearing down the reputation of God as having no meaning to you.
and your unrepentant heart,
> And placed a covering over your hearts to keep it in darkness, so as not to turn from your wickedness and acknowledge his righteous. You refuse to acknowledge the deity of God, in that he was high above you in the character of who he was and the holiness of his being. So that you could not recognize then your own sin status, in that your comparisons were to yourselves and not the holiness of God that humbles a mans heart, in the perceiving of his glory.
you are
> So as a result of that, it is you alone who are responsible for all that will come upon you. It is not the error of others that has tripped you up in life, it is what is in your own heart that has caused you to be at odds with the God of glory, who is calling all men to himself for salvation by his means alone. Everyone else will stand blameless for your own actions of sin against the glory of God. No one will be able to say that they sinned due to another’s misdeeds, it is all on you that this coming upon you of your own doing.
storing up wrath
> Gods anger is not just going to go away, he is delaying it and for now setting it aside until the end of time comes and eternity replaces time once again. In that day, measurements will end with Gods anger coming upon those who fought against Gods glory and they will find that all that they are doing now, has only severed to increase the severity of the punishment that they will receive for their sins.
for yourselves
> In this you will add even more punishment to your weight of evidence that is coming against you, which will not be overlooked as to your decisions that were made against God in life. None of the details that you thought to do in secret will be overlooked and everything that you have done will be presented as evidence to your sin.
in the day of wrath,
> When time is completed and his righteousness is no longer restrained, so as to bring judgement onto all that reject his holiness, and your case against you is completed. In that day, those up resisted Gods glory will all be called before him to give an answer for what they have done, but no one will be able to excuse their behavior and so they will receive eternal punishment for the wrong they have done.
when God’s righteous judgment
> At that time, all of Gods creation will be put on trial in comparison to his righteousness to see if it is Holy, and if it is not Holy and if any unclean or impure thought or deed is found, it will not remain hidden any longer. Because all of Gods glory will be involved in his condemnation of mans sin and nothing is able to resist the glory of his holiness when determines mans fate one at a time.
is revealed!
> Then it shall be made known before all creation and they will be exposed to his righteousness, which will consume their sins it into everlasting hell of fire. They will be removed from Gods presence forever and never no the promise of his salvation upon them, which they rejected while on earth in their lives.

2:6 He will reward
> So in the end, God himself will by examination of the facts by which we lived, determine the next course of action concerning us and in keeping his word, give to each person that which they deserve.
each one
> Every person will be examined one at a time, there will be no group judgments where we will not have to face God alone as an individual. This in itself shows how very detailed God is in his involvement with creation, God does not block people together in his methods with man, but gives his personal attention to all of us, one at a time.
according
> Everything which we have done will be, weighed-in, to see if there is conformity of our attitudes and ethics, as compared to Gods holiness of that which we have done. What others have done will not be taken into consideration, but what we have done in reaction to our relation to what others have done, will be measured.
to his works:
> God in this then will establish himself as the standard to compare our deeds to, and everything that everyone has done shall come back to them, using their deeds to judge them in the same measure that they measured it out to others, so what goes around, comes around. All the efforts that each person took in doing good or evil, then will be measured and weighed by God, according to his holiness and standards.

2:7 eternal life
> Some will gain eternal life, which shall become their state at all times in the presence of the Lord, joyous life in new bodies, without end. Not the end of life due to death, but the beginning of a nature of existence that never fades away or diminish over time, as does with our human bodies that age and become feeble. The changes that we have become accustom to in human form will also not exist, our bodies will always keep their shape.
to those who by perseverance
> This will be for those who thru Christ have been reunited to the Father by claiming his salvation and the fruit of the Holy Spirit being evident in their life with patience. All because the attitude and intentions of their heart, was to know the God who created them and be in his presence, not just in heaven, but first, while they were alive and living their life with him on earth.
in good works
> That out of their relationship in Christ, came the benefit of living out Gods glory thru you, that he enabled you to reflect his glory as an expression of the life you live and the choices you make that give him glory. God will not overlook the things that you did that were in unison with his goodness. He takes pleasure in our good needs and wants to see us do them without end.
seek glory
> This as an expression of God which is revealed in us, and you take glory in Gods glory, not your own. For thru the process of becoming Christ like, we may appear to those around us, and even to ourselves, that in a relative way, as compared to what we were like and how we acted. We might be perceived as having become more Holy. It is only in that which we have yielded to Christ, that this is made possible, so it is only his glory that we see coming thru us as a reflection of his work in us to purify us into is own likeness.
and honor
> For those who sought to be made over in the image of Christ, when they were given by God the ability to see their sin and his holiness and his offer to be promoted thru his grace alone, they with joy sought his promotion to a glories state founded in him. This they saw and understood as the greatest reward and accommodation they could receive. That God himself would infuse and alter them from what they were and allow his glory to be in them as their identity in life. There is no greater statement God could afford us, than his own glory to be our covering and state in life.
and immortality,
> Having all of this before them, they received in their hearts the desire of eternal life, on the basis, that it would be, with God, to whom they would be bound, in his righteousness, as their present and final outcome. They chose to abandon their desires for this world, and to live in it, but not for it, till they were with Christ forever. There very destiny has been altered and their purpose in life is given an actual meaning, because of Christ presence in them.

2:8 but wrath and anger
> In contrast to what the faithful will receive, there will be fierce judgement waiting for the rest. All that pent up anger that God withheld, will be made known as the rage that he had held in check, in order that he for a time could show mercy to some, will be brought into play against evil.
to those who live
> Those that thought they had gotten away with deceit and vial behavior, will suddenly find themselves defenseless and alone before the terrible anger of God. They supposed it would not come upon them for the evil that they did, they chose a life void of goodness and holiness, and not acknowledging Gods sovereignty over all creation, and now they will pay for it.
in selfish ambition
> And it will be brought to bear upon those who always put themselves ahead of others. Stepping on those who are in their way so they could climb higher, having become the center of their own attention. Obsessed with prominence among men, always having to be king of the hill in their goals. That was their course in life, and now in death, they will lose it all that they tried to gain in being first in everything, now they will be last with nothing to show for it. God will take away all their gain, and replace it with the shame of who they really were in the life they lived.
and do not obey the truth
> These people have no desire to have honest upright lives that display a sense of morality behind what drives their ethics. In fact they are void of ethics that do not promote their cause, and would only adhere to such standards if it were to advance their position, there is no absolute truth in them. Truth to them is a relative position only to be used to take advantage of a situation. Their reason for their telling the truth, was not because they could not lie as some ethic that rules their conscience. But because it was convenient to do so at the time, and when inconvenient, they lie without remorse.
but follow unrighteousness.
> Instead, they have chosen a path that does not adhere to holiness as an ethic. They do not recognize any set of moralities that applies to them. It all depends on the situation as to whether or not it suits their use of it. They have no definitive method by which to judge right or wrong, because they do not believe that there is a right or wrong. Only what gets them what they want, therefore no remorse for the use of immoral methods to find gain in life. To them this is a way of life to which they are dedicated, they not only succeed in it, but become educated in the advancement of it, as though it were their prime directive in life to which they are dedicated.

2:9 There will be
> The afore mentioned and the aftereffects of that judgment of God, are not just one possible outcome for those who chose to live for evil instead of in Gods glory. It is absolute as their course in destiny if they reject Gods glory for themselves and devise an evil embodiment that opposes Gods glory.
affliction
> In this principle, there can be no escaping justice, you will always have a witness against you for what you have done, because God will bring you into self-incrimination, there is no law against self-incrimination, and you will bear the penalty of sin. The anguish that you will receive in this punishment, will be in direct proportion to the evil desires that you took to in life. You will be given an eternal prison cell of confinement in hell that fits the crimes you have committed and justice will not be waved or delayed.
and distress on everyone
> There are no exceptions to the rule and anyone that measures up to this type of judgement, will receive it, it will cause anguish to the soul of them, that is as eternal as God is himself. You will feel the misery that you wrought in life, as an ever present existence of that which you wanted in life, yet magnified and increased upon you. Just as God magnifies his glory in those who trust in him, he in opposite form, magnifies the suffering of those who refuse him in life. It is the course that both chose, and God will increase both accordingly to that which they desired in life most, good for good and evil for evil.
who does evil,
> It is to be brought upon all those who love to do evil, those who have claimed their independence from God and have sought to be as unto themselves the guardians of their souls, being self-sufficient in their own destiny, and without remorse in their decision. They have placed more value on self-determination, than on Gods purpose of them in creation. Believing themselves to be superior in judgment and deed, they have dishonored God in all things, and would make themselves Gods judge.
on the Jew first
> Whether it be to those to whom law came too, and thru whom the promise of salvation was made available. So that they were first in line to be made aware of Gods salvation, though that will not be an excuse for them when they are judged. So just as in salvation, that it first came to the Jews and thru them to the non-Jews, also Gods judgement will come upon the house of the Jews and then also the non-Jews.
and also the Greek,
> Or if it is the non-Jewish people who are just now being made aware of Gods law, and that they are also subject to its judgment. So if Gods not spare the people who were special to him in judgment, that is the Jews, he will not spare the general public either, in whom he had no special agreement in life.

2:10 but glory
> As an expression of Gods glory is revealed in you, and you receive glory thru Gods glory, not your own, for thru the process of becoming Christ like, it is only in that which we have yielded to Christ, that glory is made possible. So it is only his glory that we are partakers of, this then becomes an eternal state of existence thru us, both in the present and after death in our union with Christ
and honor
> For those who sought to be made over in the image of Christ, when they were given by God the ability to see their sin, and his holiness, and his offer to be promoted thru his grace alone. They with joy sought his promotion to a glories state founded in him, which will also be established throughout eternity.
and peace
> It will be in every household that is of the Spirit of God, that there will be an ease of mind, your thoughts will not be laborious in that which you find yourself. For your attention span will not be temporal, but eternal, which brings things into perspective and eases the mind of its doubts and fears, calming the soul that exist in the flesh till death brings you eternal peace with the Father.
for everyone
> It is for those who choose the gift of Christ, that delight in the law, so they can know what is pleasing to the Lord and redirect their paths to walk in the light and not in darkness. Finding the pleasure of doing what is right thru Christ and knowing that it is the power of salvation working in you that has brought about these results. God denies no one that does not deny him as that which he is, and that is the sovereign and Holy God of all things temporal and eternal.
who does good,
> This new state of mind being the aftereffects of having been saved, you were saved not only from eternal destruction in hell, but from bad works also, so that in contrast, good works will come from salvation. Although God does not seek the goodness of man to make him complete, he does seek man to be complete in Gods goodness as an end in itself. To replace the evil desire that sin in the flesh has wrought thru man, with the glory of Gods goodness, that was wrought thru the body of Christ for us.
for the Jew first
> Whether it be to those to whom law came too, and thru whom the promise of salvation was made available. So that they were first in line to be made aware of Gods salvation, though that will not be an extra benefit to them as to the gaining of eternal life or the work of salvation in their life. It is their right by ascension, to inherit the promise of God made to them first, before others receive it also.
and also the Greek.
> Or if it is the non-Jewish people who are just now being made aware of Gods law, and that they are also able to receive the benefit of gaining eternal life and the work of salvation in their life. So that all the general public will take part in Gods eternal plan for mankind.

2:11 For
> So there is in God the very nature of him as one who chooses that which he does, not on human levels or terms that men use to select those that they deal with. Where one group lives in one culture state and another in a different set of standards. God is not looking to the culture or their position in that culture as a reference for selecting them to receive his grace. In fact God does not look at references of accomplishments at all for those whom he chooses to involve himself with.
there is no
> With God there is no application forms to fill out, no red tape or paper work to see if you qualify. That a method of sifting people, thru a process of identifying the right individuals for his mercy and promotion, does not exist. That is an abstract idea of man, that they use to apply to themselves on earth to do certain task, and which they then assume God will use the method to choose them, but that is false.
partiality with God.
> God does not play favorites between Jews and non-Jews, they are all the same to him as far the law and forgiveness are concerned, one is not created greater than the other. In the same way, he does say because one personis a businessman and successful, that he is more deserving than one who labors under him without the recognition from his leaders of his labor. To God they are completely equal, or one and the same, so far as salvation is concerned. Both will be saved by grace, apart from that which they are in life, no amount of earthly recognition, better prepares them for Gods salvation, and so, not lowly depth of position, makes them less worthy of that same salvation. Though they may receive special functions in the church as ministries, that does not make one more or less vital. In fact within in the church, the lowly labor, my be the superior teacher, while the business man, a student of that teacher. A role reversal, based on Gods selection of purpose, that is done regardless of that which they are in social life.

2:12 For
> So whether they knew in advance that God was going to judge the world and so they studied for its coming, or if it comes upon them suddenly, without time and preparation for the test. It really makes no difference to God, because no amount of study prepares them for that which they will fail in, regardless of how much they know. The elementary teachings that man can engage in, learn and put into practice, is far below the master degrees of requirement that would sustain them apart from Christ divinity.
all who have sinned
> Everyone that God has pronounced guilty of sin, which is all mankind, because the only one who was not guilty of sin was Jesus. Will suffer the same lack of qualifications for attaining salvation in their own worth and abilities. In that, Gods only recognizes perfection as being perfect, any impurity, no matter how minute in measurement, disqualifies the entire person from promotion to eternal life, as would be the natural result of sinless life. As the result of sin is death, and the result of perfect holiness, is eternal life.
apart from the law
> And if these are people who are not aware that that law was given thru the Jewish people and has been established on earth. If they die without ever having heard the law. Then their judgment will still come to them, not because they heard the law in the culture they lived in and sinned in relation to the law. But because they sinned in every manner and form that those who had studied the law did, but still failed without preparation for God testing them for holiness, absent the law, their results were the same. So the sinful state of man is apart from knowing what the law is, but it is the state of the flesh, that violates what ever belief system that even men conjured up to live by. Whether the of law lived to is from God or from mans own thinking of right and wrong, all are violated in the flesh and desire of mans heart.
will also perish
> So in that they have committed sin in their own lifestyle, against their own lifestyle, they then die and come into Gods judgment, of the same commonality as those who have the law. In that, they break any rule of law, no matter how great or small, no matter the source of it, they are incapable of perfection as a state in life.
apart from the law,
> So they shall still be found guilty of their sins based on their own actions that condemn them, as their own thoughts have been recorded and will reveal that they did not honor even the thought of God or his righteousness, but as God revealed himself to their hearts, they rejected his statues as to how to honor God and have a conscience based on what his revealing to them was. They did not seek God when he gave them no course and standard in life to attain to, and if he did, the results were the same.
and all who have sinned
> So as concerning those who were instructed in his laws, they are also part of the, "everyone that God has pronounced guilty of sin". Because the law did not prevent sin in them, it only demonstrated their weakness to adhere to Gods standards of holiness, let alone their own regulations that they made up.

under the law
> The Jews knew that the that the law was given thru Moses, and that they were to be obedient to the law, but they decided to ignore it or thought they were above the law due to their birth right or heritage. But that was of no gain or disadvantage concerning the state of sin that mankind exist in. The law did not make man a greater sinner then they were before, nor did it make them more Holy, just for having read it, as God first destroyed the earth in the flood, before the law was given. It did make the Jews accountable to God though for that which they were given. So in that sense, they will answer to God for what they knew from that which they received, but not in higher or lesser degree of rebellion to God in their actual actions. Because rebellion in the heart is the same no matter the understanding of it. Ignorance is no more bliss in Gods standard of judgment, even though man may find some comfort in it.
will be judged
> So God will question them in the knowledge of the law that he gave them, just as he will question and hold accountable those non-Jews, who were a law unto themselves for what they did obey of their own rules. God will hold the Jews accountable, based on his relationship with them as they being the promised nation that would promote the law and receive salvation from among their ranks, who was Jesus.
by the law.
> The Jewish people will find themselves condemned by that law, in that they did not find their salvation thru faith as those that gave them the law had done. Because they did live by faith in the way their forefathers did, they are condemned to fulfill all of the law themselves, without error. Which for them is also impossible, which will result in death and eternal punishment.

2:13 For
> There is and idea out there that simple knowledge of right and wrong is sufficient to please God and his judgment of them. But that would a misconstruing of the facts, or a misunderstanding of what God meant when he gave the law. It was never meant as a wall plague for your home, just to make you appear as a religious person or people. God is not interested in external draping’s of looking religious, but rather internal transformation due exposure to his glory.
it is not those
> It is not the external effects of the law that God had in mind when he gave it, but the internal. So any one who keeps God and his precepts of right and wrong on the outside of their life is missing all of that which God is attempting to do in your life. They are the ones who are being left out of his blessings and eternal life, because they are limiting God to surface exposure where it is repelled from its affect on the internal person.
who hear the law
> Just because someone has the knowledge of what is right or wrong, it does not give them an upper hand, it does not benefit anyone who having been instructed or taught in morality, yet still has no sense of obligation to that morality. Seeing and reading warning signs of danger that exist even in common life, does nothing for the person who ignores the warning, as if it does not apply to them, and that is even more true when instruction is given to the immortal existence of the soul by God.
who are righteous
> Because sin is not an external act as most would assume, but an internal intention that produces itself at times in external actions. Changing the external environment by attempting religious atonement thru actions, does not alter the eternal state of mans soul or condition. So just because they have been exposed to religious environments and hear the message of Gods law and gospel, it does nothing for them concerning their own holiness. That is only spectator faith, where one sees, hears and observes an event, but does not involve themselves in the event itself, they never take a side or a stand concerning that issue of event beyond the visual appearance of it.
before God,
> Because that act of coming to be aware of the existence of Gods decrees, yet remaining unconscious in their principles and having no desire of an application of those decrees to be established in their lives, these people also remain rejected by God, and remain evil in his judgment. Because God was never interested in recreating the garden of Eden over for us again on earth. If that was his intent, he would not have evicted us from it. What he is interested in doing is expressing to your soul, the glory of himself that you are missing out on and restoring your soul in fellowship to him, thru the transformation and redefinition of who you are in relationship to him.
but those who do the law
> But those who love the decrees and principles of God, and are conscience as to the application of them in their lives, they see the benefit of having it Gods way (or him being sovereign) and treasure the thought doing right. Simply on the basis that it is right, as an attribute of who they are, as they are becoming more Christ like. Abhorring evil and loving Gods holiness as their salvation that is not just eternal, but in its present form comes upon them, sanctifying them against the power of evil over them, and they like it happening to them as they see Gods victory over their sins. So it those who respond to the law, instead of ignoring it that God saves and promotes in his kingdom to do his will on earth in partner with him as an act of his mercy to us.
will be declared righteous.
> In that final day, when mankind is brought to judgement before God, it is those whose conscience was alive to God and took pleasure in the law, as the product of it teaching us the ways of salvation in our daily lives as prevention of evil and that we were indeed, in need of eternal salvation also, but also the blessing that came from the avoidance of sin and being filled with the restraints of the law, to keep us safe from sins which comes to us thru the power of the Holy Spirit. These are the ones God justifies and calls them righteous, as they desired salvation as Gods provision on his terms, not based on human thinking of fairness, but on what only God could do to achieve this goal in life.

2:14 For
> A good example of this in action is when those who are not taught in the law, act and respond as though they were. When those who don’t have any idea what God has declared what is right and wrong, and yet have a sense of morality without written code to read it from.
whenever the Gentiles,
> So when non-Jewish people who then take actions in their lives, and do not just sit idly by as to what they are receptive to in their perceptions of morality. But establish a culture to which they adhere to and teach their children what they must do to live in that culture and retain the respect of others in that culture.
who do not have the law,
> Yet they have never been instructed in the decrees by which man should live according to the will of God. No one has ever made them known to them and they might not even be aware that they exist. God has never come to them either by prophet or angelic messenger, to set them straight as to what it is that they should be doing, concerning right and wrong.
do by nature
> Yet these very same people, produce within themselves a form of godliness that is not out of informed instruction, but as an attribute in which they are imitators of Gods character without his informed consent. It being effective and powerful in them and producing successful results. So that they feel more comfortable in the expression of godliness in obeying law that is like Gods law and reject the ideals of evil living. It would be an offense to their thinking to even consider an evil alternative to that which they are confronted.

Where others like the Jews, who have the law of God, only do it to make a show in public, they act out as a pretense of being in shock, in reaction to what evil people might do, the Pharisees would tear their clothes in public, as though in disgust to make others perceive them as having a form of righteous indignation, but it is all a rue or allusion to hide their true nature of loving sin. Other cultures might walk out in protest to demonstrate a false sense of being moral for a public show only.

But these people with a culture of morality like unto Gods law will demonstrate a predominance to holiness, even when alone without an audience and would even act to cover up their righteous deeds, as though not to take glory to themselves, so as to have modesty in their life. Of course, this does not mean that they sought out God on their own, but rather, by natural conditioning, they were influenced by Gods natural laws.
the things required
> So they find obedience, not as an external mandate to which they fight against and resist, but rather an internal belief system that is a mutual benefit for themselves and others in their community. They want in themselves to be a people of morality, as they see the safety of holiness, even if they do not know the God and author of holiness.
by the law,
> So they perform in their lives the decrees given to man by God, even though they might not be aware of the laws themselves. Because the laws of God tell us what ethics we need to obey in order to have harmony with each other and how to not sin in our lives against him.
these who do not have the law
> These are people who were never told to adhere to the decrees of God, they never received any commandments and no one ever tried to enforce Gods laws upon them. What they have learned about living in harmony in life, came from the practical experience of life that gave them boundaries to live by.
are a law
> And the reason this is this way, is that God made his law an instinct that was born in us to discern right and wrong. It was instilled in us as part of our being born in his likeness, in that, he created part of himself in us.
to themselves.
> So they chose to live their lives according to the percepts of God, while at the same time being ignorant as to why they had made this choice, outside of the fact that they judged it the only right way to be fulfilled in life. It was not based on a written code, but on a code of ethics that came out of themselves, based on life experiences or proven advice where moral correctness is a command to them.

2:15 They show
> In responding this way, they have become a living example and the evidence, that God did not allow for man to come into to existence, without a natural ability to discern right from wrong from their beginning of birth. It shows that man is hard wired from the beginning, to be able reason, what is acceptable to God.
that the work of the law
> In living their lives in this manner, they demonstrate the effectual attributes that the decrees of God have upon the character of them who respond inwardly. As that which came forth from their Spirit to do what is right, as a quality trait of their character. In that it alters the modes and methods in which they do and apply morals to themselves and others. And not outwardly, as those only expressing and enforcing the law to others, while at the same time they exempt themselves from obeying the law, having seared their conscience from being alerted to moral depravity.
is written in their hearts,
> For the source of that conscience, of which they did not know the why or how their morals existed, but in which it did cause them to adhere to godliness. Was put there as an instinct from God, as it was inbreed in them from birth. God gave man the ability to distinguish from good and evil, which was a result from the fall of man in the garden. It is that ability to reason, that was like a weave of moral awareness that is knitted into them and us, that made us aware of Gods moral law, without having ever actually encountered it, in a physical instruction or intervening Spirit or prophet to teach us.
as their conscience
> So in that it is an inbreed ability for them to awaken to a sense of warning, because they were conscious to what it was that they were doing from a moral point of reference, without ever having been given that point of reference. They new instead by moral instinct that certain things were either, acceptable and right things to do and worthy of praise. Or unacceptable and should not only not be done, but those who do them should punished as a result of those wrong actions.
bears witness
> Then as written code that is internally written and remembered for them as a form of discernment or a good sense of judgment. Which is also a sought after trait among men and women, because this is a testimony as to their character and it speaks well of them. In that, the outward action reveals who they are as an internal virtue or lack of virtue. The willingness of what law they apply to themselves, demonstrates what is their intention when they apply it to others, in that, they do not exempt themselves and accuse others as only an outward adherence to law, but rather they had an inward expression of it that validated it as being true.
and their conflicting thoughts
> So when they are confronted with adversity and presented with tempting opportunities, and there are critical life altering choices to be made. They have a Spirit alive in them that is resource by which they are able to rely on to separate the fact from the fiction, and moral from immoral. They were able to take a stand and say, this is wrong. As they are troubled within themselves when trying to reconcile the misbehavior of their hearts to do wrong.
accuse
> Because their conscience would identify sin for them, because God had placed in them, an inbreed instinct to identify evil thoughts, and alert them to the warning signs of trouble. They did not have to have someone point it out to them, they new what they were doing was wrong, but did it anyway.
or else defend them,
> It is in this same process that they found themselves with guilt, as that which tells them they are about or have violated a code of ethics. It is that process of self determination, which also brings a sense of peace and relief as having overcome that which could been a violation to them. So that they are able discern between good and evil, which also gives them purpose and self esteem. Because the positive effects of doing what is right, speaks for itself, and does not need an announcer and orator to publicize it, or explain it to them they were right, just so that they get the moral of the story, they just know it is right.

2:16 on the day
> Then when time is brought to a close, when time shall cease to be and God will bring a finality to mans current fallen state of living in this body of sinful flesh. That is the day when the great white throne judgment will be called into session and every man and woman will stand trial before God.
when God will judge
> There will be a court procedure brought against all of mankind and they will be judged in comparison to Gods righteousness, and he will decide if there is any sin in them according as to how they lived on earth and to see if they are as righteous as God. God will judge each person based on Gods standard of holiness, not theirs.
the secrets
> Then all the things that they wish to keep hidden and not made known about themselves in public, will be, and everything that they thought they would get away with or thought no one knew about, they will be held accountable for.
of human hearts,
> And of the things that they thought to do or did conspire to do as the attributes of their character, things that display the nature of who they really are as a person on the inside, or who they are at the core of their being. Will be made a public record as a part of this trial for which they shall stand accused. It will be their conscience that will bear testimony against them as to whether or not they chose to live according to what was to them, not a written code, but an internal code of ethics. Which will also either accuse or defend them of their sins.
according to
> God will know whether or not they chose him and his law, by how they treated or mistreated they laws of conscience. Even if they lived before Christ came, or after him but never heard the gospel. God will be able to identify, those who have faith in him, despite what they do or do not know concerning his provision for salvation.
my gospel
> And this will then be done regardless of whether or not they had the revelation or not of the good news of God having provided a way for them, of not having their owns sins imputed and charged against them. But instead God provided a substitution for them. their direct knowledge of who the Messiah is or that he should come, was not and is not a perquisite for being saved by that provision.
through Christ Jesus.
> That provision being his son Jesus Christ, whom God then imputed, or put his righteousness unto them, instead of imputing, or putting their own sin unto them. The meaning of that is that God is allowing Jesus to take their place, as the one being judged and because there being no sin found in Jesus. They would not be found guilty of any crimes of sin. Also then taken into consideration, would be what revelation or knowledge they have as to Jesus and his work or propitiation thru the cross. As these will be both those who died before Jesus came and those who died after he came. But never heard the gospel directly, but became as I said early "are law unto themselves", which God will them find them as having faith in the gospel of Christ, due to their having accepted the attributes of God thru a moral clause within in their hearts as "they are a law unto themselves". Or to condemnation, if they rejected the law in the same manner.

The Condemnation of the Jew

2:17 But
> So there is an opportunity of ill behavior here, that lends itself to some to think themselves to be something. Not because of any thing they have done to receive such a stature, but because of who they know. In this sense, it is because of whom they are related too, or in another way of phrasing it, "they have an uncle in the business that will provide them a cheaper rate, then a common person would receive". So they do not think that they have to go thru the same channels as others, or wait in line to be served, but that they will receive special treatment.
if you call yourself
> So if by some chance, you find yourself in this situation, that you have a special relationship to them who are of a particular position or persuasion, that they could grant you favors, unlike others to do so for you. And the idea of that has such an interest and influence over you, that it clouds your vision and clear thinking on matters of great importance. Where it delivers you to something or situation, that in the end, turns out to be a misnomer or mistake on your part.
a Jew
> Let’s say for example that you are a Jew, now, look with self examination at your claims to God, and see if you are saying that due to your ancestry, that you are entitled to a special status, because you are a descendant from Abraham. And because of that relationship, you are assuming something that was never promised you by them. In this case, an eternal inheritance into the kingdom of God.
and rely
> But rather you are just bragging and presuming upon that relationship to advance you in a way that is not really rational, if you stop and think about it. In fact, if it were someone else making the same claim, about the same situation, just because they had blue eyes, instead of brown, or because they were dissimilar to you in some irrelevant fashion. You would dismiss their claim, just as quickly, as should others dismiss yours.
on the law
>And because you trust in your citizenship as having some power in delivering you and entitling you to this privileged status, all because you have a written code that spells out what your behavior should be like, and because you have this code and other nationalities don’t. When God has clearly written that same code in the hearts of all those who have ever lived. Where in reality, the possession of the written code, only increases the your responsibility before God to obey it, it does not decreases your adherence to it, simply from having possession of it.
and boast
> Yet you brag about it and try to display it as some kind of free pass, and use it to modify the truth in what you are telling everyone. In that, you think that you have instant access to all that is going on backstage, of this upcoming event, just by displaying your birth right and citizenship. Just so that you can make them jealous of your so called, access to a restricted area. When what you really want is them to envy you, without regard to how serious is the situation that you are endearing yourself to.
of your relationship
> Because you are saying that you know someone special, when in fact, you have never met him. He is more a stranger to you, even in having him as a distant relative. Then he is to a common man, that you have never met yourself. God is to you, much further away than that commoner, because you have pretense and falsity in you. Where, the commoner has humility and willingness as his resource, to receive admission, from the consequence of desire, that is absent from you. So the commoner will seek opportunity and an audience, while you a Jew by nature, will sit idly by, suspecting to gain an access at will, that will never come to you.
to God
> So then you take pride in this privilege, and try to pull rank on others, making yourselves a superior ethnic race of people, giving yourselves higher form of righteousness in your eyes and proclaiming others as being a sinful ethnic group, because they do not posses the laws of God. Which you presume to be yours by right, so as to give you access to him at will. But because you never sought to confirm your right to entrance thru God, it will anger God by the way dismissed him out of hand, or thought to presume upon him as a right and never attempted to ensure his good favor as one would out of decent thought towards him.

2:18 and know
> So because you say that you have an inside track, as to the intimate knowledge and dealings of God. That you have something more than others have, in relation to what is right or wrong to do. And that you hold the key to that knowledge in your hand, for others to gain access thru, in that you are the gate keeper to that library of information.
his will
> So from this you proclaim to have insight as to what Gods desire is and that you are therefore in a position of authority as a result of this inside information you have. You say that you have in your possession so to speak, medical books, that reveal the cure for what is causing the spiritual sickness in humanity, and know what are the medicines and remedies to take for them, to achieve their cure.
and approve
> And so you broadcast, that you have the miracle cure for everyone alive, who find themselves unable to remedy their own situation. That if they listen to you, they to will find that they are able to have this miracle cure that leads one to find salvation.
the superior things
> So then from that you idea, you have conspired together with other Jews and endorsed the idea that you truly have intellectual excellence compared to others. Due to the fact you recognize what things are more excellent in the eyes of God. Because your forefathers were given the written text, as to what it is that God says is high above human ability to strive for. Rather than earthly goals, which are fleeting and have no moral base or extend with eternal addition to their life.
because
> So just because you are not yourself ignorant of the fact that these statues exist for you. And because your culture talks and tells everyone that you are someone of special access to this library of information.
you receive
> An that in the course of living in this culture and community that you exist in, all of this information has been imparted to you as some sort of block grant to all Jews, regardless of your moral behavior. That entitles you to know what others do not know, from just having been in the company of those who have had this handed down to them of previous generations.
instruction
> The question then remains, have you learned anything from this process yourself, in that, you say that you lived in a college town. So while you lived there, did you actually attend college and receive from that, a diploma of education, so that you can now apply for that which you say you have credentials in. Or are you just letting people assume that because there is a reputation of higher learning taking place in your community, that you are wise from mere affiliation with them, rather than actually taking the classes yourself. Or possibly, you have taken the classes and know all the right answers to impress upon others your knowledge, but have never actually put them into practice in the real world, to see if they are as you say they are.
from the law,
> This is a valid question for one to ask, having been developed from the fact that you have studied all the written code that was handed down to you. You pride yourself in knowing all the details of it, as though this in itself were ultimate achievement to be acquired in your possession of the law. But you are not actually out looking for the job of a life time, so that you can implement them and receive the reward of having done so, you just want them for something to talk about or hang the diplomas upon your wall. In fact for all your boasting, of education and superior intelligence, you are but a mere laborer in life itself.

2:19 and
> So lets say that you are in the category of them who have studied the law in enough detail, to point out some, if not all of its finer points. You didn’t just live in a college town, you actually went to school there.
if you are convinced
> As a result of this education in the law, if then, you having reached a conclusion, and you are taking a stance that you have a right to Gods law, that in itself is absolute and unchangeable. Then you need to think thru thoroughly as to how you treat that position and see if it is really as unchangeable as you might assume. The very fact that you are sold out and indoctrinated of this, is in itself, not a bad thing, it is even admirable, that you make such a claim, that is, if it were wholly true.
that you yourself
> If you truly believe that what you have and who you are, are all so intermingled, to the point that they are inseparable from you. Then there is also great cause for concern, that you would just take yourselves for granted, that is, that you see yourselves above the law, as those who judge others, at the exclusion of self investigation of yourselves.
are a guide
> So you bring others before you and determine their fate, and cause them to give way their will, and to superimpose that of your will upon them, as emissaries of God. Without so much as a flinch in your own conscience, as to where you would be in the same situation, if the tables were turned on you.
to the blind,
> So you position yourself in a place, that from this insight, you have the vision to lead those who do not know the attributes of God. Attributes that you have learned from your studies of the law, that you claim from this, is your birthright to take the lead in this as messenger.
a light to those
> And as a result of that clear thinking on your part, you can illuminate the way for others to follow and give them guidance against the blackness of life and all the things that could trip them up and prevent them from finding their way home to God. That you are in essence a lighthouse of truth for those who are adrift in a sea of lies, and need someone to show them the way, even though they are distant from where they should be.
who are in darkness,
> Because thru this you have the ability to inform the ignorant, of their ignorance, and give them instruction, as how to become enlightened and have the knowledge of God themselves, so that they do not wander thru life aimlessly, as to what is correct for them in Gods kingdom. So in this you are saying that you have the right to tell the blind they are blind and heal them of this impairment, as it was granted to you, by God himself to do so.

2:20 an educator
> So with this in mind, they say that they have the power, by a method of a block grant from God, to reform and call in with authority, them who have not understood, and alter their behavior, with or without their consent. That you are able to take to yourselves the titles of professors and deans of knowledge. Thereby determining the fate of others, as they stand before you in submission to your title and knowledge.
of the senseless,
> You consider yourself to be their instructor of discipline and are able to give the mindless, those attributes of the law, because they are without the law. As a byproduct of your ability of access thru yourselves, that they would otherwise not have, also making them dependant on you in the process. So that they might have the avenue of discovery to God from your instructions. Because you know, that for the most part, these people are pure idiots when it comes to any form of common sense, and they demonstrate that title of themselves on a daily basis. These people do not know the difference between thin air and a brick wall. And you see their stupidity, not as an error in need of correction, but as an opportunity to make yourself look good, by making others look bad in comparison to you.
a teacher
> And to others who are not stupid, but just uninformed, you would try to raise them up under your instruction and guidance, to completely inform them as to the way that we as a part of humanity, in our basic substance exist, from the beginning of life, to the very end. You would guide them at your feet and describe to them in simple language all that there is to know.
of little children,
> You view them as though they had the mind of a child, who never having been instructed, new nothing at all and needed your guidance and protection so that they might reach God, to the point of finding salvation. These uninformed people have reason and responsibility as part of their personal makeup, they just need to be shown the way.
because
> And the reason you believe that you are able to act in this manner, is because of your confidence in the word of God, which is a good thing, in and of itself. You at least in that area have it right, that it is the word of God that you are disseminating to the people.
you have
> Because within that area that you are right, which is Gods word, you possess the power of salvation, which you have knowledge of. To you it is not elusive, but firmly ingrained in you, so that you know the absolute truth, regardless of what others believe or wonder about. For you there are no unanswered questions concerning the mind of God and his will for mankind, because God wrote it down for you.
in the law
> Due to the fact that it is true, that contained in the written code, there is a structure that can be understood, a plan of action laid out for all of mankind that is from God to mankind, for the intended purpose to instruct us in the ways that lead to Christ. It is within this written code, that you find out our limited ability and Gods unlimited control over all of creation.
the essential
> Because within the law are the required elements that reveal the truth, the details that supply you with the resources to discern, judge and remedy issues and situations, are all found in the written code. The building blocks of life, piece by piece, are all labeled by their identity and form a complete chain of events that lead all those who follow them, to the exact same conclusions. They are independent of situational ethics and do not alter, based on uncontrollable issues in your life. No matter the cause of your situation, the law is never modified from its original state, just to comply or adapt to you, it is you who must comply in every case, with the law.
features
> So the problem is not with the nature of the law itself, but with the appearance of those who have the law, in the eyes of them without the law. In order for you to be credible in the arena of instructor, you need more than just the mere classroom environment where you are able to teach, it cannot just be based in the fact that you have a physical school of learning. Having a school, does not mean that you are able to demonstrate the application of the law itself, but only that you have a place where the books are archived for their study.
of knowledge
> And therein, within those books are the finer details laid out in imprecise order of what God wants to communicate to us. The issues in your life are discussed in there, the concepts of morality, the preventive measures to build a spiritual defense for you and your family. The proactive initiatives to prosper you and gain Gods approval and promotion in your life. All of the facts are laid out there for you, to take hold of and teach others, what it is, that God is communicating to mankind thru the law.
and of the truth-
> The wisdom to divide deception from the truth of God, so that no one can deceive you into a lie, and also to provide the pathway, that takes you into the presence of his holiness. It establishes absolutes for you to live by, that anchor you to God as your base of operations. It never lets go of you, so long as you never let go of it, because truth is a constant that never changes. But lies will always alter your course in life to a lesser and lesser standard, because they are based in delusions that have no basis or substance for their existence, or foundation to retain them from being adrift.

2:21 therefore
> Because of what I have just told you concerning this restricted access to the law of God and then also the responsibility that comes with that entrustment that you were given over the law.
you who teach
> Those of you who are responsible for declaring this truth to others, concerning what it is that God has commanded of all mankind. Because you have this training yourself, you say it makes you qualified to instruct others, although instructing others does not necessarily make you an expert in living the law itself. Yet there are those of you involved in the distribution of knowledge, and make it the goal of your life, and your occupation, to make understanding of the law, a thing for all the people to be received from you.
someone else,
> So it is not you who is attempting to gain in wisdom and knowledge from your discourse in the matters of the law. Because you see yourselves as having already attained that which you are teaching. Your goal is to tell others that which you have learned about the external dressings of the law, but do you having anything to say about what you have learned from living in the law from personal application.
do you not
> Are you a credible source of information, based on your own practical form of living. Are you sort of just telling others how to be happily married, while at the same time, your marriage is anything but bliss. Otherwise won’t people discredit what you say as being no more than, "do as I say, not as I do". Have you made it a priority in your life, that by examination, you have lived the life that you are espousing and promoting to others. Is there any basis for what you say to be true, can people learn from your own righteous example, or do you just want them to believe you with no evidence of you being right about what you say.
teach yourself?
> Are you listening to your own advice, do you take time to consider the wealth of your information as to how it may be effectual to you also. Do you always volunteer to fix everyone else’s home, while your own family has to live in a run down shack that you never attend to. Because you gave away your families approval of you, in exchange and for the sake of prominence in the eyes of another. If that is you in this picture, then your advice didn’t work for you, why should they listen to you in the first place, if you’re not taking your advice in these matters and are not taking the necessary steps in your life, to assure your own victory.
You who preach
> Those of you who take a stand in public and tell others how to live and make yourself a person of prominence. You establish yourself as knowing a higher form of existence, then that of a common man. You speak boldly and with a loud voice, so that everyone hears what you have to say concerning your opinion of Gods law, but is that all it is to you.
against stealing,
> Those of you who take a stance on the crimes of theft, and declare that there can be no excuse for such actions and proclaim the immorality of such actions as a violation of Gods law. If you say that having anything in your possession, that is not yours by proper means of attaining it, thru the acquisition of commercial exchange or as a gift to you.
do you steal?
> Are you finding it an excusable crime for you in your situation, that as you have done such much to preserve and prevent others sin, that you are entitled to a little allowance on your part. Have you become a law enforcer on the take, helping yourself even to what has been confiscated from others. Do you always find an excuse to keep back a little that was entrusted to you for others, as a delivery charge, without consent, after all you have expenses to be met.

2:22 You who tell others
> If you speak up and take a stand, rather then just keeping quiet on issues when they arise. If you see issues in others lives, separately from the same issues in your own personal life. Giving them advice, but ignoring or not applying that same truth to your life. You are seemly able to take a boastful stand on issues of morality and justice, when it concerns another, but dismiss that same application to yourself.
not to commit adultery,
> If you accuse others of infidelity, in that you who teach that it is wrong to be unfaithful to your spouse, and declare that there can be no excuse for such actions and proclaim the immorality of such actions, as a violation of Gods law. You are more than willing to put on a good show for the public to view, and be known in your community as one fully faithful to their spouse.
do you commit adultery?
> Is it really true, are you finding it an excusable act with regards to the actions that you are actually engaged in concerning your spouse. That because you have done so much to preserve and prevent others sin, that you are entitled to inexcusable behavior on your part. Have you justified it in your case as acceptable behavior and an allowable act. So that what you boastfully prevent it in others, yet you do it secretly yourself, denying that adherence to this law yourself, that you say others should take to heart to avoid condemnation.
You who abhor idols,
> Those of you who teach that it is a detestable act to make things into items of worship that are not God, and declare that there can be no excuse for such actions and proclaim the immorality of such actions, as a violation of Gods law. You find it absolutely abhorrent that others should do such things and you are disgusted with those who do them with a public show of righteous indignation.
do you rob temples?
> Are you finding it an excusable act with regards to your taking out of the tithes and offerings, a little something for your own pleasures. Getting kickbacks from fund raisers or accept gifts yourself that were offered to idols or as some, have robbed the treasuries of pagan temples. Defiling yourself with these unclean things, that because you have done such much to preserve and prevent others sin, that you are entitled to inexcusable behavior on your part. Do you desecrate the temple of God, by interacting in the business of religion behind the scene for profit and gain, in what ever manner it may show itself. Are you willing to acknowledge others with a plaque, to be put on public display, for the benefit they gave in your honor or the donation they made to your cause.

2:23 You who boast
> Those of you who take pride in your excellent knowledge of the written code that was handed to you thru your ancestry, and proclaim it as the Holy word of God. You love to take a stand and wave the flag of your nation, as one that is representative of God and all that he stands for. You think of yourselves as a special jewel, one that is set in place, just to be admired by all those who gaze upon you.
in the law
> You take refuge behind the law and use your possession of it to shield your from activating it in your own life though. Because you have exempted yourselves from the difficulty in obeying the law, and instead are trying to achieve acceptance with God, thru being enforcers of the law on others, rather than doers of the law yourselves.
dishonor God
> And in so doing, you have become abhorrent and a hypocrite in the eyes of God and man, are your merely a facade in pretense of what you truly believe. Proclaiming your ambassadorship before God, then representing your own interest in his absence, you show contempt for the very God you say you are in service to. Because your service to God, is only lip service, there is no foundation in your life for having implemented it. So on one hand you declared the laws of God perfect, and then on the other hand, denied their perfection, by choosing the opposite of them, in your own life.
by transgressing the law!
> For thru your actions you violate without conscience, those very laws that you profess, making a profanity of your religion before men and an unjustified and condemned guardian of the law of yourself. Because you were entrusted with its preservation, not just as a keeper of the vault, but what you should have been, a living example of it, in procuring further holiness in your life. One who was invoking the promises of the law as your love mate in life, making it your faith partner for life, to whom you are wholly committed. But that is not what you did, instead, you cheated on what should have been your, life-mate-in-the-law, and ran around, whoring with evil, while ignoring and breaking the law!

2:24 For
> As a direct result of all of the attitudes that I have just described to you, look at what is happening. It is not anything new in the humane sense of things, it is actually quite an ancient action, in history repeating itself in the patterns of old. The things you have always done, are the things that you continually do again. You might dress it up to appear different, but it’s the same old sin as in the beginning.
just as it is written,
> In the scripture it has already been established, the precedent has already been made and judged as an act against God. So God wanting that everyone would have a written record, of that which had been determined by him, as actions of man that were prejudice towards him. He authorized that it be written and recorded as him having identified this action of man, as sin.
"the name of God
> This being by action, an act which represents the character of God, in both fact and opinion, being expressed as the reputation that is associated with their identity, who they are in the make-up of their being. So that one with a good name is revered by others, as being an astounding person of impeccable character traits. While one with a bad name, is one who is untrustworthy and shunned by society, due their poor character traits and unreliable reputation. And whether good or bad, it labels them in life, both preceding them and following them, wherever they go.
is being blasphemed
> That very identity tag of Gods reputation being one of a Holy God, is being cursed, by the use of disparaging comments and a defamed reputation as an illegitimate God. God is not being credited with that which are his true character traits, and is not being seen as one with an excellent authoritative foundation. As the evidence that is being seen, and is producing this false conclusion, is a direct result of the actions of those who are Gods ambassadors, the Jews.
among the Gentiles
> All of this defamation of Gods character, is taking place among the non-Jewish people, due to the hypocrisy by which the Jews live. The non-Jews listen to the claims of their being emissaries on behalf of God, and then look at the results in their lives and decide that, if this is what their God is all about, they want nothing to do with him. So that they ridicule God, before the Jewish people and others that talk with.
because of you."
> They see you violating everything for which you say is Holy, and then try to tell them that they need to repent, and in so doing you become false witness under the law. Perjuring yourselves in the court of public opinion, leaving your testimony void, invalid and without merit before them, having yourself among them a dubious reputation. Because anyone who is discredited, based on their personal behavior, has lost their authority to speak on important issues. In this case, it is in the area of representing a perfect, Holy God, while denying the power of his influence over you, by sinning with excuses to cover your sins, rather than humble remorse and seeking correction.

2:25 For
> As a result of that, how should we view the symbolic acts that we do in our lives. Because man has a way of using an outward symbol to represent, that which they supposedly believe themselves to be. They wish to mark themselves in a way that identifies them and to that which they are aligned, with outward symbols. Now that in and of itself, is a good thing, it lets others know where you stand, if that is the true representation of who you are. Walking around in the symbolic garb of the marital arts, means nothing though, if you know absolutely nothing about it and someone assaults you.
circumcision
> The procedure of cutting away the foreskin from around the end of the male penis when they are a child, as a sign of accepting God as the only true God and dedicating this child as the offspring of Abraham and to his covenant with God. This being meant as a physical and outward sign, of an internal and spiritual dedication of the parents to raise the child, according to the knowledge and character of God.
has its value
> Is a crucial event to enrich your life and align yourself physically to the spiritual truth of God, and preventing a curse, as was the case of Moses, when after receiving his mission from God on Mt. Sinai from the burning bush, and while traveling to Egypt, God met him at a resting place, with the intention to kill him. Because he had not circumcised one of his sons, Moses the became sick to the point of death and his wife performed the circumcision to comply with Gods decree and save Moses. (There is also a picture of Christ redemptive act in the whole account of this event. Where his sons bloodshed had saving affect on Moses, as his wife touched the bloody foreskin to Moses as a covering for his sin, after she performed the circumcision on her son.)
if you practice the law,
> So by adhering to all the laws of Gods decrees, making them the foundation upon which your lives are based. Not as an outward memorial for you as a symbol for your nation. But as an internal allegiance to your personal lives, where your daily actions are determined with forethought and deliberate intention, as to your actions agreeing with the law.
but
> On the other hand though, if you do the exact opposite in your lives, in claiming to know God, but not having any personal allegiance to that which he has commanded of you. You should expect that all involved will want nothing to do with you, because you are now an enemy of all and untrustworthy.
if you break the law,
> So if at the same time you are claiming to be of the law, in that, the written code of God was also delivered to you. Yet the possession of it means nothing to you, and you have spite and disregard for the law, because it restricts your desire to pursue sinful acts, and fulfill the desire of the flesh. And only see it as a burden rather then the joy of the Lord to protect you from slavery to sin. So that you are a violator with premeditated actions to seek it out.
your circumcision
> Then your physical sign in the flesh, of your spiritual connection with God. It being a commanded rite that is passed on to every generation. So their heritage is confirmed and remembered thru this ritual of obedience, to Gods sign being in your flesh, as a sign of ownership to God.
has become uncircumcision.
> Due to you breaking of Gods law, the cutting away of your foreskin of the penis, is a meaningless event. Which has no value to you in your relationship with God, or your representation of him, as the ones who were given the responsibility of taking his laws to the people. For the outward sign in the flesh of circumcision was meant to be a sign of your inward spiritual sanctification to God.

2:26 Therefore
> As a result of that and because of what I have just taught you, we have to examine, just what it is that we are trusting in to make us right with God.
if the uncircumcised man obeys
> If a man who loves God and sees God as his salvation from sin, yet has never had his foreskin cut away, due to fact the he is not Jewish and was raised outside of the law. Yet has in him the of God written in his heart, in that, he does not chose to live a life of disobedience.
the righteous requirements of the law,
> Yet he finds his joy in the Lord and delights in the wisdom of holiness, that in faith he is made Holy, thru what the law necessitates him to do. So that by adhering to the law, he becomes an imitator of Gods holiness.
will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
> As a result of this, God will declare his own righteousness to be upon this person so that he becomes justified in the eyes of God. Because he believed in the law, not just as a keeper of the written code, but because they kept the law in their hearts, as having God with them in their most inner being

2:27 And will not
> So then under these conditions, who is the righteous one in the eyes of God, the hearer of the law, who listens but does not obey the law. Or the one who commits himself to the law, so that he may be at one with God.
the physically uncircumcised man
> So in this, those who look upon you Jews, even though they have not cut away the foreskin of their penis, as a sign of God in their life and their commitment to him. These same people who do not adhere to the strict outward sign of the flesh, will suppose in their hearts that the Jews are a violator of their own code of ethics.
who keeps the law
> Because even though you Jews, being keepers of the vault of where the laws resides, see that as your entitlement alone to righteousness. It is the non-Jew in this case who is gladly obeying the law and wishes to continue in it.
judge you who,
> So who is the wisest between the two and who will rightfully discern in their heart, the condition of the one who disobeys. It is the non-Jew that will rightfully reach a judgment of indiscretion against the Jew, because they will recognize the foolish ways that they have adhered to.
despite the written code
> Even though the Jew has in their possession the law of God, the non-Jew will find them in error of their ways. Because you only obey the outward sign of God by conforming to do only the letter of the law and no more, believing that is the end of your duty. And in that, it was done by their parents to them, not by themselves, so these Jews never made a commitment of their own to God. So for them it might as well just be a wise tale that they believe in, because to God it is all a meaningless gesture.
and circumcision,
> Because the Jews only perform the outward sign in the flesh, instead of have having the follow thru that God intended for them to have in embracing also, the spirit of the law. So as to conform to the inward circumcision to sanctification also, to cut away the desire of sin from their hearts, and expose their life to God for restoration, from which they were to become mature reproducers and imitators of Gods righteousness.
transgress the law?
> Having the knowledge of Gods written code, they ignore it as though being possessors and guardians of that code, They are some how more righteous and exempt from the law in having done they duty in mere possession of the law. But that is not true, as in they violate, that which they say they are the protectors of. So ho does that gain them freedom from the condemnation of the law that was given to them to condemn evil actions. What happens to them then is, they are made even more guilty than those ignorant of the law. What if by example, you were doing the same thing to a child, having been put in charge as their guardian. But then violated the children while in your custody, would you expect honor for this kind of morality.

2:28 For
> The conscious thing to be aware of when defining ones relationship to God is, that it is not the external aspect of who we are that God takes note of. It is not a title that men seek after, that makes us unique to God that he should save us, those are things that man looks at, but God does not. He is searching the deeper part of a mans heart to see if there is a substance of faith in him, not if he is of a certain breed. We are not mere animals to God, that he only takes those who are pure bread and maintain the finest of bloodline, that he then sees value in us. God is not looking to show honor to mans attributes, as trophies that he receives glory in, but to make us into his trophies of his attributes.
a person is not a Jew
> Those who proclaim being Jewish as their right due to their ancestry, are clearly under the effects of a delusional state of mistaken identity. They have assumed in error, that God is acquiring them at the wholesale level in a single bulk purchase, that includes all Jews regardless of their state of faith within them. They have miss placed their identity as that of being faithful to God, due to their heritage, instead of their faith identifying them as Jews, as did their forefathers that made an allegiance to God thru faith.
who is one outwardly,
> Because it is not, as has been previously stated, a result of position due to your heritage, that makes you Jewish, where you were born a physical descendant of Abraham. But you are not descendants of Abraham’s way of life, which was a life in his personal faith in God. That is the point that is most relevant here, that there is no such thing of a bloodline that gains eternal salvation, based on the physical nature of who you are.
nor is circumcision something
> Not even a physical marking or attribute that exist in you as an external act of what your parents did to you as a child, determines the eternal destiny of your soul. That is only trusting in superstitious ideology that has no value, outside of marking ones body as a representing of who you think you are. But that entitles you to nothing in the kingdom of God, where he takes no measure of such things to define who you are.
that is outward
> It means no more to God, than one who wears a cross as a piece of jewelry, it is merely an object of insignificance, if it is not worn as an expression of internal faith. To claim that such an object, whether it is worn as jewelry or is carved into the skin as a tattoo of the cross, or as in this case, one having been circumcised. Is completely missing the point of such objects.

Because it is trusting in shallow things as these, that you may impress others, who also exist in defining their lives in outward expressions alone, in reference to God. But all who take this as faith, have clearly missed the point that these actions only represent them, as to who they are on the surface and does not penetrate them or have any affect on them internally concerning faith. Thereby diluting the effect of that symbolism, of what it means to bear such a mark upon oneself, making it merely a fashion statement that carries with it no obligation from which one is transformed internally.
in the flesh,
> And it is in that manner that the Jews have viewed their use of circumcision, because salvation it is not as a result of having a gesture or a representation of having faith, by way of you carving a permanent mark in the flesh to brand you, that makes one Jewish. That is a case of having the cart before the horse, because circumcision was meant to represent to internal dedication to God. Because that which is external, is not what God looks to in mankind, to determine justification from their sins. It is intended to remind them of the seriousness of that which they are involved in, not to be an end, in and of itself of faith.

That was not the point that God intended, that is, to be circumcised was not the goal there, it is only a note of memory for them who are marked by it. But they have made it a means to an end, in and of itself, but God meant it as a beginning only and to demonstrate and remind them always, that it takes the shedding of blood for them to be saved. And that it takes external surgery, by someone other then themselves, at point in their life as an infant, in which they were not even cognate of it taking place, but by God to save them from themselves as our surgeon. And that it is a delicate act of surgery that is required, God is not loping of all of mankind, but in precise form, is making careful cuts to save the precious few that he is able to call into repentance.

2:29 but someone is a Jew
> Yet it is clear from our instruction in the scripture, that those who are truly descendants of Abraham and have the God given right to claim that as such, would adhere to certain principles beyond the letter of the law. Because it is them who have truly committed themselves to know God, not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, who are true living examples and expression of having God in their lives. And it is for them whom these markings bear a true resemblance and meaning, of who they are, as their dedicated lives will manifest the nature and attributes of God in them.
who is one inwardly,
> So it is those who have in their possession, the internal Spirit of God, who testifies to them, and they see their life as integrated with God. Not as one trying to circumvent his holiness, but ones who adopt it as their own, imitating what God has shown them to do. So that they employ the word of God to do a work in them, that they themselves are not able to do. Because that is what a wise man who is profitable in life does, employing others to do what he can not do himself. And that is acceptable with God for you to do this also, in the prospering of his word in you, as you employ it to do for you, what you incapable of doing on your own.
and circumcision is of the heart
> They do this by practicing the act allowing God to cut away or remove sin from their lives that covers over and shades their internal attributes that are in Gods law. Because that sin will cause the true work of God from being exposed in you, in that, God can only effectively cover sin in our life, that is exposed as sin in us. So if we deny or hide our sin, then our circumcision is only that of the external flesh, but if we confess it, then God does spiritual surgery on us, first to cover the sin in relation to eternal forgiveness and second immunizing, it as having power over us, to make us ill in the power of our bodies, so that we are not ineffective in our lives for him. He does not allow the disease of sins control, to keep us from being able to do that which he has purposed for us.
by the Spirit
> Which is all brought about by the spirit of God, who dwells in them that are true descendants of Abraham. Because they are after his faith and desire the glory of God in preference to the state of mankind. They are trusting in the internal attribute of God, not the external or visual things that men may take note of. As man will have some preconceived idea or concept, of what that image or branding of themselves portrays of them, as to who they are. As opposed to the true nature of who they are, apart from that cosmetic makeup, that exist from behind the portrayal of themselves.

A good father instinctively loves his own children, when they are his true offspring, and when God sees the faith of Abraham in anyone who hears and responds to his call to them. God loves them unconditionally and adores them as he did Abraham. So God loves human kind in the same sense that we all love children, but he especially loves and pursues a relationship with those who are his own, after the faith of Abraham.
and not by the written code.
> Even pure obedience to the letter of the law is not adequate to justify mankind in the eyes of God. Because man is will still be condemned by his flesh, which cannot overcome the law without faith, after that of Abraham. So even though God wants us to obey the law, he wants us to do it in the same manner that Abraham did, and that is in trusting God to be faithful. Because becoming complete-in-faith, to God, is not a just process, but a position, where you make your home close to God who is faithful and in time, you will always be aware that his faithfulness is sufficient to be trusted at all times, from having placed your life near his, you will learn to assume upon it to be so, because you will become acclimated to the faithfulness of his presence, which is acceptable to God.
This person’s praise
> Those who keep Abrahams type of faith as their own, even those who grew up absent from the law to tell them what the letter of the laws dictates, as Abraham had no law. They shall be lifted up and counted worthy beyond even what they have done in faith. What they will receive from God, will dwarf any accolades that man could award them with to give them status among men.
is not from people
> Because the objective of God is not to please man, or receive his approval of what is done. So neither should man seek the approval of what godless men will think of them. Rather, they should as Abraham did, move close to God and God will move close to you, he will not reject a faithful heart, but embrace you as his own offspring with unconditional love.
but from God.
> And when God gives you his approval, it will not be from the nature of men whom he has have rejected. As man will not praise what they do not understand, why would an unfaithful man, praise the faithful, when the faithful condemn their lifestyle. Because the unfaithful have exposed their sin in front of mankind, but in rebellion to God. But on the other hand, it will be God himself who will lift his own and promote the faithful, so his glory can be seen among heaven and earth. God wants to demonstrate his glory in the lives of his own, so because of that, move the place where your heart lives close to God and he will dwell fully in and thru, you as a form of praise to your faith in him.

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